Game of Thrones is a gripping and fantastical series where nine families wage war against each other to gain control of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being asleep for centuries.
Game of Thrones tattoos are nothing new – considering the first episode aired in 2011 – but I think because we all rewatched the incredible series during the pandemic, this definitely sparked new fame for these tattoos.
Personally, I got extremely involved in it all over again, enough to want to get a GoT tattoo! So I decided to look at some of the best Game of Thrones tattoos out there.
1. Realistic Back Piece
This client took fan tattoos to an entirely new level, dedicating the biggest canvas on the body to the film! I really like the amount of open skin left in this tattoo. It allows it to breathe and not look too cluttered.
The composition is interesting, and the technical application is very well done. I especially like the light source around the dragon, it’s eye-catching and powerful.
2. Dainty Dragons
This is such a delicate tattoo – I like how the dragons are flying along this client’s collarbone. I love the highlights on the dragon’s wings, the very fine dotted shading, and the small details in the tails. A beautiful, soft, and well-executed tattoo.
3. Iconic Font
What do we say to the God of death? Not today. This is quite a common Game of Thrones tattoo, and it’s because of this iconic scene that has become huge in meme culture and general everyday chatter.
I like this tattoo for its cleanness but also for its subtle detail. I love the dot work shading and the choice of font, which is clearly from Game of Thrones. I also like the tiny sword addition! A super unique and simple tattoo. If you’re into this style, check out our other dagger tattoos.
4. Powerful Daenerys
This is such a commanding tattoo. Daenerys is the mother of dragons, and it is only fitting to have her portrayed with a stoic feel, with a large and powerful dragon in the background.
This artist’s attention to detail is impeccable. I appreciate using a gradient in the back panel, which pushes the main focus, Daenerys, forward. The placement is perfect, and the composition of having some elements come out of the rectangle is really interesting and different. A beautiful, soft, and striking tattoo!
5. Simple Daenerys
I love this tattoo for its simplicity! Even though the artist has left out the facial features of the girl’s face, we all know who this is due to the beautiful braided hair and the dragon flying in the background.
The artist has captured the essence of Daenerys, or Khaleesi, in this tattoo. The line work is soft and clean, and the very subtle shading is beautiful. I enjoy the addition of the branch to end this tattoo.
6. The Hand of the King Pin
This is a beautifully executed tattoo of The Hand of the King Pin. Hands are notoriously difficult to draw, and this artist was able to create a truly beautiful hand.
I like the way they have shaded the knuckles and the fingernails especially. The placement of this tattoo is perfect for the powerful design!
7. Traditional Arya
Redemption for the Red Wedding!
As you know by now, I am a huge fan of American Traditional tattooing, and this is a wonderful example of how simple yet effective traditional tattoos can be. I like how the artist has simplified these two characters, and yet you know exactly who they are.
The bold lines are perfectly executed, and the color palette is clean and simple. I especially love how the artist did the hair, I know firsthand how frustrating hair can be to draw!
8. Dragon Skull
This tattoo is seriously one of my favorites on this list. The attention to detail and the textures created are so intricate and impressive.
I love the heavy use of black on the inside of the skull, and the symmetry is spot on. I love the placement and the way the design flows on the body. It’s a cool rendition of the iconic dragons from the series.
9. Color Dagger
This is a bright and bold Game of Thrones tattoo, making it slightly different from the other ones on the list. I love how the artist chose to symbolize the dagger breaking through the ice by lining the ice with blue ink and not black.
The blade has such a cool texture to it, and the handle looks like it’s made of gold and covered in gems. I also like that they chose the Game of Thrones font, making it instantly recognizable!
10. Neo-Traditional Arya
This powerful tattoo of Arya Stark captures her as no longer an innocent child, but as a fierce warrior brandishing her dagger.
I enjoy this Neo-Traditional take on a portrait with the subtle red background color and the small golden leaf coming to a point to end this tattoo beautifully. I also like the artist’s personalized take on the GoT font.
11. Tarot Card
This is a very clever tarot card to use for a Khaleesi tattoo. The Judgement tarot card tells us to let go of the past and welcome change.
The line work in this tattoo is extremely crisp and clean. I love the elements coming out of the tarot card – the artist chose not to keep everything in a boring rectangle. I like the liberal use of white in the hair and the dragon, and I especially like the facial expression chosen for Khaleesi. A beautiful and creative tattoo!
12. The Hound
This is such a fun and unique tattoo of The Hound. I love how the artist managed to simplify it, but we all know who this is due to his facial scarring!
He is fierce and lacks chivalry and the artist perfectly encapsulates this. For such a silly tattoo, the lines are extremely clean and bold. I love the soft shading and the small details in his armor and hair.
13. Greenseer
The three-eyed raven that appears in Bran Stark’s dreams is known to the children of the forest as the last Greenseer. This makes for an extremely striking and bold tattoo.
I especially like the placement, as it perfectly fits this body part. I love the inclusion of the tiny swords falling off of the raven and the well-placed white highlights. Even though it is a very dark tattoo, it is still easy to read, which is difficult to achieve!
14. Illustrative Arya
This is a very fun illustrative tattoo. I love the movement created with the hair, fabric, and quirky hand holding the sword.
The gentle stipple shading is beautifully done – it’s quite difficult to shade such small areas! Overall, a unique take on an Arya Stark tattoo.
15. Red Ink Dragon
The popularity of red ink tattoos has soared this year as they make such a bold statement. They can be even more striking when paired with some black lines.
This tattoo reminded me of a beautiful scene from Game of Thrones. The artist has used such fine, highly detailed lines in the mountains and left just the right amount of open skin. I love that the tattoo has a border, even though it isn’t outlined. The placement is just perfect!
16. Wolf’s Head
This is the sigil of House Stark of Winterfell. The Starks use a direwolf to represent their northern origins, and their motto, ‘Winter is Coming,’ reminds you to look up at the bigger fight ahead.
I think this tattoo perfectly encapsulates this powerful family. I especially like the clean and precise linework and the liberal use of white highlights. I love the placement, as it perfectly fits the open spot on this client’s leg!
17. Dragon Egg
Neo-Traditional tattoos are starting to grow on me, especially this beautiful portrait of the queen of dragons, Khaleesi. I absolutely love the composition of these different elements working perfectly together.
The color palette is stunning, with the bright orange crown contrasting the green dragon egg and the red fingertips. The artist cleverly played with the hair tying this entire tattoo together perfectly.
We’ve collected a few more tattoos in this style in our crown tattoos article, so make sure to check that out.
18. Not Today
Another gentle and soft GoT tattoo for the list. I just had to include it because of how unbelievably clean the line work is in this tattoo. It looks like a printer did it!
The artist used a great font and such a lovely dainty sword. The placement is perfect, and I think this is a great feminine take on a Game of Thrones tattoo.
19. Night King
The terrifying Night Walker was the leader of the formidable Army of the Dead, making him one of the most notorious bad guys in film history, and it makes quite a statement to get a tattoo of him!
Although I am not the biggest fan of color realism, this tattoo is the exception. I love all of the different shades and tones of blues used throughout this tattoo – it really gives him that icy look. The composition and placement of this tattoo fit the client’s arm extremely well. A very bold and well-saturated tattoo!
20. Fire and Blood
Fire and Blood is the title of the fictional history of the kings of House Targaryen, and this is another example of a beautifully bold tattoo.
I love the use of warm colors and thick lines. The whip shading is perfectly executed, and the extra detail of the fine scales and teeth on the dragon gives it a dynamic element.
21. Moon
This is such a cool combination of an abstract and a solid shape, making it extremely unique. I believe it is a hand poke tattoo, making it even more interesting!
I love the textures in the inky, flowing moon juxtaposed with the solid, striking dragon. The placement of this tattoo is perfect for the size. An eye-catching tattoo all around!
22. Dragon’s Eye
This is an incredibly well-executed tattoo. I love the textures in the scales around the eyeball and how they fade off along the edges.
I especially like the rich red, orange and yellow in the actual eyeball of the dragon and the shape of the pupil – it really makes it look ferocious and terrifying. The best part of this tattoo though is the size! It is a show-stopping tattoo.
Now that we have reached the end of my top 22 Game of Thrones tattoos, I suggest you check out these 25 Stranger Things tattoos to admire before Season 5.
