Game of Thrones Valyrian Steel Swords: Longclaw, Ice, and Oathkeeper Explained

Few weapons in fiction come with their own origin myth, a family tree, and a body count. Valyrian steel swords have all three. They are lighter and sharper than ordinary steel, they never lose their edge, and nobody alive knows how to make a new one. That is why a single blade can decide a house's pride.

Longclaw, Ice, and Oathkeeper are the three Valyrian steel swords most fans think of first. Together they tell a story about family, loss, and honor in Westeros. This guide covers what Valyrian steel is, how each of these swords got its name and its owners, and what to look for if you want a replica of your own.

What are Valyrian steel swords in Game of Thrones?

Valyrian steel swords were forged in the Valyrian Freehold using folded iron along with blood magic and fire magic. The blades come out lighter, stronger, and sharper than standard steel, with a rippled pattern that shows in the metal. A common line in the books says nothing holds an edge like Valyrian steel, so a sword hundreds of years old is as sharp as the day it was made.

George R.R. Martin modeled Valyrian steel on Damascus steel, which is known for its banded patterns and lost forging methods. That real-world link explains the look of Valyrian steel swords: dark, smoky metal with deep ripples running through the blade.

Why are Valyrian steel swords so rare?

When Valyria was destroyed in the Doom, the knowledge needed to make new Valyrian steel was lost. Only the Free City of Qohor kept the skill to reforge existing blades, and its master smiths guard their secrets closely. No one can forge a new Valyrian steel sword from scratch, so the supply can only shrink.

In the series, Valyrian steel also matters for a second reason. It is one of only three things that can kill a White Walker, along with dragonglass and fire. That turns a prestigious heirloom into a weapon that could decide the fate of the realm.

Every Valyrian steel sword is an heirloom, because none of them can be made again.

What makes Longclaw the most famous of the Valyrian steel swords?

Longclaw is the ancestral Valyrian steel bastard sword of House Mormont, carried for about five hundred years. It is a hand-and-a-half blade, roughly half a foot longer than a standard longsword, with three fullers to cut the weight and a dark rippled finish. It is built for thrusting and slashing.

Jeor Mormont gave the sword to Jon Snow after Jon saved his life from a wight. In the books, a fire damaged the sword's original bear-head pommel, and the Night's Watch replaced it with a snarling wolf's head carved from pale stone. The wolf reflects Jon's Stark heritage, and Jon himself noted that a bastard was now carrying a bastard sword.

Why does Longclaw matter beyond the Wall?

In the series, Longclaw is the Valyrian steel blade Jon carries into the fights against the dead. It is the clearest example of why Valyrian steel swords matter: an heirloom that doubles as one of the few real answers to a White Walker.

What happened to Ice, the Stark greatsword?

Ice is House Stark's ancestral greatsword, a two-handed Valyrian steel blade about six feet long and as wide as a man's hand. Its steel is dark and smoky with deep rippling. The sword was forged in Valyria about four hundred years before Robert's reign, and the Starks named it for an older legacy from the Age of Heroes.

Lord Eddard Stark used Ice to carry out the king's justice, including the execution of the deserter Gared. He cleaned the blade with oiled leather afterward. After Ned's arrest, Ilyn Payne took the sword, and he used it to behead Ned on Joffrey's orders.

Tywin did not keep the Stark sword whole. He wanted a symbol of House Stark's power gone, and Qohor's skill with Valyrian steel gave him the tool to do it. The two new swords are what most fans now call the children of Ice.

How did Oathkeeper come from Ice?

Oathkeeper is a Valyrian steel longsword forged by Tobho Mott from Ice. The smith tried to tint the steel red, and the metal absorbed the color, leaving ripples of dark grey and deep red. The scabbard is gold with lion heads and dark rubies, and the pommel is a golden lion's head with ruby eyes.

Tywin gave Oathkeeper to his son Jaime, who felt the sword mocked the loss of his sword hand. Jaime gave it to Brienne of Tarth instead and told her to find Sansa Stark and protect her. He also told her to name the blade Oathkeeper, a fitting name for Stark steel guarding a Stark daughter.

Why does Oathkeeper carry two meanings?

Oathkeeper is a blade of honor made from a house's legacy, yet it was created through conquest and loss. That tension is why many fans see it as the most symbolic of the Valyrian steel swords. The second blade, Widow's Wail, went to King Joffrey as a wedding gift, which gives the pair a harsher contrast.

Which other Valyrian steel swords should you know?

Longclaw, Ice, and Oathkeeper get the most attention, but they are not the only Valyrian steel swords worth knowing. These are the other names that come up most often:

• Widow's Wail: the second sword made from Ice, given to King Joffrey as a wedding gift
• Heartsbane: the two-handed ancestral greatsword of House Tarly of Horn Hill, kept for over five centuries
• The Catspaw dagger: a Valyrian steel blade in the series that Bran gives to Arya

Heartsbane has a story of its own. In the books, Randyll Tarly let his son Samwell hold it only now and then, and Sam feared its sharpness. In the series, Samwell Tarly ends up carrying the ancestral blade, which is a neat reversal for a character who never wanted to fight.

What should collectors know about Valyrian steel swords replicas?

No real Valyrian steel exists, so a replica is judged on finish, hilt detail, and balance. If you want to start browsing, the Game of Thrones replica swords page shows what is currently in the lineup. Before you pick a piece, work through these five steps:

1. Pick your house first. Stark, Mormont, Lannister, and Tarly blades each have a different hilt and pommel, so start with the story you love most.
2. Look at the finish. The dark, rippled look is the signature of Valyrian steel swords, so check the blade color and surface detail.
3. Match the size to your space. A greatsword in the style of Ice needs real wall space, while a longsword like Oathkeeper is easier to place.
4. Choose metal for weight. A metal replica has the heft that makes a display piece feel real in the hand.
5. Plan the display before you order. Measure the wall, find the studs, and choose a mount rated for the weight.

Mounting is the step collectors skip most often. It helps to read up on how to wall-display heavy replicas before you drill any holes, especially for a two-handed greatsword.

If you plan to hang more than one blade, think about the whole wall. A guide to the collector wall layout can help you balance a long sword against shorter pieces so the arrangement looks deliberate.

Taking a blade to events takes planning too. Review the convention prop check rules for your event, since blade length is often the first thing checked.

Final Thoughts on Valyrian Steel Swords

The best Valyrian steel swords are more than weapons. Longclaw carries the Mormont name into a new age, Ice shows how a house can lose its heritage in a single day, and Oathkeeper turns that loss into a promise. Each blade says something about the people who carried it.

Valyrian steel swords are rare in Westeros and unforgettable on screen, which is exactly why they make such good display pieces. Pick the house you love, choose a blade that fits your wall, and bring a little of the Seven Kingdoms home.

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