The series House of the Dragon takes us back to the glory days of House Targaryen, an age when dragons ruled the skies of Westeros. These creatures are key to understanding the power and dominance of the Targaryens across the Seven Kingdoms. Throughout the series, we meet several dragons, each with its own traits and riders, and each playing a major role in the story of this epic saga. Granted, they are not exactly traditional dragons as described in mythology; based on their features, they are closer to wyverns. Still, let’s respect the creator, who calls them dragons.
One of the most iconic dragons is Balerion, known as the "Black Dread". He was the dragon of Aegon the Conqueror, and his size and strength were crucial in the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. He was the largest dragon of his time. It is said that his teeth were as long as swords, and that his wings could darken entire towns when he flew over them. Although no exact size is given in feet or meters, every description makes it clear that he was colossal, even bigger than other dragons such as Vhagar and Meraxes.
Balerion was born in ancient Valyria and survived the Doom of Valyria, making him incredibly old. He is estimated to have lived for nearly 200 years, since he died in 94 AC, After the Conquest, and he was born long before Aegon the Conqueror arrived in Westeros. As for his bloodline, George R.R. Martin’s works do not mention any known parents.
He was one of the five dragons brought by Aenar Targaryen to Dragonstone before the Doom of Valyria. This dragon, with black and red scales, was one of the three legendary dragons that helped establish Targaryen rule in Westeros. Although he is already dead at the start of "House of the Dragon", his gigantic skull remains a reminder of his terrifying presence.
As for his riders, he was ridden by several members of House Targaryen throughout his life, including Aegon I Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror, who used Balerion to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Maegor I Targaryen also rode him during his reign and brutal campaigns, and Viserys I Targaryen briefly rode Balerion before the dragon’s death. In House of the Dragon, Balerion has been dead from the beginning.
Syrax, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon, is another standout creature in the series. This yellow-scaled she-dragon has been ridden by Rhaenyra since she was seven years old. Although she is not as battle-tested as other dragons, she shows strong loyalty and protectiveness toward her rider, reflecting the deep bond between the Targaryens and their dragons. Rhaenyra, King Viserys’ firstborn child, fully trusts her winged companion, who plays a key role in her claim to the throne.
She is a fairly large dragon, though not as big as Balerion. She is described as strong and fast, able to fly long distances quickly. Syrax never reached Balerion’s colossal size, but she was larger than many smaller dragons. The descriptions suggest she was big enough to carry her rider with ease and take part in aerial combat.
She was born and raised on Dragonstone during the Targaryen dynasty. Her exact age is not given, but we know she was relatively young at the start of the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war. Syrax was raised and ridden by Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen from a young age, which means the dragon was probably a few decades old when the conflict began. She most likely descends from the dragons brought from Valyria by House Targaryen, but there is no detailed information about her parents.
Caraxes, the "Blood Wyrm", is Daemon Targaryen’s dragon, known for his fierce nature and imposing size. With his red scales, Caraxes is one of the largest and most dangerous Targaryen dragons, a true war machine on the battlefield. He was first ridden by Aemon Targaryen, father of Rhaenys, "the Queen Who Never Was", played by Eve Best, and then passed to Daemon after the death of his first rider, becoming a reflection of his new master’s ambition and warlike personality.
He is described as a large, lean dragon with a long, snake-like body. Although he was not the biggest Targaryen dragon, he was still very large, and he stood out for his speed and agility in the air. His appearance is especially fierce, with large, powerful wings that allowed him to maneuver quickly in battle.
He was born before the start of the Dance of the Dragons and was already several decades old when the conflict began. He was one of the most experienced dragons in combat, having been ridden by several riders throughout his life. His exact age is not mentioned, but by the time of the Targaryen civil war, he was already a mature and experienced dragon.
Meleys, the "Red Queen", is Rhaenys Targaryen’s dragon. At her wedding to Lord Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys made it a condition that she would arrive riding her dragon. Meleys was first ridden by Princess Alyssa Targaryen, mother of Viserys I and Daemon Targaryen. Alyssa flew on Meleys during her lifetime, helping build the dragon’s reputation as a fearsome creature. Later, she was ridden by Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, known as the "Queen Who Never Was". Her crests, horns and claws were bright as copper, and although she became lazy as she grew older, she could still be fearsome and clever.
This female dragon, with bright red scales, is one of the oldest and largest after Vhagar. Although Rhaenys never took the Iron Throne, her bond with Meleys proves her ability to tame and command one of the most formidable beasts in the Seven Kingdoms. Meleys is already quite old at the start of the Dance of the Dragons. She was raised on Dragonstone and lived for several decades before the Targaryen civil war began. Her exact age is not specified, but she was mature enough to have been ridden by more than one rider. She is also one of the oldest and largest dragons after Vhagar (SPOILER for the latest episode of House of the Dragon). In the latest episode of House of the Dragon, Meleys is killed by Vhagar, just as the Dance of the Dragons truly begins.
Sunfyre, the golden dragon of Aegon II Targaryen, is known for his shining scales and golden flames. Aegon II, the eldest son of Viserys and Alicent Hightower, uses this dragon to fight his sister Rhaenyra for the Iron Throne. Even though Sunfyre is one of the younger dragons, he is remarkably large and powerful, symbolizing his rider’s ambition and power. He is not described as having the same colossal wingspan as Balerion, but he is still a formidable dragon with an imposing presence. His size makes him a dangerous opponent in battle, and his wings are large enough to give him fast, powerful flight. (SPOILER for the latest episode of House of the Dragon). After the clash involving Vhagar and Meleys, Sunfyre is left in terrible condition, as is Aegon II, something that will be seen in the next episode.
Vhagar, ridden by Aemond Targaryen, is one of the oldest and most powerful dragons in the series. Originally ridden by Visenya Targaryen during the Conquest of Westeros, Vhagar is now Aemond’s dragon. Her size and strength are unmatched, and although Aemond rides her, he cannot always fully control her, as we see in the conflict with Arrax and Lucerys Velaryon. She is known as one of the largest dragons to have ever lived, surpassed only by Balerion. Over her long life, she grew to a colossal size, and it is said that her wings were large enough to block out the sun. Her massive size and strength made her a fearsome enemy in battle.
She was born in ancient Valyria and survived the Doom of Valyria. She was one of the dragons brought to Westeros by Aenar Targaryen and his family before the Doom. She lived for more than 180 years, making her one of the longest-lived dragons in Targaryen history. At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Vhagar was already very old and battle-hardened. She was one of the three great dragons, along with Balerion and Meraxes, who joined Aegon the Conqueror in the War of Conquest.
Vhagar was first ridden by Queen Visenya Targaryen, Aegon the Conqueror’s sister-wife. Visenya used Vhagar during the War of Conquest to help Aegon unite the Seven Kingdoms. Later, she was ridden by Prince Baelon Targaryen, known as "the Prince of Dragonstone". During the Dance of the Dragons, Vhagar was ridden by Laena Velaryon, wife of Daemon Targaryen, and finally by Prince Aemond Targaryen, who used her as his war dragon during the Dance of the Dragons. (SPOILER for the latest episode of House of the Dragon). In addition to killing the young Prince Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax, with Aemond Targaryen as her rider, Vhagar also kills Meleys and Rhaenys Targaryen in the latest episode of House of the Dragon.
Tessarion, known as the "Blue Queen", is Daeron Targaryen’s dragon, Daeron being the fourth son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. Her cobalt scales and bright blue flames make her stand out from the other dragons. Although Tessarion is mentioned less often than some of her counterparts, she plays an important role in the Targaryen infighting during the Dance of the Dragons, showing the variety and beauty of these mythical creatures. She was a medium-sized dragon compared with other dragons of her time, such as Vhagar or Balerion. Even if she was not the largest, she was still impressive and powerful, with an agile, well-proportioned body. Her size made her fast and maneuverable in aerial combat.
Dreamfyre, the blue-and-silver she-dragon of Helaena Targaryen, daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower, is mentioned in the short story The Rogue Prince. Before Helaena, she was ridden by Rhaena Targaryen, daughter of King Aenys I Targaryen and sister of Jaehaerys I. This slender dragon, with her elegant appearance, stands out because of her long history, having first belonged to Princess Rhaena Targaryen, which makes her one of the oldest and most respected dragons.
She is relatively old, having been born before the Dance of the Dragons. She is described as a mature dragon at the start of the conflict, which suggests she was several decades old by then. Her age made her an experienced and powerful dragon.
Seasmoke, the silver dragon of Laenor Velaryon, was later ridden by Addam Velaryon. Although young and small, he plays a key role during the Dance of the Dragons. His rider, the son of Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon, shows great skill in taming and fighting with this agile, fast dragon in the series, adding another layer of complexity to the aerial battles of the era.
Seasmoke was born during the Targaryen conquest of Westeros and lived for several decades before the start of the Dance of the Dragons. He was a mature and experienced dragon by the time of the conflict, having spent many years serving alongside his Targaryen riders. His long life and experience make him one of the more veteran dragons.
Vermax, ridden by Jacaerys Targaryen, the eldest son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Consort Laenor Velaryon, and Arrax, ridden by Lucerys Velaryon, the second son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Consort Laenor Velaryon, are the dragons of Rhaenyra’s sons. These young dragons, though less experienced, take an active part in the Targaryen civil war, showing how important the next generation is to keeping their house’s power alive.
The tragedy of Arrax and his rider highlights the dangers built into this internal struggle. At the start of the Targaryen civil war, Vermax is only a few years old, making him one of the youngest dragons involved in the conflict. Arrax was also a young dragon at the start of the Dance of the Dragons. He was born and raised on Dragonstone during the generation before the war. Because he was still young, he was still growing and had not yet reached his full potential in terms of size and strength.
Tyraxes, the dragon of Joffrey Velaryon, the youngest of Rhaenyra’s sons, does not fight in the Dance of the Dragons according to the novel, but he still represents the potential and legacy of House Targaryen. His existence ensures that dragons will remain an essential part of Westeros’ history and politics.
Vermithor, the dragon of the Old King, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, is one of the largest dragons after Balerion and Vhagar. This bronze-colored dragon, known as the "Bronze Fury", is sought out by Daemon Targaryen at the end of the first season. His legacy as one of the most powerful dragons reinforces the deep bond between the Targaryens and their winged beasts, and his presence promises to play an important role in the series’ future clashes.
Vermithor was born during the time of Jaehaerys I Targaryen and lived for several decades before the Targaryen civil war. His long life and experience make him one of the most veteran and powerful dragons. He was ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, known as the "Old King", who flew on him during his long and peaceful reign, cementing Vermithor’s reputation as one of the most powerful and reliable dragons of the era.
