How to Train Your Dragon: 10 most powerful dragons in the franchise 

A still from the movie
The How to Train Your Dragon franchise has powerful dragons (Image via DreamWorks)

The How to Train Your Dragon franchise consists of three animated movies, six short films, three TV shows, and a live-action remake. Based on the series of novels by Cressida Cowell, the franchise takes fans into a fantasy world where Vikings are at odds with mighty dragons. When Hiccup befriends one of the dragons, he realizes the stories he grew up hearing might not be accurate.

Ad

While the franchise is focused on a particular Night Fury dragon affectionately named Toothless, it also features dragons with immense strength, unique superpowers, and intricate designs that deserve a moment in the spotlight. From the Bewilderbeast to Purple Death, How to Train Your Dragon brings many strong beasts for fans to debate over.

Disclaimer: All opinions in this article belong to the writer. The list is in no particular order.


Bewilderbeasts, Death Song Dragon, and other powerful dragons in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise

1) Bewilderbeasts (How to Train Your Dragon 2)

Ad
Toothless and Hiccup face a Bewilderbeast (Image via DreamWorks)
Toothless and Hiccup face a Bewilderbeast (Image via DreamWorks)

Bewilderbeasts earn their place on the list as the largest and mightiest dragons rising from the sea. Their ability to create impenetrable nests using their icy breath and intimidating stature makes them nearly impossible to beat, but the most powerful part of these gigantic creatures is their mind control over other dragons.

Ad

Bewilderbeasts also have a white, scaly body and powerful limbs that make them the strongest in offensive and defensive moves. They are amphibians, with the ability to navigate water at high speeds and move through land just as easily. While Toothless did manage to beat a Bewilderbeast in How to Train Your Dragon 2, it was not through strength.


2) Death Song (Dragons: Race to the Edge)

The colorful Death Song (Image via DreamWorks)
The colorful Death Song (Image via DreamWorks)

Tuffnut names this lethal singing beast Death Song for its literal ability to kill with its song. Reminiscent of Sirens in Greek mythology, these hypnotic beasts lure dragons to their remote islands before trapping and killing them. They can fool anyone with their vibrant and dainty appearance, making them more dangerous.

Ad

These dragons have the unique power of spewing sticky amber instead of fire, which they use to trap prey in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. It aids them in their hunt and helps them devour dragons whole. Apart from their song, they can also fare well in combat with stealth, speed, and surprising power. Their only weakness is their inability to lure dragons with poor hearing.


3) Red Death (How to Train Your Dragon)

Ad
The Red Death attacks the Vikings (Image via YouTube/Peacock Kids)
The Red Death attacks the Vikings (Image via YouTube/Peacock Kids)

As the dragon responsible for the entire premise of the first installment, the Red Death is indomitable, intimidating, and one of the most powerful species. Second in size only to the mighty Bewilderbeast, this dragon sports three pairs of eyes and needle-like teeth that can chomp up Viking ships in one bite. These features give it almost no blind spots, making it a ruthless attacker.

Ad

Red Death's fire-breathing ability and strength in combat almost vanquish Toothless, before its one weakness is discovered: Its insides are susceptible to fire. That allows them to take down the tyrannical beast who caused centuries of conflict between humans and dragons, which fans can see in the latest live-action remake too.


4) Screaming Death (Dragons: Defenders of Berk)

Screaming Death is a variant of Whispering Death (Image via DreamWorks)
Screaming Death is a variant of Whispering Death (Image via DreamWorks)

Screaming Death is a variant of Whispering Death, a dragon with a mighty jaw that stays underground to avoid sunlight.

Ad

However, the variant is born every 100 years, attracted to light, and flies above ground, hunting and killing with ease. Its size, projectile tail spines, and cruel aggression make it a species to fear in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

Its name comes from its ability to shriek loudly and disorient other dragons before hunting them down. In that way, it is similar to the Death Song, but the similarities end there. The Screaming Death is the opposite of vibrant, with white scaly skin and fearsome red eyes. It can also control its Whispering Death siblings to do its bidding.

Ad

5) Night Fury (How to Train Your Dragon and others)

Toothless is a Night Fury (Image via DreamWorks)
Toothless is a Night Fury (Image via DreamWorks)

The Night Fury's ability to incite fear comes from its mysterious presence. Nobody knew what it looked like before Hiccup discovered Toothless, so they dealt with a shadow in the night, a precise and powerful nocturnal hunter. The Night Fury is smaller compared to other dragon species but makes up for it with speed and smarts.

Ad

Toothless, in particular, gains an edge over some of the strongest dragons in the franchise because she is trained by Hiccup. She beats the stronger species like Bewilderbeast and Red Death because she collaborates with Hiccup. But even without him, the Night Fury is known for its destructive abilities, shooting plasma instead of fire.


6) Skrill (Book of Dragons)

An attacking Skrill (Image via DreamWorks)
An attacking Skrill (Image via DreamWorks)

The Skrill is one of the more underrated dragon species in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. They gather all their power by chasing and absorbing lightning storms, making them untameable and highly aggressive electricity shooters. Their ability to manipulate electricity makes them great at both attack and defense.

Ad

Moreover, Skrills ruthlessly attack humans and dragons alike, and their speed makes them more lethal. Their only weakness is the inability to attack when cornered into water or less stormy areas. Other than that, their raw power cannot be underestimated.


7) Dramillion (Dragons: Race to the Edge)

A Dramillion attacking (Image via DreamWorks)
A Dramillion attacking (Image via DreamWorks)

Dramillions are a dragon species with a unique power: they can mimic the firepower of any dragon they encounter. This makes them unpredictable and extremely powerful. The more powerful the opponent, the more lethal the Dramillion.

Ad

Dramillions are one of the most interesting encounters in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. They are also strong and fast, with an affable nature that makes them easy to train. However, their power reduces drastically if their tails are manacled, which is one of their weaknesses.


8) Monstrous Nightmare (How to Train Your Dragon)

Monstrous Nightmare in the first movie (Image via YouTube/Peacock Kids)
Monstrous Nightmare in the first movie (Image via YouTube/Peacock Kids)

True to its name, the powerful dragon appears in the first installment as a terrifying beast that does not retreat from a fight. Its powers are more traditional than those of its counterparts. The dragon breathes almost liquid fire, with its kerosene saliva enabling it to bend and spread uniquely. Sometimes, it douses itself in its fire, becoming a force nobody can near.

Ad

With strength, speed, and immense jaw strength, they make formidable foes. Moreover, they can travel through water with ease and can summon lethal gusts of wind with their wings, known as the wing blast. This makes them one of the most powerful dragons in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.


9) Singetail (Dragons: Race to the Edge)

An attacking Singetail (Image via YouTube/DreamWorks Dragons)
An attacking Singetail (Image via YouTube/DreamWorks Dragons)

The Singetail dragons are an elusive species, but their territorial nature makes them lethal when provoked. They can attack from far away and shoot flames from their mouth and fireballs from their tail, which puts them high up on the list of powerful dragons in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

Ad

One of the most interesting aspects is their ability to move their eyes independently, giving them a 360-degree view to attack. They also possess immense strength and stealth. However, they are prey to the Skrill, which is one of their main weaknesses.


10) Light Fury (How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World)

A variant of the Night Fury (Image via DreamWorks)
A variant of the Night Fury (Image via DreamWorks)

The Light Fury has a physical appearance exactly like Toothless, the Night Fury, except that its body is entirely white. This gives it the ability to blend into the sky, sea fog, and distant horizon, making stealth its lethal weapon. Apart from that, it has all the abilities the Night Fury boasts of.

Ad

Whether it is strength in combat, seamless flight, or the ability to shoot plasma instead of fire, the Light Fury is a powerful dragon to watch for in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Its weakness is tied to its tail fin, which, if damaged, can render the dragon virtually powerless.


Watch How to Train Your Dragon and other media in the franchise on Max, Hulu, or Peacock.

Quick Links

Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications