House of the Dragon Season 2 has finally tipped over from cautious succession rivalry to the full-on Dance of the Dragons. In the show’s first great battle, what should have been a low-key fight for a small castle at Rook’s Rest became something far greater when Rhaenyra and the Blacks sent Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys, and the Greens sent Prince Aemond and his dragon Vhagar, only for King Aegon II to fly in on Sunfyre totally unannounced.
With the dragons completely at play now, each side in this conflict will need to re-examine their arsenal of dragons. Here’s every dragon we know is around in House of the Dragon — and how they could factor into the series’ future.
Warning! Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2 ahead!
Claimed dragons
1. Vhagar
Location: King’s Landing.
Fun fact: Vhagar was the largest dragon to live throughout the Dance of the Dragons. Named for one of the gods of Old Valyria, her first known rider was Queen Visenya Targaryen during Aegon’s Conquest, followed by Prince Baelon “The Brave” Targaryen, the late Lady Laena Velaryon, and now Prince Aemond “One-Eye” Targaryen.
Vhagar was kept hidden in the forests near Rook’s Rest and flew out just in time to conquer Rhaenys, the mother of her previous rider. She’s the largest dragon active during House of the Dragon, and so far, one of the deadliest.
Battle experience: Vhagar was used to win many battles, from Aegon’s Conquest to the Dance of the Dragons.
Ridden by: Aemond “One-Eye” Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell).
2. Dreamfyre
Location: King’s Landing.
Fun fact: The A Song of Ice and Fire books, and the Game of Thrones show, heavily imply that Dreamfyre is the mother of Daenerys’ three dragons. We see the eggs of those dragons in Season 2, when Rhaenyra sends Rhaena away on a mission to protect her three youngest sons and the last four dragon eggs, adding more credence to that theory.
Ridden by: Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban).
3. Caraxes
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: When Daemon was married to Laena Velaryon, the previous owner of Vhagar, the couple would tour the Free Cities of Essos, giving dragonriding shows. But now, Caraxes is the battle mount of Daemon, accompanying him to take Harrenhal with ease.
Battle experience: Caraxes was used twice in battle by his first dragonrider, Daemon’s uncle Aemon Targaryen, and was then used in the Stepstones by Daemon before the Dance of the Dragons.
Ridden by: Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).
4. Meleys
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Meleys was previously claimed by Alyssa Targaryen, mother of the late King Viserys I Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen. Despite her great size, Meleys was considered one of the fastest dragons in Westeros. We most recently saw Meleys being ridden by Rhaenys in Season 2 Episode 4, where she was defeated by Aemond and Vhagar and the two fell together.
Ridden by: Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best).
5. Syrax
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Syrax was named after a Valyrian goddess. She was a bit pampered throughout most of her life, being well-fed and often kept in the Dragonpit when she wasn’t out riding with Rhaenyra. She never had to hunt or go into battle until the Dance of the Dragons.
Ridden by: Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy).
6. Sunfyre
Location: King’s Landing.
Fun fact: Sunfyre was considered one of the most beautiful dragons ever seen in the Seven Kingdoms. He had gold scales, and pink wings that shone in the sunlight.
Aegon rode Sunfyre into Rook’s Rest without alerting his advisors, leading to a brutal dogfight with both Meleys and Vhagar that left both Sunfyre and Aegon brutally injured.
Ridden by: Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).
7. Tessarion
Location: King’s Landing.
Fun fact: Tessarion was a third the size of Vhagar, the largest living dragon. She was ridden by Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower and the late King Viserys I Targaryen. Although we haven’t seen Daeron yet, in Season 2 we finally heard tell of him, teasing a possible appearance later in the season.
Ridden by: Daeron Targaryen.
8. Seasmoke
Location: Driftmark.
Fun fact: Seasmoke was heartbroken when his rider, Laenor Velaryon, faked his murder and vanished. Eventually he’s reclaimed by Addam of Hull, who is discovered to be of regal Velaryon descent and is named the new heir of Driftmark. Addam has appeared in Season 2 of House of the Dragon, so it’s likely we’ll see him ride Seasmoke before the season is over.
Ridden by: Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan).
9. Vermax
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: In the books, Vermax despises snow, ice, and cold. It was a big deal when he and his two dragon brothers, Tyraxes and Arrax, bonded with Jacaerys, Joffrey, and Lucerys Velaryon, because their parentage and “Valyrian purity” was in contention. Jacaerys rode Vermax across Westoros to garner support for his mother’s cause, bringing him to the Wall in Season 2 Episode 1.
Ridden by: Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett).
10. Tyraxes
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: By the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Tyraxes was still a young male dragon who wasn’t large enough for combat, but could fly for long distances.
Ridden by: Joffrey Velaryon.
11. Moondancer
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Moondancer was a tiny and nimble dragon, never growing larger than a horse. She was the smallest dragon alive during the Dance of the Dragons. In House of the Dragon, she’s a fair bit larger, allowing Baela to spook Ser Criston Cole and his armies in Season 2 Episode 3.
Ridden by: Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia).
Unclaimed dragons
1. The Cannibal
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: The Cannibal, as the name implies, ate dead dragons, newborn dragons, and dragon eggs. He was one of the largest dragons ever, and vanished without a trace at the end of the Dance of the Dragons.
Claimed by: No one. The Cannibal was too wild to be tamed.
2. Vermithor
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Vermithor was once ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the grandfather of Viserys I Targaryen. We recently saw him serenaded by Daemon, who was presumably trying to re-tame the dragon and add it to the Blacks’ arsenal. Vermithor is eventually persuaded, but only after a new dragonrider named Hugh Hammer comes around.
Claimed by: Hugh Hammer.
3. Silverwing
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Silverwing was the dragon of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, the sister-wife of Jaehaerys, and a companion to Vermithor. Unlike Vermithor, Silverwing was considered “friendlier” and “more docile,” at least by dragon standards. But like Vermithor, she needed an outsider — a man named Ulf White — to be tamed for the Blacks.
Claimed by: Ulf White.
4. Sheepstealer
Location: Dragonstone.
Fun fact: Sheepstealer enjoyed devouring sheep and the occasional sheepdog, which earned it a bad reputation amongst the smallfolk of Dragonstone. No one thought he could be tamed until a woman named Nettles answered The Blacks’ call for dragonriders. Sheepstealer is one of the few dragons that survives the Dance of the Dragons and flees into obscurity.
Claimed by: Nettles.
5. Grey Ghost
Location: Dragonstone
Fun fact: Grey Ghost was a shy dragon, emerging from his lair just once every few years.
Claimed by: No one. Grey Ghost was too reserved to be tamed.
