13 Most Powerful Dragons in ‘House of the Dragon,’ Ranked

House of the Dragon has proven to be a rousing success among fans of fantasy shows. This prequel to the beloved Game of Thrones is based on the book Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin and focuses on a civil war within House Targaryen over who will succeed King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) as king or queen of Westeros. On one side is Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), whom Viserys chose to be his heir; on the other, King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), whose Hightower relatives pushed him to rule as Viserys’ eldest son.

While the show is full of interesting political intrigue and character relationships, the stars are the mighty dragons through which House Targaryen ruled unchallenged for over a century. The show has greatly expanded the roster of dragons from the three in Game of Thrones and given them many moments to show off their majesty and power. However, some are undeniably stronger than others. These are the most powerful dragons in House of the Dragon, providing enough action and lore to satisfy audiences’ cravings to see a true clash of titans.

13

Tessarion

Rider: Prince Daeron Targaryen

Image via HBO

Called the Blue Queen for her vibrant sapphire scales, Tessarion is the dragon of Prince Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), the youngest child of King Viserys and Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Unlike his siblings, who lived in King’s Landing, Daeron lived in Oldtown with his Hightower relatives, allowing him to grow along a completely different path. Now that Tessarion is large enough to ride, Daeron flies her above the Hightower army as they march to war.

Tessarion has yet to demonstrate her combat effectiveness, but she shows a lot of promise. Her design is more light and nimble, meaning she can be quick in the air, and though Daeron has never flown her to war, his uncle, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), mentions that he is skilled in combat. The two also possess a strong bond despite the efforts of Daeron’s guardian and cousin, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), meaning that, when the time for battle comes, they’ll be more in sync and a deadlier duo.

12

Vermax

Rider: Prince Jacaerys Velaryon

Image via HBO

It is customary for Targaryen babies to have dragon eggs placed in their cradles in the hopes that they will hatch and grow up as a bonded duo. Such was the case with Rhaenyra’s eldest son, Prince Jacaerys (Harry Collett), and his dragon, Vermax, which proved his Targaryen heritage despite the rumors surrounding his true father. During the Dance of the Dragons, Vermax bore Jacaerys to Winterfell to treat with Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), the Twins to treat with the Freys, and into the Battle of the Gullet, where he was killed alongside his rider.

As the eldest of the younger generation of dragons, Vermax was the best suited for war. Though not yet fully grown, he was at that size where he was large enough to threaten an entire armada, aid Jace in diplomacy, and be quick enough to evade enemy projectiles. The fact that he was shot down was a poor roll of the dice, and goes to show how unpredictable war can be.

11

Moondancer

Rider: Lady Baela Targaryen

Image via HBO

The eldest daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Lady Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), Baela (Bethany Antonia), was given a cradle egg that hatched into Moondancer. By the time of the Dance of the Dragons, she is large enough for Baela to ride, and is one of the more nimble young dragons. Her primary role is as a scout and escort for the Velaryon fleet during the early stages of the war, but Moondancer gets some combat experience during the Battle of the Gullet.

Moondancer is a good example of how the designers of House of the Dragon try to make the dragons more visually distinct. Her head is adorned with a very distinct frill, while her green body is broken up by black stripes. This pairs well with her rider’s more adventurous and reckless personality, and makes one eager to see what they can get up to.

10

Syrax

Rider: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen

Image via HBO

Named after one of the Gods of Old Valyria, Syrax has been the longstanding companion to Rhaenyra, who enjoyed flying her every chance she could. The two share a very close bond, with Syrax often roaring in distress or anger whenever Rhaenyra feels such extreme emotions. She has also joined Rhaenyra in motherhood, laying several clutches of dragon eggs to ensure the future of the Targaryen dragons.

Despite being an adult-sized dragon, Syrax is untested in battle and rarely goes out hunting. This makes sense since she is the queen’s own mount, but it does mean she can be overwhelmed by more battle-hardened dragons, as seen when she clashed with Sheepstealer. Still, an adult dragon is nothing to scoff at, and since Rhaenyra loves to fly with her, Syrax’s skill on the wing could make up for her lack of martial prowess.

9

Sunfyre

Rider: King Aegon II Targaryen

Image via HBO

Considered the most beautiful dragon ever hatched by House Targaryen, Sunfyre was so named for his shining golden scales and pink wing membrane. He was eventually claimed by Aegon II, and the two formed a particularly close bond even among dragon riders. Unfortunately, when Aegon flew Sunfyre to Rook’s Rest, he was savaged in battle with Meleys before falling from the sky after being burned by Vhagar.

Though Sunfyre’s first venture to war left him broken and presumed dead, he still held his own for a while against Meleys, rather than instantly dying to the larger dragon. Miraculously, he survived his wounds and weeks with no food, and was later roused by Aegon’s bravery against Rhaenyra’s followers. This demonstration is the greatest show of durability seen from any dragon in any Song of Ice and Fire show, and time will tell how Sunfyre will perform in future battles.

8

Dreamfyre

Riders: Princess Rhaena Targaryen and Queen Helaena Targaryen

Image via HBO

Born during the reign of Aegon The Conqueror, Dreamfyre was the beloved dragon of his eldest grandchild, Princess Rhaena. She toured all of Westeros with her rider and, after Rhaena’s death, was kept in King’s Landing’s dragonpit, where she laid several eggs that would hatch into dragons for future Targaryen children. She was eventually claimed by Viserys and Alicent’s daughter, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban). However, unlike her relatives, Helaena doesn’t ride Dreamfyre too often.

Despite being perhaps the third-oldest living dragon, Dreamfyre’s time in the dragonpit has prevented her from growing as large as the ancient dragons who dwell on Dragonstone. That said, she is still a fierce and formidable creature, and there is no denying that she could kill younger dragons and carve a path of destruction if she were let out of the pit. However, she likely won’t stand up to the other large dragons who have seen more battles and spent more time on the wing than underground.

7

Silverwing

Riders: Queen Alysanne Targaryen and Ulf White

Image via HBO

One of the largest Targaryen dragons, Silverwing, was bonded to Queen Alysanne, the sister-queen to Westeros’ longest-serving king, Jaehaerys I Targaryen (Michael Carter). She bore Alysanne all across Westeros, even as far north as the Wall itself, but refused to fly beyond it. After Alysanne’s death, she remained in her cave on Dragonstone until a Targaryen bastard named Ulf (Tom Bennett) stumbled into her lair and bonded with her.

Silverwing is another large dragon who hasn’t seen combat, but since she didn’t remain in the dragon pit like Dreamfyre, she has grown to an impressive size. Normally, Silverwing is known for being friendly and calm, but when roused, she can be just as ferocious as any other dragon. The fact that she is the mate of Vermithor also adds complications, especially with how much of a wildcard Ulf is.

6

Seasmoke

Riders: Ser Laenor Velaryon and Addam of Hull

Image via HBO

The beloved dragon of Ser Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), Seasmoke accompanied his rider into battle in the Stepstones with Laenor’s father, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), against the forces of Prince Craghas “The Crabfeeder” Drahar (Daniel Scott-Smith). Years later, he was separated from Laenor when he faked his death and fled across the sea. Eventually, Seasmoke grows restless, and after incinerating Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan), he seeks out Laenor’s bastard half-brother, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty).

Seasmoke might not be as large as some of the other dragons, but his time with Laenor has seen him gain a good few years of combat experience. Despite this, he is very sociable and actively seeks out his choice of a new rider rather than wait for one to find him. This makes Seasmoke very protective of his rider, and he will even bare his teeth against his allies, like Rhaenyra, to keep them safe.

5

Sheepstealer

Rider: Lady Rhaena Targaryen

Image via HBO

While most dragons have taken at least one rider in their lifetimes, some dragons grow up on Dragonstone and never know a rider. One of these wild dragons, called Sheepstealer, leaves Dragonstone for the mountains of the Vale to look for food. Eventually, Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) goes to the Vale and, upon finding evidence of Sheepstealer, sets off to claim the dragon.

Life in the wild with little to no human assistance has turned Sheepstealer into a harsh, volatile dragon. The fact that he has lived in the wild long enough to grow to maturity shows that he is a skilled and experienced hunter, and though he has never flown to war, he is strong enough to endure attacks from three adult-sized dragons. While this does make him a ferocious opponent, he is comparable to a berserker relying on brute force, unlike other dragons who have more refined combat experience.

4

Meleys

Rider: Princess Alyssa Targaryen and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

Image via HBO

Called the Red Queen, Meleys was originally ridden by Princess Alyssa Targaryen (Emeline Lambert), the mother of Viserys and Daemon. After her death, Daemon tries to claim Meleys, but she rejects him for his cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen aka the Queen Who Never Was (Eve Best). When the Dance of the Dragons begins, Meleys is the largest dragon on the Black’s side and gets to prove her valor in the Battle of Rook’s Rest, though she sadly doesn’t survive.

Meleys was a powerful dragon, able to take down Aegon’s Sunfyre and wound Vhagar to the point where she needed to return to King’s Landing to heal. Though killed in action, Meleys showed that she was skilled in combat, as her strategy allowed her to deal good damage to Vhagar before she was taken out in an ambush. She also had a very strong bond with Rhaenys and seemed to be in sync with her every thought.