As a die-hard fan who has witnessed the fiery battles and heart-wrenching moments of both “Game of Thrones” and its prequel, “House of the Dragon,” I can confidently say that these dragon steeds are nothing short of legends. Among them, the dragons that have left an indelible mark in my memory are none other than Caraxes, Vermithor, Drogon, and the mighty Vhagar.
From the title alone, you might assume that “House of the Dragon” would be filled with fire-spewing flying creatures. Indeed, it does not disappoint! The show centers around the brutal conflict among the royal Targaryen family, notably the infamous Dance of the Dragons, a prolonged civil war. Throughout the series’ first two seasons, most characters engage in combat atop gigantic and perilous dragons, each dragon being obedient only to its sworn master. To be fair, it can sometimes be challenging to distinguish all these colossal Westerosi destructive weapons from one another – and that’s before even mentioning the three dragons ridden by Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in the previous series “Game of Thrones.”
“In ‘House of the Dragon,’ the tale unfolds approximately 200 years prior to Daenerys’ birth and boasts a significantly larger dragon presence than its predecessor. However, you might still ponder about the dragons’ power in this story, and which one reigns supreme among them all. Let me present five of Westeros’ most powerful flying creatures as they appear in ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon,’ ranked based on their strength.”
5. Viserion & Rhaegal
In “House of the Dragon,” it could have more dragons compared to “Game of Thrones.” However, just because there were fewer dragons in the latter doesn’t mean those three weren’t incredibly formidable. We’ll delve deeper into Drogon, the largest among them, at a later time. But for now, let’s focus on Viserion and Rhaegal, the golden and green dragons that emerge from their eggs after Daenerys places three seemingly lifeless dragon eggs in a fire. As she rises from the ashes, the three hatchlings are small and vulnerable, but they grow at an astonishing rate … and while Drogon is stronger than his siblings, they’re no pushovers by any means.
In the grim world of Westeros, I found myself saddened as Viserion and Rhaegal were confined deep within the heart of Mereen following an unfortunate incident where Drogon’s hunting instincts claimed the life of a child under Daenerys’ watch. However, when these dragons were released once more, they demonstrated their might, flying alongside their mother as I rode atop Drogon.
4. Caraxes
Riding a dragon called “The Blood Wyrm,” or Caraxes, it’s no shock to find this fearsome beast on our list, given its association with Prince Daemon Targaryen (portrayed by Matt Smith) in “House of the Dragon.” This gigantic dragon boasts a wealth of battle experience, having been previously ridden by Prince Aemon Targaryen, son of King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne Targaryen. By the time Daemon assumed the saddle, Caraxes had already established itself as quite formidable.
In the opening scenes of “House of the Dragon,” Daemon joins forces with his brother King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) in a contentious coastal region called the Stepstones, and the series emphasizes scenes where Daemon and his dragon collaborate to mercilessly decimate their adversaries. In George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” it is mentioned that both Daemon and his wife-niece Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy in the series) possess potent dragons, but Caraxes, Daemon’s dragon, has extensive battle experience from the Stepstones: “Caraxes was terrifying, and well-acquainted with blood and fire after the Stepstones.” Besides being renowned warriors, both Daemon and Caraxes are relentless and brutal on the battlefield; as “House of the Dragon” unfolds, we can expect to witness more of Caraxes’ combat skills.
3. Vermithor
In the Season 1 finale of “House of the Dragon,” Vermithor, a formidably powerful dragon, made his debut in an episode titled “The Black Queen.” During this episode, Daemon ventures into the depths of Dragonstone, where he and Rhaenyra’s Team Black reside. As Daemon sings an enigmatic song in High Valyrian, a colossal dragon appears from the shadows, its approach not exactly friendly. However, it’s crucial to note that Vermithor, who was born during King Jaehaerys I’s reign and has been slumbering under Dragonstone ever since, does not immediately attack Daemon despite their close encounter. This is significant because of Vermithor’s advanced age and immense strength.
This brings us to Season 2, when Rhaenyra tests out some potential dragonriders near Vermithor’s lair under Dragonstone … and the dragon arrives just in time to barbecue some hapless hopefuls. When he’s presented with Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) — who, it turns out, is the long-lost son of Princess Saera Targaryen, one of Jaehaerys I’s many daughters — Vermithor finds his next rider, which definitely means that we’ll see more of Vermithor’s sheer power whenever Season 3 arrives.
2. Drogon
It would be an oversight not to include Daenerys Targaryen’s primary dragon, Drogon, when ranking the strongest dragons across “Game of Thrones” and its prequel, “House of the Dragon.” Named after her deceased husband Khal Drogo (played by Jason Momoa), Drogon is evidently Daenerys’ preferred mount due to their frequent rides together. Moreover, Drogon is the sole surviving dragon at series’ end, while his brothers Rhaegal and Viserion met their demise at the hands of the antagonists Euron Greyjoy and the Night King.
Drogon, under Daenerys’ control, is more than just a destructive force; he’s a relentless battering ram throughout ‘Game of Thrones’. His propensity for unleashing massive flames before any discussion sets the stage, such as in King’s Landing’s sack even after surrender, leaves an indelible mark. However, it’s important to note that fans loved watching Drogon and Daenerys demolish their adversaries, with moments like young Drogon burning the evil slave master in Season 3 standing out as memorable highlights. It’s clear that Drogon possesses immense firepower, and at times, his power seems almost divine – a “deus ex dragon” scenario. Yet, when discussing powerful dragons, it’s impossible to overlook Drogon.
1. Vhagar
Apologies to Drogon, but there’s another dragon who steals the spotlight, and that’s Vhagar. In “House of the Dragon” Season 2, she is affectionately referred to as an “elderly, feisty female” by Daemon. One of the oldest dragons seen across both “House of the Dragon” and “Game of Thrones,” Vhagar was initially ridden by Visenya Targaryen, queen to Aegon the Conqueror. In Season 1 of “House of the Dragon,” she’s associated with Lady Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell). Regrettably, when Laena faces complications during childbirth, she chooses to die as a dragonrider instead of in her birthing chamber and self-immolates with Vhagar’s help. However, the dragon was expected to pass to her eldest daughter after this event, but that doesn’t happen as planned.
Essentially, a young Prince Aemond Targaryen (Leo Ashton) ascends Vhagar and conquers her, essentially stealing her. He suffers the loss of an eye following a dispute among the Targaryen and Velaryon offspring, but Aemond considers it a fair trade… since he now possesses a dragon, as he confides to his mother Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). As an adult, Aemond — portrayed by Ewan Mitchell — employs Vhagar as a devastating weapon, exterminating his nephew Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) and aunt Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), along with their dragons. It’s evident that Vhagar is the most formidable dragon we’ve witnessed in either Westeros-based series.
“House of the Dragon” and “Game of Thrones” are both available to stream on Max.
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2024-08-12 15:00