These Are the 5 Game of Thrones Characters Guaranteed to Survive The Winds of Winter

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In the world of Game of Thrones, there are only two outcomes: victory or death. Throughout George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, and the HBO show it inspired, characters frequently die in shocking and unexpected ways. From Ned Stark’s execution to the infamous Red Wedding, and from Oberyn Martell’s brutal defeat to Lysa Arryn’s fall, the story is filled with death, murder, and betrayal across the five published books.

It’s unlikely The Winds of Winter will alter the current trajectory of the series. As the story nears its conclusion—with Winds being the second-to-last book—the author may need to reduce the number of characters to bring storylines to a satisfying close. While not everyone will survive—deaths need to be meaningful and serve the story—almost any character is at risk. Though many characters have a good chance of surviving, only about five are truly safe, according to George R.R. Martin’s plans.

In 1993, George R.R. Martin sketched out his plans for A Song of Ice and Fire, noting that five main characters would be central to the entire story. He envisioned them developing from childhood to adulthood and significantly impacting the world around them, as well as undergoing personal transformations. He described the series as a generational saga, focusing on the life stories of these three men and two women.

The original plan for the series has changed significantly – it’s now expected to be seven books instead of the initial outline. However, the five characters originally named are still very likely to make it through The Winds of Winter and most of the final book, A Dream of Spring, though not all of them might survive until the very end.

5) Jon Snow

It seems like death isn’t always permanent in the world of Game of Thrones, at least according to characters like the Greyjoys. Jon Snow certainly experienced this firsthand. After being killed by members of the Night’s Watch at the end of the book A Dance with Dragons (and in the Season 5 finale of the TV show), many fans expected – and knew – he would return. The same anticipation surrounds his fate in the upcoming book, The Winds of Winter, which has been eagerly awaited for over fifteen years.

The real question isn’t if Jon Snow will return, but how and when. Many fans believe he somehow entered the body of his direwolf, Ghost, and we might see the story unfold from Ghost’s perspective in the next book. Eventually, Jon will need to return to face the fallout from the mutiny at the Night’s Watch, deal with the events happening at Winterfell, and still keep watch for threats from beyond the Wall. Plus, the books are hinting at a major reveal about his true parents – that he’s actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

As the story races towards its ending, it’s become clear that Jon is really the central figure – he pretty much is the main character now. I’m hoping the next book, Winds of Winter, will really dig into what happened after he died and came back to life, and how that experience fundamentally changed him. Honestly, while it would be a darkly humorous twist for George R.R. Martin to kill him off again, it just wouldn’t make narrative sense, and I can’t see it happening.

4) Arya Stark

Arya Stark can’t truly die until she fully becomes Arya again. Right now, she’s operating under the identity of Mercy. We know from early chapters of the upcoming book, The Winds of Winter, that Arya (as Mercy) is still in Braavos, performing in a play based on events from Westeros. While there, she recognizes Raff the Sweetling – one of the men who worked for the Mountain and was responsible for the death of her friend Lommy – and eventually kills him.

This suggests Arya remains focused on revenge, a theme that will likely continue in The Winds of Winter alongside her struggle to define who she is. Similar to what happened in Game of Thrones, she’ll probably return to Westeros by the book’s end and reclaim her identity. However, her journey will be quite different from the TV show, especially with the return of her wolf dreams, and should make her a compelling character to follow.

3) Bran Stark

Whether fans like it or not, Bran Stark is highly likely to be king at the end of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series – assuming Martin hasn’t changed his mind or was joking. While the details will probably differ from the Game of Thrones finale, Martin himself suggested Bran would rule. I’m confident Martin will provide a good reason for this choice, but first, Bran needs to survive. Unless Martin has a surprising twist planned, Bran can’t become king if he’s dead.

While Bran’s eventual role as king won’t be a major plot point in The Winds of Winter, I anticipate hints about his future reign. The focus of the sixth book will be on his training to become the next Three-Eyed Raven (previously the Three-Eyed Crow in the show). This will involve more visions through the weirwood trees and developing his unique powers. This should give us a better understanding of his abilities – something that was missing in the Thrones series – and build his character in a way that prepares him for kingship. We can also expect to learn more about the history of Westeros through his experiences.

2) Tyrion Lannister

I believe Jon, Arya, and Bran will likely survive throughout the final two books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, and even be alive when the story concludes. However, Tyrion Lannister’s fate is less certain. George R.R. Martin has stated Tyrion won’t have a happy ending, and while that could mean many things, it’s certainly possible he will die before the series ends.

Tyrion has a significant journey ahead, including finally meeting Daenerys Targaryen and eventually returning to Westeros with her. It will be fascinating to see how much darker his character becomes, as the books portray him as much more embittered and angry than his TV counterpart. Unlike his role as a voice of reason during the conquest of King’s Landing in the show, he might actually push Daenerys toward her more destructive tendencies in the books. Though he’ll make it through, he’s deeply affected by the deaths of loved ones and carries that weight with him.

1) Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys Targaryen is likely to die before the end of A Song of Ice and Fire, possibly at the hands of Jon Snow, though the exact circumstances are still unknown. However, she will definitely still be alive at the end of The Winds of Winter. She’s almost as important as Jon Snow in the books, and the story seems to be leading towards a major role for her in the upcoming war against the Others, and whatever happens afterward.

Regarding Daenerys’s storyline in The Winds of Winter, we have a general idea of what will happen. She needs to return to Meereen after ending The Dance with Dragons stranded in the Dothraki Sea, where she’s discovered by Khal Jhaqo and his group.

Once Dany finishes up in Meereen, she’ll likely set sail for Westeros. If the story allows, her arrival could be complicated by family issues, potentially involving her nephew, Aegon Targaryen – Rhaegar’s first son, who is reportedly still alive and vying for the Iron Throne. If a Targaryen character dies in the next book, Aegon is the most likely candidate.

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2026-05-02 23:12