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

[Lanefan]

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)

Two things:

1 - seeing as how the OP has used the same "dirty trick" a few times I consider it fair game (Edit to add: see post 36 re Robin Hood for an example)
2 - your move here saves me from doing it later; he's now right where he should be, slotted in just behind Robin Hood.

 

[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)

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)
Lancelot du Lac (Anon)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Little John (Anon) <- moved down for cheating. This guy is a local hero at best.
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)
Eowyn (Tolkien) <- moved up a tier

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

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Two things:

1 - seeing as how the OP has used the same "dirty trick" a few times I consider it fair game (Edit to add: see post 36 re Robin Hood for an example)
2 - your move here saves me from doing it later; he's now right where he should be, slotted in just behind Robin Hood.

None of the "merry men" are in the same league as Robin himself.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

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

I would stat him as an arcane trickster or swashbuckler with magic initiate feat in 5e. 1st edition had a lot fewer options without multiclassing.

I discounted Sir Samuel Vimes as his fighting style is basically rogue.

 

[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)
Gilgamesh the King (anon)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan) <—-moved up one.
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan) <——Glaive wielding, quarterstaff humbling, master tactician. Moved up one.
Druss the Legend (Gemmell)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien)
Lancelot du Lac (Anon)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Little John (Anon)
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)
Eowyn (Tolkien)

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

 

[Mannahnin]

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

He's a bit of a dilemma, which is why I delayed on adding him and Fafhrd. Leiber, IIRC, describes the two as the two greatest swordsmen in the multiverse, but I don't think we're bound to those levels of hyperbole when comparing heroes from different authors. And of course he and Cugel are the two original models for the Thief.

I do think he belongs. He's absolutely an example of a Fighting Man as Gygax originally conceived the class.

I would stat him as an arcane trickster or swashbuckler with magic initiate feat in 5e. 1st edition had a lot fewer options without multiclassing.

In 1st edition he definitely seems like exactly the kind of thing Gary created The Character With Two Classes (colloquially known as dual classing) to cover. 1st level M-U, all the rest Thief. Though this doesn't do justice to his fighting ability, as the Deities & Demigods writeup attests.

 

[Mannahnin]

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)

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

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Little John (Anon) - Moved down. Definitely more of a local hero. Very human scale.
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Fafhrd (Leiber) - Moved up. He and the mouser are supposed to be two of the greatest swordsmen in the multiverse.
Brienne of Tarth (Martin)
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)
Eowyn (Tolkien)

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

 

[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)
Gilgamesh the King (anon)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Conan (Howard)
Al'lan Mandragoran (Jordan) - Moved up. He’s basically a beefed up Aragorn.
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Mandorallen (Eddings)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Croaker (Cook)
Adolin Kholin (Sanderson)
Beowulf (Anon)
Matt Cawthorn (Jordan)
Druss the Legend (Gemmell)
Galad Damodred (Jordan)
Beren (Tolkien)
Lancelot du Lac (Anon)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Little John (Anon)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister (Martin) —— moved up. Pre hand.
Brienne of Tarth (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)
Eowyn (Tolkien)

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

 

[Mannahnin]

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)

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

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Little John (Anon) - Down two. Still closer to a local hero.
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Jaime Lannister *uninjured (Martin)
Brienne of Tarth (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 (Tolkien)
Carrot Ironfoundersson (Pratchett)
Eowyn (Tolkien)

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

 

[Cadence]

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

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

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Mouser (Leiber) - in and moved down, he's supposed to be the best swordsman, but... ?
Robin Hood (Anon)
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Gimli (Tolkien)
Jaime Lannister *uninjured (Martin)
Fafhrd (Leiber)
Little John (Anon) - down again
Brienne of Tarth (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 (Tolkien)
Carrot Ironfoundersson (Pratchett)
Eowyn (Tolkien)

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