When you play the game of thrones, you either win or you die… and it likely won’t be a peaceful death, either. In fact, a fan of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might be wondering by this point how the writers behind the hit HBO franchise dream up such imaginatively gory demises.
From a combined 11 television seasons of the Game of Thrones universe, these are our picks for the most violent deaths from the franchise so far, including a major character who just met his fate in House of the Dragon’s latest season finale — and even some nameless characters offed moments after we met them. Watching these horrifying scenes had us thinking that perhaps dragon breath and wildfire are merciful ways to go out. Spoilers for all GOT, HOTD, and AKOTSK seasons so far!
15. Ormund Hightower gets impaled where the sun doesn’t shine
Though viewers probably weren’t sorry to see him go, Ormund Hightower (James Norton) takes a dagger to the backside in a clash with Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan) at the Battle of Tumbleton in House of the Dragon Season 3 finale, “The Treasons at Tumbleton.” (“That’s a proper f***ing by the North!” Roddy brags before they’re both flambéed by the dragon Silverwing.)
14. Baelor Targaryen’s head gets smashed in
Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) gets a nasty blow to the head during Duncan the Tall’s (Peter Claffey) trial of seven in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 episode “In the Name of the Mother.” But it isn’t until after he starts taking off his armor that we see the back of his skull is caved in.
13. A soldier gets underfoot as Caraxes arrives
An unnamed soldier thinks Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is coming to save him in the War for the Stepstones in House of the Dragon Season 1’s “Second of His Name.” But just as he cheers for “my prince,” his prince’s dragon stomps on him. (And Daemon had to know where Caraxes was landing, right?)
12. Viserys Targaryen gets his crown
In Game of Thrones Season 1’s “A Golden Crown,” Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) keeps up his promise to give Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd) a crown. But Drogo didn’t promise it be solid metal, which Viserys learns the hard way as the chieftain pours molten gold over his head.
11. Vaemond Velaryon loses half his head
Complaints about the line of succession to the Iron Throne costs Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson) his life in House of the Dragon Season 1’s “The Lord of the Tides.” After he loudly dismisses Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as a whore and her children as bastards, Daemon slices off the top half his head.
10. Theon Greyjoy botches his execution of Rodrik Cassel
Theon Greyjoy’s (Alfie Allen) ineptitude is yet again proven in Game of Thrones when he and his men capture Winterfell and its residents, including master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel (Ron Donachie). Rodrik defies Theon’s authority, and so Theon tries taking off Rodrik’s head in Season 2’s “The Old Gods and the New,” but it takes him multiple swings of his sword and one kick to do so.
9. Vhagar takes a bite out of Lucerys Velaryon
In House of the Dragon’s first season finale, “The Black Queen,” Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon, Vhagar, bully Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) and his dragon, Arrax, in the skies above Storm’s End. But then, much to Aemond’s regret, Vhagar goes rogue and kills both Lucerys and Arrax with one mighty chomp.
8. Daemon Targaryen kills his first wife, Rhea
The House of the Dragon Season 1 installment “We Light the Way” sees Daemon dispatch of his first wife, Rhea Royce (Rachel Redford), when they encounter each other near Runestone. First he spooks her horse so that the steed collapses on top of her, paralyzing her. Then he kills her with a rock to the head.
7. The Mountain decapitates a man with one hand
The Faith Militant doesn’t put up much of a fight against Ser Gregor Clegane a.k.a. The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) in Game of Thrones Season 6’s “No One.” When one of the Faith Militant members tries attacking the Mountain in the Red Keep, the latter puts one hand under the man’s chin and removes his head spinal column.
6. The Hound makes a man headbutt his own dagger
When Arya (Maisie Williams) comes across an old enemy in a Riverlands tavern in Game of Thrones’ Season 4 premiere, “Two Swords,” she and ally Sandor “The Hound” Clegane (Rory McCann) dispatch him and his cronies. And Sandor repeatedly shoves one man’s head into his own dagger.
5. Khal Drogo rips out Mago’s tongue
Drogo viciously murders a rider in his own khalasar in Game of ThronesSeason 1’s “The Pointy End.” Mago (Ivailo Dimitrov) objects to Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) intervention. But Drogo doesn’t appreciate the dissent: He slices Mago’s throat and then pulls the poor guy’s tongue out of that gaping wound.
4. Ramsay Bolton sics his hounds on Tansy
In the Game of Thrones Season 4 episode “The Lion and the Rose,” Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) has his dogs kill the servant Tansy (Jazzy de Lisser), all because his lover Myranda (Charlotte Hope) was apparently jealous of her. (It won’t be the last time he sics his hounds on a woman, but he eventually gets a taste of his own medicine.)
3. Talisa Stark falls victim to the Red Wedding
In Game of Thrones Season 3’s “The Rains of Castamere,” the pregnant Talisa Stark (Oona Chaplin) is the first casualty at the Red Wedding, dying as Lothar Frey (Tom Brooke) stabs her repeatedly in the abdomen.
2. Shireen Baratheon is burned alive as a sacrifice
Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) has Shireen (Kerry Ingram), his own daughter, burned at the stake in Game of Thrones Season 5’s “The Dance of Dragon” because he thinks that’s the sacrifice the Lord of Light requires. Spoiler: It isn’t, but he doesn’t have much time to regret his error…
1. The Mountain smashes the Red Viper’s head in
In the aptly-named Game of Thrones Season 4 episode “The Mountain and the Viper,” Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) only thinks he has won his duel against the Mountain. But then the latter literally gets the upper hand, and crushes the Red Viper’s head between his hands, eyes first.