In the seventh season of Game of Thrones, one of the most breathtaking and terrifying sequences unfolds during the Loot Train Attack. As Jaime Lannister’s forces escort a massive convoy of gold and supplies through the Reach, the sky darkens. A shadow passes overhead, and suddenly, Drogon—the largest of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons—descends with a roar that shakes the earth. Flames erupt in sweeping arcs, melting armor, incinerating soldiers, and turning a disciplined army into a panicked rout in mere minutes. What begins as a conventional medieval clash of steel and cavalry transforms into something unrecognizable: overwhelming aerial dominance delivered by a single living weapon.
How Daenerys’s use of dragons changes the nature of war is one of the central military revolutions depicted in the series. In a world where battles were once decided by numbers of men, quality of steel, clever sieges, and alliances, Daenerys introduces an element that shatters every traditional assumption. Dragons don’t merely add power—they redefine strategy, deterrence, psychology, and morality in warfare. They shift conflict from symmetric, human-scale attrition to asymmetric devastation, where one rider and one beast can achieve what thousands of soldiers could not.
This article explores that transformation in depth. We’ll examine Westerosi warfare before dragons returned, trace the evolution of Dany’s dragons as battlefield assets, analyze pivotal battles that showcase the shift, break down the fundamental changes to the nature of war, draw real-world military parallels, and confront the darker consequences. By the end, you’ll see why dragons represent not just ultimate power, but a double-edged force that amplifies both victory and tragedy—echoing themes George R.R. Martin has explored throughout A Song of Ice and Fire.
Warfare in Westeros Before the Dragons Return
Westeros, for centuries after the Doom of Valyria and the extinction of most Targaryen dragons following Robert’s Rebellion, fought wars in a distinctly medieval style. Battles relied on large infantry formations, heavy cavalry charges, archer volleys, siege engines like trebuchets and catapults, and naval blockades when needed.
Consider iconic clashes like the Battle of the Blackwater or the War of the Five Kings’ many engagements. Armies maneuvered across terrain, sought favorable ground, built alliances to outnumber foes, and endured prolonged attrition. Castles were key: high walls, moats, and defenders could hold out against superior numbers for months or years. Casualties were high, but predictable—wars dragged on because no single force could decisively overwhelm another without massive cost.
The absence of dragons created a “balanced” system. No house possessed overwhelming superiority. Tactics emphasized logistics, morale, and clever commanders like Tywin Lannister or Robb Stark. Terrain, weather, and supply lines mattered immensely. A dragon’s return disrupts this equilibrium entirely.
The Rebirth of Dragons – Daenerys as the Game-Changer
Daenerys’s journey begins with three petrified eggs hatching in fire and blood at the end of Season 1. What starts as miraculous symbols of Targaryen legacy grows into tangible military assets.
From Hatchlings to Weapons – The Evolution of Dany’s Dragons
The dragons—Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold)—mature rapidly. In Essos, they remain relatively small, used more for shock and awe than full-scale war. By the time Dany sails to Westeros, they are massive, capable of carrying riders and unleashing devastating fire.
Dany’s unique bond allows her to command them directly with words like “Dracarys.” Unlike historical Targaryens who often required multiple riders for multiple dragons, she initially controls all three alone, amplifying their strategic flexibility.
Strategic Advantages Introduced by Dragons
- Air mobility and reconnaissance: Dragons scout vast distances, spot enemy movements, and strike without warning.
- Fire as anti-infantry/anti-fortification tool: Dragonfire melts steel, burns wooden structures, and destroys ships or armies en masse.
- Psychological impact: The mere sight of a dragon often causes desertion or surrender before combat begins—pure terror weapon.
These advantages make traditional defenses obsolete overnight.
Key Battles That Demonstrate the Shift
Essos Campaigns – Limited but Revolutionary Use
In Slaver’s Bay, dragons serve as precision tools. At Astapor, Drogon helps Dany seize Unsullied by burning the Good Masters. In Yunkai and Meereen, they break slave armies and inspire uprisings. The sack of Meereen shows dragons turning sieges: walls become irrelevant when fire rains from above.
These early uses hint at the potential—dragons as liberators’ edge—but remain limited by the dragons’ size and Dany’s reluctance for mass destruction.
The Loot Train Attack – Dragons Enter Westerosi Warfare
Season 7, Episode 4 (“The Spoils of War”) marks the true return of dragons to Westerosi battlefields. Jaime’s Lannister army—disciplined, armored, with wagons in tight formation—faces Dothraki cavalry and Drogon.
Drogon strafes low and fast, reminiscent of close air support. He incinerates lines, scatters formations, and destroys supply trains. Lannister archers and spearmen are helpless; the scorpion (ballista) Bronn deploys wounds Drogon but doesn’t stop him. The battle ends in rout, with Jaime nearly drowning in desperation.
This sequence illustrates asymmetric warfare: ground forces designed for peer opponents crumble against aerial fire.
The Burning of King’s Landing – The Ultimate Escalation
In the series finale arc (Season 8, “The Bells”), Drogon alone levels the capital. After bells signal surrender, Daenerys unleashes indiscriminate destruction—melting the Red Keep, igniting wildfire caches, and burning civilians.
This shifts from targeted strikes to total war, highlighting dragons’ capacity for city-wide annihilation and the psychological toll on their rider.
How Dragons Fundamentally Change the Nature of War
From Symmetric to Asymmetric Warfare
Pre-dragon wars matched comparable forces in prolonged fights. Dragons introduce overwhelming asymmetry—one asset neutralizes thousands, akin to modern air superiority dominating ground troops.
Introduction of Deterrence and MAD-Like Dynamics
George R.R. Martin has called dragons the “nuclear deterrent.” Possession deters direct attacks; Dany’s arrival makes many hesitate. Yet, like nuclear weapons, they excel at destruction but struggle with nuanced goals—conquest yes, reform no.
Critics note dragons resemble conventional air power (e.g., Apache helicopters or fighter jets) more than nukes: usable in battle, vulnerable to countermeasures like scorpions.
Psychological and Logistical Revolutions
Dragonfire induces mass panic; armies flee before contact. Campaigns accelerate—no need for massive ground forces or long sieges. But civilian risk skyrockets, and logistics shift to protecting the rider and dragon.
Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures Exposed
Dragons aren’t invincible. Scorpions wound them; other dragons counter them; rider death ends control. Viserion’s fall to the Night King shows risks. Unpredictability (e.g., Drogon’s rage) adds danger.
Real-World Military Parallels – Dragons as a Revolution
Historical analogies abound. Gunpowder ended castle dominance; air power in WWII shifted focus from trenches to skies.
Many analysts compare dragons to nuclear weapons—deterrent power, mass destruction potential. Martin himself said: “Dragons are the nuclear deterrent… but that doesn’t mean we can achieve specific geopolitical goals.”
Others argue conventional air power fits better: tactical strikes (Loot Train) vs. strategic bombing (King’s Landing). Parallels to A-10 Warthogs or B-52s highlight close support vs. carpet bombing.
Expert views from military publications reinforce: dragons grant dominance but introduce escalation risks and ethical strains.
The Dark Side – How Dragons Corrupt the Nature of War
Moral and Strategic Costs for Daenerys
Dragons amplify Dany’s “fire and blood” instincts. From liberator, she edges toward destroyer—using overwhelming force erodes moral high ground.
Escalation looms: opponents seek counters (scorpions, alliances); mutual dragon possession risks annihilation.
Themes of Power and Madness
Dragons magnify Targaryen “madness.” Inability to achieve subtle victories with brute force leads to tragedy—Dany’s arc shows power’s corrupting potential.
Conclusion – Dragons as the Ultimate Double-Edged Sword
Daenerys’s use of dragons irrevocably changes the nature of war in Game of Thrones, transforming it from human contests of endurance to rapid, devastating dominance. Yet this power introduces horrors: indiscriminate destruction, moral erosion, and new vulnerabilities.
True strength lies not in possessing dragons, but in restraint. The series warns that overwhelming force solves battles but rarely builds lasting peace.
Dragons make Daenerys the most powerful figure—yet highlight power’s subtlety. In Westeros, as in our world, the mightiest weapons demand wisdom to wield.
