The main reason why only three dragons remain in Game of Thrones is the event in Westerosi history known as the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war that began in House of the Dragon season 2. During the Dance of the Dragons in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, the dragonriders of House Targaryen fight among themselves for the Iron Throne and kill off most of their dragons in the process. As popular as the mythical beasts are with audiences, almost every dragon in House of the Dragon is headed for a grim fate.

House of the Dragon is mostly faithful to Fire & Blood, which reveals many of the brutal details of why only three dragons remain in Game of Thrones. Though Targaryen hubris during the Dance of the Dragons was mostly how the dragons died in GoT, there are other factors to their near extinction. There are various reasons why the dragons died before Game of Thrones, and the stories of the Targaryen dragons are all almost as interesting (and, in some cases, as tragic) as that of their riders.

How Caraxes Dies

Caraxes Perishes After A Duel With Vhagar

Caraxes is one of the most significant dragon introduced in Fire & Blood, and his importance carries over to House of the Dragon. Caraxes is the dragon of Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). Daemon was Caraxes’ second dragonrider, with his first being Aemon Targaryen (the father of Rhaenys). It’s not known exactly when Caraxes hatched, but he was still a young dragon when Aemon claimed him, and was paired with Aemon for several decades before being claimed by Aemon.

Unfortunately, Caraxes is one of several dragons who meets a violent end during the events of Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon. Daemon challenged Aemond Targaryen and his dragon, Vhagar, at Harrenhal during the Dance of the Dragon. This duel was so legendary that it became known as the Battle Above The Gods Eye.

None of the participants survived, although Caraxes was the last dragon standing, able to pull himself onto the shore after he and Vhagar plummeted into the Gods Eye (the largest lake in Westeros). While he was still breathing, it didn’t take long for Caraxes to succumb to his considerable wounds just outside the walls of Harrenhal.

How Vhagar Dies

Vhagar Perishes After A Duel With Caraxes

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Vhagar is one of the largest dragons in House of the Dragon, and she is also known as one of the most brutal. Referred to as the Queen of All Dragons, Vhagar was large enough to swallow horses whole, and was also the only dragon from the era of Aegon’s Conquest that was still alive during the reign of Viserys and the events of House of the Dragon season 1.

Aegon uniting the Seven Kingdoms was one of the most significant events in the history of Westeros, and Vhagar was present for all of it, being the dragon rdoe by Aegon’s sister-wife Visenya Targaryen. Despite her size, power, and considerable age, Vhagar also perished during the Targaryen Civil War. Her final rider was Aemond Targaryen, and it was during his duel with Daemon and Daemon’s dragon Caraxes that Vhagar ultimately perished.

How Syrax Dies

Syrax Was Killed By A Mob Of Rioters

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Syrax was the dragon of Rhaenyra Targaryen, and the pair were bonded from very early on in Rhaenyra’s life (she was only seven years old when she took Syrax as a mount). It’s unknown exactly when Syrax hatched, or who her previous riders were if she had any, but she was already an adult dragon by the time Rhaenyra took her as a mount. She’s also one of the dragons who was known to be actively breeding during the events of the Dance of Dragons, and has a strong connection with Rhaenyra because of this — for example, she’s shown to be incredibly empathetic when Rhaenyra experiences a miscarriage.

Of all the dragon deaths before Game of Thrones, Syrax has perhaps one of the most tragic. During the Targaryen Civil War, the citizens of King’s Landing had an uprising of their own, which included heading to the Dragonpit to deal with the Targaryen dragons once and for all. While there are few accounts of exactly how it happened, Syrax was killed by the angry mob during this incredibly violent event.

How Vermax Dies

Died Fighting The Triarchy Fleet

Vermax is one of the youngest dragons alive during House of the Dragon, and eventually becomes bonded with the young Prince Jacaerys Velaryon. However, both were destined to have incredibly violent ends during the Dance of the Dragons, with each passing away during one of the most violent sea battles in the history of Westeros — the Battle of the Gullet.

During the Targaryen Civil War, Otto Hightower managed to broker an alliance with the Triarchy (a group comprised of the free cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh). This led to a large-scale naval battle that ultimately saw the Triarchy withdrawing from the war, though not before Jacaerys and his dragon Vermax perished. Vermax was wounded by a crossbow bolt in his eye, which caused him to fly too low and crash into a burning ship, after which he presumably drowned.

How Dreamfyre Dies

Dreamfyre Was Crushed By Rubble When The Dragonpit Was Destroyed

Art by Nica Galvez (@nicaminoru)

Dreamfyre is one of the most intriguing dragons in Fire & Blood, and the novel seems to suggest that she may be the mother of Daenerys’ dragons in Game of Thrones. However, she doesn’t appear much during the events of House of the Dragon or the Targaryen Civil War. Dreamfyre was originally bonded with Rhaena Targaryen, and after Rhaena passed away in 73AC, Dreamfyre’s next rider was the young Princess Helaena Targaryen.

Dreamfyre has appeared a few times in House of the Dragon, and has been mentioned, but isn’t yet as significant to the plot as the likes of Caraxes or Vhagar. Unfortunately, Dreamfyre died during the Storming of the Dragonpit during the uprising of the citizens of Kings Landing. Dreamfyre managed to kill dozens of the rioting mob after breaking free from her chains, but was crushed under the rubble when the very Draponpit itself was brought down.

How Moondancer Dies

Moondancer Was Killed Fighting Sunfyre

Moondancer is the dragon of Baela Targaryen, and has only made brief appearances in House of the Dragon season 1 in the background (with no confirmation officially that the dragon many fans of Fire & Blood believe to be Moondancer actually is). However, Moondancer and Baela made some proper appearances in the show’s second season, and it’s likely the pair will be seen increasingly more often as the on-screen version of the Targaryen Civil War takes shape.

In Fire & Blood, Moondancer perished after she and Baela entered a duel with Aegon II and Sunfyre. Being younger and smaller than Sunfyre, Moondancer at first appeared to have the upper hand. Unfortunately, Moondancer then fell to the ground with Sunfyre’s full weight on top of her, giving the larger dragon an opening to finish off his opponent.

How Seasmoke Dies

Died In A Battle With Tessarion And Vermithor

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Seasmoke is the dragon of Laenor Velaryon in House of the Dragon, and later on becomes paired with his half-brother Addam of Hull. He is one of the youngest dragons in House of the Dragon, gaining his first proper combat appearance during the War for the Stepstones. After Laenor faked his own death and went into exile, Seasmoke remained riderless for a time until finally taking on Addam as a rider (during this period Rhaena also tried to claim him, and Seamoke almost ate her).

Seasmoke’s death came late in the Dance of the Dragons, during the second Battle of Tumbleton. Seasmoke became involved in a three-way fight between Tessarion and Silverwing. Addam wasn’t riding Seasmoke at the time, so he managed to survive, but could only watch in agony as Seasmoke had his throat ripped open by Vermithor.

How Sunfyre Dies

Sustained Injuries He Could Not Recover From

The mighty Sunfyre is the dragon of King Aegon II Targaryen. Being a dragon fit for one who sits upon the Iron Throne, it’s understandable that Sunfyre is a fearsome beast and force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately for Aegon II though, this wasn’t enough to ensure Sunfyre had a long life, as he was the third dragon to be killed in the Dance of the Dragons.

Sunfyre was almost killed at Rooks Rest, though managed to escape despite his significant wounds. He spent the rest of his days at Dragonstone and never fully recovered from his injuries. Somewhat brutally too, Aegon fed his half-sister Rhaenyra to Sunfyre, resulting in an incredibly painful death for her. After this though, Sunfyre refused to eat again. He eventually passed away due to starvation and his injuries, which left Aegon distraught.

How Meleys Dies

Killed By Vhagar

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Meleys is one of the older dragons in House of the Dragon, and was first ridden by Alyssa Targaryen. After Alyssa died in childbirth in 84 AC Meleys was left riderless. It wasn’t until three years later that Meleys would take to the skies with a rider again, when she was claimed by Princess Rhaenys in 87 AC. Meleys had a particularly brutal death as far as the dragons in Game of Thrones go, with her end coming in House of the Dragon season 2.

The Battle of Rooks Rest ended with the incredibly violent death of Meleys. During the battle, Meleys, alongside Sunfyre, enters into a duel with Vhagar. Being one of the most powerful dragons, Vhagar made short work of both Sunfyre and Meleys. However, while Sunfyre survived the encounter, Meleys wasn’t so lucky. After an incredibly violent fight, Vhagar crushes Meley’s neck in his powerful jaws, and her body crashing into the walls of Rooks Rest creates the opening the Greens need to storm the fortress.

How Vermithor Dies

Killed By Seasmoke And Tessarion

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Vermithor is one of the oldest dragons in Fire & Blood, and is ridden by King Jaehaerys. He managed to outlive his first rider, and was unbonded between Jaehaerys’ death in 103 AC and 129 AC. It was during this period that Prince Jacaerys Valaryon took it upon himself to create new dragonriders to ensure that the Blacks had every chance of success, and Vermithor took to the skies once again.

Vermithor’s second rider was Hugh Hammer, the bastard son of a blacksmith who had Velaryon blood. Hammer and Vermithor were a force to be reckoned with throughout the Targaryen Civil War, and it took the combined might of both Tessarion and Seasmoke to bring him down (and Seasmoke also died during the conflict). Following the Dance of the Dragons, Vermithor’s remains stayed at Tumbleton, and were visited by many pilgrims over the decades and centuries that followed.

How Balerion Died

The Black Dread Passed Away From Old Age

Of all the dragons in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, none are perhaps as legendary as Balerion, the leviathan known also as the Black Dread. Balerion’s first rider was none other than Aegon the Conqueror, the first king of the Seven Kingdoms. Following Aegon’s death, Balerion was ridden by King Maegor, Princess Aerea, and King Viserys I.

Balerion was a dragon of unbelievable size, and his vast skull was also seen in Game of Thrones. During his prime he was an unstoppable force of nature, and a key reason that Aegon was able to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one banner. He was centuries old by the time of his death, which came in 94 AC shortly after being claimed by then-Prince Viserys. Despite his fearsome reputation, Balerion had the most peaceful death of any Game of Thrones dragon, as he simply passed away due to old age.

Why The Westeros Dragons Are Almost Extinct

The Maester’s Played A Huge Part In Ensuring House Targaryen Lost Their Most Potent Weapon

Until and during the Dance of the Dragons, most of the winged beasts were kept confined within the Dragonpit at King’s Landing. Although the Targaryens wanting somewhere to house them is somewhat understandable given their immense power, keeping them caged stunted the dragons’ growth, resulting in each generation becoming smaller, weaker, and less likely to survive.

As Tyrion Lannister noted, “the last dragons were no larger than cats.” This largely holds true with what’s known of the very last dragon, who died during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen in 153 AC, giving him the nickname “Dragonbane.” Add in so few surviving dragons, and those that did live mostly disappearing, then it also stands to reason that there simply weren’t enough dragons left for mating.

Why only three dragons remain in Game of Thrones is still a mystery though. Even with reduced numbers, the stronger dragons ridden by the Targaryen in House of the Dragon are formidable beasts with incredibly long lives — it’s a little hard to believe they all simply died out.

A possible reason for the dragons dying out in Game of Thrones lies with the Maesters of the Citadel, and their apparent attempts to snuff out magic from the world. In the fourth of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books, A Feast for Crows, Archmaester Marwyn tells Samwell Tarly:

“Who do you think killed all the dragons the last time around? Gallant dragonslayers armed with swords? The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, much less for dragons.”

Although it’s not confirmed that the Maesters destroyed the dragons in Game of Thrones, their steadfast support of cold hard logic naturally makes them opposed to magic and fantastical creatures. Given how magic itself seemed to disappear from the world, that few dragon eggs were hatched after the Dance (despite plenty of attempts), and that magic’s return coincided with that of the dragons, then it is plausible the Maesters had a hand in how the dragons died in GoT.

What the Maesters’ exact methods would’ve been — or how they would’ve known where the rest of the dragons are in Game of Thrones — are unknown, but they could have developed a poison to radically stunt growth and/or prevent hatchlings, or even altered the birthing or fertilization of eggs in some other way.

As House of the Dragon revealed, the Maesters did have a hand in killing off members of the Targaryen family tree, and whether they actually intended to save Aemma Arryn and Baelon Targaryen remains up for debate. In any case, if the Maesters had the knowledge and willingness to use their skills to save or kill members of the royal family, it certainly wouldn’t be beyond them to dabble in draconic genetics for the Citadel’s own goals.