A composite image of stills from
The stage is now set for Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and the Blacks to go to war against Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and the Greens in "House of the Dragon" season three.
  • Only a few battles occur in "House of the Dragon" season 2 as the series ramps up for civil war.
  • The season finale teases multiple major battles from "Fire and Blood," the novel the series is based on.
  • Here are the key battles that could be depicted in future seasons of "House of the Dragon."

"House of the Dragon" season two may not have been as action-packed as some fans might have predicted, but the finale seems to tease that audiences will finally get the destructive dragon war they've been waiting for.

There are only two major battles in season two — the first battle between the Brackens and the Blackwoods in episode three and the skirmish at Rook's Rest in episode four when fan-favorite character Rhaenys (Eve Best) dies.

Despite this, fans have been clamoring for more action, and the season two finale doesn't deliver on that. The episode's final scenes show multiple parties getting ready for war, hinting that season three will have more epic battles.

The episode also teases the Battle of the Gullet, after Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) recruits the Triarchy to fight against Rhaenyra's army. Spoiler alert: that battle is where Jacaerys Velaryon, a fan-favorite character, dies.

If you're wondering what battles to expect in "House of the Dragon" season three, here are all the key battles left in the "Fire and Blood" novel, which the series is based on. (Obviously, potential "House of the Dragon" spoilers ahead.)

The Battle of the Gullet
A still from
Jacaerys Targaryen (Harry Collett).

Main parties: The Triarchy vs. Corlys Velaryon's fleet supported by Jacaerys Velaryon, Hugh Hammer, Nettles, Addam of Hull, Ulf White, and their dragons.

Key deaths: Jacaerys Velaryon

Like in the season two finale, in "Fire and Blood," the Greens (led by Aegon II and Aemond, the Hightowers, and their allies) go to the Triarchy to break the Blacks' (led by Rhaenyra and Daemon, the Velaryons and their allies) blockade.

The Triarchy is an alliance of cities from Essos that's constantly warring with Westeros and Corlys Velaryon, the Blacks' sea commander, over a chain of islands known as the Stepstones.

While on their way to fight the Blacks, the Triarchy captures a ship containing Rhaenyra's children, Prince Aegon the Younger and Prince Viserys. Aegon the Younger escapes on the dragon Stormcloud and warns the Blacks.

The Triarchy then attacks the Velaryon fleet in the Gullet. They have the advantage of surprise until Rhaenyra's eldest son Jacaerys and four new dragonriders, Hugh Hammer, Nettles, Addam of Hull, and Ulf White, arrive with their dragons.

The battle is costly for both sides.

Many Triarchy ships are destroyed, and they eventually leave to attack Corlys' base, Driftmark, sacking towns and burning treasure.

In addition, the Triarchy hit Jacaerys' dragon Vermax with a grapnel, causing the dragon to fall. They then kill Jacaerys with a crossbow.

This will likely be one of the first battles of season three.

The Battle at the Red Fork
A red-haired man wearing a red cape presents a gold spear.
Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) dies at the Battle at the Red Fork.

Main parties: Westermen vs. Rivermen

Key deaths: Jason Lannister

The Greens' Westermen, led by Jason Lannister, attack a group of the Blacks' Rivermen, led by Petyr Piper and Tristan Vance, at a crossing of the Red Fork river in the Riverlands.

The Rivermen initially win, killing Jason during one of the attacks. Another commander, Ser Adrian Tarbeck, leads his men across the river upstream without their armor and attacks the Rivermen from the rear. After Tristan is slain, the Rivermen are thrown into chaos.

This will also likely occur in season three.

The Battle by the Lakeshore
archie barnes as oscar tully, a young man with short, curly hair wearing bronze armor with a fish emblem on it. he's looking upwards resolutely, and there are men in fine, noble clothing seen blurry behind him
Oscar Tully's (Archie Barnes) Rivermen succeed in this battle.

Main parties: Westermen vs. Rivermen and the Northmen

Key deaths: The whole Westermen army

House Stark's Northmen army arrives just in time to help the Blacks' Rivermen corner the Westermen army on the western shore of Gods Eye Lake.

This battle is the bloodiest battle of the war. Though no major characters are killed, hundreds die, and the Westermen army is decimated. After this battle, only Criston Cole's army and Lord Ormund Hightower's army in the south are left to fight for the Greens.

The Butcher's Ball
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole in
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) dies during the Butcher's Ball battle.

Main parties: Ser Criston Cole's army vs. the Rivermen and the Northmen

Key deaths: Ser Criston Cole

Ser Criston Cole's army heads south to join Lord Ormund Hightower's army. However, the Rivermen and Northmen ambush Criston's army between Gods Eye lake and the Blackwater Rush river.

Criston tries to surrender and sacrifice himself so his army can live. The Blacks deny his request, and Red Robb Rivers and two archers shoot Criston dead with arrows. The Rivermen and Northmen then slaughter the rest of Criston's army when they try to flee.

The First Battle of Tumbleton
A red-haired woman in a long blue coat standing in a field.
The Hightowers, including Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), are the main family supporting the Greens side.

Main parties: Lord Ormund Hightower's army vs. the Northmen and the Blacks' army supported by Hugh Hammer, Ulf White, and their dragons

Key deaths: Lord Ormund Hightower

Lord Ormund Hightower is advancing toward King's Landing and Rhaenyra, defeating every army in its path. Rhaenyra sends Hugh with his dragon Vermithor and Ulf with his dragon Silverwing to fortify Tumbleton to stop Ormund's army.

The Northmen and their commander, Lord Roderick Dustin, join the Blacks.

Though outnumbered, the Blacks initially succeed, killing Ormund and his brother, Ser Bryndon Hightower.

Then Aegon II's brother Daeron arrives with his dragon Tessarion, and Hugh and Ulf decide to switch sides and attack Tumbleton. The dragons and the Greens defeat the Blacks, and Tumbleton is sacked in the chaos as the Greens' soldiers kill Tumbleton's men and rape the town's women.

This battle will likely occur in season three since Ulf and Hugh already have a strained relationship with Rhaenyra and may turn on her.

The Battle Above the Gods Eye
A composite image of Ewan Mitchell and Matt Smith in
Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Daemon (Matt Smith) are rivals in "House of the Dragon" season two.

Main parties: Aemond Targaryen vs. Daemon Targaryen

Key deaths: Aemond Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen

After the Blacks take over King's Landing, Aemond begins burning the Riverlands with his dragon Vhagar to persuade Rhaenyra to send a dragon to fight him.

Eventually, Daemon Targaryen, Aemond's uncle, takes up the challenge. The pair meet at Harrenhal and fight to their deaths over the Gods Eye lake.

This will likely happen in a future episode in season three or four, since both Daemon and Aemond have received a prophecy that they will die over Gods Eye.

The Second Battle of Tumbleton
A man in a blue tunic lying on the ground with the shadow of a dragon looming over him.
The second Battle of Tumbleton has many deaths, including Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty).

Main parties: The Greens army supported by Daeron Targaryen, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf White and their dragons vs. the Rivermen supported by Addam of Hull on his dragon

Key deaths: Addam of Hull, Daeron Targaryen, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf White

The Greens army does not advance from Tumbleton because Hugh Hammer and Ulf White refuse to move forward, and Ser Hobert Hightower wants to wait until he has more resources.

Hugh and Ulf both want to become kings of Westeros, which leads some Lords, the Caltrops, to plot against the two dragonriders.

When the coup is about to occur, Addam of Hull arrives with an army of Rivermen and his dragon Seasmoke and surprises the Greens.

Though the Greens outnumber the Blacks, the Greens are disorderly, working against each other and unprepared.

Ulf sleeps through the battle, and the Caltrops kill Hugh before he can get to his dragon. Daeron is killed at some point, but there isn't a clear account of how he died.

Addam fights against Tessarion and Vermithor with his dragon, Seasmoke. Vermithor rips Seasmoke's head off, then collapses and dies. Tessarion also collapses and can't fly again, so Lord Blackwood summons an archer to put the dragon out of its misery.

The book does not describe how Addam dies, but his body is found later on the battleground.

Ulf survives the battle but is poisoned by Ser Hobert Hightower afterward. The remaining Greens then retreat.

The Battle of the Kingsroad
tom glynn-carney as aegon targaryen in house of the dragon. he's sitting in a high backed chair, playing with a steel dagger, and looking across a table
Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) loses the war after this battle.

Main parties: Lord Borros Baratheon's army vs. the Rivermen

Key deaths: Lord Borros Baratheon and the final army for the Greens

This is the last major battle of the war. After Queen Rhaenyra is forced out of King's Landing during a riot, Lord Borros Baratheon restores order to put Aegon II back on the throne.

The Rivermen head to King's Landing but meet Borros' armies. Borros' army is larger but less experienced, and the Rivermen defeat them, leaving no army to defend Aegon II.

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