House of the Dragon All Dragons and Riders: A Complete Breakdown
House of the Dragon spent its first season arguing over who deserved the Iron Throne. By the end of season 2, the debate had narrowed into something far more visceral: which side of this fractured family commands the bigger dragons.
The Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons is now fully underway, and the balance of power keeps shifting with every episode. Aemond and Vhagar remain the single most terrifying force in Westeros, but Rhaenyra countered by recruiting a new generation of dragonriders from among the commonfolk, the so-called “dragonseeds.” That gamble turned several riderless beasts at Dragonstone into genuine weapons of war for Team Black.
With season 3 promising some of the largest battles in the franchise’s history, keeping track of every dragon in House of the Dragon, their riders, and their allegiances has become a genuine challenge. This House of the Dragon dragonriders list breaks down Team Green and Team Black dragons one by one, along with what’s happened to them so far.
Note: this guide contains spoilers through the end of House of the Dragon’s season 3 premiere.
Team Green Dragons and Their Riders
Team Green’s forces may be smaller in number, but they include the single most dangerous dragon left alive in Westeros. Here’s who’s riding for King Aegon II.
Vhagar (Riders: Laena Velaryon, Aemond Targaryen)
Vhagar is the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros, and the last living remnant of Aegon’s Conquest. She was once ridden by Visenya Targaryen during the unification of the Seven Kingdoms, then passed to Baelon Targaryen before Laena Velaryon claimed her. After Laena’s death in season 1, Vhagar stayed riderless only briefly. Aemond Targaryen whose own dragon egg never hatched quickly bonded with her instead.
Despite her age, Vhagar remains the deadliest weapon in the war. She and Aemond were directly responsible for Lucerys Velaryon’s death at the close of season 1. In season 2’s Battle of Rook’s Rest, the pair killed Rhaenys Targaryen along with her dragon Meleys, and severely wounded King Aegon II and his dragon Sunfyre in the same clash.
Sunfyre (Rider: Aegon II Targaryen)
Sunfyre is a bright-gold dragon with pink-membraned wings, prized for his speed over his size. He belongs to King Aegon II Targaryen and, according to the book Fire & Blood, was considered the most beautiful dragon ever seen in the known world.
Even without Vhagar’s raw power, Sunfyre made Team Green’s air power genuinely formidable though risking the king’s life in battle was never without cost.
During the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Aemond ordered Vhagar to unleash a devastating blast of flame that badly injured both Aegon II and Sunfyre. The dragon initially appeared to survive, but Aegon later confirms in the season 2 finale that Sunfyre died from his wounds. This is a significant departure from the source material, where Sunfyre survives to play a pivotal role later in the story.
Dreamfyre (Riders: Rhaena Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen)
Dreamfyre is a pale-blue dragon, older and more slender than most of her counterparts. Hatched during the reign of Aegon I Targaryen, she bonded with Princess Rhaena Targaryen and stayed with her for roughly 40 years, until Rhaena’s death. After relocating to King’s Landing, Dreamfyre was claimed by Helaena Targaryen, who later became Aegon II’s queen.
Aemond pressures Helaena to fly Dreamfyre into battle during the season 2 finale, but she refuses leaving Dreamfyre as one of the few major dragons on either side that has yet to see combat.
Team Black Dragons and Their Riders
Rhaenyra’s side controls the largest number of dragons, thanks in part to her decision to open Dragonstone’s riderless dragons to new claimants. Here’s every dragon fighting for Team Black.
Syrax (Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen)
Rhaenyra claimed Syrax was named after a Valyrian goddess —at just 9 years old. Syrax is nearly as large and imposing as Caraxes, but Rhaenyra has yet to ride her into actual combat. She intended to join the Battle of the Gullet atop Syrax, only for her son to lock her in her chambers at Dragonstone instead. Having spent years in captivity in King’s Landing without even hunting, Syrax carries plenty of size but no real combat experience.
Caraxes (Riders: Aemon Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen)
Caraxes is roughly half Vhagar’s size, but Daemon and Caraxes arguably form the most dangerous dragon-and-rider pairing in the war. Caraxes was born at least 65 years before the Dance of the Dragons and first bonded with Prince Aemon Targaryen, with whom he fought in the Fourth Dornish War and an invasion of Myrmen. Roughly 15 years after Aemon’s death, Daemon Targaryen claimed the dragon.
By the time the Dance of the Dragons erupts, Caraxes is among the most battle-tested dragons alive, a direct result of Daemon spending most of his adult life at war. The pair fought against the Triarchy and the Crabfeeder in the Stepstones during season 1, then in the Riverlands during season 2.
Meleys (Riders: Alyssa Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen)
Known as the Red Queen for her crimson scales and pink wing membrane, Meleys was once the swiftest and most nimble dragon in Westeros, even if age slowed her down by the time of the civil war. She was first ridden by Alyssa Targaryen, mother of Viserys and Daemon, before Rhaenys claimed her following Alyssa’s death in childbirth.
In the season 2 premiere, Rhaenys and Meleys patrol a hundred miles of open sea to enforce the Sea Snake’s blockade. Later that season, the pair confront Ser Criston Cole at Rook’s Rest and meet their end at Vhagar’s jaws.
Vermax (Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon)
Vermax hatched from an egg gifted to Jacaerys as an infant, partly as a gesture to affirm his legitimacy as a true-born Targaryen. As a result, Vermax is notably smaller than many of the show’s other dragons. In the season 3 premiere, Jace flies Vermax into the Battle of the Gullet, where the dragon is struck by a grapnel and dragged into the sea while trying to protect his rider.
Arrax (Rider: Lucerys Velaryon)
Like his brother’s dragon, Arrax hatched from an egg given to Lucerys at birth, making him similarly small for his age. When Vhagar pursues Luke and Arrax as they flee Storm’s End in season 1, the smaller dragon has no chance against the largest living dragon in Westeros. Luke’s death at Vhagar’s hands is the spark that ignites the entire Dance of the Dragons.
Moondancer (Rider: Baela Targaryen)
Moondancer is a slender, pale-green dragon with pearl-colored horns and wingbones, bonded to Baela Targaryen since childhood. In Fire & Blood, Moondancer is still too young to ride for much of the war, but the show gives both dragon and rider a far more active role. Baela patrols the skies over the Crownlands in season 2, spotting Green troop movements, and Moondancer proves a key asset during the Battle of the Gullet in the season 3 premiere.
Seasmoke (Riders: Laenor Velaryon, Addam of Hull)
Seasmoke’s original rider, Laenor Velaryon, gave up the dragon when he slipped away from Westeros for a new life in Essos. Since Laenor’s presumed death, Seasmoke has resided riderless on Dragonstone until the final episodes of season 2, when the dragon chooses Addam of Hull as his new bondmate. In “The Red Sowing,” Addam meets Rhaenyra on the beach and pledges his loyalty in exchange for the chance to become a dragonrider.
Vermithor (Riders: Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Hugh Hammer)
Vermithor is among the oldest living dragons in Westeros, surpassed in size only by Vhagar and the long-dead Balerion. Known as the “Bronze Fury,” he was once bonded to King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, who rode him until his death, after which Vermithor lived riderless on Dragonstone for decades.
In “The Red Sowing,” Rhaenyra’s assembled Targaryen bastards line up to attempt a bond with Vermithor. Hugh Hammer reportedly descended from an illegitimate aunt of Viserys and Daemon ultimately wins the ancient dragon’s favor.
Silverwing (Riders: Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Ulf White)
According to legend, Silverwing hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen, who later became Jaehaerys I’s queen. Mirroring the couple’s bond, Silverwing and Vermithor often shared a lair at Dragonstone. Alysanne had been dead for decades by the time House of the Dragon begins.
In season 2, as Ulf White flees the chaos caused by would-be riders attempting to tame Vermithor, he stumbles upon Silverwing instead. The two bond instantly, making Ulf one of Team Black’s newest dragonseeds.
Sheepstealer (Rider: Rhaena Targaryen)
Sheepstealer earned his name by spending most of his life as a wild dragon stealing livestock from villagers near the Vale. His arc differs significantly from the books. Rhaena tracks the destruction he leaves behind in season 2 and sets out to tame him herself. She achieves a shaky bond with him in the season 3 premiere though not before he strands her on a mountaintop and later returns with a stolen sheep as an offering.
The pair fly into the Battle of the Gullet together, but Sheepstealer indiscriminately torches everything in sight, forcing Baela and Jace to intervene. The resulting chaos leads directly to Vermax’s grapnel strike and Jace’s death.
Who’s Really Winning the Dance of the Dragons?
Counting dragons alone doesn’t settle the war. Team Black holds the numerical advantage thanks to its dragonseeds, but Team Green still has Vhagar, a single dragon capable of erasing that advantage in one battle. As season 3 pushes toward larger confrontations, the real question isn’t which house owns more dragons, but which riders can actually control them in the chaos of war. Untested bonds like Sheepstealer and Rhaena, or Hugh Hammer and Vermithor, could prove just as decisive as raw size.
Keep this House of the Dragon dragonriders list handy as the season progresses with dragons dying and new bonds forming, the map of power in Westeros is far from finished changing.
