If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, one of the interesting parts admittedly about this show is the setting of medieval-like times and of course the presence of dragons. The ability to differentiate the various dragons in the main series was however an easy task given that for the most part, we could distinguish Queen Daenerys’ dragon babies—Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. When it comes to the new House of the Dragon series, however, the task may be a bit daunting as there are more present this time around.
We here at VRSUS aim to make your life easier however as we have made this quick overview of all the dragons that we have seen in the show so far and some of the things you might need to know. There’s quite a lot to unpack so buckle up…
Syrax
The first fearsome creature to appear in House of the Dragon arrives in the memorable opening shot of episode 1. A yellow beast is seen swooping through the sky with a Targaryen royal on its back. This is Syraxm the dragon of Princess Rhaenyra herself. Rhaenyra became a dragon rider at the age of seven, bonding closely with the golden Syrax, so named “after a goddess of old Valyria.”
Syrax is described as a huge and formidable beast, despite not being the biggest of the Targaryen dragons. Syrax however, was supposedly fast enough to race Daemon Targaryen’s dragon, Caraxes, which we somehow see in episode 2 of the first season, when Rhaenyra uses Syrax to confront her uncle.
Caraxes
In episode 1, we also meet Caraxes, the mount of Daemon Targaryen. He is the fiercest of all the young dragons in the Dragonpit and was once the mount of Prince Aemon Targaryen, son of Jaehaerys and uncle to both Daemon and Viserys I.
He became Daemon’s mount by the year 105 AC. Nicknamed the Blood Wyrm for both his color and his brutal tendencies—he is savage cunning and battle-tested.
Balerion the Black Dread
Technically, we never actually meet the biggest and oldest of the Targaryen dragons during the time of House of the Dragon but we do see his skull, nestled in the crypt where Viserys informs his daughter and heir, Rhaenyra, of the secret known as A Song of Ice & Fire.
The dragon skull looms over them, dark and enormous, fitting given that Balerion the Black Dread was described as huge and ancient. Once the mount of Aegon the Conqueror, Balerion was integral to Aegon’s Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms.
Vhagar
Perhaps the most visually impressive dragon on the show is Vhagar, the sister of Balerion the Black Dread and the only still-living dragon to have arrived in Westeros with Aegon the Conqueror. Vhagar is first discussed briefly by Viserys and Laena Velaryon, in episode 2, during the two’s awkward walkabout in the gardens. Laena reveals that Vhagar is still alive, somewhere, though the dragon’s too big for the Dragonpit, to which Viserys responds, “Some would say too large for our world”.
It is later revealed that Laena eventually claimed Vhagar as her mount, and the two are depicted flying alongside Daemon and Caraxes. But the joy is short-lived, as Laena’s traumatic childbirth later results in Vhagar assisting her in suicide. Finally, in episode 9, we see an older Aemond as he has officially bonded with Vhagar which of course leads into the epic conclusion of Season 1 of House of the Dragon.
Meleys
Princess Rhaenys’ dragon, Meleys, made only a brief appearance in the early episodes of House of the Dragon, but she’s proven increasingly essential as the series progresses especially as we move on to Season 2.
In season 1, episode 9, Meleys makes a dramatic on-screen appearance during the coronation of the usurper King Aegon II, bursting through the floors of the Dragonpit and carrying Princess Rhaenys in battle armor upon her back. She’s mere moments away from toasting the Hightower clan to a crisp when Rhaenys pulls her away without uttering “Dracarys.” The two then fly to Dragonstone to warn Rhaenyra of the plot to claim the throne.
Seasmoke
The stunning pale grey beast that had been the pride and passion of Ser Laenor Velaryon, makes such a sudden appearance in episode 3 of House of the Dragon that it’s easy to confuse him with another of his counterparts. He bursts into the War for the Stepstones with Ser Laenor on his back; though Laenor is not a Targaryen in name, his mother is Rhaenys Targaryen, and so he has dragon-riding blood.
We only get a few minutes of Seasmoke visuals during episode 3, and by the end of episode 7, Laenor has escaped across the Narrow Sea with his lover, Ser Qarl. Finally, in episode 10, Daemon mentions the beast as still residing on Driftmark, riderless now that Laenor has disappeared.
Dreamfyre
The next dragon is one we’ve yet to see up close. But her existence in House of the Dragon was confirmed during episode 2 when Daemon admits to stealing one of her eggs. So if one of Dreamfyre’s eggs exists, that must mean Dreamfyre herself exists and most likely she’s found in the Dragonpit with Syrax, Caraxes, and the others.
Vermax
This dragon first appears as an adolescent dragon in episode 6, when Rhaenyra’s eldest son. Jace Velaryon attempts to teach him to “Dracarys.” He seems about ready to eat his master first but ultimately yields. By episode 10, it seems the beast and rider have fully bonded as Jace flies on Vermax to Eyrie and Winterfell to confirm the support of his mother’s allies.
Arrax
Jace’s younger brother, Luke, has his dragon — the “pearlescent white” Arrax, whom he rides to Storm’s End in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale. But by the end of the episode, Arrax is killed by Vhagar, and so is his rider.
Moondancer
This slender, green dragon, is the mount of Lady Baela Targaryen, Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen’s daughter. This young beast makes its first appearance in season 2, episode 3 when Baela chases Criston Cole, Gwayne Hightower, and a few other green knights on their way to Harrenhal.
Tyraxes
This is the mount of Joffrey Velaryon, Rhaenyra, and Laenor’s third son. Daemon mentions him in season 1, episode 10 while listing all the dragons the blacks have at their disposal. He then briefly makes an appearance in season 2, episode 3, when he and Stormcloud are sent to Lady Arryn, in exchange for her army.
Stormcloud
This is the dragon of Aegon the Younger (aka Aegon III, Rhaenyra and Daemon’s son). Rhaenyra eventually sends the pair of dragons to Lady Arryn in the Vale.
Sunfyre
We’ve yet to officially meet Sunfyre, but King Aegon II, the eldest son of Viserys and Alicent, mentions in episode 7 that the golden beast is his mount.
Vermithor
This older beast was once the mount of King Jaeherys I Targaryen, who preceded King Viserys on the Iron Throne. Daemon name-drops Vermithor in episode 10 as another potential dragon on Rhaenyra’s side of the war. Although the dragon is riderless and currently dwells on the Dragonmont in Dragonstone, Daemon goes looking for him in the season 1 finale while singing a High Valyrian tune.
Silverwing
Often paired with Vermithor, Silverwing is another unclaimed dragon at the Dragonmont who has not yet appeared on House of the Dragon. Silverwing was previously the mount of Alysanne Targaryen, queen to and sister of King Jaehaerys I, but in the TV series, she does not yet have a rider.
The Three Wild Dragons
In episode 10, Daemon also mentions that three wild dragons are nesting in Dragonstone, which the blacks can use to their advantage. Time will tell if these beasts will eventually become claimed, trained, and flown in war.
These are just some of the dragons that we’ve seen so far in the show and we are certain that there will be more to come as Season 2 of House of the Dragon continues. Tune into this article and we will update it further as the show continues. For more exciting tales with these dragons, tune into HBO GO ASIA as a new episode of House of the Dragon drops every Monday.
Tune into VRSUS as well for more news and updates on the matter.
