Valyrian steel. Fancy name, even fancier results. In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV cousins, these blades are rare, stupidly sharp, and able to ruin a White Walker's day with a single swing. Not everybody who gets to hold one is a walking legend, but some of these folks actually know how to use the things.

Here’s a cheeky but accurate ranking of the strongest Valyrian steel sword wielders who actually showed up on screen. Yes, dragons are cool. Yes, armor looks nice. No, that does not replace basic sword sense.

10. Aegon II Targaryen (Blackfyre)

Coronation energy, zero dueling energy. Aegon II parades Blackfyre, the Conqueror’s old sword, like it’s a status prop at his coronation. He never proves himself in an actual duel and loses the blade pretty quickly. A king by birth, not by blade.

9. Aemond Targaryen (Blackfyre)

Aegon II’s brother, Aemond, ends up with Blackfyre after showing he can be ruthless and very good at riding a dragon. He was trained by one of Westeros’s best knights and is terrifying from the saddle. On foot with a sword? Not much proof. Still, he is sharper than his brother and a legitimate threat when he is not roasting people from the sky.

8. Arya Stark (Catspaw Dagger)

Small, fast, deadly. Arya’s training arc turns her into a kitchen-sink level assassin. She keeps the Catspaw dagger through everything and uses it for huge moments: Littlefinger, Brienne in a duel, and the Night King. She might not have decades of battlefield experience, but her feats speak loudly and very pointily.

7. Ned Stark (Ice)

Ned treats Ice like ceremonial jewelry for heads more than a battlefield tool, but he is no weakling. He fought in major rebellions, faced legendary swordsmen, and could keep pace with top knights. If he had used Ice more in combat, his war record would have looked even better.

6. Jaime Lannister (Widow’s Wail)

Once the best knight in Westeros with both hands, Jaime falls, learns, and claws his way back up. With Widow’s Wail he proves useful in open battles, survives the Long Night, and cuts through wights like paperwork. He never fully regains his old glory, but he is still a dangerous man with a Valyrian blade.

5. Jorah Mormont (Heartsbane)

Sam’s family greatsword ends up in Jorah’s hands for the big undead charge. The Dothraki maneuver may look silly on paper, but Jorah gets in there and uses Heartsbane effectively against hordes of wights. He dies doing what he does best: protecting someone else. Hero points awarded.

4. Brienne of Tarth (Oathkeeper)

Brienne is a walking shield with the skill to match. Given Oathkeeper, she becomes even more imposing, beating the Hound in single combat and commanding troops during the Long Night. She survives endless horrors and keeps turning up to fight another day.

3. Jon Snow (Longclaw)

Jon grows into a seasoned warrior on screen. He has a string of solid kills and clutch moments: wiping out White Walkers, surviving the Battle of the Bastards, and hacking through hordes beyond the Wall. Longclaw elevates him, but Jon’s grit and leadership make him a top-tier wielder.

2. Daemon Targaryen (Dark Sister)

Daemon is a walking headline. He ends the War for the Stepstones almost single-handedly, carving through enemies with Dark Sister and showing off tactical brutality. He fights brilliantly both on foot and from a dragon, and his battlefield résumé is one of the most impressive on screen.

1. Cregan Stark (Ice)

Cregan is famous for actually using Ice as a real weapon instead of decorative beheading steel. Legends call him one of the greatest warriors of his time. He dukes it out in the Dance of the Dragons era with a reputation that makes other fighters look like they forgot to sharpen their swords. Between both shows, Cregan stands the tallest in Valyrian steel terms.

Final thoughts

Valyrian steel makes any sword more lethal, but it does not replace training, guts, or tactical sense. Some folks parade their fancy swords and look royal while doing it. Others bleed, practice, and earn their spot on the list. If you’re hoping to be top-ranked, maybe start with lessons, not coronations.