You Win Or You Die: Ranking the 99 Game of Thrones Deaths

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Oberyn Martell and the Mountain

Vengeance is a double-edged sword all its own. While the likes of Cersei, Arya, Jon, and even Sansa have played their hand and succeeded, it doesn’t pan out for everyone. Oberyn Martell was one of the unlucky few whose thirst for revenge ended his life.

Oberyn volunteers as Tyrion’s champion in his trial by combat. He knows that Cersei has chosen the Mountain to fight in honor of the dead Joffrey, and he has long-standing business to settle with the man. During Robert’s Rebellion, the Mountain raped and killed Elia Martell, Oberyn’s sister who was married to Rhaegar Targaryen. He dashed her children’s heads against the castle walls, effectively murdering them alongside her. Oberyn wanted justice, and he wanted the Mountain to admit his crimes.

Had Oberyn been satisfied with the Mountain’s death at his hands, he would have walked from the fighting pit alive and victorious. Instead, his confidence and anger got the best of him, and so the Mountain did too. Oberyn gained his confession, but at the cost of his own life.