Game Of Thrones’ 10 Strongest Night’s Watch Members

The Night’s Watch is a major group within the world of Game of Thrones, known for its many influential members throughout history. They played a crucial role in all eight seasons of the Game of Thrones TV series, acting as a key defense for the people. This is also true in the A Song of Ice and Fire books, where Jon Snow, stationed at the Wall, is a central character and drives much of the plot.

The Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones isn’t like the great noble families. Many of its members aren’t skilled fighters or even good people – most are criminals sent to the Wall as a punishment. This means the Night’s Watch generally isn’t a very powerful group. However, over the years, a few exceptional soldiers have risen through its ranks.

The stories of these characters are revealed either directly in Game of Thrones or through subtle clues. For example, a particularly strong leader from the Night’s Watch has a somewhat hidden past in the TV series, though the books offer a bit more detail. Considering all of this, here’s a ranking of the 10 most powerful members of the Night’s Watch, based on their strength, leadership, influence, and reputation.

Grenn

Grenn ranks as the 10th strongest member of the Night’s Watch, largely because of his fighting skills. While he isn’t a leader or particularly influential, Grenn is fiercely loyal. Jon Snow, who also appears on this list, selected him as a trusted lieutenant. Throughout Game of Thrones, Grenn consistently demonstrates his strength, eventually earning a place as a Ranger – the Night’s Watch’s most elite and experienced fighters – after training directly with Jon.

Grenn faces numerous dangerous situations and lives through them, including attacks by the undead on the Fist of the First Men, a rebellion at Craster’s Keep, and the fight to put down those who betrayed them. He also fights bravely in the Battle for the Wall. In a fitting end, Grenn dies defending a crucial tunnel from a giant known as “Mag the Mighty,” proving his worthiness as a member of the Night’s Watch. His actions demonstrate not only his fighting ability, but also his courage, faithfulness, and dedication to protecting the Wall.

Eddison Tollett

Eddison Tollett, usually called Edd, shares many qualities with Grenn. Like Grenn, he becomes friends with Jon Snow, trains alongside him, and joins the Night’s Watch as a Ranger. Both men fight in the same battles, but Edd goes on to survive the Battle for the Wall. This is why Edd ranks higher than Grenn, even though Grenn famously defeated a giant king: Edd demonstrates stronger leadership skills and has a greater impact on those around him.

Even though Grenn might be a stronger fighter, Edd is ultimately more effective overall thanks to his other qualities. He demonstrates strong leadership during the Battle for the Wall when Jon puts him in charge of the Rangers. Later, Edd continues to support Jon on dangerous missions, surviving the journey to Hardhome and remaining steadfastly loyal even when Alliser Thorne leads a rebellion.

Once Jon Snow leaves the Night’s Watch, Edd Tollett takes over as Lord Commander and stays in charge until the end of the series. He even survives the destruction of the Wall and fights bravely in the Battle of Winterfell. Because of his long service, fighting ability, and leadership qualities, Edd is considered the ninth most powerful member of the Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones, surpassing Grenn.

Qhorin Halfhand

Qhorin Halfhand appears lower on this list simply because the show Game of Thrones didn’t give him much screen time. While the series tells us a lot about his abilities over the two seasons he’s in, it doesn’t always show us. Still, his importance and skill earn him a place as one of the eight most powerful members of the Night’s Watch. He’s primarily known for being an exceptionally skilled warrior. At the beginning of the series, Qhorin is widely considered the most experienced and capable Ranger in the entire Night’s Watch.

Qhorin Halfhand’s incredible survival skills are demonstrated by the fact that he lived alone beyond the Wall for over a year. Despite losing half his fingers on his right hand – which earned him his nickname – he remained equally proficient with his left. He was even prepared to kill Jon Snow as part of a plan to allow Jon to infiltrate the Wildlings, sacrificing himself in the process. This combination of strength and the respect it commanded made Qhorin one of the most capable members of the Night’s Watch.

Samwell Tarly

It’s clear Samwell Tarly isn’t known for his fighting skills, and wouldn’t be on this list if it were based on battle prowess alone. However, his other qualities make him a valuable member of the Night’s Watch. While not a strong fighter, Sam’s courage and intelligence led him to achieve two incredible feats: he was the first person in thousands of years to kill a White Walker, and he discovered that Dragonglass is their weakness.

Samwell Tarly killed a Thenn during the Battle for the Wall, but his importance isn’t due to his fighting skills. Instead, he’s highly ranked because of his impact on the story. Beyond finding Dragonglass, Sam discovered Jon Snow’s true parentage and became a maester, eventually serving on the Small Council as Grand Maester. These accomplishments are among the greatest of anyone from the Night’s Watch, surpassing even the battlefield achievements of characters like Edd, Grenn, and Qhorin, and his influence is comparable to theirs.

Alliser Thorne

Alliser Thorne isn’t a particularly likable man, but he’s a strong and important figure in the Night’s Watch. As master-at-arms, he trains new recruits and has proven himself in combat, notably at the Fist of the First Men and during the Battle for the Wall. In that battle, he led the defense atop the Wall and then helped rally reinforcements to Castle Black, successfully fighting off the Wildling attack.

Alliser Thorne’s military experience and leadership, highlighted by his role as First Ranger in season 5 of Game of Thrones, demonstrate why he’s a capable figure. However, he leads through fear and harshness, not genuine respect. This puts him lower on the list than other seasoned Night’s Watch leaders, particularly considering his eventual betrayal of Jon Snow.

Mance Rayder

It’s notable that Mance Rayder appears on this list, considering his most impressive accomplishments happened after he left the Night’s Watch. However, he was once a Ranger of the Wall, so everything we see of his abilities in Game of Thrones is relevant. Even just being a Ranger puts him in the top tier – he was a highly skilled fighter and one of the first lines of defense at the Wall, making him better than the vast majority of Night’s Watch members.

Following those events, Mance Rayder rose to prominence and became known as the King Beyond the Wall. He united over ninety Wildling clans – groups that typically fight amongst themselves – with the shared purpose of surviving the harsh winter. This demonstrates just how powerful and persuasive Mance was, even managing to affect the enemies of the Wildlings. His legacy continues to impact Jon Snow, who attempts to fulfill Mance’s vision by leading Wildlings south of the Wall.

Qhorin and Grenn were powerful fighters, but probably wouldn’t have been a match for Mance Rayder. Even though Edd becomes a leader and Sam gains respect by the end of Game of Thrones, neither of them possessed the skills to bring together the wildlings – including giants, magical seers, and the Thenns – and become their king. It took a special kind of leader to unite such a difficult people.

Benjen Stark

While Mance Rayder had more widespread influence, I believe Benjen Stark was the more powerful figure within the Night’s Watch. Benjen wasn’t just a Ranger like Mance; he was the First Ranger, a position that signified both greater personal skill and considerable authority within the Watch.

Benjen Stark was so highly respected that Lord Commander Jeor Mormont authorized the Great Ranging, a massive expedition north of the Wall. One of the expedition’s main objectives was to locate Benjen and return him to the Night’s Watch. It’s unusual for a character in Game of Thrones to be so important and influential.

It turned out years later that Benjen Stark had actually survived his time north of the Wall, living alone for years. This is an incredible feat, surpassing even the year Qhorin spent surviving in the wilderness, and arguably more remarkable than Mance Rayder’s survival, considering Mance led a large army. Though Benjen was eventually killed by the Army of the Dead, he spent years fighting them off and secretly helped crucial characters like Bran and Jon Snow, ultimately impacting the fate of Westeros.

Jeor Mormont

Jeor Mormont, the first Lord Commander we meet in Game of Thrones, is a remarkably strong and capable leader. Known as the Old Bear due to his size and strength, he’s physically stronger than many of his fellow Night’s Watch members, including Grenn, Edd, Qhorin, Sam, Mance, and possibly even Benjen Stark. However, Jeor’s greatest strength isn’t physical – it’s his ability to lead, which allowed him to quickly climb the ranks and become Lord Commander.

For more than ten years, Jeor commanded the respect of those under his leadership. His reputation was so strong that he united his men for the Great Ranging, and even characters far away from the Wall knew of his honor. His murder ultimately led to the ranging north of the Wall, where his killers were brought to justice at Craster’s Keep.

Jeor Mormont had a significant impact on Jon Snow, ultimately helping him rise to become Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. The guidance Jeor provided shaped Jon into a highly respected and influential figure in Game of Thrones, solidifying the Old Bear’s legacy as a powerful member of the Night’s Watch.

Brynden Rivers

Brynden Rivers is remarkably powerful and easily could have topped this list. His strength comes from magic within the world of Game of Thrones, which makes him less of a skilled fighter than the number one character. However, when it comes to influence and how well-known he is, they’re pretty much equals.

If you didn’t read the Game of Thrones books, you might recognize Brynden Rivers as the Three-Eyed Raven. While the TV show doesn’t directly say they’re the same person, it offers several clues, including some in the spin-off series, House of the Dragon. The books, however, clearly state that Brynden Rivers is the Three-Eyed Raven who resides beyond the Wall.

Brynden Rivers, also known as the Three-Eyed Raven, is likely the most powerful character in Game of Thrones. His abilities allow him to see into the past and future, and he even played a key role in Bran becoming king on the show. Before gaining these powers, he was a respected Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, but he mysteriously vanished. Considering both magical strength and political influence, Brynden Rivers and Jon Snow would probably be considered the two greatest members the Night’s Watch has ever seen.

Jon Snow

From the start of Game of Thrones, Jon Snow shows strong leadership qualities and is a skilled fighter. His selection as Jeor Mormont’s aide suggests he has a bright future as a commander. Jon also helps train his friends, Edd and Grenn, turning them into capable Night’s Watch soldiers. Throughout the series, he faces dangerous situations and survives, including the harsh conditions at the Fist of the First Men, the raid on Craster’s Keep, and the Battle for the Wall.

When Mance Rayder attacked the Wall, Jon was put in charge by his fellow Night’s Watch members because they respected his skills as a fighter and a strategist. This demonstrated that his men were loyal to him, unlike those who only obeyed Alliser Thorne out of fear. Later, Jon was chosen as Lord Commander, further proving how much power and influence he held.

After leaving the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow repeatedly battles the army of the dead, ultimately leading Westeros to victory at Winterfell while serving as King in the North. Despite starting as a simple steward within the Night’s Watch, Jon rises to become arguably the most powerful and heroic figure in the entire Game of Thrones story.

2026-05-31 20:22