Westeros is more than just a world of dragons and direwolves—it’s also a chessboard of old families fighting a never-ending battle for survival, supremacy, and legacy. Behind each legendary moment of Game of Thrones lies a great house pulling the strings, wielding swords, or losing everything in a flash of glory. But who stood tallest at the end? Let’s count down the strongest houses, factoring in influence, power, resilience, and the impact they had on the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.
9. House Tully
The Tullys don’t often make the headlines, but they’ve always been steady players. Their motto—”Family, Duty, Honor”—says a lot about their priorities. They’re not flashy or power-hungry, but they’re dependable and fiercely loyal. Possessing Riverrun, they hold a strategic site in the Riverlands, but it’s also an area that’s often overrun or fought for. Catelyn Stark infuses their values into the northern plot, and Blackfish brings a bit of grime to their name. Sadly, after the Red Wedding, the house is devastated with great losses, and their presence dwindles. Even so, they are the epitome of the moral spine of Westeros—honorable in every way.
8. House Greyjoy
If chaos were a family crest, it’d likely fly over Pyke. The Greyjoys are all about the power of the sea, taking what they take and giving nothing in return. They have one of the finest fleets in Westeros, and their aggressive, no-excuses approach stands them out. Theon’s storyline adds emotional depth to what is otherwise a toughened exterior, and Euron adds madness and ambition (if not quite so much danger as fans had hoped). Their power is in lightning-fast raids and mastery of the sea, but they’ve never excelled at holding land or developing long-term authority. Yet, when their sails come over the horizon, folks notice.
7. House Arryn
Hidden high in the mountains at the Eyrie, House Arryn is literally and metaphorically above the rest. They’re one of the oldest noble houses, and their castle is almost impossible to take. Their early power is irrefutable—Jon Arryn’s death sets the whole book in motion, after all. But seclusion has its drawbacks. Under Lysa’s erratic leadership and subsequently the immature Robin, the Vale drops out of the limelight. All the same, from the safety of their high ridge, their knights ride in to rescue Jon Snow’s army in one of the show’s most critical battles, reminding the world that House Arryn still has steel coursing through its veins, even if they don’t often descend from their lofty location.
6. House Martell
There are few houses in Westeros as fiercely independent—no, as culturally unique—as the Martells of Dorne. Their motto—”Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”—isn’t merely declarative. They fought the Targaryens longer than anybody else and came into the kingdom on their terms. Oberyn Martell is a blazing presence in King’s Landing, and his notorious fight with the Mountain is seared into everyone’s mind. Although their depiction in the show weakens after his death (looking at you, Sand Snakes), the Martells are still an emblem of honor, pride, and defiance. They march to their drum—and never, ever kneel.
5. House Tyrell
Some houses employ brute strength. The Tyrells? They employ charm, money, and timing. With Highgarden’s rich soil and bounteous harvests, they supply the biggest armies and feed the majority of Westeros. Lady Olenna is one of the show’s cleverest brains, cutting through court intrigue with nothing more than words and intelligence. Margaery dances around the royalty, almost gaining the throne with her marriages and diplomacy. The Tyrells are in the spotlight for a brief moment. But all that power is erased in one explosion, just like how even a flowering rose can be reduced to ashes. Still, they left their impact with poise, ambition, and gentle strength.
4. House Baratheon
The Baratheons erupted onto the world with rage, naming themselves kings after deposing the Targaryens. Storm’s End, their family seat, is a highly defensible fortress, and their reputation is secured through conflict. Robert’s rebellion revolutionized everything, but his reign was one of debauchery and decadence. Stannis introduced discipline and dour resolve, and Renly provided charisma and charm. Alas, the brothers’ internecine squabbles led to their downfall. By the finale, the formerly great household is broken and almost destroyed, with Gendry being the sole hope. Even as they fell, the Baratheons contributed more to the shaping of the realm than most.
3. House Lannister
No one plays the game like the Lannisters. With unparalleled riches from Casterly Rock and a reputation for always paying back their loans, they have the crown and the capital for much of the series. Tywin is a cold, calculating master of strategy. Jaime evolves from an arrogant swordsman to a tragic hero. Cersei’s rise to power is brutal, mesmerizing, and fueled by vengeance. And Tyrion? He’s the emotional anchor for so much of the narrative, offering wisdom in a world of fools. The Lannisters make enemies faster than allies, but their dominance—both politically and militarily—is hard to deny. Love them or loathe them, they dominated the whole saga.
2. House Targaryen
Dragons. Do we need to say more? The Targaryens had dominated Westeros for centuries by fire and terror. Although their house collapsed before the series starts, their shadow is gigantic. Daenerys, in exile and loneliness, fights her way back with dragons as her guardians and a vision of a new world. She frees cities, leads enormous armies, and becomes one of the most powerful women the kingdom has ever known. Her downfall is sorrowful and polarizing, but there’s no denying the burden she bore. The Targaryens are pure fantasy power: magical, royal, and awe-inspiring in equal proportions.
1. House Stark
From the cold North emerges the most stalwart, loved house of them all. The Starks are not showy, but they are resilient, honorable, and unbending in family loyalties. Ned is the moral compass, no matter the cost. Robb booms and crashes in a fire of youth and pride. Sansa becomes a political player.
Arya’s path is one of the most thrilling in the series. And what of Jon Snow? His tale is the backbone of the whole epic. They survive through betrayals, wars, and White Walkers. By the last episode, they’re the ones left standing—ruling the North, on the throne, and reminding all that in Westeros, winter is always coming, but the wolves endure.