As we near the end of House of the Dragon’s second season, one thing is clear: The dragons are not just side characters anymore.
In Game of Thrones and in the first season of House of the Dragon, the deadly Targaryen steeds have mainly been used as threats. They’ve had their big scenes here and there, but for the most part, they’ve existed in the background — in stories, and as ominous warnings.
Now, in the early stages of the ‘Dance of the Dragons,’ these beasts are becoming characters more central to the story than we’ve ever seen in past seasons of GoT or HotD.
With that in mind, it’s fitting to provide a character guide of all dragons in House of the Dragon. We break down who these dragons are, their riders, and what roles they’ve played in Targaryen history.
A List of Every Dragon in ‘House of the Dragon’
Claimed Dragons:
Syrax
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): None
Syrax was the first dragon to appear in HotD. She is a large and strikingly beautiful dragon with yellow scales — a visual departure from the darker-toned dragons Daenerys Targaryen raised in Game of Thrones.
HotD introduces us to Syrax as a younger Rhaenyra’s dragon, and the pair remain together to this point. We know from the book Fire and Blood, that Rhaenyra bonded to Syrax as a child and was the young dragon’s first rider. Syrax is also known to have laid many eggs; she is likely the mother of some of the other “Team Black” dragons, though lineage is not totally clear.
Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Daemon Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): Prince Aemon Targaryen
We are introduced to Caraxes as the steed of Daemon Targaryen. However, this lean, red dragon with its elongated torso and unorthodox build has been around for a generation prior to being claimed by Daemon. Indeed, he was originally paired with Prince Aemon Targaryen, Daemon’s uncle.
Caraxes grew up alongside Vhagar (ridden by Aemon’s brother Baelon) and Meleys (ridden by their sister Alyssa). He is the smallest of the three, but known to be fearsome — making him an ideal companion for the warrior-prince Daemon. As of this writing, it is clear Daemon and Caraxes will have a role to play in the ‘Dance of the Dragons’ conflict.
Balerion, the Black Dread
Status: Deceased
Current Rider: N/A
Previous Rider(s): King Aegon I (the Conqueror); King Viserys I
Balerion is by far the biggest and most fearsome dragon in House of the Dragon. He was originally ridden by King Aegon I Targaryen, as Aegon set about conquering Westeros. In the process, Balerion famously melted Harrenhall, leaving it as the ruin it is in HotD.
CHECK OUT:
House of the Dragon’s Best Characters Ranked
In later years, Balerion was ridden by King Maegor I (“The Cruel”) Targaryen, by Princess Aerea Targaryen, and finally, by Viserys I Targaryen, before he became king. Balerion played as big a role as any character in bringing Westeros under Targaryen control. In HotD, though, the ancient giant dragon is merely a set of remains in King’s Landing.
Seasmoke
Status: Living; Team Black
Current Rider: Addam of Hull
Previous Rider(s): Laenor Velaryon
True to his name, Seasmoke is a dragon whose color matches that of a gray-blue sea or light smoke. We are first introduced to the relatively small dragon in HotD as the steed of Laenor Velaryon; the two fought together in the mini-war for the Stepstones spearheaded by Daemon Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon.
Following Laenor’s faked death and escape from Westeros, Seasmoke becomes riderless. He later wanders alone in Dragonstone until he is summoned so that Rhaenyra might find a rider for him. This doesn’t exactly work as planned, but Seasmoke then choses a rider for himself: Addam of Hull.
Dreamfyre
Status: Living, Team Green
Current Rider: Princess Helaena Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): Princess Rhaena Targaryen (granddaughter of Aegon I)
Dreamfyre is known to be a striking dragon with a slimmer build and blue scales tinged with silver. She was originally the steed of Princess Rhaena Targaryen — a somewhat tragic though resilient Targaryen family member before the years of HotD.
Now, Dreamfyre has been ‘adopted’ by Princess Helaena Targaryen. We’ve yet to see this dragon in the show, and Helaena has shown little interest in riding her into battle, but it’s clear Dreamfyre is being counted among the Greens’ assets as the civil war ramps up.
Vhagar, the Grandmother of Dragons
Status: Living, Team Green
Current Rider: Prince/Regent Aemond Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): Queen Visenya Targaryen; Prince Baelon Targaryen; Laena Velaryon
Vhagar is probably the most famous of dragons in House of the Dragon. While she was never quite as big or fearsome as Belarion, this massive dragon played nearly as big a role in Aegon’s conquest as Queen Visenya Targaryen’s mount. Unlike Balerion, Vhagar survived.
While she was paired at times with Prince Baelon Targaryen (with whom she wreaked further havoc on Westeros) and with Laena Velaryon, her role in the Dance is as Prince Aemond Targaryen’s dragon. Vhagar is arguably the single greatest asset the Greens have in the budding civil war.
Meleys, the Red Queen
Status: Deceased
Current Rider: N/A
Previous Rider(s): Queen Alyssa Targaryen; Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
A dragon described as red and pink with bright horns, Meleys is best known for being a fast dragon. Though we meet her when she is older and less active in HotD, she spent her younger years out-pacing Caraxes and Vhagar when she was ridden by Queen Alyssa Targaryen (the wife of King Baelon and mother of King Viserys I and Daemon Targaryen).
Meleys is later paired with Princess Rhaenys, “the Queen That Never Was.” They remain some of the strongest and most experienced assets for the Blacks — which is why they fly into battle, unfortunately meeting their end together at the hands of the larger and stronger Vhagar.
SEE ALSO:
Every ‘Game of Thrones’ Character Death
Vermax
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
Previous Rider(s): None
Vermax is among the younger dragons in HotD. He hatched directly for Prince Jacaerys when the prince was a boy, so the two of them have been linked for the dragon’s entire life. While Vermax is young, it’s implied in the Fire and Blood book that he is growing steadily, with the potential to become a forceful beast.
This mid-sized dragon is a greenish creature with orange-tinted wing membranes. We have yet to see what role Vermax will ultimately play in HotD, but it seems inevitable that Jace and his dragon will be in battle.
Sunfyre
Status: Gravely wounded
Current Rider: King Aegon II Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): None
Sunfyre is the dragon belonging to young King Aegon II, the eldest son of King Viserys I and Alicent Hightower who has assumed the throne at the start of season 2 of HotD. In Fire and Blood, he’s described as having gold scales and pink-tinged wings, and according to at least one maester, Sunfyre is the most beautiful dragon ever seen.
Sunfyre plays a key role by flying Aegon II into battle at Rook’s Rest — where both are grievously wounded by Vhagar in what appears to be an attempted act of fratricide by Prince Aemond.
Arrax
Status: Deceased
Current Rider: N/A
Previous Rider(s): Prince Lucerys Velaryon
Just as Vermax hatched for Prince Jacaerys, Arrax hatched directly for Jace’s younger brother Lucerys. The eggs were given to the boys by King Viserys I to “prove,” upon hatching, that the boys were true Targaryens (and not, as many suspected, the illegitimate children of Harwin Strong).
Smaller than Vermax and somewhat peculiar in color (George R.R. Martin described him as “pearlescent”), Arrax is a youthful dragon in need of experience. Unfortunately, the events of HotD prevent us from seeing what he might have grown into. In one of the first casualties of the civil war (and arguably one of the best moments in HotD), Arrax and Luc are killed by Aemond and Vhagar.
Moondancer
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Baela Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): None
Moondancer’s exact origin is not clear, but we do know that she is first bonded to Baela Targaryen, the daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon. She is a greenish dragon known to be slender, but quick, and is one of the key assets the Blacks, who early in the civil war do not have many dragons with riders.
What makes Moondancer most interesting is how well she suits her rider. Both are young, but capable and eager to prove themselves.
Vermithor, the Bronze Giant
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Hugh Hammer
Previous Rider(s): King Jaehaerys I Targaryen
Vermithor is an ancient and enormous dragon. Famously bronze in color, this dragon is larger than all others in Westerosi history, except Balerion the Black Dread and Vhagar. He is also nearly as old.
This dragon has been a neutral force, unbound to any rider, until he is claimed by the bastard Targaryen Hugh Hammer, ahead of the budding civil war. He was previously the mount of King Jaehaerys I — the grandfather of Viserys I and (as recently revealed) Hugh Hammer.
Silverwing
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Ulf White
Previous Rider(s): Queen Alysanne Targaryen
Silverwing’s name reflects her appearance — she is silver-hued, older than many other dragons in HotD, and best known as the mount of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, who reigned alongside Jaehaerys I. Having outlived the beloved queen, Silverwing resided riderless on Dragonstone.
As of this writing, she has chosen to be ridden by the Targaryen bastard, Ulf White, who will act as a dragonrider ally for Rhaenyra in the civil war. That’s all we know so far, but Fire and Blood tells us more: Silverwing is a dragon-wife (or at least occasional partner) to Vermithor, and was fearful and unwilling to explore beyond The Wall in the North. She clearly had some innate sense of the dangers that lurk there.
Tyraxes
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Prince Joffrey Velaryon
Previous Rider(s): None
We don’t know much about what sort of dragon Tyraxes is, but that he is small. He is the third of the “hatchlings” from the eggs given to Rhaenyra’s suspected illegitimate children. Tyraxes hatches for young Prince Joffrey and is smaller than Vermax and Arrax.
As of this writing, Tyraxes has been sent away for protection, as the civil war between Greens and Blacks heats up. He and Joffrey are at the Vale of Arryn to protect Jeyne Arryn. This dragon needs to mature before he is ready for battle.
Stormcloud
Status: Living, Team Black
Current Rider: Prince Aegon III Targaryen
Previous Rider(s): None
Stormcloud is a very young dragon, dark in color, who was originally given, as an egg, to Prince Aegon Targaryen — Rhaenyra’s first son with Daemon. Stormcloud hatched for the young prince, but has yet to actually be ridden.
As the civil war picks up, Rhaenyra and her eldest son, Jacaerys, decide to send Aegon (along with his younger brother Viserys) across the sea to safety. And right now, that’s about all we know about Stormcloud: He is young, small, and unridden, but bonded to the young Prince Aegon.
Unclaimed Dragons:
Sheepstealer
Status: Living in or around the Dragonmont
Current Rider: None
Previous Rider(s): None
Other than the claimed dragons in this story, there are also three fully wild, untamed dragons. One of these is Sheepstealer, a mildly troublesome beast described in the books as skinny and of a muddy complexion.
The dragon has a particular fondness for sheep and frequently plucks them from flocks — though he is also known to be less aggressive toward people and even other animals. It was teased in the Season 2 finale that Rhaena Targaryen will be the one to ride this dragon.
RELATED:
20+ Hidden Game of Thrones Easter Eggs
The Cannibal
Status: Living in or around the Dragonmont
Current Rider: None
Previous Rider(s): None
The Cannibal is another wild dragon who lives on Dragonstone and has never been ridden. He is characterized in Fire and Blood as being black (with green eyes) and extremely large — contending with the likes of Vermithor or even Vhagar. Though the beast is a little bit of a mystery.
The Cannibal gets his name for his habit of feeding on not only dead dragons, but also dragon eggs and newly hatched dragons. Considering this, it’s fair to suggest that The Cannibal is among the main reasons why there aren’t more wild dragons that could be useful to the Blacks’ cause on Dragonstone.
Grey Ghost
Status: Living in the Dragonmont
Current Rider: None
Previous Rider(s): None
Hardly known to show-watchers, Grey Ghost is the third of the fully wild Dragonstone dragons. His name comes from his coloring, which per the books helps him to hide in clouds and mist. But like Sheepstealer and The Cannibal, he is untamed and has never had a rider.
A a peaceful dragon, Grey Ghost lives in Dragonmont, feeds on fish in the sea, hides in clouds, avoids people, and generally keeps to himself. It’s unknown whether he will be roped into action, or potentially even found.
So there you have it! A full rundown of the dragons we’ve seen — or may see — in House of the Dragon.
While most attention has been paid to a few of these beasts, the full list should make it clear just how large a role dragons will play in the escalating civil conflict to come.
READ NEXT:
The ‘Song of Ice and Fire’, Explained
