characters as powerful as the ones in A Court of Thorns and Roses, "weak" is a very relative term. Each court has its own specializations and secrets, with the nature of each court shaping the base magic each High Lord and his people have. Each court also has its own non-magical strengths, so it would be a mistake to underestimate any of Prythian's courts in the Court of Thorns and Roses books.

Still, the courts are all shaped by their High Rulers, their politics, and their inner conflicts. Sarah J. Maas hasn't given equal time to the courts (though we may see more in A Court of Thorns and Roses' High Fae want to it it or not, Prythian is far stronger when the courts are divided and united than when they are at odds with each other.

8 Dusk Court

Current Ruler: N/A

Of all the courts in A Court of Thorns and Roses, the Dusk Court is the one that no longer exists, but has ed into myth and legend. All that's definitively known of it is that it used to exist, but now no longer does. What happened to it and why it disappeared is unknown, a strange reality incongruous with the rest of the Fae's meticulous record-keeping. Considering their long lifespans and memories that easily stretch back hundreds of years, one would think there would be some record of the Dusk Court and what befell it. A chronic weakness of Maas, however, is that she will often ignore continuity for the sake of setting up a reveal.

A Court of Silver Flames set up the storyline of the Fae trapped in the mountain to be a major storyline in the next ACOTAR book.

In the case of the Dusk Court, it's almost certain we already know what that reveal will be: the Dusk Court used to be where the Prison island is, and, in fact, the voices Nesta hears coming from behind the rock and the visions she saw of people being trapped in the mountain are the citizens of the lost Dusk Court. There's a further ACOTAR theory that it will be Elain to free the Dusk Court in the next book, which wouldn't be a surprise. Still, we know next to nothing about the lost court, so it gets last place on this list.

7 Spring Court

Current Ruler: Tamlin

If this list had been written after A Court of Thorns and Roses, or even partway into A Court of Mist and Fury, then the Spring Court might have ranked at the top of this list. At the very least, it would have been in second place. Tamlin is a very powerful Fae High Lord, especially in his beast form, and, while he didn't have many close friends and allies, those he did have, like Lucien, were loyal to him. His standing army was also significant, which it had to be considering the Spring Court is the one that borders the human lands. In his bestial form, Tamlin was largely regarded as the most physically powerful and feral of all the High Lords.

However, this was only possible because Tamlin's court was relatively stable, even if his people weren't always happy with his outdated notions. Feyre breaking Tamlin's heart ultimately revealed that Tamlin's court was only as strong as he was. And while this is the case for all High Fae courts - a strong court needs a strong ruler - Tamlin never learned that real strength comes from forging strong bonds with others. As a result, when he fell apart, there was no one left to help keep the Spring Court running, leading to its current shambolic state. Even Tamlin's inevitable ACOTAR redemption arc may not save his court.

6 Dawn Court

Current Ruler: Thesan

Considering the vast potential of its fields of specialization, the Dawn Court could be placed higher on this list. However, of the current Prythian Fae courts, we arguably know the least about the Dawn Court, at least so far. Its High Lord, Thesan, is something of a mystery. Rhysand counts on him to be an ally in the war against Hybern, mentioning that his Night Court's relationship with the Dawn Court has always been strong and mutually aligned. But we don't know much about Thesan, other than that his healing ability is incredibly powerful.

We don't know much about Thesan, other than that his healing ability is incredibly powerful.

The Dawn Court does have a few things going in its favor, though. The first is their small but mighty legion of winged Fae, the Peregryn, the commander of whom is Thesan's lover. The Peregryns aren't as powerful as the Illyrians, but they're still a crucial ally to have in battle. The Dawn Court is also arguably the smartest and most advanced of the courts, too, specializing in inventions, clockwork, and magical and scientific discoveries. It was Thesan's court that came up with the antidote to counter Hybern's faebane poison, saving the other courts and the people of Prythian.

5 Autumn Court

Ruler: Beron Vanserra

On the surface, the Autumn Court is one of the most powerful and formidable courts in all of Prythian. As High Lord, Beron Vanserra is cruel, calculating, and rules with an iron fist, ensuring none of his people step out of line. Anyone caught questioning his authority or disregarding his orders is dealt with swiftly and mercilessly, up to and including the Autumn Court's archaic Blood Duel. This ruthlessness includes his own sons, particularly Lucien. He's also one of the more well-guarded High Lords, with rings of protection around the Forest House compound, and his well-trained, ruthless guards and spies stationed all throughout the surrounding trees and rocks.

That said, even though Beron knows all that happens within his court, he does not yet appear to know that his own son and heir, Eris, has secretly allied himself with Rhys and the Night Court and is playing spy. With Eris' desire to take the throne, the as-yet-unrevealed fact that Lucien is actually Helion's son, and the unrest Eris has hinted is stirring in the court, the Autumn Court may be much more fragile than Beron realizes. Beron will certainly meet his end by the end of the series. The only question is if it will happen in battle or from a knife blade in the dark.

4 Summer Court

Ruler: Tarquin

Tarquin has all the makings of an excellent ruler and a strong leader one day, but he's young and inexperienced, and his naivety has already led to some detrimental outcomes, such as when Feyre and Rhys betrayed him and stole from his court. The Fae High Lords are a gossipy bunch, and there's no way that news of this breach of Tarquin's trust and security didn't get around, which surely damaged Tarquin's projection of strength, already in question due to his greenness on the throne. It was a hard lesson for the inexperienced and trusting young lord to learn.

When Hybern invaded and Amarantha stole the High Lords' powers and took control of Prythian, three courts rebelled: Summer, Winter, and Day, hinting at the fierce independence and bravery of their people.

Despite that, there is so much potential for Tarquin to shape the Summer Court into something really special. He's shown bravery and loyalty rarely seen among the High Lords, and, much like Rhysand, Tarquin has a progressive view and dreams of reforming the stodgy, antiquated Fae ways into something more forward-thinking. As sailors and water magicians, Tarquin's people are incredibly powerful and all but unmatched on the high seas. In a few years, the Summer Court may very well be near the top of the list, second only to the Night Court. For now, though, Tarquin's youth places it after Beron's Autumn Court.

3 Winter Court

Ruler: Kallias (and Viviane if she has her way)

The northernmost of Prythian's courts is, in many ways, the hardiest, built to withstand the harsh winter climate of the realm. As the High Lord, Kallias is more reserved and quiet than most of the other High Lords, but he is incredibly smart and cunning, and his reservation hides a ionate nature. He cares deeply for his people; just before he was trapped Under the Mountain, he used his last moments to reach out to his best friend, Viviane, to confess he loved her and ask her to protect his people while he was gone. Now mates, the two of them have a powerful bond, arguably the best power couple in Prythian behind Rhys and Feyre.

Kallias and Viviane are the first couple in the books to get pregnant, another heir to undermine the assertion in A Court of Thorns and Roses that Fae children are rare.

The Winter Court also has the incredible addition of polar bears that act as sentries and armored warriors in times of war. That alone is fantastic and lends the realm a great deal of power. That said, the reason the Winter Court isn't higher on the list is that we simply don't know much about its inner workings yet. Kallias and Viviane's romance is well-documented, but what happens within their borders is largely a mystery. Because of that, it's unclear how powerful the court is, but with rulers like its High Lord Kallias and Lady Viviane, the Winter Court is in good hands.

2 Day Court

Ruler: Helion Spell-Cleaver

While the other High Lords respect Rhysand for his power and fearsome affected persona, there's always been a sense that they respect Helion almost as much. It only stands to reason that the counterpart of the Night Court would need a ruler almost as strong as Rhysand, the yin and yang of Prythian. Helion's flirtatious nature and voracious sexual appetite belies his prodigious abilities. While all High Lords have the ability to winnow and, in theory, turn into a bestial/final form, not all of them have any other ability beyond that aside from the main power associated with their court; Beron, for example, despite having ruled his court the longest, only appears to be able to manipulate fire.

It only stands to reason that the counterpart of the Night Court would need a ruler almost as strong as Rhysand, the yin and yang of Prythian.

Helion, however, has almost as many extra powers as Rhysand: Healing, spell- and glamour-cleaving, touch telepathy, manipulating air, light generation, and others. Unlike many of the other High Lords, Helion also has a son who can take over and would make an excellent ruler in Lucien, even though neither apparently knows the truth of their relationship yet. It's a natural fit. The Day Court is the repository of Prythian's knowledge, the most brilliant minds in the realm. If the Court of Thorns and Roses theory of Lucien becoming Prythian's High King doesn't pan out, ruling the Day Court would be the next best thing, one of the few courts where the heir may be even stronger than his father.

1 Night Court

Ruler: Rhysand and Feyre Archeron

Of course, a list ranking the Prythian Fae courts would have the Night Court in the number one spot by any metric. As noted before, a court is only as powerful as its High Lord, and Rhysand is the most powerful High Lord in all of Prythian's recorded history. When Rhysand lets his powers fully fly, he can take – and has taken – out a small army on his own. With Feyre at his side as the first High Lady of Prythian, a mate who can match Rhys in pure power and range of abilities, they make a terrifyingly strong power couple.

Beyond them, the Night Court has the strongest and most formidable Inner Circle. No other court spy can match spymaster Azriel's shadowsinger and intelligence gathering skills, so Rhys is usually more informed than any other High Lord. As the general of his legions of Illyrian fighters, Cassian is the greatest warrior in the land, and now, Nesta has resurrected the Valkyrie regiment. Though it's not certain, Morrigan might be the Morrigan/Badb in ACOTAR, the Goddess of War, Fate, and Prophecy. And everyone is terrified of the ancient Amren. Thanks to them, Rhysand's gift for strategy, and now Lucien's diplomatic skills, the Night Court doesn't have a weakness. In A Court of Thorns and Roses, no court comes close to being as strong on all fronts, or as complete.