As House of the Dragon season 3 officially arrives, the dragonriders are about to get all the more important in the fiery Dance of Dragons.
Last season saw Hammer (Kieran Bew) and Ulf White (Tom Bennett) claim their dragons after answering a call for Targaryen bastards (also known as dragonseeds) from Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy).
It sets us up for an inevitable, brutal clash between the Greens and the Blacks after a fairly anti-climactic end to season 2.
So, here’s your full guide to the dragons of House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon dragons: Full guide to dragons and riders
The following dragons are still alive or are set to be introduced in House of the Dragon season 2:
- Vhagar (Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen’s dragon)
- Syrax (Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon)
- Caraxes (King Consort Daemon Targaryen’s dragon)
- Vermax (Prince Jacaerys Velaryon’s dragon)
- Seasmoke (Addam of Hull’s dragon, formerly ridden by Laenor Targaryen)
- Dreamfyre (Queen Helaena Targaryen’s dragon)
- Vermithor (Hugh Hammer’s dragon and the dragon of the late King Jaehaerys I Targaryen)
- Silverwing (Ulf White’s dragon and the dragon of the late Queen Alysanne Targaryen)
- Moondancer (Lady Baela Targaryen’s dragon)
- Sunfyre (King Aegon Targaryen’s dragon)
- Tyraxes (set to be Prince Joffrey Targaryen’s dragon)
- Tessarion (Prince Daeron Targaryen‘s dragon)
- Sheepstealer (Lady Rhaena Targaryen’s dragon)
Going into House of the Dragon season 3, the following dragons are deceased:
- Arrax (Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s dragon)
- Balerion (Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon who was then ridden by Prince Viserys before he became King)
- Meleys (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen’s dragon)
Here’s more detail on the dragons…
Vhagar
Owner: Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen
Status: Alive
Vhagar is not only alive and well as we head into season 2 – she’s the biggest dragon of them all. She’ll be crucial in the war to come, as fierce warrior Aemond prepares for battle.
Vhagar was first ridden by Queen Visenya Targaryen but would go on to be owned by Prince Baelon Targaryen, Lady Laena Velaryon and finally, Aemond.
Though her description was never fully written down, George RR Martin confirmed to an artist who wanted to depict her that she was “bronze with greenish blue highlights and bright green eyes”. She would grow to be the largest dragon in Westeros.
Vermithor
Owner: Hugh Hammer
Status: Alive
The elderly dragon plays a big part in Dance of the Dragons. In season 2 episode 7, he was claimed by Hugh Hammer after Rhaenyra’s call for dragoneeds/Targaryen bastards. While Hugh watched his fellow hopefuls burn to death, he was able to claim Vermithor, the biggest dragon in the world after Vhagar.
Vermithor previously belonged to the ‘Old King’, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the grandfather of King Viserys I Targaryen and King Consort Daemon Targaryen.
Sheepstealer
Owner: Rhaena Targaryen/Nettles
Status: Alive
Sheepstealer is a wild dragon who, in the book, was claimed by the lowborn teenager Nettles. However, it appears her story has been conflated with Lady Rhaena Targaryen’s in the series.
Sunfyre
Owner: King Aegon II Targaryen
Status: Alive
Sunfyre is a dragon with gleaming gold scales ridden by King Aegon Targaryen. A formidable fighter, Sunfyre will play an important part in the Dance of Dragons.
Arrax
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Owner: Prince Lucerys Targaryen
Status: Dead
Arrax was involved in the first major dragon fight for years in Westeros at the end of episode 10. He is involved in a battle with Vhagar and Aemond and is killed, alongside his rider, Lucerys. This major moment will be the catalyst for civil war.
This dragon was quite small and young and Lucerys was his only rider.
Vermax
Owner: Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
Status: Alive
Vermax is an olive green dragon bonded to Jacaerys Velaryon. He hatched in Jace’s cradle, and has become a crucial asset for Rhaenyra’s cause.
Vermax and Jace are set to play a key part in the Battle of the Gullet in season 3.
Syrax
Owner: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
Status: Alive
Syrax’s only owner is Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy). She is said to have had yellow scales and while big, wasn’t as big as some of the other dragons we’ll meet in the series. Rhaenyra first rides her when she was as young as seven.
Meleys
Owner: Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Status: Dead
While Meleys and Rhaenys fought valiantly, the pair both perished in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 at the hands of Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar.
The previous rider of Meleys before Rhaenys was Princess Alyssa Targaryen, the mother of King Viserys I Targaryen and King Consort Daemon Targaryen.
Dreamfyre
Owner: Queen Helena Targaryen
Status: Alive
Blue and silver Dreamfyre is a thing of beauty and is treasured by Helaena Targaryen.
Before Helaena, Dreamfyre was ridden by Queen Rhaena Targaryen, the daughter of King Aenys I Targaryen and Queen Alyssa Velaryon and the prisoner-wife and niece of King Maegor I Targaryen.
Caraxes
Owner: King Consort Daemon Targaryen
Status: Alive
Caraxes has had two owners by the time we meet him in House of the Dragon: Prince Aemon Targaryen (the heir to Jaehaerys Targaryen, father of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen) and Prince Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith). The beast is said to be predominantly red, meaning he has the nickname ‘Blood Wyrm’.
Balerion
Owner: King Viserys I Targaryen
Status: Dead
Balerion was owned by House Targaryen and was passed down through the family. Owners included Aegon I Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen and in House of the Dragon, he is owned by (the soon-to-be King) Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine). In the books, he was said to have black scales and wings, and his fire was also black with bits of red.
A powerful dragon, Balerion could melt steel and stone. It was said his wingspan was so large it would create massive shadows on towns when he was in flight. According to lore, Balerion helped Aegon to craft the Iron Throne his most recent owner will soon sit on.
When we meet Balerion in House of the Dragon, he has sadly passed away, and his skull is on display.
Seasmoke
Owner: Addam of Hull
Status: Alive
Seasmoke is pale and grey, making him visibly different to other dragons seen in House of the Dragon. He was owned by Laenor Velaryon but has since been claimed by Addam of Hull, the bastard son of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint).
In season 2 episode 7, Rhaneyra confronted Addam, with the ship hand pledging his fealty to her.
Silverwing
Owner: Ulf White
Status: Alive
Unsurprisingly, Silverwing is a silvery colour and is said to be a docile dragon. She has a close bond with Vermithor. In the books, Silverwing becomes riderless upon Queen Alysanne Targaryen’s death, but during the Dance of Dragons, bonds with a new rider, Ulf the White, which we saw in season 2 episode 7.
Moondancer
Owner: Lady Baela Targaryen
Status: Alive
Moondancer is a pale green dragon and is relatively small but very nimble. Baela first rides her at the age of 14 when she was no bigger than a warhorse.
Tessarion
Owner: Prince Daeron Targaryen
Status: Alive
Tessarion, dubbed ‘The Blue Queen’ is seen in the finale of House of the Dragon season 2.
This young blue dragon is ridden by the brave – so far unseen – youngest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower, Prince Daeron Targaryen, who currently resides at Oldtown in the Reach.
Tyraxes
Owner: Prince Joffrey Velaryon
Status: Alive
Tyraxes is a relatively small dragon who was bonded with Prince Joffrey Velaryon from birth.
House of the Dragon season 3 will arrive on HBO Max on 22 June in the UK. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.
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