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All 5 Times White Walkers Were Killed in Game of Thrones: by Whom and How

All 5 Times White Walkers Were Killed in Game of Thrones: by Whom and How
Image credit: HBO

The White Walkers were the most formidable enemies of humankind in Game of Thrones, and only five of them were killed. Here’s whodunit — and howtheydunit.

5. Season 3: Samwell Tarly

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In the third season, Sam Tarly becomes one of the first characters to encounter a White Walker. Being a terrible warrior, he only manages to kill his foe by accident: just before coming across the Walker, Sam found a dragonglass dagger at the Fist of the First Men.

Sam is just as shocked as anyone else when he realizes what happened, and this encounter helps him to figure out the importance of dragonglass.

4. Season 5: Jon Snow

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Jon Snow, Sam’s way more battle-capable friend, only gets a chance to destroy his first White Walker two seasons later when he, the Night Watch, and the Free Folks get rushed by a horde of wights. Jon kills the White Walker who was orchestrating the attack with his Valyrian steel sword, adding to the very short list of things capable of taking down those terrifying supernatural creatures that Sam started.

3. Season 6: Meera Reed

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During Bran’s investigation into the past of the White Walkers, he makes a mistake that leads the Walkers straight to the Three-Eyed Raven's cave hideout. During the attack, many good people (but mostly, not-people) die, but Meera Reed manages to also kill one of the Walkers with her dragonglass spear. As surprised as she was, she saved Bran, but for some reason, this was never brought up again.

2. Season 7: Jon Snow

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Yes, Jon Snow is the only Game of Thrones character to have killed not one, but two White Walkers. After his first encounter with the terrifying enemy, Jon gets a jump on his second undead overlord two seasons later, easily killing him with the same Valyrian steel sword. As the wights surrounding the Walker immediately perish, this win allows Snow to realize that instead of killing wights, they must focus on the Walkers.

1. Season 8: Arya Stark

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In what was probably the most anticlimactic finale of a hugely hyped-up plotline ever, Arya Stark defeated the Night King himself. During the Battle of Winterfell, Arya gets an attack of opportunity on the Night King as he’s facing the other way, and even his quick reflexes can’t save the immortal being from the strike of a Valyrian steel dagger — the same one that almost killed Bran in Season 1.