• "House of the Dragon" is a "Game of Thrones" prequel focused on House Targaryen.
• The Targaryens are dragonlords, and some dragons have more than one rider throughout history.
• Several dragons, including Vermithor and Sheepstealer, were recently claimed by new riders.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the "House of the Dragon" season three premiere.

"House of the Dragon" season three kicks off with a bloody and spectacular bang, and a brand new dragonrider enters the fray.

At this point in the "Game of Thrones" timeline, there are more dragons than at any other time in Westerosi history — and plenty of people who are eager to wield their power.

In the HBO franchise's second season, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) recruited dragonseeds to bolster her army as she plots to seize the Iron Throne from her half-brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). As the original Targaryen conqueror proved over a century before, the more dragons a ruler has, the more likely they are to quash opposition.

Although Rhaenyra's mission proved successful, at least a dozen hopefuls were killed in the process, with many more burned and maimed.

"Dragons are not horses," it says in "Fire & Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based. "They do not easily accept men upon their backs, and when angered or threatened, they attack."

All the dragons featured so far in the show are listed below, along with their riders. Note: Some dragons have accepted more than one rider in their lifetimes.

Eammon Jacobs contributed to a previous version of this story.

Vhagar is the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros.

Vhagar was originally bonded to Queen Visenya Targaryen, one of Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wives.

Along with their other sister, Rhaenys, the trio invaded Westeros, overpowered the realm with their three dragons, and installed Aegon as the first Targaryen king.

Over a century later, Vhagar is the last remaining dragon from the days of the conquest. She is formidably huge, battle worn, and fierce — described by Daemon as a "hoary old bitch."

Laena Velaryon is the first in the show to ride Vhagar.

After Visenya, Vhagar is claimed by Prince Baelon Targaryen, the father of Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine).

Baelon dies tragically of a sudden illness in 101 AC (meaning "after conquest"). Just a few years later, Vhagar is claimed again by Lady Laena Velaryon when she is about 12 years old.

Laena (Nanna Blondell) is the only daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). She also becomes Prince Daemon's second wife.

We see Laena fly Vhagar in season one as she and her husband cross the narrow sea to Pentos.

Unfortunately, Laena goes through a traumatic birth in episode six that puts both her and her child at risk. As she bleeds out, Laena turns to Vhagar to end her suffering, commanding her dragon to breathe fire with that all-important phrase: "Dracarys."

Aemond Targaryen claims Vhagar after Laena's death.

After Laena's death, a young Prince Aemond Targaryen (Leo Ashton) sneaks out in the middle of the night to confront Vhagar. Surprisingly, the boy manages not to die, but to bond with the fiercest dragon in Westeros.

Fast forward a few years, and a teenage Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is a formidable dragonrider. Together, they are known as the greatest power in Westeros.

Rhaenys Targaryen was bonded to Meleys until both were killed by Vhagar.

Meleys was originally bonded to Princess Alyssa Targaryen, the fifth child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and mother to both Viserys and Daemon.

A few years after Alyssa's death, the dragon known as the "Red Queen" was claimed by a young Rhaenys after she sneaked into the Dragonpit.

Daemon was apparently furious when Rhaenys claimed Meleys: "His own mother's dragon, the fastest beast ever known, and she'd have none of him — but bent her neck to Rhaenys," Daemon's daughter says in the show.

Meleys makes an explosive entrance in season one, when she bursts through the floor of the Dragonpit during King Aegon's coronation.

Although Rhaenys decides against attacking Aegon and his family at that moment, she flies straight to Dragonstone to warn Rhaenyra of the usurpation. Soon after, Rhaenys joins the future queen's army.

Rhaenys flies into her final battle in the fourth episode of season two, "The Red Dragon and the Gold." She clashes at Rook's Rest with both Aegon on Sunfyre and Aemond on Vhagar, the latter of which overpowers her. Both Rhaenys and Meleys fall to their deaths.

Aegon Targaryen rides Sunfyre into battle at Rook's Rest.

Aegon II Targaryen, the eldest son of King Viserys and Lady Alicent Hightower, bonded with Sunfyre as a child.

With his bright golden scales, Sunfyre is known as the most beautiful dragon in the realm.

In season two, we see King Aegon II drunkenly ride Sunfyre into battle at Rook's Rest, where he clashes with Rhaenys and her ancient dragon Meleys.

As Meleys clamps down on Sunfyre's neck, the pair are attacked midair by Aemond riding Vhagar. The combined force is too much for Sunfyre, and the dragon plummets to the ground. Aegon II survives the fall but suffers serious burns and lifelong injuries, leaving him bedridden.

Sunfyre is assumed dead after the battle at Rook's Rest.

Helaena Targaryen is bonded to Dreamfyre.

Dreamfyre was originally claimed by Princess Rhaena Targaryen, the eldest child of King Aenys I Targaryen, making her one of the oldest dragons still alive in Westeros. In the book, Dreamfyre is described as slender with blue scales and silver markings.

The audience has yet to see Dreamfyre in "House of the Dragon," but we know she's bonded to Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban), King Aegon's sister-wife.

In season two, Rhaenyra mentions that Helaena doesn't ride Dreamfyre because she "has no taste for it." Aemond later begs his sister to fly Dreamfyre into battle, saying he cannot win this war with Vhagar alone — but Helaena refuses.

Dreamfyre is sheltered in the Dragonpit, but she offers little protection for King's Landing without a rider.

Alicent's fourth son, Daeron Targaryen, has a blue dragon named Tessarion.

Unlike his siblings, Prince Daeron Targaryen was raised in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower.

In season two, Alicent's youngest child is mentioned as a useful chess piece by Aegon's small council. They remark that his blue she-dragon, Tessarion, is "nearing fighting age."

In the book, Tessarion is the youngest dragon of fighting weight in Aegon's camp during the Dance of the Dragons. She was claimed by Daeron when both were young.

The pair will soon make their onscreen debut; Tessarion can be seen in the trailer for season three. It seems that Daeron is marching with an army led by Alicent's cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton).

Prince Daemon commands Caraxes.

Caraxes is the former mount of Aemon Targaryen, the son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, until the prince's death at the hands of Myrish pirates.

Also known as the "Blood Wyrm," Caraxes may not be the biggest dragon in the gang, but he's immediately recognizable thanks to his red scales and snakelike neck.

Caraxes was later claimed by Aemon's nephew, Prince Daemon, who often uses the dragon to intimidate both his allies and his enemies.

Rhaenyra Targaryen rides the yellow-scaled Syrax.

Syrax is a much younger dragon compared to the likes of Vhagar and Caraxes, but she's decently sized and agile in the sky.

Princess Rhaenyra bonded with Syrax as a child, and she's the dragon's only rider. Rhaenyra even named the dragon herself, according to "Fire & Blood," after a Valyrian goddess.

Jacaerys Velaryon rode Vermax until both died in the Battle of the Gullet.

Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), aka Jace, was Rhaenyra's eldest son. The public record states that his father was Lord Laenor Velaryon, though more likely, he and his two brothers were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong.

In an attempt to quell the rumors about their parentage, King Viserys ordered a dragon egg to be placed in each of the boys' cradles, so they could instantly claim the dragons that hatched. Those who believed that Jace and his brothers were bastards doubted they could bond with dragons, or that the eggs would hatch at all — but they were proven wrong.

Jace's dragon was named Vermax. He was one of the youngest dragons in Rhaenyra's active army, and the pair didn't see any combat for two full seasons. (However, Jace did fly Vermax to the Wall, the Vale, and the Twins to treat with Houses Stark, Arryn, and Frey, respectively.)

In the season three premiere, Jace flew Vermax into his first and last battle. The dragon was impaled and pulled into the sea. Jace survived the drowning, but when he emerged on the surface, he was shot to death by enemy arrows.

Baela Targaryen is bonded to Moondancer.

Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), the eldest daughter of Daemon and Laena, is the only person to ever claim Moondancer, a young and relatively small dragon. In the book, Moondancer is actually too small to hold a rider for much of the war — but in the show, Baela is already a skilled dragonrider.

In season two, Baela is tasked by her aunt-slash-stepmother, Rhaenyra, to scout the area surrounding King's Landing. In episode three, "The Burning Mill," Baela flies Moondancer over a field and, upon spotting him from the sky, attempts to attack Ser Criston Cole. Alas, Cole and his soldiers take cover in the trees.

In the season three premiere, Baela joins Jace at the Battle of the Gullet. She succeeds in saving his life, using Moondancer's size and agility to rush to his rescue — but Moondancer isn't quick enough to save him a second time.

Lucerys Velaryon rode Arrax until both were killed by Vhagar.

Arrax bonded with Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), aka Luke, after his egg was placed in the prince's cradle. The young dragon was seen for the last time in the season one finale, when Luke flew to Storm's End at the behest of his mother, Rhaenyra.

Arrax, the smallest rideable dragon in Rhaenyra's camp, was not yet battle-ready — but that didn't stop Luke's uncle Aemond from swooping down on them in fury. (Remember, Luke cut out Aemond's eye when they were children, and Aemond has never gotten over it.)

In the tense scene, both Luke and Aemond lost control of their mounts. Arrax spat fire at Vhagar, even though Luke tried to stop him, and Vhagar responded by chomping down on Arrax, killing both the dragon and his rider.

The episode's director, Greg Yaitanes, said Aemond "didn't set out to kill Luke, but he also was out there playing a very dangerous game." As a result, Aemond provoked the wrath of Rhaenyra, and he'll be known to history as a kinslayer.

Seasmoke was originally claimed by Laenor Velaryon.

In season one, Laenor rode the silver-grey Seasmoke into battle at the Stepstones. He also flew to King's Landing for his wedding to Rhaenyra, alongside his mother, Rhaenys.

Seasmoke was left riderless when Laenor faked his own death to flee Westeros. In season two, Rhaenyra observes that Seasmoke has grown restless. It's unclear whether that means his bond with Laenor was severed by distance or whether Laenor died offscreen.

Addam of Hull bonds with Seasmoke in season two.

Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) unintentionally becomes a new dragonrider in season two, when Seasmoke chases him down.

Instead of attacking, Seasmoke surprises Addam by bending his neck. After the bonded pair takes to the skies, Addam pledges his allegiance to Rhaenrya.

Hugh Hammer claims Vermithor in the Red Sowing.

Vermithor makes his onscreen debut in the season one finale, when Daemon visits the dragon in the caves beneath Dragonstone.

Vermithor is the second-biggest dragon alive (after Vhagar) and known as the "Bronze Fury." He was bonded to King Jaehaerys I Targaryen from birth, and went unclaimed for decades following the king's death.

Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith from King's Landing, bonds with Vermithor during the "Red Sowing" in season two. He believes himself to be the bastard son of Princess Saera Targaryen, the estranged daughter of King Jaehaerys I.

Ulf the White bonds with Silverwing.

Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), a low-born resident of King's Landing, says he's the illegitimate son of Baelon the Brave — making him the half-brother of Prince Daemon and the late King Viserys.

Ulf answers Rhaenyra's summons to Dragonstone when she hopes to find more dragonriders. He bonds with Silverwing, the previous mount of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, in the caves beneath the island.

Ulf and Silverwing immediately take to the skies, flying recklessly over King's Landing.

Rhaena claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the season three premiere.

Rhaena goes hunting for Sheepstealer, a wild dragon that roams the Vale, at the end of season two. Despite the dragon's longtime isolation, Rhaena makes contact swiftly and becomes a dragonrider for the first time.

Rhaena bonds with Sheepstealer as they live together in the wilderness. However, when she attempts to return to Dragonstone, she finds herself unable to fully control her mount.

Rhaenyra's thirdborn son, Joffrey, has a young dragon named Tyraxes.

Although Tyraxes has not yet made his onscreen debut, the young dragon bonded to Rhaenyra's third son after his egg was placed in Prince Joffrey's cradle.

In the show, Joffrey is still too young to be a dragonrider, although in the book, he's all too eager to prove his chops in battle.

Rhaenyra's fourth son, Aegon III, also has a hatchling named Stormcloud.

Rhaenyra and Daemon's first son, nicknamed Aegon the Younger, bonded with Stormcloud when both were babies. In the show, the dragon is still a hatchling.

The couple's second son, Viserys II, has a dragon egg that has not yet hatched.

They've all been sent away to shelter in Essos for the duration of the war.

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