The Most Powerful Dragon In The 'Game Of Thrones' Universe Is Not The One You Think
House of the Dragon Season 3 is here, which means dragons, dragons, and more dragons. Let's be real, though, not all the dragons in the Game of Thrones universe are equal in size, power, or ferocity. So, when it comes to which dragon is the most powerful, it's largely up for debate. Often, names like Drogon or Vhagar get thrown around because of their sheer size and large amounts of screentime, while GOT readers frequently label Balerion the Black Dread as the most powerful dragon.
All are worthy contenders for the title. However, there's another, perhaps more underrated or lesser-known dragon that might beat them all: The Cannibal. Yet to appear in House of the Dragon, The Cannibal is one of the most powerful dragons in the pages of George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood.
The Cannibal In 'Fire & Blood', Explained
The Cannibal's existence in Fire & Blood includes both fact and myth. While he is one of the oldest dragons (alongside Balerion and Vhagar), the idea that he predated the Targaryens' arrival at Dragonstone is largely considered legend. Aside from that, The Cannibal earns points for size. He might be smaller than Balerion, but he reigns as the largest wild dragon to date—and that's where things get interesting.
Wild dragons are like wild animals. They live free, without any bond or connection to the Targaryens or humans in general. They're aggressive and feral, which makes them utterly terrifying. However, what elevates The Cannibal above his fellow wild dragons is his unusual appetite that involves feasting on deceased dragons, dragon eggs, and newborn hatchlings unable to fend him off.
Horrific? Absolutely, but that's what makes The Cannibal so fierce. He is a force of nature who became just as (if not more) strong, large, and powerful as the dragons the Targaryens raised. No human could tame him. And while one could argue that Balerion is more powerful as a controlled weapon, The Cannibal is perhaps equally powerful for the exact opposite reason: He is an uncontrolled weapon, motivated purely by instinct.
The Cannibal Deserves A 'House Of The Dragon' Cameo
At the time of writing, The Cannibal has yet to make an appearance in House of the Dragon, despite Season 2 covering Fire & Blood's "Sowing of the Seeds" event. Here, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) rounds up all the dragonseeds, the illegitimate descendants of House Targaryen, that she can find in an attempt to create more soldiers by bonding them with unclaimed or wild dragons. Given The Cannibal's reputation, no one dares to encounter him. However, he still makes a brief appearance.
After a dragonseed fails to bond with Sheepstealer, another wild dragon who does appear in the show, The Cannibal swoops in to finish him off… and his sons. While it would've been an iconic sequence to adapt in House of the Dragon, CGI costs and time-saving ultimately resulted in The Cannibal getting omitted from the series. And you best believe that hardcore book fans weren't happy.
Don't Count The Cannibal Out Yet
While the Sowing is one of The Cannibals' most prominent moments in Fire & Blood, it's possible the dragon could still appear in House of the Dragon Season 3 or 4, even if just briefly. The Cannibal, mostly uninvolved in the Dance of the Dragons, became one of the few dragons to survive the Targaryen civil war. Although his ultimate final fate is unknown after the war, he becomes involved in some drama when the mutilated body of Grey Ghost—the third wild dragon—lands at the Dragonmont base, with many condemning The Cannibal as the killer. (Sunfyre is the true perpetrator.)
This results in some conflict between Ser Robert Quince and Baela Targaryen, with the former believing the dragon should be left alone and the latter wanting to confront him with her dragon, Moondancer. Flash forward, and Robert forbids Baela's plan, and The Cannibal eventually fades into history.
Ultimately, it's a small part for The Cannibal that House of the Dragon may very well skip over. However, there's always a chance the series chooses to include it, considering Grey Ghost's death helps further exemplify just how devastating the civil war was and how many dragons lost their lives, even if they weren't directly involved.
