Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4

The Game of Thrones franchise is highly regarded for its immense battles and action sequences, with some standing out as the best. Across eight seasons, Game of Thrones developed a reputation as a blockbuster TV series, matching the quality of fantasy battles that had only been seen in movies like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. House of the Dragon’s timeline is set centuries prior, offering even more wild action set pieces with the more prevalent involvement of dragons.

Based on the A Song of Ice & Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, the Game of Thrones franchise has exciting, epic fantasy action. However, at its core, it’s a character-driven saga. A meaningful story is the foundation for a powerful, emotional battle scene, with examples like Hardhome and the Battle of Rook’s Rest in House of the Dragon season 2 standing out for the character work happening throughout the conflict. Part of the Game of Thrones appeal is that no character is ever entirely safe, contributing to the emotional stakes of a bloody battle.

12

Daenerys Vs. The Slavers

Game Of Thrones, Season 6, Episode 9, “The Battle Of The Bastards”

Just before the unforgettable Battle of the Bastards, Daenerys faces her own climactic battle in Meereen, the city she spent three seasons governing. The slavers arrive to recapture the city with a powerful fleet, and Dany personally rides out on Drogon, joined by her other dragons, to meet them and light them ablaze. It’s a powerful moment foreshadowing the strength of dragonfire, but it’s not altogether too memorable.

Daenerys has always been one of Game of Thrones’ most iconic characters, but the constant struggle with her was that her surrounding situation wasn’t as captivating as the events occurring in Westeros. While she had compelling supporting characters and undeniably powerful moments, the overall events in Slaver’s Bay weren’t the best parts of Game of Thrones, including its climactic finish.

11

Battle Of King’s Landing

Game Of Thrones, Season 8, Episode 5, “The Bells”

The Battle of King’s Landing was essentially the final climax of Game of Thrones, and while there are aspects to praise, it suffers due to its writing. Of course, the enormous budget of season 8 and the immense work contributed by the cast and crew would make this an entertaining sequence that would suffice on most TV shows. However, the issues with season 8 weaken the battles.

“The Bells” is the second lowest-rated episode of the entire show, with nearly every aspect of the battle ruined by questionable character choices. The most egregious decision, of course, was to have Daenerys lose her mind and set King’s Landing ablaze. While this may have been the proper ending for her character, the rushed nature of season 8 weakened her descent, tainting the climactic battle.

10

Battle Of Winterfell

Game Of Thrones, Season 8, Episode 3, “The Long Night”

The Battle of Winterfell suffers from many of the same pitfalls as King’s Landing. Game of Thrones spent seven seasons building up the White Walkers as a mega threat, only to see the heroes thwart them in one episode, seemingly without any meaningful allegory or thematic questioning. This should’ve been the show’s most epic battle, a climactic confrontation between good and evil, but the entire episode is filmed too dark to even offer any riveting visual aesthetic.

Game of Thrones’ appeal was that it would subvert fantasy norms. While LOTR saw heroes coming out unscathed against incredible odds, GOT offered a more realistic logic that any character could die at any time. The Battle of Winterfell abandons that logic entirely, with the main characters seemingly invincible while unnamed soldiers die in masses around them. The episode’s only subversion was the decision to make Arya kill the Night King. Sure, no one expected it, but that’s because it doesn’t mean anything.

9

The Fighting Pits Of Meereen

Game Of Thrones, Season 5, Episode 10, “Mother’s Mercy”

The battle in the fighting pits of Meereen suffers from many of the same issues as Dany’s conflict with the slavers, but there are some memorable aspects to offer praise for. The Sons of the Harpy aren’t entirely meaningful in the overarching narrative, but their design is undoubtedly compelling and offers a phantom, mystical danger appeal. Their shocking, sudden appearance raises the stakes of this battle.

Of course, the most unforgettable moment of the season 5 climax is Daenerys mounting Drogon for the first time. The rogue dragon returns for the first time after being missing the whole season, defending his mother from her attackers. The battle also involves the return of Jorah Mormont to Dany’s side and the arrival of Tyrion Lannister in Meereen for the first time.

8

Battle In The Stepstones

House Of The Dragon, Season 1, Episode 3, “Second Of His Name”

House of the Dragon’s first battle sequence isn’t quite as massive as what audiences had come to expect from Game of Thrones, but it added some exciting action to the relatively quiet premiere season. The conflict with the Crabfeeder in the Stepstones gives Daemon the opportunity to show what he’s made of, almost single-handedly dealing with the terrifying threat.

Of course, Corlys and the armies of House Velaryon come in clutch to help seal the deal, but Daemon claims glory for the day by personally taking down the Crabfeeder. While not the franchise’s most emotional battle sequence, it’s got a little bit of everything, from dragon action to heroic swordplay to the last-moment arrival of the protagonist’s army to save the day.

7

Battle Beyond The Wall

Game Of Thrones, Season 7, Episode 6, “Beyond The Wall”

The Battle Beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones season 7 suffers from some of the logic issues mentioned in the Battle of Winterfell, tainting what could’ve been one of the show’s most cinematic, exciting sequences. The concept of sending a small team of men beyond the Wall to bring back a wight is relatively ridiculous, to begin with, but it only got worse as every unnamed side character was killed off while the heroes stood tall against legions of wights.

As usual, the arrival of Daenerys and her dragons, along with Ramin Djawadi’s epic music, can make any scene exciting. As pure fantasy action and entertainment, this battle is fantastic. The issue is that it abandons many of the core principles that make Game of Thrones the prolific work that it is.

6

Loot Train Attack

Game Of Thrones, Season 7, Episode 4, “The Spoils Of War”

The loot train attack in season 7 finally sees the force of Daenerys Targaryen reach the continent of Westeros, with her Dothraki launched in response to Jaime Lannister’s capture of Highgarden. Jaime hopes to bring the wealth and food provisions of Highgarden back to King’s Landing to prepare the capital for a siege, but he’s caught off-guard by an overwhelming cavalry force, supplemented by Dany riding Drogon.

Part of the appeal of this battle is that it mirrors the Field of Fire, a pivotal battle in House Targaryen’s history where the forces of House Lannister and the Reach met Aegon the Conqueror in battle. In both situations, the power of dragonfire tilted the battle in favor of the Targaryen monarch. In this case, there are recognizable characters on both sides, making the conflict all the more engaging.

5

Battle Of Castle Black

Game Of Thrones, Season 4, Episode 9, “The Watchers On The Wall”

The Battle of Castle Black is one of the most emotional in all of Game of Thrones, as it’s incredibly costly no matter the victor. Jon’s time with the wildlings in seasons 2 & 3 gives him and the audience sympathy and admiration for their cause, and there’s no desire to see either side kill each other. When the true enemy is the White Walkers, the Battle of Castle Black is just needless carnage, with both sides fighting for what they believe to be survival.

The episode most notably sees Jon’s first love, Ygritte, shot and killed, tragically dying in his arms in a heart-shattering moment. Ygritte is one of the show’s most likable characters, perfectly encapsulating the free spirit of the wildlings, allowing Jon Snow to see his true purpose in uniting their clans with the people of Westeros. This battle is pivotal for Jon to realize the value of all human lives.

4

Battle Of Rook’s Rest

House Of The Dragon, Season 2, Episode 4, “The Red Dragon And The Gold”

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, has recently brought forth one of the franchise’s best battles, offering something none before could provide. The Battle of Rook’s Rest lives up to the name of the Dance of the Dragons, with both sides of the prequel TV series bringing dragons to war for the first time. The spectacle of seeing dragons arrive to fight for both sides is astounding, matching the excitement of the best battles in Game of Thrones.

Regarding narrative, the Battle of Rook’s Rest sees Rhaenys making a heroic sacrifice for the Blacks, breaking the hearts of audiences. Not to mention, the dynamic between Aegon and Aemond is endlessly captivating, and it takes a drastic step forward when Aemond commands his dragon to launch fire at his older brother. The mix of exciting twists and visual brilliance make Rook’s Rest one of the franchise’s most remarkable moments.

3

Hardhome

Game Of Thrones, Season 5, Episode 8, “Hardhome”

Perhaps the most horrifying battle in the Game of Thrones franchise, the massacre at Hardhome sees the sheer terror of the White Walkers amassing for the first time. Jon Snow is at his best fulfilling the heroic archetype in this episode, convincing wildlings to escape while they still can and fighting to his last breath to save as many as possible. The reveal that Valyrian steel can kill White Walkers is also vital.

On the willing front, the episode attaches audiences to an endearing mother, only to have her ripped away by the episode’s end, adding a direct impact to the trauma. The battle mixes elements of horror as the army of the dead overwhelms the wildlings, forcing them to flee. The culmination sees the Night King staring down Jon Snow as he resurrects the fallen wildlings, adding to his ever-growing forces and reminding audiences that there’s much more to come.

2

Battle Of The Blackwater

Game Of Thrones, Season 2, Episode 9, “Blackwater”

While Game of Thrones season 1 didn’t have the budget to show its climactic conflict on screen, season 2 fulfilled the desire to see a battle in the world of Westeros. The Battle of the Blackwater is made captivating by the fact that there are lovable characters and detestable characters on both sides, creating a conflict of interest in who to root for. The hope for Tyrion to pull through is weakened by the ever-growing hatred for Joffrey and Cersei, but Stannis and Melisandre aren’t much better in the show.

The wildfire explosion is one of the most mind-blowing moments in Game of Thrones, delivering on the promise of epic fantasy elements sprinkled into the typically realistic medieval conflict. There’s great drama and character development on both sides, with characters like Tyrion, Cersei, Stannis, and the Hound all having incredible moments throughout the conflict. With the arrival of Lord Tywin to save the day for the Lannisters, the power dynamic in Game of Thrones shifts enormously after this battle.

1

Battle Of The Bastards

Season 6, Episode 9, “The Battle Of The Bastards”

The Battle of the Bastards is the gold standard for the Game of Thrones franchise. In terms of entertainment and visual spectacle, this battle perfectly captures the brutality and claustrophobia of medieval combat. Jon Snow is one of the show’s heroes, but he’s not immune to being surrounded by a shield wall and having to gasp for breath when falling under a pile of dead bodies on the battlefield. Everything about this battle’s design is quintessential to this universe.

On the character front, the stakes have never been this high. Ramsay Bolton is arguably the show’s most despicable antagonist, and he’s committed unspeakable acts against some of the show’s heroes, including killing Rickon Stark in this very episode. There’s a clear side to root for, with no better goal imaginable than the Starks finally returning home and reclaiming Winterfell. The Battle of the Bastards is peak Game of Thrones action, and the franchise’s upcoming spinoffs will have trouble matching it.