A massive battle rages for control of King's Landing and the Iron Throne as Stannis's fleet assaults the city. Sansa plays the game, trying to manipulate Joffrey into leading the attack personally in hopes of getting him killed, but he proves too afraid to fight. Leading the defense, Tyrion destroys the majority of Stannis's fleet with wildfire, Davos's ship among them, yet a significant force still manages to attack the castle. The Hound, overcome by his fear of fire, denounces Joffrey and deserts the battlefield; Joffrey retreats in fear while Tyrion rallies the Gold Cloaks into fighting with him and mounts a rearguard attack when Stannis's forces enter the castle.
Cersei goes to the throne room with Tommen, intending to commit suicide rather than be captured. Tyrion is betrayed and wounded by the Kingsguard knight Mandon Moore but saved by his squire, Pod. The Hound offers to take Sansa to Winterfell, but she is still scared of him and refuses. Tywin and Loras arrive with a combined Lannister-Tyrell army at the last minute to save the city, though Stannis escapes.