The 20 Strongest Dragons in ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ Ranked by Power

The How to Train Your Dragon franchise is one of the largest in DreamWorks’ catalog. Based on the books by Cressida Cowell, it follows the Viking village of Berk, which has an evolving relationship with dragons. At first, the two groups fought, but thanks to the efforts of Hiccup the Viking and the dragon Toothless, they overcame their differences and worked together to create a better future.

Befitting its name, the franchise contains dozens of dragons of all shapes and sizes with their own unique biology, many of which are chronicled on the HTTYD wiki. The strongest HTTYD dragons stand out for being particularly powerful, often rare creatures that could probably beat most magical enemies in a fight. This helps them stand out not just among themselves, but from other dragons in fiction. Which is the most powerful dragon from the How to Train Your Dragon movies?

20

Boneknapper

Abilities: Bone armor, Thundering roar

A scene-stealer in the movie about dragons and one of the most mysterious species, the Boneknapper is so-named due to its habit of collecting bones. Since their scales are naturally weak, they scour the globe to find the perfect bones to craft into durable suits of armor. It is when they are assembling their armor that they are most dangerous, as they lose access to certain features until their set is complete.

The primary ability the Boneknapper loses is its roar, which can scatter small objects around it and attract mates. As such, it will spend years trying to claim its perfect bone, sneaking up on those who carry it in silence before descending from the sky. If it’s given what it wants, however, the Boneknapper becomes much friendlier.

19

Hobgobbler

Abilities: Flammable saliva, Feeding Frenzy

Image via DreamWorks

One of the smallest dragon species out there, the Hobgobbler looks like a cross between a dragon and a toad. They are a highly social species with a voracious appetite, so when one shows up, it’s guaranteed to attract others. For this and their ability to eat almost anything, Hobgobblers can be seen as bad omens.

Hobgoblers might seem cute and derpy at first glance, but if angered, they are quick to remind their opponents that they are still dragons. A colony of Hobgobblers can devour a ship within minutes, and if they coat themselves in their flammable saliva, they can squeeze their way into hard-to-reach spaces. They also possess a mischievous side and enjoy pulling pranks and spooking people.

18

Gronckle

Abilities: Bump scatter blast, Rechargeable firepower, Flying backward and in all directions

Most dragons in media are portrayed as sleek, serpentine creatures that fly through the air with grace and speed. The Gronckle subverts this through its compact design and hilariously small wings, which make it look like a cross between an armored pig and a giant honeybee. Though it may appear clumsy and silly, Gronkles can be fearsome foes that prove that looks can be deceiving.

While not as fast as their brethren, the wings of a Gronckle are comparable to a hummingbird, which allows them to fly backwards, sideways, and hover. Their thick skin provides extra protection, and their breath weapon is a projectile made by super-heating rocks in their stomachs. However, Gronckles are not confrontational by nature and prefer to spend most of the day sleeping.

17

Rumblehorn

Abilities: Expert tracker, Stealth, High intelligence

Image via DreamWorks

At first glance at a Rumblehorn, with its heavily armored body and impressive horns, one might assume that it is a brutish dragon that enjoys charging headfirst into battle. While it can certainly do that to great effect, the Rumblehorn’s true power is in its mind. This dragon is surprisingly intelligent, allowing it to stay one step ahead of hunters and prey alike.

Fleeing from a Rumblehorn is not advised, since their expert sense of smell allows them to track down their prey over vast distances. Despite its size, the Rumblehorn is also surprisingly stealthy, meaning that it can get close before charging down its opponents or blasting them with fire. However, if one can befriend a Rumblehorn, they acquire an ally for life who will fight until the bitter end to protect them.

16

Hideous Zippleback

Abilities: Flaming ouroboros, Transmitting brains

They say two heads are better than one, and this proverb proves true in the dragon world. Though the Hideous Zippleback possesses stumpy legs and small wings, which force it to fight on the ground, having two heads means that it can keep an eye on multiple opponents and bite or grapple with both heads. These two heads also work together to demonstrate one of the most unique fire strategies in the dragon world.

First, one head will exhale a massive cloud of green gas that can conceal the Zippleback’s whole body. This allows it to sneak up on its enemies and wait for the opportune moment for the second head to create a small spark and ignite it. Creative Zipplebacks can use their gas in other ways, such as leaving a trail of gas to be ignited instead of a cloud, or even temporarily covering themselves in flames.

15

Hotburple

Abilities: Sleep-flying, Immense jaw strength

Closely related to the Gronckle, the Hotburple is believed to be one of the laziest species of dragons. Despite its larger wings, the Hotburple is less graceful than its cousin in flight and prefers to spend its time on the ground, sleeping. However, if angered, the Hotburple is more than capable of demonstrating why you should never wake a sleeping giant.

The Hotburple’s jaws and gut are stronger than the Gronckle’s, allowing them to digest iron ore alongside stone as ammo for their fire shots. Their jaw is so strong that they can bite through cages designed to hold most other dragon species. They are even capable of flying while asleep, allowing them to strafe land-based opponents with their thick tails should they require rest.

14

Stormcutter

Abilities: Exceptional maneuverability, Hooked talons, Flammable saliva

Image via 20th Century Studios

Drawing inspiration from owls and X-Wing Fighters from Star Wars, Stormcutters are some of the best fliers in all of dragon-kind. Their sleek bodies and four large wings allow them to do graceful maneuvers in the air. Their gray scales also grant them camouflage among the clouds, allowing them to overtake and ambush prey and rivals.

In combat, Stormcutter dragons breathe a torrent of flames in a straight line, which resembles a tornado. Using their wings, they can easily spread the flames around for maximum damage. They can also turn their heads nearly 360 degrees, much like an owl, which allows them to keep a constant eye on their opponents.

13

Deadly Nadder

Abilities: Spine shot, Incredible sense of smell, Enhanced speed

The bird-like Deadly Nadder is one of the prettier species of dragons. With their large beaks and bright coloration, they come across as the draconic equivalent of a parakeet. Don’t let their pretty colors fool you, though, as these enchanting dragons possess some of the deadliest weapons of their kind.

The fire of the Deadly Nadder is among the hottest of all dragons and can reduce stone and metal to slag within moments. They can launch the spines on their body as projectile weapons, meaning they can keep fighting even when their fire has run dry. That said, due to the Nadder’s massive beak and eye-placement, it’s left with a blind spot directly in front of its mouth, allowing opponents a moment to plan.

12

Monstrous Nightmare

Abilities: Self-immolation, Wing blast, Jaw expansion

The most traditional dragon made for the film, the Monstrous Nightmare, easily lives up to its reputation. One of the largest and most aggressive species, the Nightmare almost never retreats from a fight until it’s over. Though their teeth and claws can tear a Viking to shreds, their unique flames are their greatest weapon.

Among the most powerful dragons in How to Train Your Dragon, the Nightmare has a fire comparable to kerosene. It spreads like a liquid across wood, stone, and metal, allowing it to cling to most objects long after the dragon has finished its attack. This extends to the Nightmare’s own scales, which allow the dragon to cover itself in a cloak of flames to further intimidate its foes. It may not be the strangest-looking dragon in the movies, but it’s among the most dangerous.

11

Deathgripper

Abilities: Sedative sting, Venomous teeth

Everything about the Deathgripper is designed for combat. These heavily armored dragons hunt in packs and are more than capable of killing their fellow dragons. From the front, they can impale them on retractable tusks or melt them with a flammable corrosive acid, while from the back, their clubbed tails possess a deadly stinger.

The venom of the Deathgripper is one of the strongest in the dragon world. They can control the dose delivered with each sting, making the effects range from paralysis to flooding their prey with enough poison to kill whoever touches them. However, Deathgrippers are not immune to their toxins, which can be used to place them and other dragons in a docile and easily-controlled state. It makes sense that they’re often seen allied with the best DreamWorks villains.