D&D General Fighters of Fantasy Literature - Tier List and Ranking! (Vote once per day through February 14th).

[Lord Shark]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Erekose (Moorcock)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs)
Icarium (Erikson)
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett)
Kane (Wagner)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell )

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Decado the Ice Killer (Gemmell)
Legolas (Tolkien)-
Gimli (Tolkien)
Bard (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eowyn (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)

Groo might deserve to be higher. He can, after all, fight entire armies singlehandedly if he's eager for a fray (or if someone calls him a mendicant).

I was a bit uncertain whether to put Kane in tier 3 or 4, but he is immortal and, as seen in Darkness Weaves and Bloodstone, can certainly shake the world when he puts his mind to it.

Moved Croaker down. From what I recall, he was a medic and Annalist, not a particularly great warrior in his own right, although he did lead the Company for a while.

 

[Guest 7034872]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Erekose (Moorcock)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs)
Icarium (Erikson)
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett)
Kane (Wagner)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell )

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Decado the Ice Killer (Gemmell)
Legolas (Tolkien)-
Gimli (Tolkien)
Bard (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier) <-- Okay, Groo was awesome. Way too much fun for me not to vote for him. >looking pensive< "Did I err?"
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eowyn (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)

Groo might deserve to be higher. He can, after all, fight entire armies singlehandedly if he's eager for a fray (or if someone calls him a mendicant).

I was a bit uncertain whether to put Kane in tier 3 or 4, but he is immortal and, as seen in Darkness Weaves and Bloodstone, can certainly shake the world when he puts his mind to it.

Moved Croaker down. From what I recall, he was a medic and Annalist, not a particularly great warrior in his own right, although he did lead the Company for a while.

 

[Cadence]

Moved Croaker down. From what I recall, he was a medic and Annalist, not a particularly great warrior in his own right, although he did lead the Company for a while.

I think he always undersells himself in the early books (both in terms of his own violence and in terms of his prowess). In the later books he's captain and general and (granted with help) shakes nations. The Green Ronin "The Black Company" book for d20 has him with a total 15 levels (academician 5/ fighter 3/ jack-of-al-trades 5/great general 2). So it felt to me like 3rd tier was about right from that standpoint. Although his HP and BAB would put him closer to effectively a 10th level fighter in terms of combat. So if its just pure fighting I can't argue too much with tier 2.

 

[Cadence]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Icarium (Erikson)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs) <- down 1, they weren't two very good worlds though
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Erekose (Moorcock) <- correction
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett) <-correction
Kane (Wagner)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell )
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien) <- added

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber) <- up one.
Bard (Tolkien)
Jaime Lannister (Martin)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier)
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)
Bragi Ragnarson (Cook) <- Added

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eowyn (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)

@Erekose I adjusted two of yours (you get to add two each day at the bottom of a tier, and then get to shift two by one spot) and took the other two off
@South by Southwest did you change any or just copy the one above you?

 

[Cadence]

Does Mouser count enough to be on a fighter list (world's greatest swordsman)? Or is he to much a thief? 1e Deities and Demigods has him as Figher 11 / Magic User 3 / Thief 15

 

[Cadence]

The rules as to "who qualifies as a fighter" aren't really specified. I would have been inclined to rule out anyone who uses magic - which as pointed out would throw out all those elves the OP included in the top tier. I would stat Glorfindel as a cleric for a start. Fingolfin could be a battlesmith artificer.

If we do another one I'll have to think more about the rules!

To be fair though, Eldritch Knight is under fighter in 5e.

I would also have ruled out legendary characters like Robin Hood. There are way to many potentials, such as Gilgamesh.

At least more of us would have heard of them though

 

[Lanefan]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Icarium (Erikson)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs)
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Erekose (Moorcock)
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett)
Kane (Wagner)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell)
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Little John (Anon) <-- added then moved down
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin) <-- moved up
Bard (Tolkien)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier)
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)
Bragi Ragnarson (Cook)
Boromir (Tolkein) <-- added

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eowyn (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)

For those I've heard of, the ordering in Tier 2 needs to be run through a blender - right now it's out to lunch.

 

[TheSword]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Icarium (Erikson)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs)
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Erekose (Moorcock)
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett)
Kane (Wagner)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan) —— Moved Up. Doesn’t need sleep.
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell)
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Little John (Anon) —— Moved down for dirty trick to try and make him top of the tier. @Lanefan
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin)
Bard (Tolkien)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier)
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)
Bragi Ragnarson (Cook)
Boromir (Tolkein) <-- added

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eowyn (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If we do another one I'll have to think more about the rules!

To be fair though, Eldritch Knight is under fighter in 5e.

It's hard to distinguish an EK from a multiclassed character, or something else all together. The hexblade, which is a warlock subclass in 5e, was directly based on Elric. Glorfindel is illustrated blasting the balrog with holy light, which would make him a cleric or a paladin. The easiest rule is to say if they use any magic in combat they don't qualify.

At least more of us would have heard of them though

Have a separate game for mythical types. I would make the rule "character did or did not exist before 1900".

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Icarium (Erikson)
John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom (Burroughs)
Elric of Melnibone (Moorcock)
Culain Lord of the Lance (Gemmell)
Erekose (Moorcock)
Cohen the Barbarian (Pratchett)
Kane (Wagner)
Gilgamesh the King (anon) <- added

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell)
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Little John (Anon) <- moved down for cheating. This guy is a local hero at best.
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin)
Bard (Tolkien)
Bronn of the Blackwater (Martin)
Joscelin Verreuil (Carey)
Groo the Wanderer (Aragonés and Evanier)
Geralt of Rivia (Sapkowski)
Bragi Ragnarson (Cook)
Boromir (Tolkein)
Carrot Ironfoundersson (Pratchett) <- added

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Eowyn (Tolkien) <- moved up
Jean Tannen (Lynch)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)
Samwise the Brave (Tolkien)