Game of Thrones set the stakes high early on by killing off Ned Stark, the show’s ostensible main character, in the show’s first season. Since then, more than 100 characters have died over the show’s brutal seven seasons. (If your memory is fuzzy, here’s a comprehensive list of every single character who wound up on the wrong end of a sword or a dragon.)
But dozens of beloved characters have survived—or been resurrected—long enough to face the White Walkers in Game of Thrones season 8. Given the show’s history of violence and the scale of what’s to come, it’s likely that few will survive that fight. After all, most fans seem to agree that the fate of Westeros lies in the hands of Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and their possible offspring.
But plenty of other characters have proven themselves to be survivors and could play surprising roles in the fight, like Melisandre or The Mountain. Meanwhile, plenty of characters have dangling plot lines that the show may try to wrap up before the end, like the imprisoned Yara Greyjoy or the Faceless Man, Jaqen H’ghar, who may yet reappear in Arya’s life. And the recently released Game of Thrones season 8 trailer revealed that Beric Dondarrion and Tormund Giantsbane, who many thought were dead at the end of season 7, are actually still alive.
Here are all the people who are still breathing headed into the show’s highly-anticipated final season, which premieres April 14.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow (Kit Harington) managed to capture a Wight and bring it to Cersei to prove that creatures—and by proxy, the White Walkers—do exist. Having survived yet another encounter with the Night King, he is now headed back to his home of Winterfell—with his new lover (and, unbeknownst to him, his aunt) Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in tow.
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys may have lost one of her dragons while saving Jon Snow beyond the Wall, but she survived the encounter with the Night King and his army. After brokering an uneasy alliance with Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), she is now headed to Winterfell with Jon.
Cersei Lannister
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms has lost all of her children over the course of the series but still managed to elevate herself to queen. She now claims that she is pregnant. She reveals to Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) that she intends to double-cross Daenerys and let the Mother of Dragons’ forces tire themselves out fighting the White Walkers before attacking Daenerys herself.
Tyrion Lannister
After arranging a meeting between Daenerys and Cersei, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is on his way to Winterfell with Jon and Daenerys, though he is concerned about the Mother of Dragon’s romantic entanglement with Jon.
Sansa Stark
After warning Jon about bending the knee to Daenerys, Sansa (Sophie Turner) takes over the day to day operations in Winterfell. She executes Littlefinger for conspiring against her family and currently rules over the North.
Ayra Stark
Arya (Maisie Williams) returns to Winterfell after avenging the death of her family members by killing Walder Frey. She and Sansa eventually decide to work together with their brother Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) as a wolf pack to survive.
Bran Stark
After arriving in Winterfell, Bran reveals that Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryan and Lyanna Stark to Samwell Tarly (John Bradley). He then uses his powers to watch the Night King destroy a large part of the Wall and march south toward Winterfell.
Jaime Lannister
Disgusted with Cersei’s plan to attack Daenerys and Jon Snow when the fate of the entire realm is at stake—shades of the Mad King whom Jaime killed—Jaime walks out of King’s Landing. He rides North.
Brienne of Tarth
Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) witnesses the meeting between Jon, Daenerys and Cersei in Winterfell. When Cersei initially refuses to help Daenerys and Jon, Brienne pleads with Jaime to talk to his sister. She is now heading back to Winterfell.
Theon Greyjoy
After his sister Yara is captured by their uncle Euron Greyjoy, Theon (Alfie Allen) rallies the Ironborn to help him save Yara by proving himself in a battle. He is now sailing to the Seven Kingdoms to try to save her.
Samwell Tarly
Sam leaves the Citadel to tell Jon Snow that he has both Targaryen and Stark blood. He arrives at Winterfell where he and Bran piece together that Jon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
Davos Seaworth
Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) accompanies Jon Snow and Daenerys to their meeting with Cersei. He is currently on the ship back to Winterfell.
The Mountain
When Jaime challenges Cersei, Cersei implicitly threatens to have The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) kill Jaime. However, Jaime calls her bluff and leaves King’s Landing. The Mountain remains with Cersei.
Varys
Varys (Conleth Hill) attended the negotiations with Cersei in the Dragonpit and is traveling with Jon and Cersei back to Winterfell.
Jorah Mormont
With Sam’s help, Jorah (Iain Glen) cures his Dragonscale. He accompanies Jon first on his mission beyond the wall to secure a wight and then to King’s Landing to negotiate with Cersei. He is currently sailing back to Winterfell.
Melisandre
On Dragonstone, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) tells Varys that she must return to Westeros because her fate is to die there. That’s the last time she appears in season 7.
Euron Greyjoy
Euron (Pilou Asbæk) says during the meeting in the Dragonpit that he is going to return to the Iron Islands and wait out the war with the White Walkers since they can’t swim. Cersei later reveals to Jaime that Euron is in fact procuring the Golden Company soldiers for her.
The Hound
After threatening his brother, The Mountain, and demonstrating the Wight’s abilities to Cersei, The Hound (Rory McCann) sails to Winterfell.
Bronn
Bronn, leading a group of Lannister soldiers, greets Tyrion, Jon and their allies in King’s Landing and escorts them to the Dragonpit. Tyrion offers to pay Bronn (Jerome Flynn) to join their side, and Bronn declines. Bronn and Podrick leave the Dragonpit before the meeting begins.
Tormund Giantsbane
Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) is guarding Eastwatch when the Night King orders the ice dragon to destroy the wall. But a recent trailer for the final season revealed that he did indeed survive the attack, though it is unclear how.
Gendry
When Jon’s forces are overwhelmed beyond the Wall, Gendry (Joe Dempsie) runs back to Eastwatch to send a raven to Daenerys. He collapses before the wall and conveys the message to Davos.
Yara Greyjoy
Yara (Gemma Whelan) is captured by her uncle, Euron Greyjoy, and paraded through the streets of King’s Landing. She is taken away by guards to be imprisoned. Theon rallies the Ironborn to try to save her.
Grey Worm
After leading the Unsullied to King’s Landing to ensure a peaceful parlay between the two queens and intimidate Cersei, Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) returns with Daenerys’ army to Dragonstone.
Missandei
After the meeting with Cersei, Missendei (Nathalie Emmanuel) sails with Daenerys to Winterfell.
Daario Naharis
Daenerys asks Daario (Michiel Huisman) and the Second Sons to stay in Meereen to keep the peace while a democratic government is established.
Jaqen H’ghar
Arya traps Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha) and points her sword at him in the House of Black and White. He allows her to leave while also taking back her identity as Arya Stark.
Beric Dondarrion
Beric (Richard Dormer) is guarding Eastwatch when the Night King arrives with his dragon. In the Game of Thrones season 8 trailer, it’s revealed that he lived to fight another day.
Meera Reed
After bringing Bran to Winterfell, Meera (Ellie Kendrick) tells Bran that she has to return to her family home, Greywater Watch, before the White Walkers arrive. She observes that the real Bran died in the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven and then leaves.
Podrick Payne
Podrick (Daniel Portman) reunites with Bronn and Tyrion at King’s Landing during the meeting between Daenerys and Cersei. He leaves the Dragonpit with Bronn but presumably accompanies Brienne back to Winterfell after the tête-à-tête.
Gilly
Gilly (Hannah Murray) travels from Old Town to Winterfell with Sam in order to tell Jon about his true parentage.
Lyanna Mormont
Lyanna (Bella Ramsey) stays behind with Sansa when Jon Snow goes to Dragonstone to appeal to Daenerys.
Ellaria Sand
After Euron captures Ellaria (Indira Varma), Cersei imprisons Ellaria with her daughter, Tyene (Rosabell Laurenti Sellers). Cersei poisons Tyene and tells Ellaria that she will be kept alive to watch her daughter die and decompose.
Qyburn
Qyburn (Anton Lesser) tells Cersei she is pregnant before the meeting in the Dragonpit. He accompanies her to that meeting and examines the Wight that Jon Snow brings there. He presumably accompanies Cersei back to the castle afterward.
Robin Arryn
Robin, following the advice of Littlefinger, sends the Vale armies to help his cousin Sansa fight the Boltons. It’s unclear who is counseling Robin now that Littlefinger is dead.
Hot Pie
Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey) tells Arya that Jon Snow defeated the Boltons at the Battle of the Bastards, and Arya decides to travel home to her family rather than to King’s Landing to kill Cersei. She warns Hot Pie to be careful, and he says he’s a survivor.
Eddison Tollett
We las saw Jon Snow’s longtime companion Edd (Ben Crompton) greeting Meera and Bran on the Northern side of the Wall. It looks like he’s alive and leading the Night’s Watch, according to a recent trailer for the final season.
