Random Fictional Fighter Would Destroy All Others In A Sword Fight (21 items)

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  (#1) Achilles

  • The Fury of Achilles, The Trojan Horse, Iphigenia, Troilus and Cressida, Troy, Penthesilea, Orfeo

  Reputation: Achilles is believed to be the greatest ancient warrior in all of Greek mythology, and this status is well-earned. Achilles - through the virtue of both his natural talent, his fearsome rage, and his magical (near-total) immortality - slays thousands during the clash at Troy and personally defeats some of the most legendary challengers of the age.

  Signature Victory: During the Trojan War, an enraged Achilles devastates the opposing army and forces them to retreat behind the walls of the city. Hector, the leader of the Trojan army, steps out from the city alone and duels Achilles, but fails to land a blow against the warrior and is ultimately slain.

  Biggest Weakness: They don't call it an Achilles' heel for nothing! When Achilles was a baby, his mother dipped him in the waters of the River Styx, making him invulnerable to swords, spears, and other tools across his entire body - except where his mom held him by his heels during the dipping process. So a well-placed shot (say, with a contaminated arrow perhaps) could easily be his undoing.
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  (#2) Aragorn

  • The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth

  Reputation: Aragorn is one of the greatest and more revered swordsmen, rangers, and military minds of the Third Age in the Lord of the Rings saga. Eventually crowned King of Gondor, Aragorn is the wielder of the famous longsword Andúril, also known as the Flame of the West. You definitely develop an aura of power and authority when you have a sword with its own name.

  Signature Victory: Aragorn successfully leads the defense of the stronghold of Hornberg in Helm's Deep, alongside Legolas and Gimli, against the vast and menacing forces of Saruman's army.

  Biggest Weakness: Fear and insecurity. Aragorn comes from the lineage of Isildur, a ruler who fails to wipe out the One Ring after cutting it off Sauron's hand. Aragorn fears that he, too, will fail to act when it comes time to eliminate the ring because of his frail humanity.
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  (#3) Maximus Decimus Meridius

  • Gladiator

  Reputation: As the greatest Roman general under Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in the 2000 film Gladiator, Maximus leads the Roman legion in a clash against the hordes of Germania and establishes himself as a man worthy of taking on the role of Caesar. When he is eventually betrayed and escapes execution only to be conscripted into service as a gladiator, he rebuilds his reputation as the best of the best through his fierce skill with a sword, his keen strategic mind, and his mercy.

  Signature Victory: The most defining conflict of Maximus's career as a gladiator comes when he is forced to face off against the undefeated gladiatorial champion, Tigris of Gaul, who is brought out of retirement just in the hopes of slaying Maximus. Despite Tigris being stronger and having two tools, as well as Maximus being mauled by live tigers in the arena, Maximus still manages to gain the upper hand. But, when it comes time to execute Tigris, the former general refuses and thus earns his moniker Maximus the Merciful.

  Biggest Weakness: Maximus is a well-rounded and adept soldier in nearly every regard. He's level-headed and cooperative. His only real point of leverage is his drive for vengeance over the merciless offing of his wife and child. His anger can be manipulated, which also makes him reckless due to his willingness to perish and rejoin his family in the afterlife.
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  (#4) Conan the Barbarian

  • Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, Conan the Barbarian, The Legend of Conan, Conan the Destroyer, Comic Book Villains

  Reputation: Conan's abilities, strengths, and skills have varied wildly across the multiple iterations of his lore, from the books to the film adaptations to the long-running comic book franchise. However, the one thing that persists among every depiction of the iconic Cimmerian swordsman is that he's entirely unmatched when it comes to his fighting prowess, and possesses nearly unparalleled strength among the peoples of the Hyborian Age.

  Signature Victory: After losing his comrade and love interest, Valeria, at the hands of Thulsa Doom - in the 1982 cult classic Conan the Barbarian film - Conan leads an epic offensive strike against Doom's warriors, slaying them through the use of tools and booby traps. However, the fight eventually pits Doom's lieutenant, Rexor, against Conan in a mano-a-mano sword fight. It's one of the closest brushes with defeat the Barbarian hero faces, but with an assist from Valeria - reincarnated as a Valkyrie - Conan regains the upper hand and eviscerates the ferocious villain.

  Biggest Weakness: Truly, Conan's weaknesses are few, especially as he's developed through different mediums over the decades. His speed and strength are almost superhuman; he can take impossible levels of pain, and, despite his brutish appearance, possesses a brilliant mind. However, his devotion to chivalry toward women borders on a true liability. He will often refuse to fight women, even when they are attempting to snuff him out, and he makes reckless decisions when it comes to saving, protecting, or defending the honor of any woman he meets.
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  (#5) The Samurai

  Reputation: As a wandering ronin, meaning a samurai who answers to no master and kills for hire, the hero of Yojimbo has no reputation that follows him - that's the way he lives his life. Although as soon as he pulls his katana, anyone who sees what happens next immediately appreciates his talents. While his true name is never revealed, he calls himself Sanjuro.

  Signature Victory: After dedicating himself to wiping out everyone belonging to two warring groups in a small Japanese village in 1860, Sanjuro manipulates both sides of the feud, escalating them in an effort to eradicate them all. Eventually, this leads to a showdown between Sanjuro and the henchmen working for syndicate boss Ushitora. Drawing his sword, Sanjuro mercilessly dispatches nearly a dozen foes in a matter of moments - including Ushitora's ruthless right-hand man, Unosuke, who is armed and still cannot stop the devastating wrath of the vengeful ronin. 

  Biggest Weakness: The wandering samurai has taken to drinking and finds himself emotionally isolated - which may be why he takes up the charge of seeing both groups wiped out, despite having no dog in the fight. He's not only a man without a master, but also without a cause until his code of honor is offended, and he's willing to put his life in jeopardy simply to achieve his goal. Today, this behavior might be seen as a troubling sign of mental illness or depression similar to Martin Riggs's lack of self-preservation in the Lethal Weapon franchise.
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  (#6) Sandor Clegane

  • Game of Thrones

  Reputation: Sandor Clegane is one of the most ferocious warriors in the Game of Thrones universe, recognized for his strength, skill, and voracious love of conflict. He's said to have slain his first opponent when he was only 12 years old, gutting an enemy soldier, and he pursues careers that would almost inevitably lead to him having to fight and kill. However, he has a strong sense of honor and justice.

  Signature Victory: The Hound's greatest victory comes at the cost of his own life when he faces off against his magically undead and gigantic brother, Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane. As they fight with swords, then grapple, Sandor loses both his eyes to The Mountain's famously vicious thumbs, but finally ends their life-long rivalry - and gets long-overdue justice for all The Mountain's victims - by pushing them both off the top of a tall tower, sending them to their mutual ends.

  Biggest Weakness: He's not a big fan of fire. It's hard to blame him, considering half his face was burned off by his brutish brother when they were small children, as Gregor got enraged that Sandor was playing with one of his toys. The scars lasted the rest of his life, as did his distaste for flames.
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  (#7) Connor MacLeod

  • Highlander: The Final Dimension, Highlander: Endgame, Highlander II: The Quickening, Highlander

  Reputation: As an immortal warrior of the Highlander universe, Connor MacLeod has racked up multiple generations of slayings as he defended himself against numerous other immortal fighters looking to decapitate him and feast on his energy. However, there can only be one, and MacLeod is that one.

  Signature Victory: The eponymous Highlander claims ultimate victory when he defeats his ancient nemesis, the Kurgan, by decapitating the monstrous brute. He thusly earns the wisdom of the world.

  Biggest Weakness: Decapitation. While that seems like a pretty general weakness for basically everyone, when it comes to MacLeod, cutting off his head is the only way to actually slay him, as he's an immortal. So, opponents should go for the neck or just go home.
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  (#8) Inigo Montoya

  • The Princess Bride

  Reputation: Despite being a bit of a drunken wastrel and brutish minion for the scheming bad guy Vizzini, in the world of The Princess Bride, Inigo Montoya is an undeniably skillful swordsman who has been training since childhood to avenge the slaying of his father, consuming knowledge constantly. In the book, Inigo trains relentlessly for a decade and is regarded as the single greatest fencer in the land, obtaining a rank higher than master, known as wizard. To repeat: Inigo Montoya is a wizard swordsman.

  Signature Victory: Inigo's greatest and most significant victory comes when he faces off against Count Rugen, the man who slayed his father and left Ingio with two facial scars as further reminders of childhood trauma. After dueling in a castle - and Rugen dealing out some serious slices - Inigo finally gets the upper hand and makes Rugen pay for everything he took from him.

  Biggest Weakness: Inebriation, depression, and rage are the three albatrosses around Inigo's neck. After becoming one of the greatest swordsmen of his generation, he soon loses hope of finding his father's assailant and falls into a life of booze and sadness, which he only manages to escape when the flame of his vengeful desire is reignited. However, his hot temper can also get the better of him, leading him to make rash decisions and fight with his anger instead of his mind.
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  (#9) Brienne of Tarth

  • Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire

  Reputation: Game of Thrones' Brienne of Tarth could have lived a comfortable life as the only daughter of Lord Selwyn Tarth, but her bravery, fascination with the sword, and untamable spirit put her on a path to becoming a formidable opponent. She's well respected by all who've seen her sword fights, and breaks ground when she becomes the first female knight in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.

  Signature Victory: While her clash against both Jaime Lannister and The Hound are important moments for her (at least, in the TV series), the victory that puts her on the path of glory is besting Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Loras Tyrell in a fighting tournament, earning her a place on the Kingsguard under King Renly Baratheon.

  Biggest Weakness: She has a lack of blood on her hands, at least in comparison with some of the most legendary fighters in the Seven Kingdoms. Her skill and experience seem to come largely from training and tournaments, so she has fewer bodies to her name than many of her colleagues. The ability to take a life without a thought is important when facing off against war-hardened executioners, and it could give an opponent an important edge.
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  (#10) Sir Lancelot

  • Herbie Rides Again

  Reputation: In both French and English Arthurian legend, Sir Lancelot is a member of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. He's considered to be one of the very first soldiers under Arthur's command and the famous monarch's most formidable combatant. His prowess with the sword is known to be unparalleled across Arthur's kingdom.

  Signature Victory: While Lancelot is best known for rescuing Queen Guinevere from the villainous Maleagant, it isn't much of an actual fight. Even when Lancelot later offs Maleagant, he does so in a duel in which Lancelot removes his own helmet and armor, then fights with one hand tied behind his back, having agreed to give his foe a fighting chance. It doesn't help. So, it seems his most impressive and important victory comes when he duels and bests King Arthur himself - when Arthur is in disguise, long before joining his cadre of warriors. This victory is what leads to Lancelot being knighted and leading Arthur's command.

  Biggest Weakness: His blinding, irrepressible love for the entirely wrong woman is his greatest failing. Lancelot is madly in love with Queen Guinevere, wife of King Arthur, and he lets his heart guide him into some pretty terrible decisions that lead not only to his own downfall but to the downfall of Arthur's entire kingdom. When it comes to foibles, that's a big one.
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  (#11) Zorro

  • Zorro, Kaiketsu Zorro, The Mask of Zorro, Il segno di Zorro, Zorro, Short Circuit 2, The Sign of Zorro, The Legend of Zorro, The Mark of Zorro, The Mark of Zorro, Zorro, The Gay Blade, Roger & Me, Zorro

  Reputation: It's easier to establish a fearsome reputation when you have a signature mark you leave on your defeated opponents with the tip of your blade. Zorro's iconic "Z" cements his status as a vigilante not to be underestimated, and the swath of bodies and enemies he leaves in his wake backs that up.

  Signature Victory: One of the most important of Zorro's villains is the nefarious Capitan Monasterio from Disney's TV adaptation in the late 1950s. Monasterio is a manipulative, scheming, and lethal soldier who leads an army garrison and becomes obsessed with unmasking and slaying Zorro after the outlaw disrupts his vile machinations. Zorro and Monasterio cross swords several times, with Zorro nearly always getting the upper hand. However, Zorro proves his wits are as sharp as his rapier when he finally gets Monasterio apprehended for his villainy.

  Biggest Weakness: Zorro's theatricality, showmanship, and bravado can be real hazards for the golden-hearted guardian. He shows off while fencing in an attempt to humiliate his opponents, often because he's such a superior fencer. However, when he faces off against truly skilled enemies, it can be his arrogant swagger and boastful technique that allow others to get the upper hand.
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  (#12) Samurai Jack

  Reputation: In the Samurai Jack universe, the eponymous warrior - who goes by the name Jack, although his real name is unknown - trains under masters of a wide variety of fighting styles and equipment, giving him an almost unparalleled level of skill when it comes to engaging in conflict. Wielding a magical, unbreakable sword forged by multiple gods, Jack is cast into the future by the demon Aku and now wanders a dystopian Earth, searching for a portal back to his own time and defeating the forces of evil that now rule the world.

  Signature Victory: One of the greatest conflicts in Jack's adventure comes when he must face off an evil version of himself, known as Mad Jack. The dark, menacing, magical clone - made by the demon overlord Aku - is born from Jack's increasing rage over his situation and his inability to find peace, as he's constantly targeted by minions. Jack and Mad Jack clash so ferociously that they set a forest on fire with the sparks from their swords. Jack has to let go of his infectious rage altogether in order to strip Mad Jack of his power and his existence. It is a manifestation of the classic struggle of good vs. bad that plays out in the hearts of all heroes, and serves as a chance for Jack to face an opponent as good as he is, simply by virtue of the fact that he's fighting himself.

  Biggest Weakness: Jack has a big heart and a whole lot of guilt weighing down his soul. This causes him to try and help anyone who needs it, and early on he's led into more than one trap by those who manipulate his heroic honor. As his guilt and depression build, the longer he's trapped in the future, and it also has a detrimental impact on his honed skills and will to carry on.
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  (#13) The Bride

  • Kill Bill

  Reputation: Trained by kung-fu master Pai Mei before becoming a member of the elite Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DVAS), Beatrix Kiddo - also known as The Bride or by her codename, Black Mamba - is referred to by many to be "the deadliest woman in the world," and her body count in both Kill Bill volumes definitely backs that up.

  Signature Victory: When it comes to swordsmanship, Beatrix's most incredible display has to be when she faces off against the Crazy 88 in a clash that sees her butcher a slew of suited combatants in one of the bloodiest swordfights in cinematic history. She cuts a man clean in half and even chops another fighter's sword down with the superior steel of her Hattori Hanzō blade.

  Biggest Weakness: She has some real trust issues - in that she's a little too trusting. Despite knowing Bill's great capacity for possessiveness and mayhem, she still lets her love for him cloud her judgment when - after escaping from DVAS and getting engaged to another man - her old crew finds her. She ends up with a bullet in her head, and all her friends and her fiance are slain.
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  (#14) Jaime Lannister

  • Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire

  Reputation: In the Game of Thrones universe, Jaime Lannister is known as one of the greatest swordsmen in the Seven Kingdoms. He began to establish his reputation when he was just a teenager, and through ruthless conflicts and bloody victories, he maintains the public perception of an unparalleled combatant. He's a natural prodigy whose talent is unmatched when he's in peak form.

  Signature Victory: The one slaying that would forever cement his reputation comes when he offs King Aerys II before the Mad King has an opportunity to order King's Landing burned to the ground. While it isn't a fair fight - in fact, it is a quick and merciless execution - Jaime's actions save thousands of lives and earn him the indelible epithet Kingslayer.

  Biggest Weakness: It would be pretty hard for Jaime to have to fight one-handed, especially after Locke hacks off his right hand - his all-important blade-wielding hand - forcing him to eventually wear a golden prosthetic that is of absolutely no use when it comes to sword fighting.
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  (#15) Yu Shu Lien

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

  Reputation: Yu Shu Lien, of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is a brave, determined, and accomplished warrior who sticks staunchly to a code of honor and ethics while constantly maintaining a flawless level of grace, talent, and professionalism. When she's tasked by her close friend, master warrior Mu Bai, with bringing the fated Green Destiny sword to his friend Sir Te, she takes the responsibility very seriously - and when the sword is taken, she dedicates herself to retrieving it.

  Signature Victory: When Shu Lien faces off against the young, hot-headed, but undeniably talented Jen Yu, it turns out Shu Lien is a superior warrior with far more experience. However, Jen Yu possesses the legendary Green Destiny, which repeatedly breaks and shatters the multitude of different blades and other tools Yu Shu Lien uses over the course of the ballet-like duel. Her relentless strikes, as well as her superior experience and skill finally allow Shu Lien to get the upper hand and defeat Jen Yu with the jagged edge of a broken sword.

  Biggest Weakness: Her mercy proves to be a flaw, particularly in dealing with Jen Yu - whom she recognizes and respects for her prowess while understanding the arrogance that comes with Jen Yu's youth. When Shu Lien has a broken blade pressed to Jen Yu's neck, she lets her live, and Jen Yu returns the favor by slashing her arm with the Green Destiny sword and fleeing with it.
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  (#16) D'Artagnan

  Reputation: In France - as depicted in The Three Musketeers universe - d'Artagnan is young and brash, but very clever and incredibly resourceful. He sets his sights on joining the trio of Athos, Aramis, and Porthos, and eventually establishes himself as a man of honor and skill - although he's often underestimated, which might be one of his biggest advantages. 

  Signature Victory: D'Artagnan's first major defeat comes at the hand of Comte de Rochefort when d'Artagnan isn't yet a comrade of the musketeers (and Rochefort fights dirty). D'Artagnan is filled with anger and seeking vengeance, and his desire to end Rochefort drives him through much of his adventures. He finally gets the chance to face off against Rochefort in a ferocious sword fight that he barely wins, a victory that manages to prove how much he's grown as a combatant.

  Biggest Weakness: D'Artagnan has something of a fiery temper, which causes him to lash out when provoked without considering all the ramifications - which is how he gets jumped and bludgeoned by Rochefort's men after challenging Rochefort to a duel when the skilled elder swordsman insults d'Artagnan's horse. The young, comparably inexperienced wannabe musketeer also allows his sexual desire and romantic impulses to cloud his judgment.
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  (#17) Captain Jack Sparrow

  • Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

  Reputation: While many might feel he's the worst pirate they've ever heard of, he'll be the first to note they have, in fact, heard of him, meaning his reputation precedes him. Despite his becoming a drunken wastrel, anyone who's sailed with Jack knows not to underestimate him - nor trust him. As a pirate, he seems to be blessed with an almost superhuman level of luck, which plays a big role in nearly every daring escape he's a part of throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

  Signature Victory: Jack's greatest, most entertaining sword fight comes when he first runs into Will Turner in his blacksmith shop. However, it's not exactly a victory and more of a draw. When it comes to his signature victory, which also has the greatest impact on his life, it has to be when he fights the cursed pirate Hector Barbossa. After dueling savagely (yet pointlessly), Jack uses his blade - and his one and only bullet - to finally get his revenge on the man who betrayed him years earlier.

  Biggest Weakness: It's hard to pick a single weakness among the slew of his foibles, but it would probably be his rampant drinking habits. He never has enough rum to truly make him happy. He's also greedy to a fault and a salacious Casanova with more arrogance than sense, all of which is exacerbated when he's three sheets to the wind.
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  (#18) Madmartigan

  • Willow

  Reputation: Madmartigan in the Willow universe - including both the film and the subsequent role-playing game - is a disgraced knight disavowed by the warriors of his land for breaking an honor code. However, he's still considered a skilled warrior with raw natural talent and his tutelage under the the master swordsman Roniro - who trained him in the art of sushin, a very specific and esoteric form of sword fighting - making him a formidable opponent to anyone looking to cross blades.

  Signature Victory: Madmartigan eventually finds a cause worth fighting for when he joins the kindly Nelwyn farmer Willow Ufgood on his quest to protect a baby from the evil clutches of the grim witch Queen Bavmorda. After engaging in many fights and slaying a slew of henchmen, Madmartigan finally faces off against Bavmorda's skull-masked army commander, General Kael, during a rain-soaked sword fight in Nockmaar. After a fierce and bloody clash, Madmartigan finally offs Kael, proving his mettle as the greatest swordsman in the land.

  Biggest Weakness: Like so many fun-loving hotshot warriors who live by the seat of their pants, Madmartigan is brash, impulsive, and incredibly arrogant. He knows how good he is, which often causes him to underestimate his opponents or act on impulse. This can get him in over his head in a hurry - like when he's forced to sled down a hill on a shield with Willow to escape a cadre of mercenary soldiers.
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  (#19) William Thatcher

  • A Knight's Tale

  Reputation: As a lowly squire in A Knight's Tale, Will Thatcher has no reputation to speak of. However, as Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein - a fabricated name and title Will takes on in order to compete in tournaments - he's a preternaturally talented sword fighter and jouster who, despite his youth and relative inexperience, shows virtuosic talent with a blade or a lance and wins numerous tournament events in a short span of time. And, with Geoffrey Chaucer as his hype man, the popular stories of his exploits become legendary.

  Signature Victory: After being strapped into bulky, uncomfortable armor, handed a longsword, and shoved into a ring for the first time ever, Will (now posing as Ulrich) should have had no chance against his opponent, Sir Walter Loring. After a savage fight, Will gets his bearings and deals out a flurry of blows that secures him his first-ever victory in a tournament fight. He continues to duel in sword fights, earning trophy after trophy until he gets bored of sword fighting and considers it to no longer be a challenge.

  Biggest Weakness: He is utterly inexperienced when it comes to actual fighting. Sure, he's unbeatable with a sword - and remarkably talented with a lance - when it comes to tournaments, but he's never had to draw blood in true fight. It's impossible to tell how someone with his romantic heart and hope-filled naïveté would handle having to actually take another person's life.
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  (#20) Robin Hood

  • When Things Were Rotten, Robin Hood, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, Robin Hood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Blackadder: Back & Forth, Keloglan vs. the Black Prince, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Rabbit Hood, Cinema Paradiso, Robin and Marian, Robin Hood, Time Bandits, Beyond Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Robin Hood, The Arrows of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Men of Sherwood Forest, Superfantozzi, Man-Eaters of India, Twang!!, The Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest, Der Templer und die Jüdin, Robin Hood, Ivanhoe

  Reputation: Robin Hood's mastery with the sword is even more formidable considering he's known for being a crack-shot archer, and thus people underestimate his swordsmanship. But make no mistake about it, Robin Hood is a versatile vigilante capable of defending himself and dealing out serious blows with nearly any apparatus, be it a sword, a bow and arrow, or a fighting staff.

  Signature Victory: There are few more storied rivalries in fiction than that of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. That being said, one of the single greatest sword fights ever pits Robin Hood against the equally villainous and even more lethal Guy of Gisbourne, a hired slayer who makes an attempt on the hero's life but is eventually cut down after a long, thrilling clashing of swords.

  Biggest Weakness: He's something of a show-off, and at times that has not been advantageous. He knows how skilled he is as an archer, and he allows his braggadocio to get the better of him while in disguise at an archery tournament, which subsequently blows his cover. He loves being the hero of the people, and that craving for adoration gets him in hot water.

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