The Most Legendary Game of Thrones Swords Unveiled

Highlights

Game of Thrones features a variety of finely crafted swords, including Valyrian steel blades like Jon Snow's Longclaw and House Stark's Ice.

Valyrian steel greatswords require two hands to wield due to their size, whereas bastard swords are lighter and can be used with either one or two hands.

Longswords are the most frequently used type of swords and have the ability to be reforged into smaller swords. Tywin Lannister famously reforged Ice into two Valyrian steel longswords.

Warfare and weapons in HBO's Game of Thrones draw inspiration from the medieval period. Consequently, the show includes multiple exquisitely crafted Valyrian steel blades. Notable swords in Game of Thrones include Jon Snow's Longclaw, House Stark's Ice, and House Tarly's Heartsbane.

In addition to these, the show also showcases swords made from steel forged in castles. Examples of castle-forged steel blades, produced by skilled blacksmiths in Westeros, include King Joffrey Baratheon's Hearteater and Arya Stark's smallsword, Needle. Ultimately, all the swords in Game of Thrones vary in size, weight, and are designed for either one-handed or two-handed use.

Greatswords

Valyrian steel greatswords, such as Ice, Heartsbane, and Brightroar, are notable examples of these large, two-handed weapons. Forged in Old Valyria before its destruction, Valyrian steel blades are easily recognizable by their distinct rippled patterns and are superior to castle-forged steel. However, the art of forging Valyrian steel was lost after the Doom, resulting in a scarcity of these swords in Westeros to combat the Night King and the Army of the Dead.

Not all family heirloom greatswords are made of Valyrian steel, as demonstrated by House Dayne's sword, Dawn. Said to have been crafted from the remnants of a fallen star, Dawn was last wielded by Ser Arthur Dayne and is reserved for those deemed worthy. Unlike Valyrian steel blades, greatswords and longswords made of castle-forged steel require regular honing to maintain their sharpness.

Greatswords are the largest and heaviest weapons in the Game of Thrones world, surpassing all others in size. Tywin Lannister even had Ice, the ancestral sword of House Stark, reforged into two smaller longswords due to its "absurdly large" proportions. In the very first episode, Theon Greyjoy assists Ned Stark in drawing Ice from its scabbard, emphasizing its immense size.

Bastard Swords

Also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword, a bastard sword falls in between a greatsword and a longsword in terms of size. Longclaw, the Valyrian steel bastard sword of House Mormont, holds significant renown within the Game of Thrones universe. The sword has been in the possession of the House for five centuries, with its last wielder being Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, also known as the Old Bear. Jeor bestowed Longclaw upon Jon Snow, his trustworthy personal steward at Castle Black, after Jon's dishonorable brother Jorah was banished for selling poachers into slavery. Interestingly, Jorah had abandoned Longclaw before departing. Prior to gifting it to Jon, Jeor replaced the sword's bear-shaped pommel with a direwolf symbol to acknowledge Jon's Stark heritage as a young warrior. Jon, known for his integrity, skillfully utilized Longclaw.

Jon, a skilled swordsman, adeptly grasped Longclaw's hilt and exhibited remarkable physical agility on the battlefield. He brandished the sword during various significant conflicts such as the Great Ranging expedition, the Battle of Castle Black, the Massacre at Hardhome, the Battle of the Bastards, the Battle of Winterfell, and the Battle of King's Landing. Bastard swords possess an elongated grip, allowing for two-handed wielding, while their relatively lighter weight permits single-handed use as well.

Longswords

Longswords, also referred to as one-handed swords, are commonly used by Westerosi knights and follow bastard swords in terms of significance. According to lore, longswords typically measure 3 feet and 4 inches in length, although variations in size can occur based on the wielder. In Game of Thrones, Tywin Lannister demonstrates the ability to reforge the greatsword, Ice, into two smaller Valyrian steel swords.

Following the loss of his sword hand, Jaime Lannister undergoes training with Bronn to master the newly reforged Valyrian steel longsword. Eventually, he presents the longsword as a gift to Brienne of Tarth, who names it Oathkeeper.

Smallswords

Arya Stark's Needle, a smallsword featured in HBO's Game of Thrones, was custom-made by her half-brother Jon (technically her cousin). Recognizing her passion for swords, warfare, and warriors, he personally gifted her with the weapon before departing for the Wall. As Arya travels to King's Landing, Jon affectionately shares, "I had the blacksmith create this specifically for you. While it may not be suitable for decapitating foes, it possesses the ability to swiftly puncture them with precision if you're agile enough."

Jon also gives Arya the first lesson in swordplay:

Stick 'em with the pointy end.

Mikken, Winterfell's blacksmith, crafts a smallsword specifically for Arya, and Jon believes it complements her petite build. As time passes, Arya becomes increasingly nimble and remains dedicated to keeping Needle by her side until the conclusion of her Game of Thrones adventure.