Game of Thrones is renowned for its spectacular battle scenes. The longest took 55 days to film and the show has been known to dedicate entire episodes to a battle. Here are ten of the best.
The Battle of Winterfell (Season 5, Episode 10)
The Battle of Winterfell is over quickly. After sacrificing his daughter to the Lord of Light, Stannis Baratheon finally meets his sticky end when his remaining army is destroyed by the Boltons. At last, Brienne of Tarth avenges Renley Baratheon.
Clegaine Brawl (Season 8, Episode 5)
It does not really qualify for a battle, but the fight between The Hound and The Mountain during the massacre at King’s Landing is an iconic moment in the series.
The Hardhome Massacre (Season 5, Episode 8)
When Jon Snow attempts to make peace with the wildlings, we see the White Walkers in full power. They massacre all of the wildlings that did not manage to escape and we learn something that chills Jon to the bone… the dead rise.
The Fighting Pits Ambush (Season 5, Episode 9)
Daenerys reinstates the fighting pits only to find herself surrounded in an ambush lead by the Sons of the Harpy. The battle is shortlived but the ambush is significant for another reason. We finally get to see Daenerys ride a dragon.
The Frozen Lake Battle (Season 7, Episode 6)
Jon Snow leads a group of the bravest survivors to head North of The Wall and capture a member of the living dead. They find themselves stranded on a lake and are ready to give in when Daenerys Stormborn saves the day again.
The Battle of Castle Black (Season 4, Episode 9)
When Mance Raydor’s army storms The Wall, we get a full episode dedicated to the battle. There are mammoths, giants, and Jon and Ygritte reunite for the last time.
The Battle of Black Water (Season 2, Episode 9)
The Battle of Black Water was the first major battle of the series, which had a whole episode dedicated to the fighting. The highlight was the cinematic moment when Tyrion launches wildfire into Stannis Baratheon’s fleet and green sparks fly.
The Battle of the Bastards (Season 6, Episode 9)
The Battle of the Bastards took 25 days to film and was flawless. It had us on the edge of our seats from start to finish, and it felt like the battle was surely lost up until the very last minute. The best part? Sansa finally gets her revenge on her tormentor, Ramsey Bolton.
The Real Battle of Winterfell (Season 8, Episode 3)
Say what you want about Season 8, but The Battle of Winterfell is one of the greatest episodes of television. The battle took 55 days to film and saw pretty much every character we care about band together to fight the White Walkers and the army of the living dead. Every moment is tense and beautifully crafted with a triumphant victory initiated by Arya Stark.
