The night is dark and full of terrors, and so is the prospect of narrowing down the Top 100 characters on Game of Thrones. Few TV series in the past decade have had quite the cultural impact as HBO’s hit fantasy drama, and few characters have become as entrenched in pop culture as the Starks, the Lannisters and, of course, Daenerys Targaryen.

But which GoT characters will endure the test of time as the greatest the TV show has to offer? We gathered together IGN’s Small Council to determine which of the series’ vast array of characters will make the Top 100. Who will win this Iron Throne? Continue reading to find out.

The criteria we examined:

  • The character's active participation in the story, and influence on the narrative and significance in the show.
  • How great or memorable a character is as a combination of strong writing, a standout performance and impact on the legacy of Game of Thrones.

For the purposes of this ranking:

  • Characters were judged on their merit only from their roles in the TV show, not George R.R. Martin’s novels.
  • Animals -- cute cats, dragons, direwolves or otherwise -- were not included in this list. Sorry, Ser Pounce fans.
ACTOR Bronson Webb
DEBUT Season 1
100

Poor Will served as the perfect introduction to the world of Game of Thrones, cold, mysterious and hostile as it is. You may not remember him if you haven't watched the premiere in a while, but Will is among the Night's Watch men in the premiere who the White Walkers attack. Just how he survived that first encounter is never made clear, but whatever the source of his luck, it had run out by the time he met Ned's greatsword, Ice. R.I.P. and thanks for the intro, Will!

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Will introduced the world to the horror of the White Walkers in the series' first episode.
  • He was executed at Ned Stark's dutiful hands with the greatsword Ice for deserting the Night's Watch.
ACTOR Steven Blount/John Stahl
DEBUT Season 1
99

Rickard Karstark may have been a minor character, but he had a major effect on the story: If it hadn't been for his betrayal and subsequent beheading, Robb Stark, the King in the North, may yet have won the War of the Five Kings. Karstark flew off the handle when Catelyn released Jaime, who had killed Karstark's son, and Karstark retaliated by murdering two imprisoned Lannister boys. Robb took off his head for that crime, losing the crucial support of the Karstark house. Harald Karstark, Rickard's last living son, later appeared in Season 6 to give his allegiance to Ramsay Bolton in Winterfell -- yet another effect of this fallout. If only you had kept your cool, Rickard, how different things might have been.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • In Season 1 Karstark, then played by Steven Blount, was the second lord to declare loyalty to Robb Stark as King in the North.
  • In Season 3 Karstark was bold enough to point out, perhaps correctly, that Robb may have lost the war when he married Talisa.
  • Robb beheaded Karstark after the latter murdered two Lannister boys as retaliation for Catelyn releasing Jaime, who'd killed Karstark's son.
ACTOR Miltos Yerolemou
DEBUT Season 1
98

Syrio the "water dancer" made a big splash in Game of Thrones' first season, even if he did wind up skewered on the end of Meryn Trant's big sword. The sword master had a big personality, and he introduced viewers to the Braavosi people, who would come to be important much later. Even more crucially, Syrio also set Arya on the path that ultimately led to her becoming the badass assassin who's currently cashing checks all over Westeros. Well done, Syrio.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • On their first meeting, Syrio taught Arya that she wasn't as tough as she thought.
  • He also taught Arya what to say to the god of death: "Not today."
  • Syrio's presumed death at Meryn Trant's hands was a pivotal moment for Arya and the show as a whole.
ACTOR Dan Hildebrand
DEBUT Season 3
97

Oh Kraznys, we hardly knew you. That's mostly because you only spoke Valyrian and appeared in just three episodes before being gorgeously roasted alive by Dany and her dragons. Kraznys mo Nakloz was a funny aberration on a show otherwise filled to bursting with nuanced, complex characters. He was, simply, a nasty, villainous slaver, and someone who got a fitting comeuppance. Given that it was one of the most satisfying moments of Season 3 -- and maybe of the whole show -- his inclusion was worth it.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Kraznys mo Nakloz was graphically roasted alive after attempting to trade Daenerys an army of Unsullied in exchange for one of her dragons.
  • One word: "Dracarys."
ACTOR Aisling Franciosi/Cordelia Hill
DEBUT Season 6
96

Lyanna's memory cast a shadow over Game of Thrones from the very first episode, when her brother Ned Stark accompanies King Robert Baratheon down to the crypts below Winterfell to her their respects. It's not revealed until much later -- Season 6, to be exact -- that her abscondment with Rhaegar and the birth of their son, who Ned raises as Jon Snow, is the real catalyst that set the series' events in motion. But was it love or something more horrible that brought them together? We'll have to wait for Season 7 to find out.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • In a Bran vision, young Lyanna showed up her brothers, Ned and Benjen, and showed off her famously rebellious personality.
  • On her deathbed, an older Lyanna, dying, entrusted her brother Ned with the care of her newborn baby, who turned out to be Jon Snow.
  • While the show intentionally obfuscated what Lyanna really named Jon, some fans have theorized his birth name is "Jaehaerys."
ACTOR Donald Sumpter
DEBUT Season 1
95

Maester Luwin was a faithful servant of House Stark who stepped up to lead Winterfell as events to the south drew both Ned and Catelyn away throughout Seasons 1 and 2. More than that, though, he also became a father figure to Bran and Rickon, who desperately needed the guidance. Unfortunately all good things come to an end -- especially on Game of Thrones -- and Luwin was killed during the Ironborn takeover and Ramsay's sack of Winterfell.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • As Ned headed off to King's Landing and Catelyn cared for the injured Bran, Maester Luwin stepped up to help lead Winterfell.
  • Luwin bade the Stark boys Bran and Rickon one final, emotional farewell in the godswood after Ramsay's sack of Winterfell.
ACTOR Alexander Siddig
DEBUT Season 5
94

Prince Doran Martell is one of those unfortunate Game of Thrones characters whose complexity suffered a massive blow on his transition from the books to the show. The scheming, patient Doran of the books was replaced on the screen by a leader who actually was as weak and ineffectual as all those around him suspected. His death at the hands of Ellaria and the Sand Snakes will allow Dorne to finally enter the war against the Lannisters, so at least there's that.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Doran repeatedly chose peace over war, which to viewers' delight included showing mercy to Jaime and Bronn in Season 5.
  • That preference didn't last through Season 6, however, when Ellaria murdered the crap out of him in his precious Water Gardens.
ACTOR Octavia Alexandru/Kae Alexander
DEBUT Season 4
93

Leaf is one of the most mysterious characters on Game of Thrones, belonging to the enigmatic and mythical race known to Bran as the Children of the Forest. Throughout the course of Season 6 viewers learned just how instrumental Leaf and her compatriots were to the events of the series, which only adds to her mystique. Leaf's true mettle was demonstrated, however, when she sacrificed herself to help Bran, Meera and Hodor escape. It helped that she took a small army of wights down with her.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Leaf rescued Bran and co. from the wights as they approached the Three-Eyed Raven's cave in Season 4.
  • In the past, Leaf was responsible for creating the first White Walker as a weapon in the Children of the Forest's fight against men.
  • Leaf sacrificed herself -- blowing up a bunch of wights in the process -- to help Bran escape in Season 6.
ACTOR Mia Soteriou
DEBUT Season 1
92

Mirrir Maz Duur was instrumental in setting Daenerys on the path that would lead to her becoming Queen of Dragons. She taught the future queen an important lesson in the show's first season: To not trust anyone, especially people whose villages were burned and who were raped by your hubby and his vicious Dothraki. In her own way, Mirri got her revenge. The "healer" also taught Dany that magic is real, though, which led to her putting her trust in the flames and the birth of her dragons at the end of Season 1.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Mirri Maz Duur was saved by Dany when Khal Drogo destroyed her village.
  • She used blood magic to save Drogo's life -- technically, putting him in a vegetative state -- and got burned alive by Dany as a reward.
ACTOR Dominic Carter
DEBUT Season 1
91

Janos Slynt had an especially fun arc for Game of Thrones fans to watch. Beginning his life on the show as the commander of the city watch in King's Landing and ending on a chopping block at the Wall, Slynt got exactly what he deserved. Along the way he betrayed Ned Stark, became Lord of Harrenhal, sat on the small council, spied for Cersei, massacred the late King Robert's bastard children, enjoyed a fateful dinner with Tyrion, and helped rule Castle Black alongside Alliser Thorne prior to Jon Snow's ascension. That's a pretty eventful life for a weasel like Janos Slynt.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Janos Slynt publicly betrayed Ned Stark, leading to Ned's capture by the Lannisters and Janos's promotion to a Lord.
  • Janos's dinner with Tyrion in Season 2 was fun to watch, especially when Tyrion had Slynt forcibly arrested and sent to the Night's Watch.
  • Even more fun to watch: When Commander Snow executed the weasel via decapitation for mouthing off in Season 5.
ACTOR Pilou Asbæk
DEBUT Season 6
90

Euron's presence was hugely felt in Season 6, even if he wasn't actually present for much of it. And his influence in the world of Westeros promises only to grow. After murdering his brother Balon -- a scene viewers have been waiting for ever since Melisandre predicted Balon's death way back in Season 3 -- he appeared at the Kingsmoot to taunt Yara and Theon and claim the salt throne for his own. His niece and nephew may have escaped to Meereen for now, but Euron "Crow's Eye" clearly isn't done causing trouble.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
  • Euron Greyjoy finally appeared at the start of Season 6 to murder his brother, Balon Greyjoy.
  • Euron totally owned the Kingsmoot, beating his niece, Yara, to the salt throne.