Sean Bean has played a host of complicated good guys and even more complicated bad guys. In his decades of doing so, Bean has died a ridiculous amount of onscreen deaths and considered plenty of secondhand trauma, including the complex emotions around a beheading. He has also played several skilled fighters, perhaps chief among them two of fantasy’s foremost sword bearers: The Lord of the Rings‘ Boromir and Game of Thrones‘ Eddard “Ned” Stark.

As Boromir and Stark are both iconic emblems of beloved series, inhabit worlds where their battles would involve comparable weaponry and tactics, and share a beloved actor, it’s fun to speculate who between them would win a fight to the death.

Boromir’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Boromir, who fights mostly with sword and fists, is historically willing to use disguise and subterfuge against an enemy, or even a friend. He is used to fighting off not just individuals but small groups of enemies, and can hold his own for a long time, even against a swarm of Orcs. He has occasionally had visions of the future, along with his brother Faramir, though he hasn’t always used that foresight to the best advantage.

Boromir often relies on physical strength to overpower his opponents, rather than necessarily dodging, tiring them out or outthinking them. His physical strength outweighs his mental strength, which is often uneven and impulsive. He is often dismissive of others’ council and reacts impulsively to danger, real or perceived.

On a moral front he strives to be good and do well, but is not always able to resist temptation, often lets his anger run away with him, and if provoked in a fight, may react without thinking. The good news for him is, Eddard is too honorable and enamored of “a fair fight” to try to cheat or taunt him into losing his cool; but even if not, a small amount of impulsiveness in a fight to the death may come in handy.

Eddard Stark’s Strengths and Weaknesses

As a general in many major battles and in his role as Warden of the North guarding a garrison that must be watched on all sides, Ned Stark knows how to lead large groups of men, plan a large attack and maintain a solid defense. Though he possesses Ice, a Greatsword made of Valyrian Steel, he mostly uses it in ceremonies, choosing to fight with a sword and dagger. He has a well-rounded approach to fights, both small and large.

Ned’s temperament is also well rounded, as he is known for being even-keeled and unflappable, cool to the point of some considering ice to run through his veins. While honor is a strength in many places, it can become a liability on the battlefield, particularly if your opponent doesn’t hold it to the same degree you do.

His notable persistence can also be good in a fight, but too much stubbornness and unwillingness to listen to others or change can be catastrophic, and Ned does have a historical unwillingness to bend to circumstances. This inflexibility has not only hurt Ned’s family, but also contributed to him losing his head. If he were losing a fight, he may well decide to double down rather than back off or change strategy, and an opponent such as Boromir could take advantage of that.

Winner: Boromir

While obviously neither has a height, reach, or weight advantage over the other, in the end Boromir’s stamina, experience fighting one or many opponents without advantage of any backup, and willingness to resort to questionable tactics when his back is against the wall, will carry him to a close victory. Not only is Ned Stark more used to large battlefield tactics, but his strictness in abiding by rules and moral code, and not using his famous sword to its full effect, will be his undoing.

However, it is likely after vanquishing Ned, Boromir will die of wounds suffered. Boromir may even welcome that death, since he will regret having killed another noble man who shares his face.