House of the Dragon season 2 has introduced dragonseeds – but what are they?

After House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 introduced the concept of dragonseeds, episodes 5, 6, and 7 finally set the wheels in motion until we finally saw some of them take flight in the finale.

Now, you might be wondering just what this means, and who the dragonseeds are. If that's you, then we have you covered. We've got everything you need to know about the dragonseeds below, including which ones we've already met, as well as exactly what the word means.

Now House of the Dragon season 2 is over, it's clear what purpose the dragonseeds have in the ongoing war between the Greens and the Blacks. After a push from both Jace and Mysaria, Rhaenyra plans to use the dragonseeds as dragon riders in the Targaryen civil war, seriously bolstering her forces. That might be enough to change the balance of power in the Realm, and make for some serious dragon fighting in House of the Dragon season 3.

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There are spoilers below for House of the Dragon episodes 3-8 and George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, so turn back now if you're not up to date and you don't want to know what might happen next in the show.

What are the dragonseeds in House of the Dragon?

'Dragonseed' means a bastard with Targaryen heritage; the Targaryens are of Valyrian descent and were dragonlords in Old Valyria. This heritage allows a dragonseed to potentially claim a dragon of their own, despite not being officially part of House Targaryen.

In George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, Jace Velaryon eventually wants to bolster Team Black's dragon-riding forces, so he puts out a call for dragonseeds who could potentially claim a dragon of their own. As we see in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, Jace's show counterpoint is also the mastermind behind a plot to recruit more dragon riders to his mother's cause.

He points out to Rhaenyra that House Targaryen has been marrying into other families for generations, which means there could be many people of Valyrian blood scattered across the realm – and capable of riding a dragon. Though, by House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7, Jace has his doubts about using bastards because of what it might do to his own claim to the Iron Throne, considering he himself is a bastard by Westerosi standards.

Who are the dragonseeds so far?

So far, we've been introduced to four main dragonseeds. The first to arrive was Hugh Hammer, who, in the book, eventually successfully claims the dragon Vermithor. We first meet Hugh in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1; he's the blacksmith who petitions Aegon for help. In episode 7, he's able to survive the carnage at Dragonstone and claim Vermithor, as he does in the book. From the description of his mother and the fact he claims to be cousins with Daemon and Viserys, Hugh is the son of Saera Targaryen, the daughter of Jaehaerys I Targaryen - Hugh's new dragon's past rider, ironic, right?

Next, we met Addam of Hull, who in the books is a bastard of either Corlys or Laenor Velaryon (and in the show is Corlys's bastard son). He claims Laenor's dragon Seasmoke and is eventually legitimized by Rhaenyra as Addam Velaryon. His brother Alyn is also a dragonseed, though Alyn isn't able to ever claim a dragon in Martin's book, and, so far, it doesn't look like he will in the show either.

In episode 6, we see the brothers talk more about their mysterious heritage, one that Alyn isn't particularly proud of as he shaves off his white hair. In the same episode, Rhaenyra tests out her dragonseed theory by having one of her knights Ser Steffon Darklyn, who is apparently of Targaryen heritage, try and claim wild dragon Seasmoke. But the plan backfires, literally, as the beast burns Ser Steffon to a crisp.

At the end of the episode though, Seasmoke lands in the Stepstones and chases Addam, eventually cornering him. The episode ends with us thinking that Seasmoke may have killed Addam. But, in episode 7 we discover that Addam has successfully claimed (or rather, been claimed by) Seasmoke.

Finally, we see a mysterious tavern-goer in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3: Ulf the White. He claims to be a dragonseed – bastard son of Baelon the Brave, which makes him the illegitimate brother of Viserys and Daemon Targaryen. He claims Silverwing in the source material and in the show.

At the end of season 2, we see Rhaenyra's three dragonseeds, Hugh, Ulf, and Addam suit up in preparation for war. It seems likely that the three will fly out to meet opposing dragon Vhagar at Harrenhal, and take on the biggest beast in the Realm.

For the full rundown on everything that happened in the finale, see our House of the Dragon season 2 ending explained.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and Sky and NOW in the UK. For even more on the show, check out our deep dives on: