200 replies to this topic

[Ser Amoc]

Grimwolfe, on 18 May 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

it was ned and 6 of his companions vs 3 kingsguard. it boiled down to Ser Arthur Dayne vs Ned Stark & Howland Reed. Ned stated if it wasn't for Howland, Dayne would have claimed his life with Dawn. The onyl questions being, had ned and arthur been fighting for a while and howland intervened just as neds strength was failing, or was it a straight forward 2 on 1 situation. i like to think ned held his own for a while and howland helped him before dayne could finish it.

Yeah, in my mind, I picture Ned holding his own against Dayne, Ice vs. Dawn. I imagine Ned slowly getting worn down though and Howland Reed using some sort of trickery to save his life. We don't know nearly enough about Reed though, so all I have are my wild speculations.

Talleyrand, on 18 May 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

Arthur Dayne was renowned true. But the White Bull was said to be a great warrior in his youth, we are told nothing about his older self and we hear nothing in particular about Whent. One of Ned's people may have been a squire but so was Josmyn and he killed 2 knights on the Blackwater, wounded a third and took two more prisoner. Also Howland Reed needed help when he was younger and outnumbered 3 to 1. However it is mentioned that he spent the war with Ned so it would be stupid to think he doesn't have some kind of new experience in fighting.

It's so hard to speculate when we just don't know much about most of the people at the ToJ. I'm sure the people with Ned, including Reed, had some battle experience, but I just find it hard to believe that they compared at all to the KG, especially considering it was the Lord Commander and Dayne who were present. You're right though, we don't even know much about Whent. It's just really hard to say...

Edited by Ser Amoc, 18 May 2012 - 01:35 PM.

[Dornish Bannerman]

Ser Garlan the Gallant is the greatest of them all. He trains against four guys, slew Ser Guyard Morrigen at the Battle of the Blackwater and is total badass. Also Khal Drogo is number two, possible tied. Garlan would win if they fought each other though. His arakh would not get through the mail and plate.

[Thendel]

Evamitchelle, on 18 May 2012 - 09:39 AM, said:

Is this the SSM you're referring to ?

Cheers for doing my work for me!
It may well be the one, but I remembered it as saying, more or less, that Barristan and Arthur were the best there ever was. It doesn't say that, only that the two of them are of equal skill. Maybe I should check up on the source before quoting it next time. Still, I stand by the viewpoint that those two at their prime were the best fighters of modern time, with Jaime as a close second.

[Artos Stark]

If we are talking about in their primes it would be pretty easy

1) Arthur Dayne
2) Barristan Selmy
3) Jaime Lannister
4) Garlan Tyrell
5) The Hound, The Mountain, Lyn Corbray and Bronn are tied here

If we are talking at the beginning of the series

1) Jaime Lannister
2) Garlan Tyrell
3) Barristan Selmy
4) The Hound
5) The Mountain

Right now at this point in the series

1) Garlan Tyrell
2) Barristan Selmy
3) Lyn Corbray
4) Bronn
5) Maybe Darkstar, Maybe Mance Rayder, Maybe Loras

[Casperjd2]

You guys are missing one person.  Robert Barratheon was the greatest warrior in the whole series.  He crushed the Targareans and took the crown for himself.  Done and done and done.  So far but I am betting that Jon Snow will be the best warrior/leader in the end.

[Artos Stark]

Casperjd2, on 18 May 2012 - 02:03 PM, said:

You guys are missing one person. Robert Barratheon was the greatest warrior in the whole series. He crushed the Targareans and took the crown for himself. Done and done and done. So far but I am betting that Jon Snow will be the best warrior/leader in the end.

I must admit that I forgot Robet on my list but even if I had remembed him he would have only made it to 5th on the first list.  I think he's tied with those other guys, they are all great warriors.  i'm not sure he could beat the Mountain, possibly the Hound but its a match up game.

[Edmure Floppy-Fish Tully]

Dornish Bannerman, on 18 May 2012 - 01:37 PM, said:

Ser Garlan the Gallant is the greatest of them all. He trains against four guys, slew Ser Guyard Morrigen at the Battle of the Blackwater and is total badass. Also Khal Drogo is number two, possible tied. Garlan would win if they fought each other though. His arakh would not get through the mail and plate.

We are only *told* Garlan is that good. Yes, he trains vs four men, but who is to say Jaime didn't as well, when younger and... two-handed?

For all we know, Guyard Morrigen might have been as good a swordsman as Hot Pie.

I'm not saying he's not skilled, but putting him in the league of Selmy or Arthur Dayne is premature at this point.

I'd put forward Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy and Sandor Clegane as being the top three at the start of the series, with the Red Viper and Gregor Clegane hanging around as well. We've seen them in action, unlike others.

And Dayne was awesome as Lemon Pie. Full Stop.

Do the Others count BTW? Heh.

[The Fallen]

Kevan Lannister, on 18 May 2012 - 08:24 AM, said:

Of all the warriors mentioned from recent times, like Barristan Selmy, Jaime Lannister, Ned Stark, to even Khal Drogo, who do you think is the greatest warrior?

    Picking the greatest is kinda tough, only because you can't hold a tournament and let the best man win. But by most accounts Arthur Dayne was one of the greatest and figures to be tough to beat. You also have to throw Barristan the Bold if only for what he did in Meereen against a younger, stronger opponent.

    BTW, I don't consider Ned Stark a warrior. He himself didn't believe in playing sword games. He's more of soldier than a swordsman.

[jon rr stark]

Edmure Floppy-Fish Tully, on 18 May 2012 - 03:37 PM, said:

We are only *told* Garlan is that good. Yes, he trains vs four men, but who is to say Jaime didn't as well, when younger and... two-handed? For all we know, Guyard Morrigen might have been as good a swordsman as Hot Pie. I'm not saying he's not skilled, but putting him in the league of Selmy or Arthur Dayne is premature at this point. I'd put forward Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy and Sandor Clegane as being the top three at the start of the series, with the Red Viper and Gregor Clegane hanging around as well. We've seen them in action, unlike others. And Dayne was awesome as Lemon Pie. Full Stop. Do the Others count BTW? Heh.

Heh indeed how would any of them fair against a white walker? and their strange swords. I'm still going with Arya, all the rest need their swords she has soo many more moves. Ok given that no one is taking Arya seriously (they all make that mistake) what about Jaqen H'ghar??

[Oldcrow]

Arthur Dayne was defeated by Rheagar at the tournamanet. This is a fact.

[Jolene Brown]

I have a hard time believing Bronn is one of the great warriors/swordsman of all time.  Maybe I'm forgetting something in the text, but I would imagine he's good, but nothing to go down in the history books.  I don't think he ever tries to pretend to be anything more.

[Talleyrand]

Oldcrow, on 18 May 2012 - 05:30 PM, said:

Arthur Dayne was defeated by Rheagar at the tournamanet. This is a fact.

Jousting, not a fight.

[Tree Warg]

My List of warriors known to me:

1. Selmy
2. Dayne
3. Jaime
4. Ned
5. Robert
6/7 The Cleganes are interchangeable
8. Syrio
9. Rhaegar
10. Drogo

[Artos Stark]

Oldcrow, on 18 May 2012 - 05:30 PM, said:

Arthur Dayne was defeated by Rheagar at the tournamanet. This is a fact.

In the joust.  Had it been with swords, Dayne would have made short work of him.

[Artos Stark]

Jolene Brown, on 18 May 2012 - 05:42 PM, said:

I have a hard time believing Bronn is one of the great warriors/swordsman of all time. Maybe I'm forgetting something in the text, but I would imagine he's good, but nothing to go down in the history books. I don't think he ever tries to pretend to be anything more.

I didn't think this was of all time.  I thought this was of the past 20 years or so.

If it is of all time then Aemon the Dragonknight and Daemon Blackfyre need to be up at the top with Dayne.

That being said.  Bronn has proven how deadly he is with a sword.  He defeated a very highly regarded knight one on one, and fought in two wars on the winning sides and was knighted for his efforts, then defeated yet another knight one on one.  That is just what we've seen, who knows what he did before.

Edited by Artos Stark, 18 May 2012 - 08:23 PM.

[Artos Stark]

Tree Warg, on 18 May 2012 - 08:08 PM, said:

My List of warriors known to me: 1. Selmy 2. Dayne 3. Jaime 4. Ned 5. Robert 6/7 The Cleganes are interchangeable 8. Syrio 9. Rhaegar 10. Drogo

In your list does Dayne have Dawn?  GRRM said himself that Dayne with Dawn was better than Barristan but without Dawn its a toss up.

[bloodymime]

It's kind of funny that for all the talking up Kingslayer gets as a fighter the only thing he'll ever be likely known for is murdering an elderly unarmed madman.

[Jon Flowers]

It's a tough call with so many of the best fighters recently crippled, killed or aging.  The wounded include Ser Jaime, The Hound and Ser Loras.  The dead are to numerous to mention and the aging include men like Ser Barristan, Bronze Yohn, the Mallister brothers and possibly Lord Tarly.  If I had to choose fighters from those that we know, it would probably be Ser Garlan or possibly Lyn Corbray but there are many periferal characters that are great fighters by reputation that we haven't been given a chance to hear about sufficiently to judge their prowess accurately.  And by the way, I'm leaving out Ser Robert Strong since I'm not sure exactly what he is and whether or not he qualifies as a person anymore.

[romantic]

Sandor Clegane can fight drunk and on fire and is a better fighter than his brother.

[AvengerofWinterfell]

jon rr stark, on 18 May 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

I cant see Ned using Ice in that fight. A great sword would be just too slow against that company, we have only ever seen it used in executions. In the TV series it is inplied Ned is quite a swordsman since Jamie was looking forward to having a real challange at a tourney when he comes south to KL, but Ned replys spmething along the lines he only does it for real. Also he must have been in many battles in the rebellion and you cant see Ned doing anything but leading from the front, and there is no record of him getting injured like the ferocious but perhaps slightly foolhardy Robert. But I see ned as being more than competent in any company. Traits he passed onto Arya.

Dawn was a greatsword as well so its not uncommon for them to be used in combat.  I think Ned was a more than competent warrior, but I also think he's firmly implanted in that 2nd tier of warriors, not to the caliber of Arthur Dayne and Barristan.

Dead: Arthur Dayne
Alive: Randyll Tarly (he's considered the best soldier in Westeros) though I think Garlan Tyrell is a very close 2nd