There are some downright phenomenal dragons out there in the wide world of fantasy. Yes, there are also some real-world lizards that are really cool too, but we’re not terribly interested in giving you a rundown of the coolest Komodo dragons in the San Francisco Zoo. Here are the ten coolest fictional dragons, with our apologies to your favorite real-world salamander.
Vhagar
The towering monster known as Vhagar is one of the most dangerous beasts in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, and its TV adaptations. In House of the Dragon, Vhagar is the largest dragon still alive in the world after the recent death of her sibling, Balerion the Black Dread.
Shenron
Dragon Ball is, quite literally, named after Shenron. The serpentine great dragon of Akira Toriyama’s epic martial arts manga isn’t much of a character in his own right, but the quest for his wish-granting mystical artifacts serves as the crux for all of Goku and co.’s adventures throughout the franchise.
Toothless
Toothless is the draconic companion to How to Train Your Dragon’s protagonist Hiccup, so you could say he’s a bit of a big deal. Despite his fearsome-sounding species name (“Night Fury”), he’s a sweetheart who is basically a very loyal dog with scales and wings.
King Ghidorah
Godzilla might be the King of the Monsters, but he didn’t earn that title by just waltzing through some buildings in downtown Tokyo. He had to put the smack down on some seriously nasty challengers, like the legendary Three-Headed Monster, King Ghidorah.
Dragonite
While the Pokemon series has plenty of cool Dragon type creatures, the original and most iconic of them is the lovable Dragonite. This big, cuddly-looking dragon is, in truth, one of the strongest creatures in the games and is even capable of going toe-to-toe with legendary monsters.
Falkor
The Neverending Story was a foundational fantasy movie for many kids in the 80s, and part of that was due to the iconic design of the friendly white luck dragon Falkor. With his canine-like head and his fluffy white fur, Falkor just looks like the kind of dragon you’d want to befriend and hang out with.
Bayle
Anyone who played the recent Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, knows just how intimidating Bayle is. This ancient dragon is so terrifying that he once tried to rebel against Placidusax, the first Elden Lord and one of the strongest creatures in the Lands Between. Bayle still bears the scars of his failed coup on his back—two of Placidusax’s severed heads, which are still tightly biting down on Bayle’s impenetrable scales. Now that’s metal!
Tiamat (Dungeons and Dragons)
The tabletop RPG Dungeons and Dragons is well-known for its excellent villains. And, with the word “dragons” in the name, you can bet the setting’s Queen of Dragons is a nightmare. The five-headed goddess is the source of all evil dragons in many settings and serves as the final boss for many dragon-themed campaigns.
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Caraxes
Daemon Targaryen’s dragon, Caraxes, is an underdog in House of the Dragon. While Caraxes isn’t as big as Vhagar, as beautiful as Sunfyre, or as fast as Meleys, the Blood Wyrm has them all beaten in one important category. Caraxes is serpentine, sporting a weirdly long neck and a pair of membranes on his back legs that give him unusual maneuverability in battle.
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Smaug
As one of the oldest and meanest dragons in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth setting, Smaug is a terror to tangle with. He’s basically a personification of greed and insurmountable odds all rolled up into one mean-spirited wyrm. It’s easy to see how Tolkien adapted this beast from one of his favorite Old English stories, the legend of Beowulf—in that story the fabled Germanic hero perishes while fighting a dragon who bears a striking resemblance to Smaug.
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