Game of Thrones: Every Jon Snow Battle, Ranked From Worst to Best

Jon Snow stands out as the most accomplished fighter in Game of Thrones. Before becoming King in the North, he underwent rigorous training with both Rodrik Cassel and Alliser Thorne, spent time living with the Wildlings, and bravely fought against the undead. He even defeated a White Walker and survived two of the most brutal battles in Westeros. Jon Snow’s skill isn’t just a matter of the show building him up; his performance in every fight demonstrates why he’s considered a legendary swordsman.

I’ve always been fascinated by Jon Snow’s journey. He wasn’t instantly a skilled warrior when he joined the Night’s Watch, even though growing up in a castle gave him a bit of a head start. It took time and a lot of hard lessons – and honestly, putting himself in danger repeatedly – for him to become the incredible fighter we see at places like Hardhome and in the Battle of the Bastards. He really earns the title of, in my opinion, the best swordsman in Game of Thrones, though not every fight he’s in is quite as epic as that one.

7. Jon Snow vs Viserion is Jon’s Last, and Most Disappointing, Fight in the Series

Many fans consider Season 8 to be Jon Snow’s weakest showing in Game of Thrones. After being a central figure for three seasons, he becomes less important, often standing in the background while Daenerys, Tyrion, and Arya take the lead. He either states he doesn’t desire power or remains silent. The show surprisingly avoids the expected confrontation between Jon and the Night King in Season 8, Episode 3, ‘The Long Night’.

In the episode’s climax, Jon desperately tries to reach Viserion but fails. Despite having a Valyrian steel sword capable of instantly killing the undead dragon, he can’t get close enough to strike. He only survives because Rhaegal previously wounded Viserion’s neck. Jon braces for death, shouting at Viserion before Arya arrives and kills the Night King, saving him from being killed without accomplishing anything.

6. Jon Snow vs Orell is More Emotional Than Exciting

As a huge Game of Thrones fan, I always found Orell, one of Mance Rayder’s wargs, fascinating. He instantly distrusted Jon Snow when Jon went over to the Wildlings in Season 3, and honestly, he had good reason to. It wasn’t just about loyalty; Orell was clearly jealous of Ygritte and saw right through Jon. He knew Jon wasn’t a true Wildling and was just waiting for a chance to get back to Castle Black. Orell was spot-on about Jon’s true intentions, even if no one else realized it at the time!

The fight between Jon Snow and Orell doesn’t last long, with Jon quickly defeating him, but it does demonstrate the power of Wargs. As Orell dies, he enters the body of his eagle, which then attacks Jon. The most memorable parts of this encounter aren’t actually Jon’s fight with Orell, but rather the help he receives from Summer and Shaggydog against the Wildlings, and the emotional scene where Ygritte fires arrows at him as he attempts to flee.

5. Jon Snow vs Karl Tanner Teaches Jon to Fight Dirty

Karl Tanner is a character created for the TV show Game of Thrones, inspired by the characters Dirk and Clubfoot Karl from the A Song of Ice and Fire books. He becomes the leader of a group of soldiers who rebel in seasons 3 and 4 of Game of Thrones. After killing Lord Commander Mormont, Karl takes control of Craster’s Keep, makes a drinking cup from Mormont’s skull, and forces Craster’s wives into slavery. Jon Snow leads a small team beyond the Wall to kill Karl and his men, both to avenge Mormont and to prevent the mutineers from sharing information with the Wildlings.

The fight between Jon Snow and Karl Tanner is impressively staged, but its most important moment is when Jon learns he needs to be ruthless to win. Karl nearly defeats Jon by spitting in his eyes, briefly blinding him. Jon is saved when one of Craster’s wives intervenes and kills Karl. This fight changes Jon’s approach to combat; he stops seeing duels as honorable contests and starts fighting as if his life depends on it.

4. Jon Snow vs Qhorin Halfhand Was Jon’s First Life or Death Duel

Qhorin Halfhand is a standout character in Game of Thrones. He sends Jon Snow on a dangerous mission to go undercover with the Wildlings and reinforces Jon’s strong sense of duty and honor as a member of the Night’s Watch—values Jon holds until his death in Season 5. When Jon and Qhorin are captured by the Wildlings beyond the Wall, Qhorin understands the only way to protect the Night’s Watch is to convince the Wildlings that Jon is truly joining their side.

Qhorin Halfhand intentionally provokes Jon Snow into a deadly duel, ultimately forcing Jon to kill him. Though Qhorin doesn’t want to harm Jon, he fights with everything he has, pushing Jon to fight for his survival. Jon eventually kills Qhorin with his sword, Longclaw, proving himself to the Wildlings. The character of Qhorin is more detailed in the books, but the show Game of Thrones altered his scenes in Season 2 to develop the relationship between Jon Snow and Ygritte sooner than the source material did.

3. Jon Snow vs Styr, the Magnar of Thenn is the Highlight of the Battle at Castle Black

Season 4, Episode 9, “The Watchers on the Wall,” is widely considered one of the most exciting battle episodes of Game of Thrones. When the Wildlings attack Castle Black, Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch are left to defend it themselves. The episode features a chaotic and intense fight as they are overwhelmed by the Wildling forces, with a key moment being the duel between Jon Snow and Styr, the leader of the Thenns.

The fight between Jon and Styr is wild and violent, with both nearly killing each other. Styr almost wins by slamming Jon’s face into an anvil, but Jon manages to fight back using the same trick Styr used on him earlier: he spits blood in Styr’s eyes. This momentary distraction allows Jon to strike a fatal blow with a hammer, instantly killing the Magnar of Thenn.

2. Jon Snow vs Ramsay Bolton is as Violent as it is Cathartic

Many fans consider the ninth episode of Game of Thrones Season 6, “The Battle of the Bastards,” to be the best battle – and perhaps the best episode – of the entire series, and it’s easy to understand why. After years of hardship for the Stark family and grim storylines, Jon Snow finally retakes Winterfell in a brilliantly filmed episode that realistically depicts the chaos and brutality of medieval warfare. While Jon Snow fighting through Bolton’s army is impressive, his intense and decisive defeat of Ramsay Bolton is the most memorable part.

Ramsay Bolton is arguably the most hated villain in Game of Thrones, making it incredibly satisfying to watch Jon Snow reclaim Winterfell and almost defeat him in hand-to-hand combat. It’s a truly rewarding moment for the heroes after facing so many setbacks. Jon spares Ramsay’s life only to let Sansa decide his fate, and ultimately, Ramsay meets a gruesome end, screaming as his own dogs devour him.

1. Jon Snow vs The White Walker is the Greatest Sword Fight in Game of Thrones History

As a huge Game of Thrones fan, I can honestly say Season 5, Episode 8, “Hardhome,” was a total game-changer. In the books, Jon Snow just hears about Hardhome, but the show actually takes you there with him, and it’s horrifying. You see exactly how powerful the White Walkers are when the Wildling village is quickly overwhelmed by wights – it’s a truly terrifying scene. Honestly, the Night King never orchestrated anything quite as impactful again, and it all happened in just a few minutes!

The conflict reaches its peak when Jon Snow encounters a White Walker. Despite being overpowered, Jon fights for his life and engages in a fierce battle with the creature. Surprisingly, his Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw, doesn’t break during the fight. Jon manages to defeat the White Walker with a single, swift strike, creating a thrilling and unforgettable moment.

2026-02-05 01:35