Tyrion Lannister is a complicated character, and perhaps one of the most profound in Game of Thrones for his various contributions. Shunned by his family, he is forced into exile to avoid the brunt their prejudice. He proves his intelligence and political acumen at several points throughout the HBO series, especially while serving under Daenerys as the Hand of the Queen.
It’s not really a stretch to claim Tyrion as one of the prime movers of the storyline. That said, there are an embarrassingly large number of occasions in which he has behaved in an uncharacteristically shortsighted manner. In Tyrion’s defense, he is a human being at the end of the day, but a few of these instances are downright preposterous.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 24, 2025: Tyrion Lannister may be the smartest character in Game of Thrones, but in a world like Westeros, that doesn’t always mean too much. The wisecracking Lannister is always witty and confident, but even he is known to falter a few times. This article has been updated to include more of Tyrion’s dumbest moments and to adhere to CBR’s current formatting guidelines.
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15
Tyrion’s Affection for His Family Is Misplaced
The Lannisters Always Hated Tyrion
Despite his maltreatment at the hands of his own flesh and blood, Tyrion bears some amount of goodwill toward them, especially his older brother. While Jaime isn’t disloyal to him, per se, Cersei and Tywin constantly revile him for just being who he is, for being born differently than everyone else. They mock him, belittle him, and draw attention to his status as a dwarf in the most insulting ways.
Blood might be thicker than water, but sometimes it’s just better to cast aside family members who do nothing more than generate pain, misery, and a host of lifelong insecurities. Tyrion’s family would trade him in for any increase of power, wealth, or status. The only times they ever defend him, they do so only to protect their own reputations. In the end, the Lannisters utterly betray Tyrion, blaming him for the death of King Joffrey and attempting to have him executed.
14
Tyrion Assassinates His Father In Cold Blood
An Act of Rage Ensured That Tyrion Would Never Be Welcome in King’s Landing
Tyrion has despised his father, Tywin, for a long time, with their relationship only growing more antagonistic over the years. When Tywin sentences his son to die, it’s not surprising that Tyrion ends up murdering the old man on the toilet. In fact, it’s difficult to judge him for patricide given his childhood, but his actions do raise a few questions.
Losing control of his common sense is not a good look for him, given that he’s already blamed for crimes he didn’t commit. Tywin’s death forces Tyrion to abandon his home continent and leave for Essos, where he’s fortunate enough to get a second chance via Daenerys. However, Tywin’s death means that Tyrion will never be welcome back in King’s Landing again.
13
Tyrion’s Emotional Explosion at His Trial
Tyrion’s Angry Speech Damned Him in the Eyes of the People
When Joffrey is poisoned to death, suspicion primarily falls on Tyrion, the disgraced uncle without much to offer in terms of alibi. Jaime works to get his brother freed, or at least pardoned, but his hard work is wasted when Cersei forces Shae to betray Tyrion. Angry, Tyrion goes on a long rant in front of the people, hinting that he is glad about Joffrey’s death.
The fact that his lover turns against him is understandably painful, but that doesn’t mean he should have hinted at treason—Tyrion describes his pleasure at experiencing Joffrey’s assassination firsthand, further declaring his choice for a trial by combat. The consequences of his outburst lead to his champion, Oberyn Martell’s death during his fight with The Mountain.
12
Tyrion Chooses Trial by Combat
Oberyn Martell Fails to Vindicate Tyrion Lannister
After a fiery speech in front of King’s Landing, Tyrion Lannister invokes the right to trial by combat, hoping to exonerate himself in the death of King Joffrey. No one comes to the fore to fight for Tyrion’s honor–until Oberyn Martell, traditionally an enemy of the Lannisters, finally offers to fight on his behalf. Although Oberyn initially does well against the Mountain, he is brutally killed at the end of their fierce duel.
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It is understandable that Tyrion chose trial by combat, especially since his options were running short at the time. This trick worked well for him when he was accused of attempting to kill Bran Stark in Season 1. Unfortunately, Tyrion should have known that the same trick doesn’t usually work more than once. Unfortunately for him, this particular strategy loses its helpfulness in Season 4.
11
Tyrion Kills Shae in a Fit of Rage
For Once, Tyrion’s Emotions Overcome His Intelligence
Tyrion faces heavy emotional tolls when forced to stand trial for the death of King Joffrey. Not the least of his plights is the testimony of Shae, his one-time lover who returns to King’s Landing at the behest of the Lannisters to tarnish his reputation. Later, as Tyrion makes his escape from the Red Keep, he finds Shae in his father’s bed and, in an emotion outburst, he murders her.
This may be the one time in Game of Thrones when Tyrion fully lets his emotions win out against his better judgment. He goes on to murder his father that same night. While both of these deaths seem like justice in Tyrion’s mind, they are actually acts of vengeance which only serve to tarnish his reputation even further.
10
Trusting Bronn Isn’t Tyrion’s Brightest Moment
Bronn Is Consistent–All He Cares About Is Money
One of Tyrion’s most frequent allies in Game of Thrones is Bronn, a sellsword who fights for him in trial by combat in the Eerie. For the next several seasons, Tyrion continues to rely on Bronn as his muscle. Knowing that a mercenary’s loyalty is congruent to the weight of his purse, Tyrion ensures Bronn that he will always pay him double anyone else’s offer.
Although Tyrion takes steps to avoid being betrayed by Bronn, he trusts the sellsword too much. Over time, Tyrion mistakenly begins to view Bronn as his friend. While this could have turned out much worse for him than it did, Tyrion should have known better than to trust a mercenary.
9
Tyrion’s Trust In the Masters of Meereen Is Broken Spectacularly
Tyrion Doesn’t Always Trust the Right People
Daenerys’ entourage wants the Meereenese masters to abolish the vile concept of slavery, but they, in turn, assert that slaves are a vital aspect of the area’s economy. Tyrion intercedes, telling them that most Slaver’s Bay cities will be given a gracious period of seven years to permanently get rid of slavery, as well as remunerate any owners for the losses incurred.
Grey Worm and Missandei raise their doubts regarding this offer, as they expect the masters to renege on the agreement. And of course they do, resulting in many more deaths that could have been avoided had Tyrion been a tad more circumspect. Unfortunately, this event proves that Tyrion’s self-confidence sometimes outweighs his intelligence.
8
Tyrion Enters the Battle of the Blackwater
This Battle Could Have Been the End of Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion’s role in the Iron Throne’s victory against Stannis’ armada during the Battle of the Blackwater cannot be forgotten or minimized, given that his practical assessments and use of Wildfire to devastating effect basically save the day. On the other hand, Tyrion decides to take matters into his own literal hands and travels through King’s Landing, hacking and slashing as best he can—and he would have been killed by Ser Maddon if not for Podrick’s last-minute rescue.
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Tyrion may be a brilliant strategist, but he is no warrior. Jumping into the heat of battle, even as a symbol to the people, is ill-advised for a man with as little fighting experience as he. Aside from the personal risks he takes by jumping into battle, Tyrion is not even given the honor he deserves for his war efforts. Most of the credit goes to Tywin, who arrives at the last minute with reinforcements to finish off Stannis’s army.
7
Tyrion Slaps the Future King In the Face (Multiple Times)
Though Satisfying, This Moment Dooms Tyrion
One of the most satisfying sequences in Game of Thrones is when Tyrion slaps Joffrey over and over for sassing him, completely oblivious to the fact that his nephew is first in line to the throne. At different times during the events of the series, Tyrion confronts his royal nephew, often chiding him for his stupidity and cruelty. As satisfying as these sequences may be, they don’t do Tyrion any favors.
As the crown prince, however, Joffrey can’t say or do much against his uncle, but it’s only a matter of time before he becomes king. As expected, Tyrion endures incredible humiliation after Robert’s death, something he really should have foreseen. A man as smart as Tyrion Lannister should be more careful when speaking to the future king. Moreover, when Joffrey is murdered, all eyes immediately point to Tyrion, a known adversary of the king.
6
Tyrion Hides in the Crypt During the Battle of Winterfell
This Strategic Mistake Nearly Cost Tyrion His Life
During the Battle of Winterfell, armies clash against the Night King and his White Walker army in one last stand to protect Westeros from the Long Night. While the soldiers defend the keep, Tyrion and the non-fighters take shelter in the crypt, where they hope to be safe from the fighting. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible place to hide in a fight with the Night King.
As Tyrion should have known from his allies’ previous encounters with the White Walkers, the Night King has the ability to raise the dead to join his army. Therefore, hiding in the crypt is an extremely stupid choice. Surrounded by the dead, Tyrion and the other refugees are attacked by the newly risen servants of the Night King, nearly costing them their lives.
5
Tyrion Blows the Whistle on Varys’ Misgivings
Tyrion Gets Varys Killed in Game of Thrones’ Final Season
Varys truly believes in what Daenerys represents for Westeros, perhaps in part due to his prior service under Aerys Targaryen. However, he soon concludes that the so-called Queen behaves in a patently undignified manner under stressful situations. When she executes the Tarlys against her advisors’ warnings, Varys finally begins to wonder if someone else would be better suited to sit the Iron Throne than she.
Varys unwittingly relates his doubts to Tyrion, who promptly exposes them to Daenerys. The Spider is sentenced to death by Dracarys—this is one thoughtless betrayal that Tyrion will never forget. Tyrion’s undoubting loyalty to Daenerys led him to betray the only man he could ever call his true friend.
4
Tyrion Convinces Dany to Capture a Wight Before Talking to Cersei
The Mission Nearly Cost the Lives of Tyrion’s Key Allies
As the Hand of the Queen, Tyrion mistakenly believes that his sister might be amenable to Daenerys’ requests if there is physical evidence of the oncoming storm of White Walkers. On paper, this suggestion sounds airtight, but anyone who knows Cersei and her bizarre power fantasies is aware that she will never offer help to those who seek to dethrone her.
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Tyrion’s idea is temporarily effective: the wight’s existence stuns Cersei and her court, but his plan ultimately goes nowhere. It’s almost like Tyrion doesn’t understand his sister at all; there is no way that Cersei would tolerate something as humiliating as a truce. While his motivations are admirable, they weren’t realistic.
3
Tyrion Plays a Role In the Death of His Niece
Myrcella’s Blood Is on Tyrion’s Hands
Tyrion convinces Cersei to send her daughter, Myrcella, off to Dorne, where he hopes that her presence will engender a stronger bond with House Martell. This makes sense, given that the relationship between the Iron Throne and Dornish nobility had frayed after the murder of Elia under Tywin’s orders.
Sadly, Oberyn’s death in King’s Landing is far too fresh in the Martells’ memories for them to forgive House Lannister, so Myrcella is naturally assassinated by Ellaria Sand. Tyrion’s tact fails him when he needs it the most. This only served to make him even more of a villain in Cersei’s eyes, destroying their family dynamic even more.
2
Tyrion Remains In Queen Daenerys’ Service Far Too Long
Tyrion Should Have Run From Daenerys While He Had the Chance
Tyrion is aghast when Daenerys flies into a fiery rage and sets an entire city ablaze, but he wastes all his chances at preventing this outcome. His conflicted emotions play a major role in his decisions, of course, but that’s exactly why he should have been more meticulous with his tactics.
That said, Tyrion is indirectly responsible for the thousands of innocent lives lost; he didn’t see it coming not because he couldn’t, but because he blinds himself, perhaps intentionally, to the consequences. The people of King’s Landing suffer at the hands of their would-be queen, as Tyrion watches in horror. He may be against Daenerys’s actions, but he directly facilitated them.
1
Tyrion Makes Bran Stark King
Tyrion’s Choice Makes No Sense
In the series finale of Game of Thrones, the war is finally won and peace has been restored to Westeros. Only one question remains: who will rule the Seven Kingdoms now that Daenerys Targaryen is dead? A council convenes to deliberate this question, eventually calling upon Tyrion Lannister for advice. After a long-winded speech, Tyrion decides that Bran Stark is the best choice to rule as the next king of Westeros.
This infamous decision irks Game of Thrones fans to this day. Bran Stark is not only an odd choice to become king–he may very well be the worst selection possible. As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran has no desire to be king, nor should he have the time. In fact, the duties of ruling the Seven Kingdoms would be a distraction to Bran, who could spend his time doing better things. Moreover, Bran certainly didn’t earn the role of king, which would have been better-suited to a warrior who actually contributed to the liberation of Westeros. Tyrion’s decision to make Bran king may be his worst moment in the entire series.
