Wowpedia

We have moved to Warcraft Wiki. Click here for information and the new URL.

READ MORE

Wowpedia
Register
Advertisement
For Warcraft II info and statics, see Dragon (Warcraft II) and Warcraft II units#Gryphon Rider/Dragon.
Dragons
Battle of the Aspects
Faction/Affiliation Various
Character classes Mage, Druid, Necromancer, Warlock[citation needed] 
Racial capital

Wyrmrest Temple
IconSmall DragonBronze Caverns of Time
IconSmall DragonGreen Eye of Ysera
IconSmall DragonBlue The Nexus

other capitals unknown
Racial leader(s) IconSmall Alexstrasza IconSmall Alex Alexstrasza
IconSmall YseraDragon IconSmall Ysera Ysera
IconSmall NozdormuDragon IconSmall Nozdormu Nozdormu
IconSmall Kalecgos IconSmall Kalec Kalecgos
IconSmall WhelpBlack IconSmall Wrathion Wrathion
IconSmall DragonNether Neltharaku
IconSmall Malygos IconSmall Malygos2 Malygos
IconSmall Murozond Murozond
IconSmall Deathwing IconSmall DeathwingHuman IconSmall Prestor Deathwing
Homeworld Azeroth, Outland
Language(s) Draconic, Common
Organization(s) Various dragonflights

Dragons are immense, powerful, winged reptilian creatures, created from proto-dragons by the Titans to safeguard the world of Azeroth millennia ago. They are divided into several subraces called "dragonflights." All the dragonflights have lost the ability to lay more eggs.[1]

History

Legend has it that dragons were born in the dawn of the world when it was created by the titans from the primal plane.[2]

Dragons share a common ancestry with both gryphons and wyverns,[3] but it is unknown how far back they diverged. The proto-dragons were the ancestors of dragons before they evolved into the sapient, beautiful majestic creatures that they are known as today.[4] It is not clear whether the titans created them or if they somehow evolved prior to the titans' arrival. When proto-dragons were rediscovered as the mounts of the vrykul, it could easily be seen that they bore a striking resemblance to many kinds of carnivorous dinosaurs. This may be coincidence, or it could link dinosaurs to dragons in evolution.

Galakrond, a massive proto-dragon,[5] is known as the "progenitor of dragonkind." It is said that from Galakrond the titans created the Aspects,[6] but this is a rumor the Aspects actively encouraged so as to keep the truth about Galakrond a secret from the dragonflights.[7]

At one time, their numbers were uncountable, but in present-day Azeroth there are very few left. Originally, there were many different dragonflights, with many different colors to be seen. The five most influential, however, were the reds, the greens, the bronze, the blacks, and the blues, and eventually most (if not all) of the other flights disappeared.

Chosen by the titans, each of the five dragonflights were given domain over a certain aspect of the world, ranging from the earth to time itself. During the War of the Ancients, the dragonflights sought to fulfill their duty and strike against the invading Burning Legion.[8] Over time, the dragons have endured much hardship and only a handful still remain, hostile to all that may tamper with the titans' creations.

The dragons of Azeroth are far more intelligent even than the humans who hunt them, and struggle to reconcile their metaphysical nature with the reality of the savage world they inhabit. While each dragon is a powerful entity, dragons also represent the origins of the world and were given care over various parts of Azeroth’s creation since time immemorial. Today, the dragons still remember their original natures and attempt to use their powers to continue their original purposes: for some, to shape stone and raise mountains; for others, to protect the forests or expand the realm of magic.[citation needed] 

Age groups

See also: Life spans
Dragon Egg HS

A dragon egg in Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.

Dragon is both the name for the race as a whole and the short title for the mature-aged dragon (aka "mature dragon").

Dragons are already conscious while in their unhatched eggs.[9]

Mature dragons

Dragonflights

Dragons

Dragons

Main

Lesser

The Dragon Aspects

Main article: Dragon Aspects

The titans chose a member of each of the five dragonflights to watch over Azeroth in their absence. However with the death of Neltharion, these roles are irrelevant the aspects however still maintain great power and leadership.:

IconSmall NozdormuDragon Nozdormu the Timeless One
Aspect of Time
Bronze dragonflight
IconSmall Alexstrasza Alexstrasza the Life-Binder
Aspect of Life
Red dragonflight
IconSmall YseraDragon Ysera the Awakened
Aspect of Nature
Green dragonflight
IconSmall Malygos Malygos the Spell-Weaver †
Aspect of Magic
Blue dragonflight
IconSmall Kalecgos Kalecgos the Spell-Weaver
Aspect of Magic
Blue dragonflight
IconSmall Deathwing Neltharion "Deathwing" the Earth-Warder †
Aspect of Earth
Black dragonflight

Consorts

The Aspects are aided in their tasks by their consorts, who are their companions, partners, and lovers. Typically, the consorts are chosen by traditional draconic courtship rituals; though a consort may be smarter or more powerful than the average dragon, only those loved by the Aspect will rise to the position. The consorts at any given time are led by the Prime Consort, the one who has held the position longest, or is else the most capable. Typically, an Aspect would have three or four consorts at any time.

Nozdormu

  • Soridormi, Prime Consort: Most sensitive to changes in the timestream apart from Nozdormu himself.[citation needed]  Participated heavily in the War of the Ancients.
  • Three other unnamed consorts.

Alexstrasza

  • Tyranastrasz, known as the Scholarly One: Older than his queen and served as her Prime Consort for tens of thousands of years. Killed by Deathwing at the Battle of Grim Batol.
  • Korialstrasz, Alexstrasza's fourth consort: "First in loyalty and love." Until recently, Alexstrasza's Prime Consort. Sacrificed self to prevent the use of the Wyrmrest Sanctums as a staging ground for the chromatic dragonflight.
  • Two other unnamed consorts who both perished during the Second War. At least two Ruby Consorts.

Ysera

Malygos

Main article: Consort of Malygos

Neltharion (Deathwing)

  • Sintharia, Prime Consort: Only consort to have survived mating with Deathwing. Mother of Nefarian and Onyxia. Later known as Sinestra. Experimented with twilight dragons, which ultimately led to her death by her own creation, Dargonax. Later resurrected by the Old Gods in the Bastion of Twilight to continue breeding twilight dragons.
  • Number and names of other mates unknown; all perished after mating with Deathwing. At least two Obsidian Consorts.

Other notable dragons

Name Role Flight Condition
IconSmall DragonBronze Anachronos Son of Nozdormu and Bronze Dragonflight heir. Led the Brood of Nozdormu in the War of the Shifting Sands. Holder of the Bronze Scepter Shard. Located outside the Caverns of Time. Bronze Alive
IconSmall DragonBlue Arygos Son and intended Heir of Malygos. One of the two likeliest successors as the Blue Aspect. Blue Deceased
IconSmall DragonBlue Azuregos Guardian of the ruins of the ancient highborne city of Eldarath in Azshara. Holder of the Inv misc gem sapphire 03 [Blue Scepter Shard]. Blue Alive
IconSmall DragonRed Caelestrasz Son and Heir of Alexstrasza. Participated in the War of the Shifting Sands. Sacrafices himself to save his mother and is taken prisoner by Deathwing. Killed in the Bastion of Twilight. Red Deceased
IconSmall DragonBronze Chronormu Bronze agent working to preserve critical timelines, and ambassador to the Wyrmrest Accord. Simultaneously found in Andorhal, Wyrmrest Temple, and Stratholme Past in the guise of Chromie. Bronze Alive
IconSmall ProtoBronze Galakrond Largest known dragon, the progenitor of dragonkind. Remains can be found in the Dragonblight where the Scourge is attempting to reanimate him. None Deceased
IconSmall DragonGreen Merithra Daughter and Heir of Ysera. Participates in the War of the Shifting Sands. Known as Merithra of the Dream. Green Alive
IconSmall Nefarian Nefarian Son of Deathwing. Alive in Blackwing Descent Black Killable-Deceased
IconSmall Onyxia Onyxia Daughter of Deathwing. Raised from the dead as an expirment of her brother Nefarian. Black Killable-Deceased
IconSmall FrostWyrm Sapphiron Ancient servant of Malygos. Lair was invaded by Arthas, who then slew and raised him as a frost wyrm. Placed under Kel'thuzad's command to guard his inner sanctum in Naxxramas. Blue Undead-Killable
IconSmall DragonBlue Tyrygosa Intended mate of Kalecgos. Assisted in the restoration of the Sunwell. Brought the nether dragons to the Nexus, curing Malygos, and beginning the Nexus War. Found at the Celestial Ridge in Netherstorm. Blue Alive
IconSmall DragonRed Vaelastrasz Agent secretly working against his rival, Nefarian, and his minions in Blackrock Spire. Ultimately succumbs to Nefarian in Blackwing Lair. Holder of the Inv misc gem ruby 03 [Red Scepter Shard]. Red Killable

Other draconic species

Main article: Dragonkin

In the RPG

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
Dragon

A dragon in the RPG.

A dragon is a reptilian creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities.[10]

The dragons of Azeroth reach maturity after a mere hundred years have passed. They are very cunning and magical, using spells to complement their powerful physical capacity. Because each creature has an intimate connection with the world around it, the death of a dragon is never a simple thing; it is a metaphysical event, driven by the creature’s natural connection to the spirit of the world. A dragon’s death can cause massive upheaval in the natural surroundings — earthquakes, surface lava explosions, a new lake flooding forth from a sudden crack in the earth‘s crust, and so on. Even young dragons, those who have not established as close a bond to the spiritual world, still make ripples in the fabric of reality when they die. Although these ripples are not always seen or felt by other races, a young dragon’s death nonetheless garners the attention of other dragons in the area — and creatures particularly attuned to the natural state of being that surrounds them.[11]

Tactics

Dragons have a number of reasons for fighting; they are territorial, and numerous factions hunt them for a variety of different reasons. With the exception of black dragons, most dragons do not attack random groups of mortals on sight; although like mortals, each dragon has a different personality and some are more aggressive than others.

Each of the dragonflights fights slightly differently, but their overall tactics are relatively similar. Fearsome alone, groups of dragons are nearly impossible to combat; all five dragonflights are intelligent, and they use everything they can think of to their advantage. When possible, the dragonflights use dragonspawn troops to open the way into combat, allowing these ground-based troops to draw their enemies’ attention while they strike from above or a distance. Even when bereft of dragonspawn support, dragons prefer to fight from the skies, resorting to melee only when necessary or when enraged. Dragons are highly intelligent and, due to their long lives, possess vast experience. Thus, they are excellent judges of when to call a tactical retreat. Yet if dragons decide that the cause is worthy, they will fight to the death for it, however hopeless the battle might be.

Blue dragons open combat with magic to disrupt their enemies, such as creating illusions or walls of force. Red and black dragons focus on offensive magic and breath attacks, using spells like chain lightning and blazing column to eliminate waves of weaker enemies. Green and bronze dragons use spells to allow them to maneuver around their opponents, or directly incapacitate their enemies; greater invisibility and charm monster are popular.

When facing a large group of enemies, dragons attempt to affect as large a group as they can with an individual spell or attack. In the battles against the qiraji a thousand years ago, dragons focused their efforts on taking down wave after wave of lesser qiraji with their breath weapons; the mortals had the responsibility of dealing with enemy commanders. This does not mean that if the opportunity presents itself a dragon won’t take a bite out of an enemy commander; however, they are more likely to wreak as much havoc as they can than spend their time hunting a specific opponent.

When fighting against a single target, dragons use spells to complement each other; one dragon might serve as a healer or cast enhancement spells like brilliance aura, while another decreases their target’s defenses with bestow curse and detrimental magic, while the third attacks directly. In this respect, dragons work together in ways similar to a mortal adventuring party, but due to their inherent abilities they can switch roles and last longer in an extended battle.[12]

Trivia

  • Even if a dragon dies while shapeshifted into their mortal form, they remain in their mortal form.[13]

References

 
  1. ^ Dawn of the Aspects: Part I, pg. 84: "...and her ability to lay more had been forever taken away, but in addition to all that she lived with the knowledge that the other dragonflights had also suffered so. She might have accepted her loss of power, but not this loss of her kind’s future."
  2. ^ The Sundering, page 157-158
  3. ^ Warcraft III manual, 27.
  4. ^ http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode3.xml
  5. ^ Warcraft: Legends Volume 3, page 19
  6. ^ Quest:Audience With The Dragon Queen
  7. ^ Dawn of the Aspects Part 5
  8. ^ Monster Guide, pg. 39
  9. ^ Wrathion's story part 2
  10. ^ Monster Guide, pg. 188
  11. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 27
  12. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 175
  13. ^ @Loreology, Twitter, July 30th, 2014. Archive lore tweets from loreology.
Advertisement