Dragons are among the most powerful creatures to ever exist in Westeros, but several have died inHouse of the DragonandGame of Thrones. Ever sinceDaenerys Targaryen’s three dragon eggshatched on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre, dragons have been one of the most fantastical, awe-inspiring parts of this world, which on-screen has been true across bothThronesand its prequel show. They’re a force of nature, and spectacular when they’re unleashed.
Fire cannot kill a dragon. Daenerys says as much inGame of Thrones(and the firstA Song of Ice and Firebook). But that doesn’t mean they can’t die, as seen multiple times (including, technically, twice inGame of Thronesseason 8). Thanks to George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood, there’ll be even more dragons dying inHouse of the Dragonseason 3, but a few have already perished.
Is Sunfyre, King Aegon II’s Dragon, Dead?
Before getting into the list proper, it’s worth taking a moment to considerthe fate of Sunfyre.The dragon of King Aegon II Targaryen was seriously wounded by Vhagar at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, and hasn’t been seen since. Criston Cole referred to him as being“long in the dying,”but his death hasn’t been confirmed. While the show could change things, Sunfyre does recover inFire & Blood, and plays a pivotal part in things later on, so probably isn’t among the dragon deaths so far.
4Viserion (Daenerys Targaryen’s Dragon)
Killed By The Night King
Viserion has the unfortunate honor of not only being the very first dragon to die on-screen in theGame of Thronesfranchise, but also the only dragon to die twice. One of Daenerys’ two smaller dragons, Viserion was killed by the Night King in season 7, episode 6, “Beyond the Wall.” The leader of the army of the dead displayed javelin-throwing skills an Olympian could only dream of to take out Viserion while in the sky, an ice spear piercing the beast and sending him crashing down into the freezing waters below.
The Biggest Dragons In Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
Between Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and the lore from George R.R. Martin’s books, these dragons stand out as the biggest to roam Westeros.
That wasn’t the end of poor Viserion though, as he was wrenched out of the water by some wights, and reanimated by the Night King. The shot of the dragon’s blue eye opening made for a fantastic ending, in fairness, and he was soon put to good use by burning down the Wall. Viserion later fought in the Battle of Winterfell, and was killed a second time when Jon Snow screamed at him… or whenArya Stark killed the Night King, destroying all other White Walkers and wights.
Viserion hasn’t been killed (yet) in the A Song Of Ice and Fire novels, with all three of Daenerys’ dragons alive as of ADance with Dragons.
Viserion hasn’t been killed (yet) in theA Song Of Ice and Firenovels, with all three of Daenerys’ dragons alive as ofA Dance with Dragons. The books have foreshadowed her losing at least one of them in some way, so it’s certainly plausible Viserion could be the first to die there too, but the Night King himself doesn’t exist, so it can’t be by the same method.
3Rhaegal (Daenerys’ Dragon)
Killed By Euron Greyjoy
Rhaegal was also permanently taken out of action inGame of Thronesseason 8, leavingDrogon as the last dragonflying for Daenerys Targaryen’s conquest.Rhaegal’s death came in season 8, episode 4, “The Last of the Starks,”and happened in rather divisive fashion: Dany“kind of forgot about the Iron Fleet,”as co-showrunner David Benioff put it in anInside The Episodesegment, allowing Euron Greyjoy the opportunity to fire a scorpion bolt through the dragon’s neck.
Game of Thrones: How All The Targaryen Dragons Died (Before Daenerys)
The dragons went extinct between Game of Thrones and the prequel series House of The Dragon, but how did all the dragons in Westeros die?
The plot contrivances around Rhaegal’s demise may make it feel a little more disappointing, but he’s not the first Targaryen dragon to be killed by a scorpion. Meraxes, one of the three dragons who were part of Aegon’s Conquest alongside Balerion and Vhagar, was also brought down by such a weapon. During the First Dornish War, the dragon, flown by Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, suffered a scorpion bolt through the eye. Given she was one of the largest dragons to have ever lived, Rhaegal isn’t in bad company.
2Arrax (Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon)
Killed By Aemond Targaryen & Vhagar
There are many moredragons inHouse of the Dragonthan there were inGame of Thrones, but that also means more will eventually die. Arrax, the dragon of Lucerys Velaryon, was the first to do so, and didn’t really stand a chance of survival. Pursued by Armond Targaryen and Vhagar inHouse of the Dragonseason 1’s ending,Arrax was swift, but in the end far too small, and was devoured by the larger dragon. The shot of Vhagar looming over Arrax, showing the size difference, remains one of the most shocking dragon moments of the series.
Aemond killing Lucerys was the crossing of the Rubicon, and made a civil war - which already looked very likely - completely inevitable.
This was also hugely significant for theDance of the Dragons, and not just because it was the first dragon-on-dragon action of the show. Aemond killing Lucerys was the crossing of the Rubicon, and made a civil war - which already looked very likely - completely inevitable. Arrax, like his rider, was only a young, small dragon, who hadn’t been featured on-screen too much (though was important for supporting the idea that Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children were trueborn, not bastards), and an innocent victim in the grand scheme of things.
Arrax and Lucerys’ fates were changed fromFire & Blood, however: in the book it’s a more deliberate act from Aemond, whereas the show has him losing control of Vhagar and turns it into a mistake, making their deaths even more tragic.
1Meleys (Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon)
The second and, as it stands, most recent dragon to die inHouse of the Dragon, Meleys - like her rider Rhaenys Targaryen - didn’t go down without a fight. Confronted with both Sunfyre and Vhagar at the Battle of Rook’s Rest,Rhaenys and Meleys showed incredible bravery in doing all they could and try and take out the Team Green dragons and their riders- although Vhagar herself also attacked Sunfyre, in another departure from the book (where Aegon and Aemond lie in wait and attack together).
House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” is the show’s highest-rated episode in IMDb, with 9.4/10.
Unfortunately, when one of those dragons is the monstrously large Vhagar, defeating them is no easy feat.Meleys vs. Vhagar is the most spectacular dragon action in the franchise so far, with the two beasts going after each other and not giving an inch, clawing, tearing, and breathing fire in close-up, visceral fashion.
There’ll be more dragon deaths to come in House of the Dragon, but they’ll have to go some way to top this.
Rhaenys and Meleys may have been able to get away from the fight, but they’re not the type to flee from battle: Rhaenys died a true dragonrider’s death, and Meleys was every bit as ferocious until the very last, when the dragon’s head was severed from its body (and later parades through the streets of King’s Landing). There’ll be more dragon deaths to come inHouse of the Dragon, but they’ll have to go some way to top this.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
