House of the Dragon: All Dragons and Dragon Riders

house of the dragon has spent more time on politics than dragon riding so far in its first season, but Episode 7 briefly focused on the real dragons of House Targaryen. With Laena dead, her dragon Vhagar was riderless, and while everyone else mourned her funeral, it became the perfect time for a new rider to claim the oldest remaining dragon in Westeros.

Now that Vhagar has a new tab, it’s worth taking a second to consider for each of the dragons house of the dragon has established so far whose side they are on and who their rider is.

[Ed. note: This story contains spoilers for episode 7 of House of the Dragon.]

Vhagar

Image: HBO

Riders: Laena (deceased), Aemond Targaryen

The oldest and largest of the Targaryen dragons in Westeros and the only living remnant of Aegon’s conquest, Vhagar was once ridden by Visenya Targaryen when she, her brother and sister united the Seven Kingdoms. Vhagar then passed to Baelon Targaryen before being claimed by her youngest (before Episode 7) driver, Laena Velaryon. After Laena’s death, the dragon was left without a rider for only a short time before being claimed by Aemond Targaryen, whose baby dragon egg gift failed to hatch. Despite Vhagar’s age, she remains one of the most fearsome and dangerous dragons in Westeros and is now ridden by one of the Green’s most ardent supporters.

Solar Beacon

Driver: Aegon Targaryen

A light gold dragon with pink membrane wings, Sunfire is the dragon of Aegon Targaryen and a swift flier, though far from the largest of the Targaryens’ remaining dragons.

dreamfire

Rider: Helaena Targaryen

Dreamfyre is a pale blue dragon, older but slimmer than most. She is eventually claimed by Helaena Targaryen, although it’s not really clear if this has already happened since Episode 7.

Syracuse

Image: HBO

Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra is likely the first rider of Syrax, a dragon she named after a Valyrian goddess when the princess claimed the dragon at the age of 9. Syrax was almost as big and menacing as Caraxes, although Rhaenyra didn’t ride her in actual combat.

caraxes

Image: HBO

Rider: Daemon Targaryen

Caraxes is one of the largest and most dangerous of all the remaining Targaryen dragons, thanks in part to the fact that he’s seen war lately. Caraxes has red scales and was ridden by Daemon Targaryen during the Prince’s many battles around the world, most notably in the Stepstones.

meleys

Rider: Rhaenys Targaryen

Meleys are known as the Red Queen thanks to their red scales and pink wing membrane. Meleys is an old dragon now, but in her younger days she was perhaps the fastest and most agile of all Westerosi dragons. Despite her age, however, she remains fearsome in battle.

max

Image: HBO

Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon

Vermax hatched from the egg given to Jacaerys when he was a child in a stunt aimed in part at showing his status as a truly born Targaryen. Because of this, the dragon remains fairly small over time house of the dragon picks up with Jace.

arrah

Rider: Lucerys Velaryon

Just like his brother’s dragon, Luke was hatched from an egg given to him at birth. This means that the dragon is quite small at this point, but will grow larger over time.