Dragons are the ultimate weapons in House of the Dragon, but even they are not completely invincible. Across Westeros history, men have found brutal, desperate, and sometimes surprisingly effective ways to bring these fire-breathing giants down.

With Season 3 promising even more chaos, the real question now isn’t just who gets to ride a dragon, but how long these feral beasts survive the war. Here’s every known way to kill a dragon, ranked by how likely it is to actually work.

5Poisoning a Dragon’s Food or Wound (Low Success Rate)

First things first: poisoning a dragon’s food or wounds is one of the least reliable methods of killing a dragon, since these creatures are massive, resilient, and often resistant to toxins. There hasn’t been any incident as well in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, where a large, fully-grown dragon died due to poisoning.

However, there was a rumor that the last dragon was poisoned by Aegon III, driven by his deep fear and hatred of dragons after witnessing Sunfyre devour his mother, Rhaenyra. It’s worth noting that this green female dragon was still young and even sickly, so the said poison would have easily killed her.

4Human Swarm Attack on a Chained Dragon (Low to Mid Success Rate)

A mob attack on a dragon is only effective when it is chained in an enclosed space. Hundreds of people would stand little chance against a healthy dragon in the open, but the odds change dramatically if the beast is unable to fly or move around.

The best-known example comes from the Storming of the Dragonpit, when enraged mobs in King’s Landing overwhelmed and killed several dragons that were confined inside the Dragonpit. The whole process was long and grueling, and it took many blows before they took down the dragons, including Dreamfyre.

While the dragonslayers succeeded in their attempt, the casualties that night were staggering; thousands of smallfolk were killed before the dragons were finally overwhelmed.

3Rider Death or Loss of Control in Dragon Combat (Mid Success Rate)

Killing a dragon’s rider can sometimes be as effective as attacking the dragon itself, but only under the right circumstances. Dragons are intelligent creatures that can continue fighting even after their riders are dead, making this an unreliable method on its own.

However, if a rider is killed during flight or combat, the dragon may panic, become disoriented, or lose tactical control, creating an opening for a fatal attack.

A notable example occurs during the Battle Above Shipbreaker Bay, where Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax were caught in chaos during their encounter with Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar. Dragons can sense fear and hesitation from their riders, which impacts their behavior in battle.

2Attacked By Scorpion Bolts on Every Weak Point (Mid to High Success Rate)

Scorpion bolts can effectively kill a dragon, but only if they strike one of the creature’s few vulnerable areas, such as the eyes, mouth, neck, or wing joints. Against a healthy dragon in flight, landing such a shot is incredibly difficult, which is why this method relies heavily on luck, preparation, or an ambush.

The most famous example comes during the First Dornish War, when the dragon Meraxes was killed by a scorpion bolt that pierced its eye. For that reason, this weapon is most effective when multiple crews concentrate fire on a dragon’s weak points or when the target is caught off guard.

Dragon Versus Dragon Battle (High Success Rate)

When it comes to killing a dragon, no weapon is more effective than another dragon. However, this method works only under specific circumstances, as the attacking dragon typically requires a size, strength, or experience advantage to secure a decisive victory.

The Dance of the Dragons provides several examples, including the deadly clash between Vhagar and Arrax above Shipbreaker Bay. The legendary duel between Caraxes and Vhagar above the Gods Eye also showed that even the mightiest dragons can kill one another when matched in a brutal fight.

Dragons possess the size, claws, teeth, and firepower needed to penetrate another dragon’s defenses, and this is why dragon-versus-dragon combat remains the most reliable way to bring one down.

What are other ways to kill a dragon? Let us know in the comments!

Source:  https://fandomwire.com/house-of-the-dragon-ways-to-kill-a-dragon-ranked/