Longclaw
The only Valyrian steel greatsword wielded by a Stark in the War of the Five Kings.
Longclaw stands as one of the few remaining legends of Valyrian steel—a greatsword forged in the fires of a lost empire before the Doom shattered its civilization. For generations, it served as the ancestral blade of House Baratheon of Dragonstone, a symbol of storm-born authority passed from father to son. Its visage is unmistakable: a pommel set with a vivid red ruby that mimics a dragon's unblinking eye, and a hilt reimagined not in honor of stags, but of direwolves—a stark transformation crafted to mirror the true blood of its new wielder.
- Material:
- Valyrian Steel
- Original House:
- House Baratheon of Dragonstone
- Current Wielder:
- Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)
- Distinctive Feature:
- Wolf-shaped hilt with red ruby pommel
- First Appearance:
- Game of Thrones, Season 1
Lore & Background
The sword found its ultimate purpose when Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, witnessed Jon Snow's valor in felling a wight that threatened his life. In a gesture of profound trust and respect, the aging bear of House Mormont bequeathed Longclaw to the young bastard. But he did not merely hand over a weapon; he commissioned a metamorphosis. The original Baratheon stag hilt was melted down, its metal repurposed into a snarling direwolf head—a silent acknowledgment of Jon's Stark heritage and a heavy burden placed upon his shoulders as the realm's first line of defense against the coming dark.
In Their Own Story
Beyond the Wall, the wind screamed across the frozen wastes, carrying the metallic scent of ice and death. Jon Snow tightened his grip on Longclaw, feeling the familiar, deceptively light weight of a blade that had once belonged to his uncle's father. In the grey twilight, the Valyrian steel gleamed with a dull, hungry fire. Ahead, the White Walkers advanced, their blue eyes burning with ancient malice, but Jon stood unflinching. With Longclaw in hand, the bastard of Winterfell vanished; in his place stood the Shield that would hold back the night.
Reader's Guide
Longclaw is a marvel of lost craftsmanship, defying the physics of ordinary steel. It slices through conventional blades and flesh with effortless grace, yet remains light enough to be wielded with the agility of a longsword despite its greatsword dimensions. Its most terrifying utility, however, lies in its singular ability to shatter White Walkers; a single strike from this blade causes the ancient ice creatures to explode into fragments, making it one of the few weapons capable of permanent death against them.
The steel never rusts, chips, or dulls, maintaining a razor edge through centuries of conflict. While any warrior can lift it, its true lethality is unlocked only by those with the strength and skill to command such a blade—like the knights of the Night's Watch or the lords of the North. Currently in Jon Snow's hands, Longclaw serves as both a tool of war against the Army of the Dead and a living bridge between the magical past and the desperate struggle for survival.
Did You Know?
- Longclaw is one of only two known Valyrian steel greatswords in existence during the War of the Five Kings, the other being Oathkeeper (forged from the melted remains of Ice).
- The original hilt featured a crowned stag to represent House Baratheon before Lord Mormont had it reforged into a snarling direwolf head.
- Like all Valyrian steel blades, Longclaw displays distinctive rippled patterns along its edge, known as 'watered steel,' a signature of the ancient forging techniques.
- Valyrian steel requires no sharpening; unlike normal weapons, it retains its razor edge indefinitely and can slice through other metals without sustaining damage.