Dragons are among the most powerful creatures to ever exist in Westeros, but several have died in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. Ever since Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragon eggs hatched 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 both Thrones and its prequel show. They’re a force of nature, and spectacular when they’re unleashed.
Fire cannot kill a dragon. Daenerys says as much in Game of Thrones (and the first A Song of Ice and Fire book). But that doesn’t mean they can’t die, as seen multiple times (including, technically, twice in Game of Thrones season 8). Thanks to George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, there’ll be even more dragons dying in House of the Dragon season 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 consider the 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 in Fire & Blood, and plays a pivotal part in things later on, so probably isn’t among the dragon deaths so far.
4
Viserion (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 the Game of Thrones franchise, 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.
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 when Arya 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 A Dance with Dragons.
Viserion hasn’t been killed (yet) in the A Song Of Ice and Fire novels, with all three of Daenerys’ dragons alive as of A 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.
3
Rhaegal (Daenerys’ Dragon)
Killed By Euron Greyjoy
Rhaegal was also permanently taken out of action in Game of Thrones season 8, leaving Drogon as the last dragon flying 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 an Inside The Episode segment, allowing Euron Greyjoy the opportunity to fire a scorpion bolt through the dragon’s neck.
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.
2
Arrax (Lucerys Velaryon's Dragon)
Killed By Aemond Targaryen & Vhagar
There are many more dragons in House of the Dragon than there were in Game 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 in House of the Dragon season 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 the Dance 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 from Fire & 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.
1
Meleys (Rhaenys Targaryen's Dragon)
Killed By Aemond Targaryen & Vhagar
The second and, as it stands, most recent dragon to die in House 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 Dragon season 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 in House of the Dragon, but they’ll have to go some way to top this.
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Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
Release Date
August 21, 2022
Network
HBO Max
CastMatt Smith
, Emma D'Arcy
, Olivia Cooke
, Fabien Frankel
, Steve Toussaint
, Rhys Ifans
, Jefferson Hall
, Sonoya Mizuno
, Paddy Considine
, Ryan Corr
, Eve Best
, Gavin Spokes
, Graham McTavish
, Bill Paterson
, Matthew Needham
, David Horovitch
Custom image by Ana Nieves
English (US) ·