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For its Game of Thrones prequel series, HBO transported fans from the time after dragons to the height of the creatures' (and their Targaryen riders') power. House of the Dragon takes place nearly two centuries before we meet Daenerys' three children, and there are a lot more of the winged creatures popping up. As the season progresses, getting closer to the full-out civil war between two branches of the Targaryen family (known as the Greens and the Blacks), it's more important than ever to know which side each creature sits during the Dance of the Dragons.
To help keep up, here are all of the House of the Dragon dragons, in the order they were introduced (and including a couple we've yet to see).
Syrax
Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen
Allegiance: the Blacks
This female dragon with a yellow hue bonded with Rhaenyra when the princess was only nine. Syrax opens up the series, though we haven't seen her since the first episodes (so for about 10 years in show time). Rhaenyra has also never ridden her into battle, though that'll probably change once the Dance of the Dragons starts.
Caraxes
Rider: Daemon Targaryen
Allegiance: the Blacks
Also known as Blood Wyrm, this red, horned male is bonded to Daemon, and is known for being as fearsome and vicious as his rider. We got to see Caraxes in action during the battle against the Triarchy in episode 3.
Balerion
Deceased
Rider: Aegon the Conqueror
The largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, known as "the Black Dread," is mentioned several times throughout House of the Dragon, as the characters will bring him and his rider, Aegon the Conqueror, up when they speak of the history of Westeros and the Targaryen line. The black and red mal dragon and his rider have been long dead by the events of HotD, but Balerion's head can be seen on display in the Red Keep.
Seasmoke
Rider: Laenor Velaryon ("deceased")
Allegiance: unknown
This pale silver-hued dragon is a younger and more nimble dragon, who bonded to Laenor while he was still young. During the Battle of the Stepstones in episode 3, Laenor and Seasmoke attacked the Triarchy from the sides while Daemon distracted the Crabfeeder. Though Seasmoke is now considered wild since Laenor faked his death in episode 7, he's still in the possession of Rhaenyra and her sons.
Meleys
Rider: Rhaenys Targaryen
Allegiance: the Blacks
Known as the "Red Queen," this female dragon has copper strips along her red body and is known as one of the swiftest dragons. We saw her when the Velaryons traveled to King's Langing for Laenor and Rhaenyra's wedding, with Rhaenys arriving for her son's nuptials.
Vermax
Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon
Allegiance: the Blacks
We meet this young horned dragon after the episode 6 time jump, after he's already bonded to Jacaerys and the prince is learning to command him. Vermax was born of the egg that laid with Jacaerys in his cradle, showing that Jacaerys had the "blood of the dragon" and was a true Targaryen (though the Velaryon side was in question).
Dreamfyre
Rider: unclaimed
When Aemond enters the Dragon Pits in episode 6, he's almost smoked by Dreamfyre, who was hatched sometime during the reign of Aegon the Conquerer. According to the books, Aemond's older sister Helaena will bond with the blue female dragon. She's been the mother of several other dragons, including the egg that Daemon and Rhaenyra fought over at the beginning of the season. (There's even a theory that she's the mother to the eggs that will become Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal!)
Sunfyre
Rider: Aegon II Targaryen
Allegiance: the Greens
This male dragon is known as "Sunfyre the Golden" for his bright-gold scales and pink-membraned wings. He's already bonded to young Aegon when we meet the young generation after the episode six time jump. (He's mentioned, though we don't see him.)
Vhaghar
Rider: Aemond Targaryen
Allegiance: the Greens
Female Vhaghar is the oldest and largest living Targaryen dragon, an ancient beast who was ridden by Queen Visenya during Aegon's Conquest. She was lost for years, as we heard from young Laena Velaryon in episode two, before Laena herself encountered and bonded with her. After Laena's death by dracarys, Vhaghar was brought to Westeros, where she bonds with Viserys and Alicent's third-eldest Aemond in episode 7.
Vermithor
Rider: unclaimed
In the finale, while preparing for the upcoming war against the Greens, Daemon goes down into the volcano under Dragonstone, where several unclaimed dragons live. While singing an Old Valyrian song, the prince encounters Vermithor, the second-largest living dragon in Westeros. Formerly ridden by Jaehaerys I, he's described in the book as a fearsome bronze dragon with "great tan wings." We don't see whether he and Daemon claimed each other in the finale, so he's still a toss up in the war.
Arrax
Deceased
Rider: Lucerys Velaryon
By episode 8, Luke has claimed Arrax, a just-matured beast who author George R.R. Martin described as "pearlescent white with yellow flame, golden eyes and a golden chest." In the finale, we see that he's the smallest of the dragons we've met, which makes it even more terrifying when he goes up against Vhaghar and Aemond. Arrax and Luke are killed by much-larger dragon, the first blow of the war.
Moondancer
Rider: Baela Velaryon
Allegiance: the Blacks
Another young dragon that we haven't met is Moondancer, who is slender with a pale-green body and pearl horns and wingbones. For anyone wondering why Moondancer and Seasmoke have such different names, it looks like Laenor and Baela didn't follow the custom of giving new dragons Valyrian names (that language is to thank for all the "ae"s in these characters).
The Unclaimed
Names: Cannibal, Grey Ghost, Sheepstealer, Silverwing
Per Fire & Blood, besides Vermithor and Seasmoke, there are four other dragons residing in the caves of the volcano Dragonmont as of Rhaenyra and Aegon II's coronations. If the show stays faithful to the books' dragons (as they have so far), here's a rundown of the beasts and their past riders.
Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer are all completely wild dragons with no previous riders. The largest and oldest of the wild dragons, the Cannibal, has a black body and has his name because he eats dead and newborn dragons and dragon eggs (which is probably why dragon eggs are kept in warmers and not in the volcano. Grey Ghost is pale grey-white and shy, avoiding men for years at a time. Sheepstealer is a "mud brown" color who only attacks humans when provoked; his name is self-evident.
Meanwhile, Silverwing is a docile, friendly female dragon with a silver body, and was previously ridden King Jaehaerys' sister/queen consort Alysanne.
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Quinci LeGardye is a Contributing Culture Editor who covers TV, movies, Korean entertainment, books, and pop culture. When she isn’t writing or checking Twitter, she’s probably watching the latest K-drama or giving a concert performance in her car.
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