Top 10 Dragons From Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon

The rebirth of dragons was a big deal, even in a fantasy world like Westeros. Rhaegal and his brothers were the first to reappear for centuries, and they did not disappoint. He might not get as much attention as his kin, but Rhaegal is fiercely loyal to his mother. He’s named after Daenerys’s elder brother Rhaegar, and he sports the same battle prowess. He holds his own during the aerial duel with the Night King, managing to inflict costly damage into the undead Viserion. His heartbreaking death at the hands of Euron Greyjoy’s scorpion crossbow is one of the last straws that leads to Dany’s madness. If your ideal dragon has green scales, a mild temper and strong protective instincts, Rhaegal is the model for you.

Our next ominously named entry has not appeared on either show… yet. Like Westeros’s own Loch Ness Monster, this cryptid supposedly roamed Dragonstone even before the Targaryens landed. Though much of the Cannibal is shrouded in tall tales, he’s hailed as untamed and rumored to devour his own kind (hence the name). Any riders foolish enough to try and break him were said to become skeletons that dressed his cave. He’s possibly one of the oldest dragons to have ever lived, and some fans have speculated that he might appear in “House of the Dragon.” Though nothing has been confirmed, imagine how cool it would be to see the fire breathers that we’ve already met face off against such a mythological colossus!

Ridden by the “Queen Who Never Was,” she’s a beast that truly is! Dubbed the “Red Queen” for her crimson scales, Meleys has been the mount of several notable Targaryens. Both Viserys and Daemon had their first ride on Meleys when they were just days old. However, it’s in the hands of Princess Rhaenys that she’s been at her most majestic. Meleys escorted Rhaenys on her wedding day and takes part in the epic conclusion to “House of the Dragon’s” penultimate Season 1 episode. During young Aegon’s contested coronation, Rhaenys bursts in on the back of Meleys. Though her roar is not followed by dragonfire, this badass moment no doubt declares the wars to come. We’ve likely not seen the last of either “Queen.”

Sheepstealer is another product of George R. R. Martin’s literature that we hope ends up on screen. His eponymous name comes from a diet of cattle. Described as muddy in coloration, Sheepstealer is ridden by a young girl named Nettles, who allegedly matches his “ugly duckling” appearance. We’ve yet to see any dragon bond with a character of non-noble birth, and that could make them both combustible personalities who would be welcome on the show. Sheepstealer joins the Cannibal as one of the few truly wild known dragons, making him an enigma and fodder for plenty of exciting revelations.

He’s the most beautiful dragon in all Westerosi history, according to some maesters. Graced with sterling golden skin, Sunfyre eventually becomes the mount of the new King Aegon II in the “Fire & Blood” source material. During the upcoming civil war (known to book readers as the “Dance of Dragons”), Sunfyre should prove to be one of the most powerful and combat-effective warriors against both dragons and men. Tyrion taught us that dragons could be as clever as men, and maybe the Golden will teach us that they can be just as human.

Like a dog taking after its owner (or a wand after its wizard), the dragon sometimes mirrors its rider. Such is the case with the treacherous Caraxes, who yields to the incautious Prince Daemon Targaryen. The “Blood Wyrm,” as he’s nicknamed, fights just as madly as his master. He even looks demonic, wreathed in red scales, horns, and satanic yellow eyes. He’s one of the first dragons we see in “House of the Dragon,” and it’s a fittingly bold introduction. But Daemon makes sure any first introduction on the battlefield is marked, fittingly, by fire and blood.

He’s the second of the great Khaleesi’s three children. Like Rhaegal, Viserion stands steadfast by Daenerys for as long as the earthly powers allow him to do so. Dany named him for her brother Viserys, as she believed that the dragon would become the ally that Viserys never was. Cream-colored, somewhat disobedient, and always fearsome, Viserion is the first dragon to perish tragically before our eyes. He falls to the Night King’s ice spear, and is resurrected into the arguably more destructive (but less loveable) dragon wight. Though this Viserion unforgettably brings down part of the Wall, it’s his living form that was cherished by Dany and earns our hearts for his reptilian prowess.

Though we’ve never seen Aegon’s conquest, we hear ominously about how he conquered the Seven Kingdoms with his sisters Rhaenys and Visenya. The latter of whom rode Vhagar, the illustrious leviathan that we finally meet in “House of the Dragon.” Known as the “Queen of All Dragons,” she is the largest still-living dragon at the prequel’s onset, and has a war campaign resume worthy of King Arthur’s Court. Actually watching her proves to be even more mesmerizing than it is intimidating, as she’s more expressive than any of her cousins. When a dying Laena Velaryon begs her for a merciful end, the creature seems hesitant and conflicted, though ultimately obedient. However, she’s not-so-obedient to Aemond when it comes to biting into Lucerys and his dragon.

The denizens of H. P. Lovecraft’s fiction feared Cthulhu, and the people of George R. R. Martin’s universe trembled at Balerion the Black Dread. He was the oldest, largest, and most invincible of all the flame-breathing titans. The Dread was ridden by Aegon the Conqueror and headed the campaign of Targaryen invaders whose living weapons could melt stone castles. Living for an estimated two-hundred years, he’s a rarity amongst dragons in that he died of old age. We’re lucky we’ve never met this behemoth, whose massive skull still haunts the tombs of the Red Keep like his menacing memory. He’s the bar by which all dragons after him have been measured, and he’s beaten on our list by only one.

When “Game of Thrones” tantalized fans with the possibility of dragons, Drogon was the first. The black-plated leader of Dany’s children, Drogon’s namesake is the Dothraki Khal Drogo whose expiration broke the Targaryen’s heart. Believed by some to be Balerion’s reincarnation, Drogon treated viewers to some outstanding moments. We’ve known him from his first “dracarys” to his rescuing Dany from the fighting pits, from his liberation of Meereen to burning the Iron Throne. Though his fate remains unknown, nobody mourned Daenerys’s death more than Drogon, and the sorrowful image of him flying off is unlikely to be forgotten by fans. Drogon was the epitome of a “Game of Thrones” dragon, and the newcomers will have to soar high to beat him.