Every Dragon in House of the Dragon and Who Rides Them

With House of the Dragon Season 3 premiering in June of 2026, fans of the show may need a refresher to remember which dragon is claimed by which rider. As Blacks and Greens are both getting ready for battle, it is quite significant to know what every dragon’s history says about the rider it currently has.

Info	Key Details
Name of the show	House of the Dragon
Creators	Ryan J. Condal, George R.R. Martin
No. of Seasons	2 Seasons (Season 3 will be premiere this year)
IMDb Rating	8.3/10

Dragons are not just dangerous creatures, who are crucial for the war to come, but they are also intelligent and willful creatures, who bond with people they see truly “fit” for them. They bond with their riders for more than their Targaryen blood; it is trust, and sometimes shared experiences that lead a dragon to its rider. Here’s every dragon in the show and who rides them:

Greens

Greens are the ones who believe the rightful heir to the Iron Throne is Aegon II Targaryen, instead of Rhaenyra Targaryen. The name is derived from Queen Alicent Hightower‘s house colour, which she often wore in the show. Now that this is established, let’s take a look at all the dragons Greens have before the battle.

1 Vhagar – Queen of All Dragons

Rider: Aemond Targaryen

Vhagar is not just the oldest but also the most experienced dragon, along with being one of the biggest creatures out of the lot. She had previously bonded with Visenya Targaryen, Vhagar’s first rider, who had helped Aegon during his conquest. The dragon then remained riderless after Visenya’s death, only to be claimed by King Viserys I‘s father, Baelon.

However, in the series, Vhagar’s first rider is Lady Laena Velaryon, who asked Vhagar to kill her after her tragic childbirth experience. This then led to Aemond, Alicent’s son, claiming the dragon at a very young age. Vhagar is quite aggressive, which is true to Aemond’s nature – one of pride and aggression.

However, the beast is more assertive in her actions as she does not always listen to Aemond, as seen by the death of Lucerys Velaryon. Nonetheless, she is a creature to be feared in the upcoming war, as Greens have the upper hand with Vhagar.

2 Sunfyre The Golden

Rider: King Aegon Targaryen

Sunfyre gets his name because of his appearance, known as the most beautiful creature out of all the dragons, because of his shimmering golden scales. The dragon did not have any riders before Alicent’s son, King Aegon II, claimed him. He was born and taken in by Aegon, due to which the dragon protects him fearlessly, even giving up its own life.

Sunfyre was gravely wounded in his battle with Meleys, injuries from which he never fully recovered. He was fearless, proud, and extremely ruthless in battle, just like his rider himself. Aegon often portrayed his fearless and proud side when pushing for the throne and being aggressive. However, despite the dragon’s power and Aegon’s ambition, they still get badly wounded, showing how fragile and inexperienced they are, leading to the death of Sunfyre.

3 Dreamfyre – Fertile Dragon

Rider: Queen Helaena Targaryen

One of the older dragons, Dreamfyre, is a majestic and graceful dragon. Just like Vhagar, she was present in the earlier years of the Targaryen dynasty. Her first rider was Princess Rhaena Targaryen in the books, who used her to become famous in the realm. She used to fly Dreamfyre during royal errands and mostly used it for her presence.

In House of the Dragon, Dreamfyre is associated with Helaena, Alicent’s daughter and the queen, as she is married to King Aegon. However, Helaena refuses to take her dragon to war when Aemond demands it. Dreamfyre is known for her quiet power, elegance, and fertility. Just like her current rider, who sees omens, prophcies and has a hidden influence, Dreamfyre is not a dragon to jump into the war ruthlessly.

The dragon has never been a mindless weapon, which is true to its rider’s personality, who depicts the quiet strength, unlike its siblings, Vhagar and Sunfyre.

Blacks

The blacks are the ones who believe the true heir to the Iron Throne is Rhaenyra Targaryen, the daughter of the late King Viserys I Targaryen. The name is derived from the traditional colors of the house of Targaryens – black and red. Here are the dragons at the Blacks’ disposal:

1 Meleys – The Red Queen (Deceased)

Rider: Rhaenys Targaryen

Known as the red queen because of its scarlet scales, Meleys was a quick and magnificent dragon. She was one of the fastest dragons in Westeros, but not a war-driven creature. The dragon was fearsome with a gripping presence that demanded attention and became one of the most powerful allies to the Blacks.

The dragon’s first rider was Princess Alyssa Targaryen, mother of Viserys and Daemon. Meleys was frequently used for flights, deeming her a fast and prestigious dragon in the realm. In the show, Meleys is shown as the lifelong dragon of Rhaenys, the “Queen Who Never Was”. The dragon and its rider both show intelligence and only pick fights wisely, as seen in the dramatic escape from the Dragonpit during Aegon II’s coronation.

Meleys, just like Rhaenys, is not afraid of fighting, be it bigger dragons or smaller, despite not being that large herself. In the Battle at Rook’s Rest, Meleys took on Vhagar and Sunfyre fearlessly and brutally wounded Sunfyre and Aegon; Sunfyre never recovered from these wounds and died later. However, despite its swift power, it was killed by Vhagar along with her rider.

Just like Rhaenys is seen as the “Queen Who Never Was,” but is respected and feared, Meleys embodies the same power. The dragon is not a thoughtless fighter, but an aggressive and tactical warrior, just like Rhaenys was.

2 Syrax

Rider: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen

Syrax is a name from High Valyrian. The dragon was tamed by Rhaenyra when she was only seven years old and has been with her ever since. Syrax hasn’t had any other riders before King Viserys I’s chosen heir. She is gentle, and unlike Vhagar and Caraxes, she is not built for war.

Rhaenyra has herself never been inclined to war, unless provoked, showcasing the choice Syrax made. The dragon knows how to command attention and respect, like the Queen. Rhaenyra is calculating, and Syrax trusts her and senses her hesitancy even when she was young at her own mother’s funeral. The dragon waits on Rhaenyra’s commands, but her patience and steady, loyal presence both mirror the Queen’s rightful place at the Iron Throne.

3 Vermax

Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon

Vermax is a smaller dragon that is on its way to growing into one that will be ready for war. The dragon’s egg was gifted to Jacaerys, Rhaenyra’s firstborn son, to claim his legitimacy to the throne. Hence, Vermax has never been with any other riders before Jacaerys.

The creature is known to be fast, agile, and growing into its own, as it needs to be more mature, just like its rider, Jace. The dragon rider is yet to learn how to be a king, fitting the personality of its dragon. Jace himself is learning to fight, trying to manage the diplomacy that comes with war. Vermax has only been used to travel and develop alliances by Jace as of yet. His true potential is yet to be seen in the series.

4 Caraxes – Blood Wyrm

Rider: Daemon Targaryen

Caraxes is famously known as Blood Wyrm because of the reputation the dragon earned, as well as its fearsome look. The dragon’s first rider was Aemon, the son of King Jaehaerys I, who flew the creature into battle, making it an experienced dragon who has seen war. After the death of its first rider, Daemon claims Caraxes.

The dragon is often deemed as moody, battle-hardened, and quick-tempered, just like Daemon. If provoked, Caraxes will be a strong and fearsome opponent. Imitating Daemon, who thrives in danger and is most comfortable with fire and blood, the dragon shares his qualities with itself, making him a strong ally for the Blacks.

5 Arrax (Deceased)

Rider: Lucerys Velaryon

The dragon never had another rider before Lucerys, the second son of Queen Rhaenrya. Arrax was gifted to Lucerys when he was in his egg, as he was a Targaryen. He was quick, but highly inexperienced and young, just like his rider, Luce. The dragon was still learning to control his instincts and panicked when put in extreme, surprising situations.

This is what led to its death, along with Luce, by Vhagar, who is a much larger, more experienced dragon. Arrax played an important part in starting the war with fire and blood, as his death was the last straw for the Blacks. He was young and nervous like Luce, who wanted to do the right thing, depicting innocence in the face of the likes of Aemond and Daemon.

6 Vermithor – The Bronze Fury

Rider: Hugh Hammer

One of the largest and oldest dragons, and second in size to Vhagar, Vermithor is known as the Bronze Fury. The dragon is extremely old, its first rider being King Jaehaerys I, who was its longest-serving rider. After the King’s death, Vermithor became riderless and was in the caverns of Dragonstone until Rhaenrya brought dragonseeds into the caverns in an attempt to tame the dragon.

The dragon chose Hugh Hammer as its rider during the ritual. Vermithor is dangerous, ferocious, and proud, making him unapproachable. The dragon’s previous rider suggests that it values strength and courage in its rider, which it saw in Hugh. The rider is different as he has fiery and has strength, making him an asset for both the dragon and the Blacks.

7 Seasmoke

Rider: Addam of Hull

Seasmoke is Seasmoke’s common Westerosi name. The original rider of the dragon was Ser Laenor Velaryon, who had the dragon ever since he was a child. However, Laenor disappeared, and Seasmoke became riderless, roaming the cliffs of Dragonstone, which suggests one thing: Laenor is likely dead. Although the show hasn’t confirmed it yet, the dragon claiming another rider highly suggests the same.

Seasmoke went to Addam of Hull in Season 2 and chose him. The dragon is not known for its aggressive nature but for its swift agility, and it is young and independent. The creature is selective about who he wants to be with as he chooses a lowborn with Targaryen-Velaryon blood, valuing loyalty and courage, similar to Addam’s qualities. The rider is humble and loyal to Rhaenyra, just like his dragon, making him a strong addition to the Blacks’ army.

8 Silverwing

Rider: Ulf the White

One of the few dragons that went riderless after its first rider died is Silverwing. The dragon was previously bonded with Queen Alysanne Targaryen during Jaehaerys I’s reign. The creature and the Queen were seen as symbols of peace and courtesy. However, the dragon is claimed by dragonseed, Ulf the White.

The dragon is deemed patient, docile, and shy when compared to the rest. Despite the dragon’s patience, it is still dangerous and powerful. She is careful when it comes to her riders and the actions she takes. However, the personalities of her current rider and her previous rider are distinct, as Ulf is ambitious and crude when compared to Alysanne, the good and gentle.

Ulf purely acts on luck and opportunity, making this a contrasting duo. However, Silverwing seems to have responded to his presence and courage. It remains to be seen if Ulf changes course after gaining power compared to the dragon’s gentle temperament.

No Riders: The Mysterious Dragon of The Vale

The mysterious dragon has not been seen in the show except for leaving burned fields and carcasses of sheep in the region. The dragon is strongly implied to be Sheepstealer in the show, and according to the books. The creature is named after its habit of stealing sheep and remains riderless. Despite this, the Vale-dragon is hinted to be claimed by Rhaena or a dragonseed.

With the battle between the Blacks and the Greens, there are many powerful dragons at both of the Houses’ disposal. But only time will tell if these dragons will be utilized to their full potential or if their riders fail them. However, there are small details in House of the Dragon Season 1 and 2 that fans might have missed, and could play an important role in Season 3.

Here are all the dragons and their previous and current riders, along with the team they belong to:

Name of the Dragon	Previous Rider	Current Rider	Team (Blacks/Greens)
Vhagar – Queen of All Dragons	Lady Laena Velaryon	Aemond Targaryen	Greens
Sunfyre The Golden	NA	King Aegon II Targaryen	Greens
Dreamfyre – Fertile Dragon	Princess Rhaena Targaryen	Queen Helaena Targaryen	Greens
Meleys – The Red Queen	Princess Alyssa Targaryen	Rhaenys Targaryen	Blacks
Syrax	NA	Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen	Blacks
Vermax	NA	Jacaerys Targaryen	Blacks
Caraxes – Blood Wyrm	Aemon Targaryen	Daemon Targaryen	Blacks
Arrax	NA	Lucaerys Targaryen	Blacks
Vermithor	King Jaehaerys I	Hugh Hammer	Blacks
Seasmoke	Ser Laenor Velaryon	Addam of Hull	Blacks
Silverwing	Queen Alysanne Targaryen	Ulf the White	Blacks
Vale-Dragon (rumoured to be Sheepstealer)	NA	NA	Blacks

Who among these is your favourite dragon-rider or dragon? Let us know in the comments below.

All seasons of House of the Dragon are available to stream on HBO Max.