All dragons in House of the Dragon
The first season of “House of the Dragon” revolved around the question of who should sit on the Iron Throne. By the end of the third season, the question has become much simpler: Which side in this family civil war has the bigger dragons?
The Targaryen Civil War, known as the Dance of the Dragons, runs throughout the third season of House of the Dragon, and the balance of power has shifted dramatically. While Aemond and Vhagar remain the most fearsome power in Westeros, Rhaenyra responded in the second season by recruiting a new generation of dragonriders from the common folk, the so-called “Dragonseeds.” This turned several riderless dragons on Dragonstone into powerful weapons for Black’s side.
Since the third season of House of the Dragon featured some of the biggest battles in the franchise’s history, it can be difficult to keep track of who rides which dragon, which dragons have fallen, and what role the remaining wild dragons play in the war. Here’s an overview of all the major dragons from House of the Dragon, their riders, and the side they fight for.
GREEN
Vhagar
Riders: Laena (deceased), Aemond Targaryen
Vhagar, the oldest and largest Targaryen dragon in Westeros – and the only living relic from Aegon’s Conquest – was once ridden by Visenya Targaryen when she, her brother, and her sister united the Seven Kingdoms. Afterward, Vhagar passed to Baelon Targaryen before being claimed by Laena Velaryon. Following Laena’s death in the first season of House of the Dragon, the dragon remained riderless only briefly before being claimed by Aemond Targaryen, whose dragon egg never hatched. Despite her advanced age, Vhagar remains one of the most fearsome and dangerous dragons in Westeros and is now ridden by one of the Greens’ most ardent supporters.
Vhagar and Aemond were directly responsible for Lucerys’ death at the end of the first season. They then killed Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys during the Battle of Rook’s Rest in the second season of House of the Dragon. In the same battle, they severely wounded King Aegon II and killed his dragon Sunfyre.
Sunfyre
Rider: Aegon II Targaryen
Death: Wounded by Vhagar during the Battle of Rook’s Rest and later succumbed to his wounds
Sunfyre, a luminous golden dragon with pinkish wing membranes, was the dragon of King Aegon II Targaryen and a swift flier, though not the largest of the Targaryen dragons. This made him, along with Vhager, one of Green Team’s most valuable assets—even though the king’s use of him in battle was a great risk. In “Fire and Blood,” the book series on which the show is based, Archmaester Gyldayn describes Sunfyre as the most beautiful dragon the known world has ever seen.
In the Battle of Rook’s Rest (Season 2), Aemond ordered Vhagar to unleash a massive burst of fire that severely injured both his brother, King Aegon II Targaryen, and his dragon, Sunfyre. The dragon appeared to survive the attack and was seen breathing on the ground, but in the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon, Aegon II announces that Sunfyre is dead. This deviates significantly from the book series, in which Sunfyre plays a crucial role at a pivotal moment in the story—it is therefore unclear how the show will handle this.
Dreamfyre
Riders: Rhaena Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen
Dreamfyre is a light blue dragon, older but slimmer than most others. She hatched during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen and quickly befriended Princess Rhaena Targaryen. The two were a pair for about 40 years, until Rhaena’s death. After Dreamfyre was relocated to King’s Landing, she was claimed by Helaena Targaryen, who later became Queen Aegon II. Although Aemond urged Helaena to ride Dreamfyre into battle in the season two finale of “House of the Dragon,” the queen refused.
BLACK
Syrax
Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra is presumably the first rider of Syrax, a dragon she named after a Valyrian goddess when the princess took possession of him at the age of nine. Syrax was nearly as large and fearsome as Caraxes, yet even at the end of the second season of House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra had never ridden him in a proper battle. She had fully intended to ride Syrax in the Battle of the Maw, but her son locked her in her room on Dragonstone. Syrax had lived in captivity in King’s Landing for years and hadn’t hunted in ages. Despite his size, he lacked any combat experience.
Caraxes
Riders: Aemon Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen
Although Caraxes is only half the size of Vhagar, Daemon and Caraxes arguably form the most dangerous rider-dragon duo in the series. Both possess immense combat experience, which Aemon, despite his obvious skill, lacks. Caraxes was born approximately 65 years, or perhaps even longer, before the Dance of the Dragons and was initially bonded to Prince Aemon Targaryen. For roughly 20 years, the pair played a crucial role in various military conflicts, including the Fourth Dornish War and an invasion of Myrmen. Nearly 15 years after Aemon’s death, Daemon Targaryen took possession of the dragon.
At the time of the Dance of the Dragons, Caraxes is one of the largest and most dangerous of the remaining dragons, as Daemon Targaryen has spent much of his adult life at war. Caraxes and Daemon fought against the Triarchy and the Crab Eater on the Stepstones in the first season of House of the Dragon, and in the Riverlands in the second season.
Meleys
Riders: Alyssa Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen
Death: Killed by Vhagar above Rook’s Rest
Meleys, known as the Red Queen for her red scales and pinkish wing membrane, was an ancient dragon. In her youth, she was arguably the fastest and most agile of all dragons in Westeros. Despite her advanced age, she remained fearsome in battle. Meleys’ first rider was none other than Alyssa Targaryen, mother of Viserys and Daemon. A few years after Alyssa’s death in childbirth, Rhaenys claimed Meleys as his own.
In the first episode of the second season of House of the Dragon, Rhaenys and Meleys patrolled over a hundred miles of open sea to maintain the blockade of the Sea Serpent. Later in the same season, while trying to prevent Ser Criston Cole from taking Rook’s Rest, they were killed by Vhagar.
Vermax
Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon
Death: Struck by a grappling hook and dragged into the sea during the battle in the gullet
Vermax hatched from the egg that Jaceerys had received as a baby—a gag intended, among other things, to prove his status as a true Targaryen. Therefore, Vermax is quite small compared to many other dragons in the series. In the first episode of the third season of House of the Dragon, Jace flew Vermax into the Battle of the Maw.
Arrax
Rider: Lucerys Velaryon
Death: Killed by Vhagar somewhere in the skies above Storm’s End
Like his brother’s dragon, Luke’s dragon hatched from an egg he received at birth. Therefore, the dragon is quite small at the beginning of the series. Vhagar pursued Luke and Arrax as they left Storm’s End in the first season of House of the Dragon, and they were easy prey for the world’s largest dragon. Luke’s death ultimately triggered the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Moondancer
Rider: Baela Targaryen
Moondancer is a slender, light green dragon with pearly horns and wing bones. The dragon formed a close bond with Baela at a young age. In “Fire & Blood,” Moondancer is still too small to be ridden for most of the Dance of the Dragons. This changes in “House of the Dragon,” and both become more actively involved in the war. Baela patrols the Crownlands in the second season of “House of the Dragon” and spots green troops advancing into a forest. They are also a key support in the Battle of the Maw, shown in the first episode of the third season.
Seasmoke
Riders: Laenor Velaryon, Addam of Hull
Seasmoke’s only previous rider was Laenor Velaryon, who abandoned the dragon when he fled Westeros and went to Essos. Since Laenor’s death, Seasmoke has lived on Dragonstone.
However, as we see in the final episodes of the second season of House of the Dragon, Seasmoke chose Addam of Hull as his new Rider. In “The Red Seed,” Addam meets Rhaenyra on the beach and swears his loyalty to her if the Targaryen queen will train him to be a Dragon Rider in return.
Vermithor
Riders: Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Hugh Hammer
Vermithor is one of the oldest living dragons in Westeros and resides on Dragonstone. Despite his great age and immense size, little is known of his former riders. We do know, however, that he was associated with King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, who rode him until his death. Vermithor is one of the largest dragons ever to have lived in Westeros; only Vhagar and Balerion are larger. As Rhaenrya tells the Targaryen bastards she has gathered on Dragonstone, Vermithor is known as the “Bronze Fury.”
And in “The Red Seed,” these same bastards attempt to ally themselves with Vermithor. Ultimately, it is Hugh Hammer – a Targaryen bastard whose illegitimate aunt is (apparently) Viserys and Daemon—who wins Vermithor’s favor.
Silverwing
Riders: Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Ulf White
Legend has it that Silverwing hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen, who later became queen to King Jaehaerys. Seemingly reflecting the couple’s love, Silverwing and Vermithor were often found entwined in the same cave on Dragonstone. Alysanne had been dead for decades when the story of “House of the Dragon” begins.
In the second season of House of the Dragon, when Ulf White flees the carnage wrought by Vermithor, while various people attempt to bond with the dragon, he eventually encounters Silverwing. The two become friends, and Ulf becomes one of Black’s new dragon children.
Sheepstealer
Rider: Rhaena Targaryen
The aptly named Sheepstealer owes his name to the fact that he spent most of his life roaming the wilderness stealing sheep. His story differs significantly between the book and the series. In “House of the Dragon,” he roams the valley. Rhaena notices the destruction he causes in the second season of “House of the Dragon” and is determined to tame him. In the first episode of the third season, she manages to form a bond with the dragon to some extent, but not before he leaves her on a mountaintop for an indefinite period and returns to feed her a sheep.
The pair then plunged into the battle at the Maw, where Sheepstealer indiscriminately burned everything in sight. Baela and Jace tried to stop her. The ensuing chaos ultimately led to Vermax being struck by a grappling hook and Jace being killed.
