All dragons in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 1 saw a lot of politics. As factions and hostility increased in equal measure, the Targaryen family spent far more time fighting and shouting in the chambers of King’s Landing than riding dragons. But in the final episode, the dragons – and their use in the upcoming Dance of the Dragons – take center stage.
And season 2 picks up where the last season left off, with a civil war brewing in House Targaryen. Now, more than ever, how many dragons are on each side and who their riders really are Affairs. As we see in episode 10, even with the right rider, dragon warfare can lead to disastrous consequences. In the season 2 premiere, Alicent tries to make this clear to Aegon – but this is the Dance of Dragons, after all; there’s bound to be a bit of claw-on-claw.
Especially since, as Daemon (Matt Smith) pointed out in the season 1 finale: not all dragons in Westeros are listed; there are ‘neutral’ dragons, which are dragons that (for some reason) do not have a rider. In a war where dragons – and their varying strength, power, and size – influence who controls what part of the map, any dragons up for grabs are likely to be important.
So now that Season 2’s War is underway, it’s worth taking a moment to consider each of the dragons House of the Dragon has thus far determined, which side they are on and who their rider is.
(Ed. remark: This story contains spoilers through season 2, episode 1 of House of the Dragon.)
Vhagar
Image: HBO
Riders: Laena (deceased), Aemond Targaryen
Vhagar, the oldest and largest of the Targaryen dragons in Westeros, and the only living remnant of Aegon’s conquest, was once ridden by Visenya Targaryen when she, her brother, and her sister united the Seven Kingdoms. Vhagar then passed on to Baelon Targaryen, before being claimed by her most recent (before episode 7) rider, Laena Velaryon. After Laena’s death, the dragon remained riderless for only a short time before being claimed by Aemond Targaryen, whose baby gift for the dragon egg did not materialize. Despite Vhagar’s age, she remains one of the most fearsome and dangerous dragons in Westeros, and is now ridden by one of the Greens’ most fervent supporters.
Vhagar and Aemond were directly responsible for Lucerys’ death at the end of season 1. Now Aegon is eager to use Vhagar to fight his way through this civil war. Alicent (et al.) aren’t too keen on that plan, and would actually prefer Vhagar to remain in King’s Landing for defense as much as possible.
Zonfyre
Rider: Aegon Targaryen
A bright gold dragon with pink-membraned wings, Sunfyre is the dragon of Aegon Targaryen and a fast flyer, though far from the largest of the remaining dragons of the Targaryens. Nevertheless, Aegon feels good that a partnership between Sunfyre and Vhagar will be enough to get houses that haven’t announced yet.
Dreamfyre
Rider: Helaena Targaryen
Dreamfyre is a light blue dragon, older but slimmer than most of the others. She is claimed by Helaena Targaryen.
Syrax
Image: HBO
Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra is likely the first rider of Syrax, a dragon she named after a Valyrian goddess when the princess claimed the dragon at the age of 9. Syrax was almost as large and threatening as Caraxes, although Rhaenyra did not ride her into actual battle.
Caraxen
Image: HBO
Rider: Daemon Targaryen
Caraxes is one of the largest and most dangerous of all the remaining Targaryen dragons, thanks in part to the fact that he has recently experienced war. Caraxes has red scales and was ridden by Daemon Targaryen during the Prince’s many battles around the world, most notably in the Stepstones.
Meleys
Rider: Rhaenys Targaryen
Meleys is known as the Red Queen thanks to her red scales and pink wing membrane. Meleys is now an ancient dragon, but in her younger years she was perhaps the fastest and most agile of all Westerosi dragons. However, despite her age, she remains fearsome in battle.
In the opening of Season 2, Rhaenys and Meleys patrolled “a hundred miles of open sea” to stop the Sea Serpent blockade.
Vermax
Image: HBO
Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon
Vermax hatched from the egg given to Jacaerys when he was a baby, in a stunt intended in part to demonstrate his status as a true Targaryen. This keeps the dragon quite small over time House of the Dragon records with Jace.
Arrax
Image: HBO
Rider: Lucerys Velaryon
Death: Eaten by Vhagar somewhere in the sky above Storm’s End.
Like his brother’s dragon, Luke’s came from an egg given to him at birth. This means that the dragon is quite small at the moment, but will grow larger over time.
Neutral
The neutral dragons are dragons that remain without a rider. In some cases these are dragons that have never accepted riders, while others are dragons whose riders have died but have not yet bonded with another rider.
Sea smoke
Seasmoke’s only previous rider was Laenor Velaryon, who gave up the dragon when he slipped away from his life in Westeros and fled to Essos. Since Laenor’s death, Seasmoke has lived in the Dragonmont on Dragonstone.
Vermithor
Image: HBO
Vermithor is one of the oldest living dragons in Westeros and lives in the Dragonmont on Dragonstone. Despite his great age and enormous size, we don’t know much about Vermithor’s previous riders, with the sole exception of King Jaehaerys Targaryen, who rode the dragon until his death. Vermithor is one of the largest dragons to ever inhabit Westeros, with only Vhagar and Balerion beating him in size.
Silver wing
Silverwing was once bonded with Queen Alysanne Targaryen, wife of King Jaehaerys. Silverwing and Vermithor seemed to reflect the couple’s love, often huddled together in the same lair in the Dragonmont on Dragonstone.