Arya Stark of House Stark, one of themajor houses in Westerosin the HBO seriesGame of Thrones, is an iconic character who showed that a woman can be more than just a “lady.” As one ofthe smartest charactersin the series, she spends most of her journey in the show away from home, trying to find a place where she can fit in. Thanks to an extensive list of bad events, starting with the shocking beheading of her father, Eddard Stark, at the tail-end ofGame of Thronesseason 1, Arya concocts a Kill List.
Updated July 12, 2025: If you are a big fan ofGame of Thrones, especially of Arya Stark’s character, you’ll be glad to know that his article has been updated with more details and her most significant kill in the series.
This list functions as a verbal list — indeed, almost like a prayer and a vow — that she recites each night as she goes to sleep of all those who have wronged her or her family. As the seasons progress, more and more characters rightfully find themselves on her list. While Arya was only able to kill a small amount of those on her list, almost all of them found their demise in some way. Let’s take a closer look at her list and how each member died.
Arya Stark’s Kill List
The Hound, orSandor Clegane (Rory McCann), was one of the firstGame of Thronescharacters to find himself on Arya’s kill list. While he was added to the list for killing Mycah, the butcher’s boy in season one, The Hound and Arya end up forming an interesting friendship after he decides he is going to return her to her family to hopefully earn money.
Although she eventually does leave him to die from his wounds after a fight with Brienne, the pair end up parting ways as friends during the final season before The Hound kills his brother, and himself, by falling from a window in King’s Landing.
Meryn Trant
Meryn Trant(Ian Beattie) was one of the long-awaited deaths at the hands of Arya inGame of Thrones. In season one, Meryn kills Syrio Forel, Arya’s dancing instructor, which she naturally takes personally. She reunites with Meryn when he visits Braavos.
At this point, Arya is able to use her lessons from Jaqen H’hgar and puts on someone else’s face, appearing as a young girl at the brothel Meryn visits. When selected, she is also able to stab him many times, prolonging his death and finally crossing him off her list.
Joffrey Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon(Jack Gleeson) was easily one of the most hated characters in all ofGame of Thrones. Additionally, his death is one of the biggest mysteries as it’s not revealed until later in the series, just who gets to claim they killed Joffrey. Indeed, it’s Lady Olena Tyrell who reveals to Jaime Lannister, while on the way to her own death, that it was she who poisoned his son’s wine at his wedding.
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While fans would have been happy to see Arya kill Joffrey thanks to his part in her father’s death, having Lady Olena commit the murder was a great consolation prize. His was, arguably, one of the most awaited deaths on the show andone of the most satisfyingas well.
Melisandre
After becoming quick friends with Gendry Rivers, aka Gendry Baratheon, Arya takes his capture byMelisandreor The Red Woman seriously. Melisandre (Carice van Houten) purchases Gendry from the Brotherhood Without Banners as part of a ritual to help put Stannis on the Iron Throne. While her character is one that is both loved and hated, she ends up dying seemingly by suicide after fulfilling her purpose from the Lord of Light in helping Jon Snow and everyone else wins the battle of The Long Night.
Similarly to Melisandre,Thoros(Paul Kaye) was also put on Arya’s list due to his help in selling Gendry to The Red Woman. The Brotherhood Without Banners' member was able to avoid being killed by Arya but unfortunately does find himself dying early.
During season seven ofGame of Thrones, Thoros is one of a small group of men who venture beyond The Wall to bring a wight back to Cersei in the hopes of a temporary cease-fire. During a fight with an undead polar bear, he sacrifices himself to save The Hound and later succumbs to his wounds.
Cersei Lannister
Another deserving character on Arya’s kill list is none other thanCersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey. Cersei would have found herself on this list for a number of reasons, but it was specifically her part in the death of Arya’s father that placed the tyrant number one on her list. In season seven, when asked by a bunch of soldiers, “Why is a nice girl on her own heading to King’s Landing?” Arya simply admits, “I’m going to kill the Queen.”
In fact, through the final season ofGame of Thrones, Arya relentlessly sought out Cersei’s death. While she is unable to kill her, she was on her way to doing so whenDaenerys Targaryenlays waste at King’s Landing, burying both Cersei and Jaime in the rubble.
Ser Ilyn Payne
Ser Ilyn Payne, played by Wilko Johnson, is the sole member of Arya’s list who does not die inGame of Thrones. His character was written off the show after the actor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The last known mention of the man who beheaded the beloved Ned Stark came halfway through the show in the season four finale when he was mentioned by name by Tywin Lannister.
Polliver(Andy Kellegher) was another person on Arya’s list who was killed by her sword, Needle. Arya enacted her revenge by killing him after he killed her friend Lommy and stole the very sword that winds up killing him. Polliver has the unfortunate luck of winding up in the same inn as Arya, who wastes no time in crossing him off her list with the help of The Hound. Polliver’s death showed the audience how serious Arya truly is about her list. With no hesitation, she drags her sword through his chest. It’s the scene that first marked her as dangerous.
The Mountain
The Mountain(Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson), another one of the Clegane brothers, unsurprisingly found himself also on Arya’s list. She added him after witnessing him torturing people for information at Harrenhal. The Lannister-loving brute would help strap rats to people and then use fire to get them to literally claw their way through the person’s chest.
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A few characters on Arya’s list could be called controversial, no one, however, is likely to argue that The Mountain did not deserve a spot on the list, especially after we learn that he is responsible for his brother’s burned face. While a battle between Arya and The Mountain would have been a sight to see, his death was fitting as his own brother was able to finally put The Mountain’s reign of terror to rest.
