All the dragons in House of the Dragon, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel

From Sunfyre to Meleys the Red Queen, from Sheepstealer to Caraxes the Blood Wyrm, here are all the dragons we’ll meet in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel.

Game of Thrones will forever live in the annals of television history, for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest may be its movie-quality battle sequences and expertly realized CGI, most notably Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons: Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal. And HBO will be giving fans lots more dragon action with their new prequel series, House of the Dragon, based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

House of the Dragon tells the story of the Dance of the Dragons, a brutal civil war that tore Westeros apart over 100 years before the main show began. The war marks the beginning of the end for the Targaryen dynasty, and nearly brings to extinction the dragons that once ruled the skies above Westeros. But at the beginning of the conflict, the dragons are everywhere, and we’re going to meet a lot of them. We already know several of the actors who will be portraying some of the big players in this conflict, but since this is a war fought between members of the Targaryen family, the real stars may be the dragons. If they were your favorite part of Game of Thrones, you’re in for a real treat with House of the Dragon.

We already know several of the actors who will be portraying some of the big players in this conflict, but the real stars may be the dragons. If they were your favorite part of Game of Thrones, you’re in for a real treat with House of the Dragon, which will feature these magical monsters in all their glory. Lots of character have their own dragon to ride, and any fan of Martin’s books knows that these dragons are characters themselves. Each dragon has their own unique story and personality that it brings to the battlefield. We have everything from tiny hatchlings to the oldest and fiercest of beasts to fly the skies.

As we wait for the show to arrive, let’s take a look at each dragon that plays a part in the Dance, what we can expect to see of them in the show, and which fire-breathing monstrosities we’re going to fall in love with when House of the Dragon premieres next year, starting with the dragon babies.

Morghul

“The Moon of the Three Kings” or “The Moon of Madness” is a period towards the end of the Dance where the smallfolk of King’s Landing rose up to destroy the forces of their Targaryen rulers, then represented by the indomitable Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), who sat the Iron Throne for a short time during the conflict. Led by a one-handed prophet named “The Shepherd,” commoners stormed the Dragonpit, where the Targaryens kept their beasts, and slayed all within. The conflict took the lives of Rhaenyra’s entire Queensguard, her youngest son, and several dragon hatchlings, including Morghul.

Morghul was one of the first dragons to be struck down. They were a young dragon bound to Princess Jaehaera Targaryen, daughter of Helaena and Aegon Targaryen, who was fighting his half-sister Rhaenyra for the throne. Jaehaera was not present at King’s Landing for her dragon’s death, as she had fled the city earlier. Morghul was never ridden and lived the entirety of their brief life in chains. They were struck down by “The Burning Knight,” a peasant who rushed head-on into dragonfire to plunge a spear repeatedly into Morghul as the dragon burned him alive.

Shrykos

Shrykos was a young dragon bound to prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, twin to Jaehaera. Jaehaerys was cruelly murdered as a child in one of the more gruesome events of the Dance, so his dragon was never ridden. It is said that Shrykos killed a large number of people in the attack on the Dragonpit, but was ultimately struck down by a man who grew to be known as Hobb the Hewer. The Hewer leapt onto the dragons head and drove his axe into Shrykos’ skull seven times, each time shouting the name of one of the seven gods. The Stranger’s blow cleaved through to the dragon’s brain and ended their short life.

Tyraxes

Tyraxes is special amongst the babies because they are the only dragon to be ridden before their death. After losing her two eldest sons in battle, Queen Rhaenyra forbade her youngest son Joffrey from riding Tyraxes, to whom he was bound, into war. As a result, Tyraxes was only ever used for transportation purposes and had only recently become capable of making long distance trips before their untimely death. At the storming of the pit, Tyraxes was able to barricade himself in a separate chamber and roast the oncoming horde as it poured in. Unfortunately, the mob found their way to another entrance and Tyraxes was strangled to death by the chains that bound him. His rider also perished that same night, but we will get to that in a bit.

Stormcloud

Stormcloud was a young dragon bound to King Aegon III Targaryen, also known as Aegon the Unlucky, Aegon the Unbroken, and Aegon the Dragonsbane, on account of his hatred of dragons; he has gone down in history as the king under whose reign the dragons died out.

Why did Aegon hate dragons so much? It may have something had to do with how his mother Rhaenyra died (we’ll get to it), because he had a good relationship with Stormcloud. During the war, Rhaenyra sent Aegon and his brother to Pentos for their own protection. Their ship was attacked on the way and Aegon was able to make it back to Dragonstone clinging to Stormcloud’s neck. Stormcloud died of multiple wounds, giving his life to bring his rider home.

Aegon never flew again after Stormcloud’s death. His sacrifice meant that there would remain a Targaryen heir after the carnage of war was cleared.

Morning

Morning was the mount of Princess Rhaena Targaryen, the daughter of Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Laena Velaryon. The she-dragon was born with pink scales and black horns, a beautiful combination that should be an eye grabber on screen. She was born at the end of the Dance, too late to be used as a weapon or to factor into the conflict in any way. By nature of her late birth and her home in the Vale with Rhaena, Morning was one of only four dragons to survive the war. Even more significant, Morning was the only dragon who survived that was under Targaryen control.

Morning was never battle tested, but was an important unifying figure when the Dance eventually ended with Rhaena’s marriage to the newly crowned Aegon III Targaryen, a son of Queen Rhaenyra. The young king’s hatred for dragons confined Morning to the pit for most of what is known about his rule. However, the first part of Fire & Blood doesn’t cover it all the way through. We assume she died under his reign, but we don’t yet know how.

Dreamfyre

In Game of Thrones, the dragons were more or less the same type of creature. While they were different colors and (probably) had a few small differences in personality, all three were large, scary, powerful beasts. One of the most exciting things about House of the Dragon is that it gives HBO an opportunity to bring to life a diverse array of dragon types described in the book.

Take Dreamfyre, a slender purple, she-dragon known for her grace and speed. She had two riders in her life, but during this time period she bonded to Queen Helaena Targaryen, the sister-wife of King Aegon. Dreamfyre tended to bond with young women who are full of spirit. Helaena first becomes a dragonrider at the young age of 11, but when her youngest son is brutally murdered in front of her, she slips into a dark depression and never flies again. As a result, Dreamfyre is chained in the Dragonpit the night that the Shepherd and his mob attack.

Dreamfyre was the only dragon to break free from their shackles and nearly flew away before being struck in the eye by a crossbow bolt. Blind and thrashing about in a rage, she crashed into the pit’s great dome, and most of the mob died in the fall of rubble.

Arrax

Before the death of Lucerys Velaryon, the Dance of the Dragons had only been fought with words and ravens. Lucerys traveled to Storm’s End to win the support of Lord Baratheon, but was met by his cousin Aemond one-eye, who rode the fearsome dragon Vhagar. Lucerys was on Arrax, a dragon that would never live to see their full potential.

Meeting high above the castle amidst a tumultuous thunderstorm, Arrax was no match for the older and larger Vhagar, and had his head torn entirely from his body before plunging into the seas below. Arrax and his Lucerys become the first casualties of the Dance. This is the first dragon-vs-dragon battle we’re likely to see on House of the Dragon, but it won’t be the last.

Syrax

Dragons often mirror their riders. Syrax was a large, yellow she-dragon ridden by queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rhaenyra is one of the two main claimants to the throne after the death of her father King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), the other being her half-brother King Aegon.

One of Syrax’s most notable achievements was producing several clutches of eggs that eventually hatched into dragons that could be gifted to future Targaryens. Like her rider, Syrax’s power waned after difficult births, and she was never truly tested in a true battle. Syrax led the assault on King’s Landing that gained Rhaenyra the crown she would lose half a year later, and lived her life in the confines of the Red Keep rather than the Dragonpit.

When the Dragonpit was attacked, Joffrey Velaryon foolishly tried to mount his mothers dragon and ride her into battle against the mob. Refusing an unfamiliar rider, Syrax threw Joffrey from her back and he fell to his death on the streets of Kings Landing. Mysteriously, Syrax proceeded to fly directly into the fiery battle below instead of escaping to safety. She was killed by the rioters at the Dragonpit and the queen was left dragonless.

"[NO SPOILERS] Young Baela Targaryen and her dragon Moondancer from Fire and Blood. from gameofthrones"

Moondancer

Although the battle lines shift over the course of the story, generally, Rhaenyra Targaryen keeps her home base on Dragonstone while Aegon II rules from King’s Landing. But at one point, Aegon takes over Dragonstone, but not before engaging his cousin Baela Targaryen on dragonback.

At this point in the story, Aegon thinks that his assassins have taken care of Baela, but he’s wrong. The brave, free-spirited young woman surprises him in mid-air riding her dragon Moondancer, who was young, fast and beautiful. The ensuing battle is one of the most brutal of the Dance. Moondancer does grievous harm to Aegon’s dragon Sunfyre, blinding him and giving him wounds that he would die weeks later, but cannot ultimately win the battle. Once the dragons are knocked out of the sky, Sunfyre devours Moondancer and Baela barely escapes with her life.

The Mounted

Dragons are the nuclear weapons of Westeros. If you have one, you can be a king. If you have more than one, you can be a conqueror. Since Aegon I Targaryen conquered Westeros alongside his dragon-riding sisters, the Targaryens had been able to hold the highest seat in the land due to their unique connection to dragons. Prior to the dance, Westeros had never seen a dragon rider without Targaryen blood. But when the House of the Dragons splits in two, both sides start an arms race to see who can amass the most (dragon)fire power, and things start to change.

At the beginning of the war, the Greens — which was the name for those on Aegon II’s side — had far more dragon-riders than the Blacks, led by Rhaenyra Targaryen. After all, a dragon is only useful as a weapon if there’s a person who can ride it. Dragons roamed riderless on the island of Dragonstone, either because their original riders were dead or because they were too new to ever have one. In order to even the odds, Rhaenyra’s eldest son Prince Jacaerys offered a knighthood to anyone who could claim one of these dragons and ride it into battle. These trials became known as “the Sowing of the Seeds,” and the new dragon-riders as “dragonseeds.” While many died people in the attempts, eventually all but one of the wild dragons were mounted.

Silverwing

Silverwing is one of the oldest dragons to play a role in the Dance, and one of only four to survive the conflict. The slender silver she-dragon was once the mount of the Good Queen Alysanne. Her deep connection to her rider was solidified through decades of peaceful diplomatic travels to all corners of Westeros.

After Alysanne’s death, Silverwing seemed unwilling to accept another rider, but during the Sowing of the Seeds was mounted by a young man known as Ulf the White, named for his long white hair that marked him as a Targaryen bastard child. Silverwing fought bravely at the Battle of the Gullet, a four-dragonseed assault of both sky and sea that was instrumental in Rhaenyra’s conquest of Kings Landing.

For reasons unclear, Ulf the White betrayed the Blacks at Tumbleton, turning his dragon on his Rhaenyra’s unsuspecting troops and joining with the Greens alongside fellow dragonseed Hugh the Hammer. Ulf grew increasingly arrogant and drunk, believing himself worthy of being king of the Seven Kingdoms. He was poisoned by his own allies, and when Addam Velaryon attacked Tumbleton again, Silverwing was riderless. That meant she survived the battle and found herself once again without a human companion. Seemingly devastated by the death of Vermithor, who had once been ridden by Alysanne’s husband Jaeherys, Silverwing fled the battlefield. After many died trying to claim her in the aftermath, Silverwing made her lair on a small island in the Reach, living out the remainder of her days alone.

Seasmoke

Seasmoke was once ridden by Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s first husband, who was never much of a dragon-rider. After his death, Seasmoke remained unclaimed until Jacaerys put out his call.

Seasmoke was eventually claimed by Addam of Hull, later known as Addam Velaryon. The fall of House Velaryon is one of the tragedies of the Dance; by the time of Game of Thrones, it’s vanished into obscurity, but at start of this civil war it’s one of the most powerful houses in Westeros, and had intermingled much with House Targaryen over the years. Corlys Velaryon, the head of the house, presented Addam of Hull as his bastard grandson by his son Laenor. Since Laenor was known to prefer men, it is believed that Addam was actually Corlys’ own son.

Addam was able to successfully mount Seasmoke and played a pivotal role in taking King’s Landing for the Blacks. However, after the Tumbleton Treasons, where two of the dragonseeds betrayed the Blacks for the Greens, Rhaenyra became incredibly suspicious of all bastards and ordered Addam’s arrest. Corlys was able to warn his son in time and Velaryon escaped on Seasmoke. Addam set out to prove that not all bastards are turncloaks and bravely rode his dragon to Tumbleton against three other dragons. Addam and Seasmoke died in the attempt, but he took two dragons down with him. Addam’s sacrifice turned the tide of war to Rhaenyra’s favor and saved Kings landing from an all-out assault.

Grey Ghost

Grey Ghost was one of only two dragons to never be claimed, mainly because the pale-white misty dragon couldn’t be found during the Sowing of the Seeds; their elusive nature was how he earned the name Grey Ghost. As such, his battle abilities are pretty much unknown.

Grey Ghost lived their entire life in a smoking vent at the top of the Dragonmont, a volcano on Dragonstone. When Sunfyre returned to Dragonstone partway through the war, they killed and devoured Grey Ghost for reasons unknown, or nonexistent. The people of the castle found his carcass, which alerted Aegon II that his dragon was back.

Based of this, we can discern that Grey Ghost was not as formidable a fighter as some of the other dragons that took part in the Dance. But they will always be noted for never having been broken by a dragonseed, a claim only one other dragon in this period can make.

Meleys the Red Queen

Meleys is a scarlett she-dragon whose copper scales, horns, and claws earned her the nickname the Red Queen. Once believed to be the fastest dragon in the skies, Meleys was no stranger to battle at the start of the Dance, and was not to be underestimated even if she was getting on in years.

Meleys was the mount of Rhaenys Targaryen, the wife of Corlys Velaryon and daughter of King Jaeherys. Rhaenys was commonly referred to as “The Queen who Never Was” due to her being passed up as her father’s successor on the basis of her sex. The precedent of passing over the eldest child in favor of the oldest male claimant is the centerpiece of Aegon Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne, since his half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen is older than him.

The Rhaenys that we are likely to meet in House of the Dragon is an old, fearsome, proud and capable warrior prepared to give her life for their cause. When her castle comes under siege, Rhaenys unleashes her flurry on the armies below. Meleys was a terror to the fleeing soldiers whose arrows and spears did nothing but anger the great she-dragon. She challenged two healthy, full-grown dragons and nearly defeated them both. It took the combined power of both Sunfyre and Vhagar to bring her down in the end.

Meleys was the first fully grown dragon to be killed in the conflict. Aegon displayed her severed head to strike fear into the hearts of the people and his enemies alike.

Sheepstealer

The third dragon to be conquered at the Sowing of the Seeds was a mud-brown mutton lover known as Sheepstealer. Of the four dragons who were claimed, Sheepstealer was the only one who had no previous rider. He killed more men during the Sowing than all the other dragons combined, despite only ever harming sheep before.

Sheepstealer was tamed by a young girl of questionable birth known only as Nettles. Nettles left a sheep at the entrance to the dragon’s lair every morning until Sheepstealer became accustomed to her and accepted the young girl as a rider. Sheepstealer and Nettles took part in the battle of the Gullet as well as Rhaenyra’s capture of Kings Landing. Instead of following the other dragonseeds to Tumbleton, Nettles and Sheepstealer accompanied Daemon and Caraxes to Harrenhall to look for Aemond and the great dragon Vhagar, who had been terrorizing the Riverlands relentlessly since the fall of Kings :anding and had become the greatest threat to Rhaenyra’s crown.

In her anger and paranoia after the Tumbleton treasons, Rhaenyra named Nettles a traitor and called for her head. Daemon and Nettles became involved during their mission, and when Rhaenyra demanded that her husband kill her and return to King’s Landing, he refused. Instead, he orchestrated Nettles and Sheepstealer’s escape and met Aemond alone above the Gods Eye lake.

Meanwhile, Sheepstealer fled with her rider into the Mountains of the Moon. No one knows what became of mount and rider, although later there were rumors of a fire witch who dwelled in a cave and was worshipped by a savage mountain clan. Could it have been Nettles?

Sunfyre

The lives of Targaryen kings are often mirrored by the lives of their dragons. This is never more true than with Aegon II and his golden mount Sunfyre.

Sunfyre is a large, ferocious gold dragon often considered to be the most beautiful who ever lived. At the battle at Rook’s Rest, Aegon led his dragon into battle alongside his brother against Meleys the Red Queen. While Aegon won, both he and his dragon were severely injured. Sunfyre had his wing nearly torn from his body and Aegon suffered burns and broken bones that left him permanently disfigured and unable to walk without support.

While Sunfyre was recovering, Rook’s Rest was sacked by enemy forces, and Sunfyre slew thousands of soldiers before getting away. The crippled creature survived in hiding in a remote fishing village while the war continued. In one of the more inexplicable instances of a dragon-rider connection, Sunfyre returned to Dragonstone at the exact moment that Aegon needed him. Aegon had been hiding out on the island waiting for the right moment to strike a devastating blow to Rhaenyra’s cause. When Dragonstone easily fell, Aegon rode Sunfyre triumphantly above the Dragonmont.

But he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Baela Targaryen rises on Moondancer and nearly kills Sunfyre, but he was able to drag the faster dragon to the ground and devour them viciously. But the battle left Sunfyre even more debilitated. Along with scars along his back and neck and a missing right eye, he could no longer fly.

Sunfyre remained at the castle but never took to the skies again, becoming more of a terrifying giant lizard than a dragon. Before his death, Sunfyre ended the war by burning Rhaenyra alive and consuming her in six bites. He passed before Aegon could ascend to the throne, and his rider did not survive much longer. Both rider and dragon died from their injuries.

Vermax

Targaryen Kings and Queens are only as good as the dragons they ride. Jacaerys Velaryon was natural born son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and her first husband Laenor Velaryon, making him the heir to the Iron Throne (if his mother wins the war). Jacaerys, commonly known as Jace, was a natural born leader who played a key role in ensuring that the great houses of Westeros supported his mother. His dragon, Vermax, had been granted to him as an egg and grew larger and stronger each year. When King Viserys died, Jacaerys flew Vermax to every corner of the continent, consorting with lords and winning the favor of the most powerful strongholds in the country. The pair of them secured support from the Vale, the Riverlands and the Starks in the North.

Later, Jace and Vermax lead the charge during the Battle of the Gullet, but the conflict took both of their lives. Vermax flew too low and plunged to his death in the sea, leaving Rhaenyra with only one remaining son.

Tessarion the Blue Queen

Tessarion is a blue she-dragon ridden by the young prince Daeron Targaryen. Tessarion is known as the Blue Queen, not only for her cobalt and copper scales but for the distinct blue flames that she rained down on her foes.

Daeron is the youngest of Queen Alicent’s sons by King Viserys and fights on the side of his brother, Aegon II. Daeron makes a name for himself at the start of the war when he makes a surprise appearance on the back of his dragon to help the Hightower army secure the Reach. He and Tessarion were loved by their supporters and feared by their enemies, Daeron probably being the most most noble and likable of the Greens.

Daeron gives his life for his brothers’ cause when Seasmoke attacks Tumbleton. Before other larger dragons challenged her, Tessarion was free to rule the skies, but she tangles herself unnecessarily in a fight between Vermithor and Seasmoke, resulting in her eventual death.

Vermithor the Bronze Fury

At the start of the Targaryen civil war, Vermithor is nearly 100 years old. The terrifying bronze beast is one of the largest and oldest monsters to take part in the war.

Vermithor was the trusted mount of King Jahaerys the Conciliator, is considered to be one of if not THE greatest Targaryen king to ever live. Vermithor mated with Queen Alysannes’ dragon Silverwing, sharing a bond that mirrored the one between their riders.

King Jahaerys is dead by the time the Dance breaks out, but Vermithor became one of the four dragons successfully mounted during the Sowing of the Seeds. The great beast was ridden by a brutish oaf known as Hugh the Hammer. After fighting for the Blacks at the Battle of the Gullet and at King’s Landing, Hugh went over to the Greens at Tumbleton. After the death of Prince Aemond and his dragon, Vhagar, Hugh claimed the right to the Iron Throne, since he was the rider of the oldest and largest living dragon.

Before Vermithor could be bent to this nefarious purpose, Seasmoke arrived to attack the city. Riderless, Vermithor became engaged in a three-dragon tumble to the ground that ended in death for all involved. Vermithor was ruthless and clearly more powerful than the other dragons he came up against, viciously tearing Seasmoke’s head clean from his body and nearly flying off before collapsing and dying on the battlefield.

The Cannibal

The name says it all. With coal-black scales and menacing green eyes, The Cannibal was the oldest and largest of the wild dragons residing on Dragonstone. It’s unknown exactly how old The Cannibal is during the Dance of the Dragons, but it is known that the beast took pleasure in devouring other creatures of its ilk. He would go after younger dragons, dragon eggs, and even the occasional larger beast for its meals. This fearsome figure was never claimed or ridden by any known man. His reputation was so fearful that the dragonseeds never even attempted to claim him during the Sowing.

Caraxes the Blood Wyrm

Caraxes the Blood Wyrm is possibly the scariest dragon Westeros has seen since Balerion the Black Dread conquered the Seven Kingdoms. No other dragon mentioned thus far is as battle-tested as Daemon Targaryen’s fearsome mount.

Like his rider, Caraxes is a violent creature that you do not want to meet in a fight. Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown) has been cast as Prince Daemon, the Targaryen warrior with a penchant for bloodshed and incest. Daemon is one of the more fascinating characters in the Dance and Smith couldn’t be more perfectly cast, especially standing next to the blood-red CGI monster Caraxes is bound to be. One can speculate that, since Paddy Considine has been cast as King Viserys, the show won’t start with the civil war right away, but will probably lead up to King Viserys’ death, when it officially begins.

Viserys and his brother do not get along, in large part due to Daemon’s marriage to Viserys’ daughter Rhaenyra (Daemon’s niece, gross), although they reconcile before Viserys’ death. Before that, Caraxes and Daemon wage a war on a cluster of islands known as the Stepstones, fighting armadas of pirates and Pentoshi fleets alongside Corlys Velaryon.

Daemon has allies all over the world, from the lowliest hives of scum and villainy in King’s Landings to the palaces in Pentos. Caraxes has fought in the Dornish hills and against ships on the sea. They make a formidable team.

During the Dance, Daemon conquers Harrenhal with Caraxes and hunts his nephew, Aemond One-Eye, in the Riverlands. His battle with Aemond above the Gods Eye lake is the greatest one-on-one dragon fight the story has to offer us.

Vhagar

When Aegon and his sisters arrived to conquer the Seven Kingdoms, they came on three dragons: Balerion, Meraxes and Vhagar. By the time of the Dance, only Vhagar — the dragon once ridden by Aegon’s sister Visenya Targaryen — remained.

Vhagar is the oldest and largest of all the living dragons by a long shot, twice the size of Caraxes and three times the size of the next largest. It was said her roar could shake the very foundations of Storm’s End and that one could ride a horse directly down her gullet. In her lifetime, Vhagar has known a total of four dragonriders, but during the dance she is bound to Prince Aemond Targaryen, who fought for the Greens.

At the start of the war, Aemond uses Vhagar to disastrous effect. They easily slaughter Arrax and Lucerys and conquer Rook’s Rest, defeating Meleys the Red Queen in the process. By the end, Vhagar will have seen to the deaths of three dragons in total.

After Aegon is injured to the point of being incapable of rule, Aemond assumes the role of regent. When he disagrees with his commanders on the best route forward, Aemond launches a one-man war of revenge on the Riverlands, wrecking havoc on the lords of the Trident and evading capture until his final confrontation with Daemon above the Gods Eye lake. Both he and Vhagar die in that epic conflict, with Vhagar living to be 181 years old.

House of the Dragon has a chance to show us a dragon so large that it puts Drogon to shame. I can’t wait to see this ferocious beast on screen terrorizing the Seven Kingdoms and blowing out speakers across America with her deafening roar.

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