One of the best things about George R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firelore is that he has given names to the famous swords of famous characters and Houses. A few noble Houses still have a Valyrian steel sword in the family, while others have had theirs unjustly taken away or lost. PerGame of Thrones, House Tarly’s sword Heartsbane is likely in Samwell’s possession, and the rest are scattered here and there.
The finest swords inGame of Thronesare some of the deadliest and are made from the incredibly rare Valyrian steel. But that’s not to say all the swords are Valyrian steel, as some are said to have legendary origins, and others are made out of castle-forged steel. Furthermore,House of the Dragonfeatures two ancestral swords of House Targaryen, and they look every bit exquisite.
9Dawn (Game of Thrones)
Forged From The Heart Of A Fallen Star
The interesting thing about House Dayne’s ancestral Greatsword - Dawn is that only select knights in the family have wielded it. Those who did were worthy of it and carried the title"Sword of the Morning.“The Mad King’s Kingsguard, Ser Arthur Dayne, who fights Ned Stark and Howland Reed outside the Tower of Joy is one such example.
After Ser Arthur falls, Ned rides to the Daynes' seat of Starfall to return Dawn.A Song of Ice and Firelore says that Dawn is made from a fallen star, giving its blade a milky white glass appearance. The metal isas sharp as Valyrian steel, and if wielded correctly, can cut through scores with ease.
8Lightbringer (Game of Thrones)
The Magical Sword Forged By Azor Ahai
Lightbringer is intertwined with Azhor Ahai prophecy, as the Red Priestess, Melisandre, mentions inGame of Thrones:
In the ancient books, it’s written that a warrior will draw a burning sword from the fire. And that sword shall be Lightbringer. Stannis Baratheon, Warrior of Light. Your sword awaits you.
Melisandre is wrong to think that King Robert’s younger brother, Stannis Baratheon, is Azor Ahai reborn and that the sword she enchanted for him at the ceremony is Lightbringer. According to legend, the Lord of Light’s chosen Azor Ahai forged Lightbringer thousands of years ago to fight the battle against the darkness. Forged with the lifeblood of his wife, Nissa Nissa, the mythical object radiated heat and light.
7Heartsbane (Game of Thrones)
Forged From Valyrian Steel
The ancestral sword of House Tarly, Heartsbane, remained in the family for 500 years until Randyll’s son, Samwell, stole it on the night of his return.
It’s Valyrian steel. Only a handful of them left in the world.
Randyll decided that his bookish firstborn son, Samwell, was unworthy of his titles, and Heartsbane and decided to bestow the sword upon his second son, Dickon. Samwell, who’d sought Jon Snow’s permission to study at the Citadel to aid him against the Others, stole the sword before he left Horn Hill with his lover, Gilly, and baby Sam. He bestowed it upon Jorah Mormont before the Battle of Winterfell to use it against the Dead. Jorah slayed as many as he could with Heartsbane’s Valyrian steel blade which is lethal to White Walkers and their ilk, but succumbed to his injuries. The sword is most likely in the care of Samwell, who now serves as King Bran’s Grand Maester.
6Dark Sister (House of the Dragon)
The longsword, Dark Sister, lies withthe King Consort, Daemon Targaryen. It used to belong to Aegon the Conqueror’s older sister-wife, Visenya, and she struck down Dornish assassins in the mean streets of King’s Landing with it.
Visenya also used the sharp sword to cut Aegon’s cheek just to demonstrate that he needed the Kingsguard. She gave the sword to her only son, Prince Maegor, but he discarded it for Blackfyre. Dark Sister remained in Dragonstone until Visenya’s death, following which her hostage and Aenys' widow, Alyssa Velaryon, took it and fled with her children. Jaehaerys had Dark Sister when he laid claim to the Iron Throne, and he gave it to Prince Daemon. The Rogue Prince Daemon used Dark Sister to bisect Craghas Drahar, and currently, it is a weapon of nobility for the Blacks inHouse of the Dragon.
5Blackfyre (House of the Dragon)
Blackfyre is the legendary sword that was once wielded by Aegon the Conqueror. It’s made of Valyrian steel and is the bigger of the two ancestral blades of House Targaryen. It was inherited by the Conqueror’s heir, King Aenys, but he bestowed it upon his younger half-brother, Maegor the usurper, wanting him to wield it in his name and service.
Blackfyre came into the possession of Aenys' son, Prince Jaehaerys, through his eldest sister, Queen Rhaena Targaryen. She stole it from Maegor while he was asleep, and it remained with Jaehaerys after he became king. Blackfyre was in Viserys I’s possession at the start ofHouse of the Dragonand is currently wielded by his son, Aegon II. Aegon remains unworthy of the fabled sword and has hardly wielded it. Martial Targaryens such as Aegon, Maegor, Jaehaerys, and Daeron have used Blackfyre from time to time. The sword serves as Aegon the Unworthy’s illegitimate son, Daemon’s tool of legitimacy. After receiving it from his father, he gives himself the name Blackfyre and establishesHouse Blackfyre to challenge his brother, Daeron II Targaryen’s rule.
4Ice (Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon)
House Stark’s ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword, Ice, was in the family for generations until the conflict between the Starks and Lannisters. Ned killed a deserter with it and took it to King’s Landing when appointed as Hand to King Robert Baratheon. Ice was the plunder taken from Ned after Robert’s legal heir, Joffrey Baratheon, ordered his beheading for treason.
Ironic though as it may be, the King’s Justice, Ilyn Payne, used Ice to behead the very same person (Ned) who swung it for years. No longer in use and absurdly large to be wielded by men of the South, Tywin Lannister had Ice reforged into two blades, both of which were to be used in the service of House Lannister. He gave his favored son, Jaime the first and Joffrey Baratheon the second, as a wedding present.
3Oathkeeper (Game of Thrones)
Obtained From Melting Down Ice
The first Valyrian steel longsword reforged from Ice is christened Oathkeeper by Brienne of Tarth. Tywin gives the sword to Jaime with the intent of using it as a ceremonial object and weapon as Lord of Casterly Rock. Jaime refuses his father’s offer but is allowed to keep the new sword. He regifts the sword to Brienne and empowers her to find Sansa Stark and keep her safe.
It’s yours. It was reforged from Ned Stark’s sword. You will use it to defend Ned Stark’s daughter. You swore an oath to return the Stark girls to their mother. Lady Stark’s dead. Arya is probably dead too. But there’s still a chance to find Sansa and get her somewhere safe.
Brienne keeps her word, and Oathkeeper remains with her until the very end ofGame of Thrones.She uses it in Sansa’s service, in the battle against the Dead, and it is her weapon of choice in the closing scenes ofGame of Throneswhen appointed as King Bran’s Lord Commander.
2Widow’s Wail (Game of Thrones)
Oathkeeper’s sister blade lands in Joffrey’s lap at the breakfast before his wedding ceremony. It is a wedding present from his grandfather, Tywin, and nothing more than a status symbol for the boy king. He has no use for it, and the most he does with it is to christen it as Widow’s Wail to spite Sansa Stark.
Having trained to fight with his left hand, Jaime uses Widow’s Wail in the Sack of Highgarden, to defend himself against the Dothraki ambush in the Loot Train Attack and in the battle against the Dead at Winterfell.
1Longclaw (Game of Thrones)
Longclaw didn’t just drop into Jon Snow’s lap because he was a heroic character meant to wield it for the greater good. Instead, he proved his mettle, and it was bestowed upon him by Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont of the Night’s Watch. Jeor chose Ned Stark’s bastard, Jon, as his personal steward and gifted him Longclaw after being saved from a Wight.
Jeor changed Longclaw’s original bear pommel to a white wolf, to honor Jon’s heritage as a Stark of Winterfell. He gave the young warrior the blade because there was no point in saving the sword for his exiled son, Ser Jorah the slave trader. The disgraced Jorah left his ancestral blade behind before fleeing with his expensive wife, Lynesse, and it was delivered to Jeor at Castle Black. Longclaw is the sword Jon used in every single one of his battles inGame of Thrones. He used it at Hardhome,the Battle of the Bastards, and King’s Landing, and it remains with him as he serves in exile.
