There’s a reason all the dragons are gone by the time of Game of Thrones. Here’s what happens to the dragons on House of the Dragon. Beware SPOILERS!
House of the Dragon is about a Targaryen civil war. We’re just getting into the thick of things now. Each side has lots of dragons, but you may notice that there aren’t any dragons by the time of Game of Thrones, which is set over a century after the events of House of the Dragon.
What happened? Well, House of the Dragon will explain a lot of it. But if you want to jump ahead, we’ve looked to the pages of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (the source material for Game of Thrones) and Fire & Blood (the source material for House of the Dragon) to compile this guide on what happened to all of the dragons that ever flew in the skies above Westeros.
Beware major spoilers for future seasons of House of the Dragon below!
Balerion the Black Dread: Died of natural causes
We’re actually going to start before even the events of House of the Dragon. Balerion the Black Dread was born in the Freehold of Valyria before it fell, and was passed down the Targaryen family line until he became the mount of Aegon Targaryen, known as Aegon the Conqueror. Aegon flew on Balerion while he and his sisters took over the Seven Kingdoms. Balerion was the largest and most formidable dragon in the history of Westeros, and was instrumental in helpipng install Aegon as the first king to sit the Iron Throne.
In addition to Aegon I, Balerion was ridden by his son Maegor the Cruel, by Princess Aerea and briefly by Viserys I, who we met in the first season of House of the Dragon. After years of burning enemies, murdering other dragons and cementing the rule of the Targaryen dragon lords, Balerion died of old age after making his final lair in the Dragonpit of King’s Landing. Fortunately for Balerion, he died before the fateful Dance of the Dragons, where several dragons tore each to pieces.
Meraxes: Scorpion bolt through the eye
Aegon did not conquer the Seven Kingdoms alone. He was joined by his sister Visenya, who rode the dragon Vhagar; and Rhaenys, who rode the dragon Meraxes. Vhargar would survive to the time of the Dance of the Dragons, but Meraxes died much earlier. (Obviously, this is a different Rhaenys from the one on House of the Dragon.)
After Aegon’s Conquest, Dorne was the only kingdom still openly defying the Targaryens. Instead of bending the knee, the Dornishmen challenged the Targaryens to try and take their land by force, which proved to be much more difficult than conquering the other six kingdoms. The first Dornish war saw the Targaryns seemingly take over most of the castles and strongholds in Dorne, which had been abandoned by their inhabitants. After installing their own people, the Targaryens left thinking they had successfully united the entire continent.
But once the Targaryens and their dragons were gone, Dorne’s armies returned and disposed of the Targaryen loyalists, imprisoning and executing many. Furious, Aegon and his sisters returned to Dorne to begin burning as many castles as they could find. While flying over Hellholt, a scorpion bolt pierced the dragon Meraxes through the eye, resulting in the dragon and its rider Rhaenys plummeting to their deaths in the desert below.
This was the first time a human was able to a kill a dragon and its rider in open combat, making the Targaryens hesitant to continue the Dornish conquest for a time.
Quicksilver: Eaten by Balerion
Quicksilver was the mount of King Aenys I — the son of Aegon the Conqueror — and his son, Prince Aegon the Uncrowned. After Aenys’ death, Aenys’ brother Maegor the Cruel usurped the throne from the young Aegon. (Who is a completely different Aegon from Aegon the Conqueror or Aegon II Targaryen, the king during the time of House of the Dragon. Targaryens love naming their kids Aegon.) At the time, Aegon and his sister-wife Rhaena were in the Westerlands without their dragons. While Maegor left to be crowned in Oldtown, Aegon and Rhaena snuck into King’s Landing to get the princess’s dragon Dreamfyre while Aegon bonded with his father’s dragon Quicksilver.
Aegon then returned to raise an army of Westermen and Rivermen to take his throne back from his uncle Maelor. Aegon was able to raise 15,000 men and began his march on King’s Landing. But Aegon wasn’t experienced in warfare and soon found himself surrounded on three sides by Maegor’s loyalists. Aegon attempted to charge the army in front of him, but Maegor appeared on Balerion before that could happen. In what would become the first dragon vs. dragon encounter in Westeros, the humungous Balerion tore Quicksilver to shreds as Maegor murdered his nephew and destroyed his army.
Next, we’ll jump ahead to the Dance of the Dragons, where a ton of dragons are killed off. You’ll remember the first meeting his end in the season 1 finale of House of the Dragon:
Arrax: Eaten by Vhagar
Arrax was the mount of Lucerys Velaryon, the second-born son of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and the heir of Driftmark. When the Dance broke out, Rhaenyra sent Lucerys to the castle of Storm’s End to remind Lord Boros Baratheon of his oath to the Queen. Unfortunately, Prince Aemond Targaryen — the brother of King Aegon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s rival to the throne — beat him there and successfully secured an alliance with the Baratheons. As children, Lucerys had slashed out Aemond’s eye, and Aemond had never forgiven him for it.
When Lucerys left the castle, Boros’ daughter Maris taunted Aemond and asked if Lucerys took his balls as well as his eye. An enraged Aemond mounted his dragon Vhagar and pursued Lucerys through the stormy skies. Above Shipbreaker Bay, men reportedly saw blasts of flames in the distance before Arrax’s head and neck washed up on shore. Vhagar, who was the largest and oldest dragon in Westeros at the time, presumably chomped Arrax to pieces along with Lucerys.
House of the Dragon tells the story a little different. In this version, Aemond loses control of Vhagar, who then chomps Luke and Arrax.
Stormcloud: Untreated wounds
Rhaenyra’s oldest son and heir was Jacaerys Velaryon, who rode the dragon Vermax. After Rhaenyra husband Daemon left their stronghold of Dragonstone to secure the Riverlands, Jacaerys took a larger role in the war effort being mounted by the Blacks, the name given to the faction loyal to Rhaenyra. To preserve the safety of Rhaenyra’s two youngest children, Aegon III and Viserys II, Jacaerys devised a plan to send the children across the Narrow Sea to Pentos.
While traveling via ship, Aegon III and Viserys II were surrounded by ships from the Triarchy, the group from Essos that had fought their father Daemon years earlier. They had been commissioned to attack the Velaryon blockade by Otto Hightower. Aegon mounted his young dragon Stormcloud as their escorts were sunk and the ship was being seized. Stormcloud was barely large enough to carry Aegon, and since Viserys only had a dragon egg at the time, he was sadly left behind. Triachry soldiers shot Stormcloud with a flurry of crossbow bolts before the dragon flew away. Aegon was barely able to make it to Dragonstone, clinging to Stormcloud’s neck as he swam, before the dragon succumbed to his injuries and died.
Vermax: Shot down over the sea
Aegon III informed the castle about the Triarchy fleet, spurring Jacaerys and the other dragon riders to action in what would become the Battle of the Gullet. While burning the Triarchy ships, Jacaerys and Vermax flew too low and were also shot by many crossbow bolts. Vermax flew into a burning vessel while Jacaerys leapt off the dragon and clung to the side. There were still enemy soldiers on the burning ship however, and they shot and killed Jacaerys, who sank into the sea.
Meleys: Torn to death by Sunfyre and Vhagar
After Ser Criston Cole becomes the Hand of the King to Aegon II, which happens early in the second season of House of the Dragon, he decides to take the fight to the Blacks and marches through the Crownlands to the castle of Rook’s Rest, which is pledged to Queen Rhaenyra. On the way, Cole captures several castles and swelled his army to a few thousand soldiers. While Cole was burning the fields and murdering smallfolk around the castle, Lord Staunton — the lord of Rook’s Rest — sent a raven to Rhaenyra on Dragonstone begging for support.
Days later, Rhaenys Targaryen arrived on her dragon Meleys to help Lord Staunton, which is exactly what Cole planned for. After burning several hundred Greens (the name given to the faction loyal to King Aegon), Rhaenys found herself under attack from King Aegon II and his brother Aemond, atop their dragons Sunfyre and Vhagar. The ensuing fight saw Meleys tear Sunfyre’s wing and severely injure Aegon, who was left with severe burns and broken bones. While the two smaller dragons battled, Vhagar came from above and caused all three dragons to crash into the ground.
Although Sunfyre and Aegon survived with terrible wounds, Rhaenys and Melys were found dead on the ground. Meleys’ head was removed and taken to King’s Landing as a prize for the Greens.
Grey Ghost: Killed by Sunfyre
At one point in the Dance of the Dragons, Rhaenyra is successful in retaking King’s Landing, forcing King Aegon II to flee. Lord Larys Strong smuggles him to Dragonstone, Rhaenyra’s homebase, where he reunites with his dragon Sunfyre, who before receiving wounds during the Battle of Rook’s Rest was known as the most beautiful dragon in the Seven Kingdoms.
While hiding out on Dragonstone and building his strength, Aegon and Sunfyre come across Grey Ghost, named for his pale white scales. Grey Ghost is one of several wild dragons living in the area. During the Dance, many riders attempt to find Grey Ghost to ride him, but failed, but Sunfyre does manage to kill and eat him. Locals blame Grey Ghost’s death on the Cannibal, another wild dragon known to eat his own kind.
Moondancer and Sunfyre: Maul each other to death
Aegon II spend his time on Dragonstone fomenting rebellion against Rhaenyra, which wasn’t particularly difficult as several of her followers didn’t like her very much. He’s able to take over the castle of Dragonstone, but his men are unable to capture Rhaenyra’s step-daughter Baela Targaryen, who escapes with her dragon Moondancer. The two dragons and their riders fight over the castle. Sunfyre’s wing was still damaged from Rook’s Rest, allowing the smaller Moondancer to outmaneuver her larger opponent for a time. After taking a blast of flames to the eyes, which blinded the creature, Moondancer slammed into Sunfyre, causing both dragons to plummet into the island.
Both dragons survived the fall but were unable to fly. Although Moondancer had the advantage in the skies, Sunfyre’s size overcame her on the ground, and the larger dragon clawed her to death. Sunfyre proceeded to eat Moondancer’s carcass, but had sustained heavy wounds. He could no longer fly and he lost his right eye. Sunfyre eventually succumbed to these wounds and died later that year.
Vhagar and Caraxes: Plummeted to Death
One of the most famous conflicts of the Dance of the Dragons occurs around this time: the Battle above the Gods Eye lake near Harrenhal. It was fought between the dragon Vhagar and her rider Aemond Targaryen; and the dragon Caraxes and his rider Daemon Targaryen.
After the death of Balerion, Vhagar was the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros. Meanwhile, Caraxes was considered one of the fiercest dragons, having been tested many times in war. After many bloody conflicts in the Dance, which saw family, friends and scores of soldiers die, Daemon Targaryen decided to openly challenge his nephew Aemond to a one-vs-one fight over the Gods Eye in the Riverlands.
Aemond accepted, and the result was a messy dragon-vs-dragon battle in the sky. While the dragons grappled, Daemon lept from Caraxes and plunged his Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister into Aemond’s good eye, killing him instantly. Both dragons then fell into the lake below, killing all but Caraxes, who was able to crawl to shore. He died soon after.
Shrykos, Morghul, Tyraxes, Dreamfyre: Died during the storming of the Dragonpit
Meanwhile, things are not going well for Rhaenyra back in King’s Landing. A mob of angry smallfolk, fueled by hunger and resentment, are incited by a fanatic named the Shepherd. He preaches against the Targaryens and their dragons, blaming them for the suffering of the people. The mob decides to attack the Dragonpit, a massive domed structure where the Targaryens keep their dragons, believing that killing the dragons will solve their problems.
The assault on the Dragonpit is brutal and bloody. Despite being heavily defended, the sheer numbers and ferocity of the attackers overwhelm the guards and dragonkeepers. Within await several dragons: Shrykos, Morghul, Tyraxes (the dragon of Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey) and Dreamfyre (the dragon of King Aegon’s sister-wife Helaena Targaryen). The mob, armed with spears, axes, and torches, fights their way inside and slaughters the dragons in a horrific frenzy. The dragons, even in their fury, are outnumbered and fall to the relentless assault.
The destruction of the Dragonpit marks a significant turning point in the Dance of the Dragons. It symbolizes the common people’s rebellion against the ruling elite and the devastating loss of dragon power for House Targaryen. The storming also showcases the destructive potential of mob violence and the tragic consequences of civil strife.
Syrax: Killed by a mob
Rhaenyra’s own dragon is Syrax, whom we’ve seen her ride several times on House of the Dragon. During the Storming of the Dragonpit, Rhaenyra’s young son Joffrey mounts Syrax in order to fly there and to fight off the invaders, or possibly to rescue his own dragon Tyraxes; the show will probably clear that up when it gets to this point. Joffrey falls off Syrax and falls to the ground on the way, dying. But Syrax reaches the Dragonpit and starts attacking the mob. However, like the dragons within, she is overcome and dies.
Vermithor, Seasmoke and Tessarion
While all this is going on in King’s Landing, an army of Greens is encamped at the town of Tumbleton, intending to march on the city. The Greens have three dragons at this juncture: Tessarion is ridden by Daeron Targaryen, younger brother to King Aegon. Vermithor, now the oldest dragon in Westeros since Vhagar is dead, is ridden by Hugh Hammer, a commoner who previously answered Rhaenyra’s call for potential dragonriders when she was looking for a leg up in the war. Ulf White, who rides the dragon Silverwing, is another of those commoners. Although both Hugh and Ulf began their dragon-riding careers fighting for Rhaenyra, by this point in the war they’ve betrayed her and are working with the Greens. Addam of Hull (now Addam Velaryon) is another of these commoners-turned-dragonriders, although he has stayed true to Rhaenyra.
With Aemond Targaryen dead and King Aegon missing, the Greens are leaderless. Drunk with power, Hugh Hammer declares himself king much to everyone’s dismay. Around this time, Addam Velaryon — flying on Seasmoke — attacks with a group of 4,000 men. A group of conspirers murders Hugh just as Addam Velaryon flies in on Seasmoke, attacking the Green campe with 4,000 men in an attempt to prove his loyalty to Rhaenyra.
At the beginning of the battle, the dragon Tessarion takes to the sky without a rider and engages Seasmoke. Vermithor, also riderless, soon joins in, and the three dragons tear at each other in a vicious battle. The largest dragon, Vermithor locks his jaws around Seasmoke’s neck and decapitates him. Vermithor is also severely wounded and dies soon after. Tessarion attempts to take flight three times after the battle but its wings are too damaged. After the blue dragon suffers on the ground for a time, Lord Blackwood orders his archers to execute the dragon with arrows to put it out of its misery.
Silverwing: Presumably died of old age
After the battle, Ulf the White was also killed, leaving his dragon Silverwing alone. Silverwing was the mount of former Queen Alysanne while Vermithor was ridden by her husband King Jaeherys. Silverwing found the dead Vermithor on the battlefield and attempted to move his wings to rouse her old companion.
Lord Unwin Peake offered a thousand pieces of gold to any man who could mount Silverwing, which resulted in one man burning to death and another losing an arm. Silverwing then made a lair in the northwest region of the Reach on an island on the Red Lake. She remained there during the rule of King Aegon III and presumably died of old age at some point, making her one of the last living dragons.
The Cannibal: Vanished, presumably died of natural causes
Arguably the most mysterious dragon on this list, the Cannibal was a massive black dragon with green eyes that lived on Dragonstone. As a wild dragon with the habit of eating other dragons, hence his name, the Cannibal was riderless for his entire existence in Westeros. Nobody really knows when the Cannibal was born. Some legends say that he even predates the Targaryens coming to Westeros.
The Cannibal was living on Dragonstone during the Dance of the Dragons and did not take part in any of the conflicts. By the end of the war, the Cannibal was one of four dragons left alive. He vanished sometime afterward, presumably dying of old age or natural causes.
Sheepstealer: Vanished into the Vale with Nettles
Another dragon alive during the Dance, Sheepstealer was a wild dragon the color of mud who frequently stole and ate sheep from smallfolk. Sheepstealer apparently spent several decades living on Dragonstone before he was claimed by a girl named Nettles during the civil war; she was the last of the four commoners who mounted dragons and fought for Rhaenyra. However, after Hugh and Ulf betrayed Rhaenyra, the queen grew paranoid and named Nettles a traitor. Nettles flew Sheepstealer into the Mountains of the Vale where she remained until after the war. For generations, mountain clansmen told stories of a fire goddess living in the mountains who they gave gifts to.
Morning: Died young during the reign of Aegon III
Morning was the last dragon to hatch while the Targaryens were in power in Westeros, and her rider was Rhaena Targaryen. The pink dragon did not see combat during the Dance as she was too young for Rhaena to ride, but Morning survived the conflict and became one of just four dragons left alive after the conflict. Sometime during the reign of King Aegon III, Morning died of unknown causes.
Drogon: Last seen in the Dothraki sea with Daenerys
Let’s skip ahead a century and change to the time of A Song of Ice and Fire. Dragons have been dead for decades, but Daenerys Targaryen manages to hatch three new ones in the Dothraki Sea. The largest of her three dragons, Drogon was reminiscent of Balerion the Black Dread because of his size and the color of his scales. Drogon is born at the end of the first book in the series, A Game of Thrones, along with his brothers Rhaegal and Viserion. He spends the first few books accompanying Daenerys on her travels through Essos and plays a major part in her effort to acquire the Unsullied army from the slave masters in Astapor.
In A Dance with Dragons, the fifth and most recent book in the series, Drogon hunts sheep and human children while Daenerys rules over the city of Meereen. Daenerys orders her dragons to be detained after the reports of dead and burned children reach her. Drogon is large enough to avoid capture, and he eventually returns to Mrereen to save Daenerys from a riot in the fighting pits. After that, Drogon takes Daenerys to his lair in the Dothraki sea. Daenerys leaves and attempts to walk back to Meereen. She eventually reuintes with Drogon where they are found by a khalasar controlled by Khal Jhaqo.
That’s where we leave Drogon in the books. Game of Thrones goes further; on the TV show, Drogon flees Westeros for parts unknown after Daenerys dies.
Rhaegal and Viserion: Loose in the city of Meereen
Rhaegal and Viserion are considerably smaller than their brother Drogon. After Drogon’s hunting wreaks havoc on the smallfolk surrounding Mereen, Daenerys orders Rhaegal and Viserion to be chained up in a makeshift dragonpit underneath the city. The dragons remain here until the end of A Dance With Dragons when they’re freed by Prince Quentyn Martell, who was attempting to bond with one and take it back to his native Dorne to use as a weapon. He doesn’t succeed — Rhaegal burns Quentyn to death — but he does let the two dragons out of their cage.
The dragons are released from the pit by the end of the book and will likely play some role in the upcoming battle that will take place in Martin’s upcoming book The Winds of Winter. Again, the show goes further than the books. On TV, Viserion is killed during an encounter with White Walkers beyond the Wall and Rhaegal is felled by scorpion bolts fired by Euron Greyjoy. We have no idea if they will meet similar fates in Martin’s books.
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