#identifying dragons

Traversing the world of Eldraine can be a fascinating experience. One time you pass through one of five courts within the Realm, and then after a while you notice your surroundings starting to shift and you find yourself in the unpredictable Wilds. Tales abound in both, of trickster fae, of food gone rogue, of perilous adventures…

Once Upon A Time by Matt Stewart

…and of course, encounters with dragons.

What to Expect

Opportunistic Dragon by Chris Rahn

Eldranian dragons come in many shapes and sizes.

Body and limbs: Their size can range from the size of a small cottage to the breadth of an entire castle. Gait and proportions of limbs can vary from dragon to dragon. Some have long limbs; some have a gait not unlike that of a lizard's; some have thick limbs while others do not. All are covered with scales, but color varies from dragon to dragon.

Wings: I've found two kinds of wing structures among Eldraine's dragons. First is the usual, bat-like wings, membrane stretched across elongated finger bones. The second one, unique to this world, has many more 'fingers' growing directly, evenly-spaced, from the main arm instead of from a common point.

Greed to Hunger

Transformed at his own wedding, he promptly ate the banquet, the gifts, and the guests.

Korvold, Fae-Cursed King by Wisnu Tan

I have not encountered tales about named dragons in Eldraine except for one. The dragon, named Korvold, wasn't even originally a dragon to begin with. His tale demonstrates one of many ways the fae can inflict punishment on those they deem deserving. It is said that he was punished for his greed, turning it into an eternal hunger he sates to this day.

Korvold's draconic form displays the unique Eldrainian dragon wing structure. Even in this form the proportions of his limbs remain humanlike. I can only assume that the numerous horns on his head are a mockery of the crown he once had.

Dangers

As the blaze raced towards her, Syr Ameril closed her eyes and pictured Castle Ardenvale so her last thoughts would be of home.

Scorching Dragonfire by Eric Velhagen

Breath weapon: fire

Eldrainian dragons live far from the Realm, far from the human settlements. The Wilds, however, are another matter. Out of their lairs, they can be found lurking in the dark forests, flying near picturesque lochs, or resting among the crags. One might even find the more massive ones reclining against castle ruins. However, a dragon might occasionally wander onto a village and wreak havoc, devouring human and beast alike, although some might just abduct them or steal treasure and take them heavens know where.

Syr Damon looked at the dragon and saw the faces of every innocent it had devoured. Suddenly, his sword blazed like the sun.

Righteousness by Howard Lyon

Knights traversing the wilds or dragons wandering into the realm are causes for conflict, and there are no shortage of tales of such confrontations. It might happen by happenstance, or the knight might be hunting the dragon down for some transgression. Fights could go to either, with the knight striking a fatal blow on some weak point or the dragon burning the other to ashes. In cases of the former, it seems as if the knights' weapons respond to their wielders' will - even burning hotter than dragonfire just to slay their foe.

Despite its ferocity, its favor can be won with a gift of something it’s never seen before.

Loch Dragon by Mike Bierek

They may be fierce, but not all dragons are truly straightforward. Some exhibit a sense of curiosity, and may even spare your life when sated. There are also dragons with some control over elemental magics capable of, for example, magical storms formed by pairs flying in circles.

Many of Ikoria's monsters can't be contained within single categories and classifications for long - in this world, seemingly straightforward creatures mutate into more complex forms, possessing characteristics of many. A monster mutating before your eyes is a spectacular sight, but do not get carried away: safety is not assured outside of the human strongholds.

Swiftwater Cliffs by Adam Paquette

However, if you are looking for dragons in this plane, you might have to look more closely.

What To Expect

Size of a pixie, rage of a hellkite.

Sprite Dragon by Gabor Szikszai

Sprite dragons stand against a lot of expectations you would have of dragons.

Body: Sprite dragons are surprisingly small, comparable to the size of a regular dragon whelp - maybe even smaller. Besides that, not much is notable.

Wings: The more eye-catching features are their wings. Sprite dragons have iridescent wings reminiscent of faerie wings that shine in blue and purple hues.

Then again, creatures can just suddenly mutate in Ikoria. Physical characteristics may change in a moment's notice, and they may gain new abilities.

Dangers

Breath weapon: unknown

Sprite dragons are really small creatures, but are said to be just as fierce as their larger relatives from other planes. Unfortunately, I have never seen it demonstrated myself, nor has it been documented elsewhere. It is unknown how aggressive they can be, if they are even outright aggressive at all.

As Narset struggled to meditate, tiny dragonlings spiraled around her, conjuring thoughts of ancient clans.

Whirlwind of Thought by Bram Sels

There exists an anecdote, however, of how a swarm of these dragons wielded some form of mental magic using one's memories. Maybe that is how they make up for their size, as such magic could be used to put much larger foes in a daze… or perhaps spark revelation or retrospection in others. Not much is known about them, unfortunately, so we can only speculate.

Even though it was one of the places in Dominaria that was relatively untouched by the Phyrexian Invasion, Otaria still experienced its own brand of devastation. The Mirari artifact tempted many and mutated the land's creatures, and the young god Karona plunged the continent into civil war. Even more, her presence attracted something else.

Otaria by Charles Urbach

Many had gone to Otaria in search of refuge and power. The dragons of Otaria came from within and without.

What to Expect

Imperial Hellkite by Matt Cavotta

Many kinds of dragons exist in Otaria. Most are red-aligned, some are green-aligned, less than a handful of known kinds are blue- or white-aligned. As such, expect many different variations in physical features, scale color, and breath weapon.

Dangers

Dragon Tyrant by Kev Walker

Breath weapon: various

The dragons living in Otaria are a strange bunch. Before the Mirari appeared in the continent, there were already dragons there. After the Phyrexian Invasion, some might have migrated to Otaria for many reasons; Rorix Bladewing is one such dragon. With the Mirari's power radiating through the land, some might have eventually become mutated. During Karona's appearance, more dragons have flown towards the continent, attracted to her aura of power.

Kilnmouth Dragon by Carl Critchlow

Dragons can also be found flying and nesting among mountains. Near the southwest portion of the continent are the Pardic Mountains, home of dwarves, barbarians and goblins. Adept dragon mages, destructive kilnmouths, commanding imperials, and nightmarish worldgorgers all live in Otaria, each with a form more dissimilar from the last.

"We speak the dragons' language of flame and rage. They speak our language of fury and honor. Together we shall weave a tale of destruction without equal."

Dragonspeaker Shaman by Kev Walker

Some of the region's inhabitants have learned to commune with the dragons. Dragonspeaker shamans tame them or at least form alliances with them, the shamans easily calling out to the dragons when needed.

Living within the forest of Krosa is a peculiar variety of dragon. The Krosan dragon is a six-legged behemoth with an armor of vines and sharp thorns, a long, massive tail that can whip enemies away, and a breath of mist that makes vegetation grow on surfaces it comes in contact with. Smaller, younger specimens were sometimes forced to fight in the pits of Cabal City. In one incident, the death-cry of one of these dragonettes summoned a fully-grown Krosan dragon to the city, causing havoc on the path to the arena. No depictions of Krosan dragons exist.

Quicksilver Dragon by Ron Spencer

Elsewhere on Otaria are eternal dragons, ethereal creatures that never seem to disappear and quicksilver dragons, sleek sea-soaring creatures with reflective hides. A vampire dragon is also said to terrorize Otaria, identifiable by its long upper canines.

"When the skies are filled with flames, the brave shall step forward to quench them." —Order prophecy

Dragonstalker by Ron Spencer

With the proliferation of dragons during Karona's war, there have been attempts to counter them. Dragonstalkers were aven warriors who took to the skies to fight these new threats.

Shiv and, to a lesser extent, Bogardan, are some of the strongest sources of red mana on Dominaria. Covering these landmasses are mountains and volcanoes. Heat is everywhere, springing from the deep, flowing through the land, filling the skies, and radiating into the surrounding waters. As hostile as these places are, many creatures call these lands home.

Shiv by rk post

Among these creatures are the plane's dragons, asserting their authority with muscle and wing and flame.

What to Expect

The undisputed master of the mountains of Shiv.

Shivan Dragon by Donato Giancola

The dragons of Shiv and Bogardan do not really have very distinguishable features when compared to the dragons of other planes. They appear as the archetypical dragon - leathery wings, scaly hide, long necks and longer tails, horns, and a breath of fire that incinerates everything. Details will differ from dragon to dragon. Some may have red scales, others may have green. Some might have horns, others might have none at all.

Fighting for Honor

In an attempt to restore pride to Shiv and to forge an undying legacy, Rorix traveled far to compete for glory in Otaria's Grand Coliseum.

Rorix Bladewing by Clint Cearley

A large part of Shiv was lost during the Phyrexian Invasion, phased out during the war. Some dragons tried to restore their homeland, but others tried to find ways to restore their honor. Rorix Bladewing was one of the latter. He flew to Otaria and fought in the pits. His speed and power brought him in line with other champion pit fighters. He died in battle, but was eventually reanimated as Bladewing the Risen.

He was a very fast flyer with four wings. He had a long body, with a head full of sharp teeth. He had long sharp claws, and his body was covered with red scales. 

Dangers

A dragon's scale can be carved into a mighty shield, provided you can procure a dragon tooth to cut it.

Shivan Hellkite by Kev Walker

Breath weapon: fire

The dragons of Shiv are perhaps the most well-known among the dragons of the Multiverse. They rule the skies with their fire and ferocity. They can burn their enemies with dragonfire, tear them with their sharp claws, and sweep them away with their wings and tails. 

However, Shivan dragons are not merely unthinking beasts. At least once in their history they have been rallied as an army, defending Dominaria and their homeland. They've had an unstable relationship with the viashino of Shiv, sometimes acting as allies and other times enemies.

Sometimes an eruption in Shiv produces something more dangerous than a mere river of molten rock.

Volcanic Dragon by Chris Rahn

Some dragons have hides so tough only their teeth can pierce through them. Other dragons reside within volcanoes, lying in wait until they decide to finally spring into action. The viashino and goblins can be threatening, but many would agree that dragonfire is worse.

Cleansing the world, one breath at a time. 

Bogardan Hellkite by Scott M. Fischer

Bogardan is as inhospitable and unpredictable as Shiv. The creatures that inhabit it are as volatile as the land, and the dragons that fly through its ash-filled skies are no different. Bogardan hellkites are dangerous the instant you see them - unpredictable, fast on their wings, and quick to burn with their flame.

In eastern Terisiare in Dominaria is a mountainous region called the Kher Ridges. Besides the nearby Caves of Koilos, the most notable thing about this region is the presence of a large population of kobolds. These creatures reside in a stony fortress fittingly known as Kher Keep.

"They're still here?! The cockroach may have finally met its match." —Teferi

Kher Keep by Parente

There is one particular kind of creature the kobolds of Kher fear and worship: dragons.

What to Expect

Doom casts its own flickering shadow.

Scourge of Kher Ridges by Daren Bader

I have found the dragons of Kher Ridges to be a unique kind of Dominarian dragon, soaring through the skies with fiery wings.

Head: One notable physical characteristic of these dragons are their long, twisting horns. Some only have one pair; others have two. A long, slender neck connects the head to their equally slender body.

Wings: Their wings are the other, and perhaps more, distinguishing feature. Whether the flames are just raging on top or trailing behind them, broad fiery wings are a sure sign of a dragon from the Kher Ridges.

Territorial Tyrant

Prossh, Skyraider of Kher by Todd Lockwood

The dragon Prossh is feared throughout the region as a highly aggressive and territorial creature. He is very protective of the lands he deems his own, razing villages to the ground just because of a single trespasser who unwittingly wandered into his territory. He demands tribute from the region's inhabitants. The kobolds in particular worship Prossh, with some occasionally offering themselves up so that he may spare the others.

Fire trails from behind Prossh's wings. A mane of fire likewise rages from the crown of his head down to the neck, running between a pair of straight, twisting horns. What appears to be a series of fiery vents line the sides of Prossh's neck.

Dangers

Breath weapon: fire

Special trait/s: fiery wings

Not much is known about the dragons of Kher Ridges. However, simply looking at them, their horns and flaming wings lend to an intimidating visage. It is unknown how their fiery wings factor in combat, and whether they even light them up at will. While there are rocs that also patrol the skies, everyone living in this region knows which winged creature to fear more. One of them has a breath of fire, after all.

Amonkhet is unforgiving. Its deserts are filled with undead, cursed to walk forever until only their bones remain. Everything took a turn for the worse for the plane's last known city, Naktamun, when the Second Sun aligned between the horns on the horizon. The Luxa's waters turned red with blood. Forgotten gods rose to spread chaos. The Hekma was torn down. Venturing out among the dunes was the only way out of the devastation.

Ramunap Ruins by Florian de Gesincourt

Beyond the barrier are innumerable monstrosities. Among them are the plane's dragons.

What to Expect

Glorybringer by Grzegorz Rutkowski

Amonkhetu dragons are large, ferocious creatures with crocodilian characteristics.

Head: Amonkhetu dragons have a crocodilian head, with a long snout and jaws lined with sharp teeth, in addition to the ridges that start near their eyes. A short, thick neck connects the head to the body.

Limbs: Amonkhetu dragons' limbs appear shorter than those of dragons from most planes. Their fingers are short but end with sharp claws. 

Body: Reddish scales and scutes cover their bodies, with the undersides having a much paler color. The line of ridges that start from their heads continue along their backs and end at their tails. Those used in the trials are fitted with shining, ornate armor.

The Trespasser

Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh by Raymond Swanland

In the world of Amonkhet, elder dragon Nicol Bolas had another title: God-Pharaoh. The people and gods revered him as they aspire to be worthy of a glorious afterlife. However, the inscriptions on the old walls identify him differently. In reality, he is the Great Trespasser who brought upon a sudden genocide of Naktamun's older generations and an upheaval and repurposing of Amonkhetu belief and culture for his own ends.

Dangers

What the initiates face in the final trial is completely at Hazoret's discretion.

Glorybringer by Sam Burley

Breath weapon: fire

Most Amonkhetu dragons live in the wilderness, content to fly and hunt freely over the sands. Sometimes one is captured and brought into the city. Within, they have one fate - to be put into the trials by the gods. Creatures such as dragons, with their savagery and might, prove to be appropriate obstacles. Besides the best initiates locked in battle against each other, Hazoret's Trial of Zeal in particular usually feature an armored dragon to test the combatants even further.

Initiates need worry only about the trials. Everything else is in the hands of the gods.

Lay Claim by Chris Rallis

In Fiora, the high city of Paliano has been shaken up. The king has been assassinated and a new ruler has been crowned. Gossip, outrage, and chaos spring up all around the city. Wild animals strike back, goblins tear up former Academy members' homes, and now the former captain of the guard is leading a revolution to depose the reigning queen and install a new form of government.

Sovereign's Realm by Daniel Ljunggeren

There are many ways to secure and steal one's position in Fiora - bribery, murder, theft, alliance, and dragons.

What to Expect

Now that we have a better sampling of dragons from Fiora, we can talk and hypothesize about them more.

Skyline Despot by Lucas Graciano

Fioran dragons can vary wildly in appearance, but one thing's for certain: some of them aren't quite "wild and free" anymore.

While some examples are decorated by ornate frills and spirals in many parts of their bodies, others can have a plainer appearance, such as the skyline despot. Compared to the scourge, the despot appears rougher and more vicious.

Head: The skyline despot, compared to the scourge, has a narrower head with ridges, spines, and horns. A line of spines start from the center of its head.

Body: Its body is black and lack any pattern the scourge displays. The line of spines that start from its head continue to its back. The longer ones are webbed, especially those between the wings. Some despots wear a metallic collar.

Dangers

Paliano is already perilous to start with, but its dangers were hidden from view. Now, trouble can spring up anytime from anywhere. Things become more complicated when participants become larger and more deadly. While we know very little about Fiora's dragons in general except those characteristics all dragons have, we can talk about them more now that we have two examples of dragons from this plane.

"Sit. Fetch. Devastate."

Domesticated Hydra by Matthias Kollros

We have to consider first the situation of the wildlife in Fiora, especially the larger ones. While there are wilder examples, there are tame and domesticated ones too. Some are even kept as pets on leashes. A few are decorated with metal and fabric and kept in gardens. Others are kept in menageries together with other animals. Someone obviously put that ornate metal collar on the despot's neck. Whoever owns that dragon wants to protect their position well.

Where does the scourge of the throne fit into this? I suspect it's not trained as much as it was provoked. It isn't adorned by anything artificial, which opens at least two possibilities: it's either more intelligent than the average dragon to know what to attack and why, or it was just let out by someone against the ruling regime, knowing how destructive dragons can be.

Kaladesh is a vibrant world where everything is accomplished through artifice created by its brilliant inventors. Every fabricated swirl and spiral is inspired by the natural world, which in turn is sculpted by aether flowing high above the skies and through the air. This intimate relationship with aether sets Kaladesh apart from other planes, with the aether influencing the landscape and its creatures.

Mountain by Eytan Zana

In this world, dragons are both feared and admired, decorated with elegant forms while still being strategic and brutal hunters.

What to Expect

Skyship Stalker by Chris Rahn

Kaladeshi dragons are notable for their tigerlike appearance.

Head: The Kaladeshi dragon's head is shorter compared to other planes' dragons. This, together with other features such as large canines, orange fur and black stripes, makes their heads look like a tiger’s. Some grow a mane along the spine. Two long, curved horns grow from the sides of their head.

Body: The bodies of Kaladeshi dragons are covered with fur - a trait rarely seen on the Multiverse's dragons. This orange hide decorated with darker-colored stripes is the Kaladeshi dragon's most striking feature, making them look like winged tigers. Designs of fine spirals and curves also cover their chest region.

Wings: Kaladeshi dragons have enormous and powerful wings. On some specimens, their coat of fur extends to the membranes of their wings. Known examples lack the wing thumb claws most kinds of dragons have.

Limbs: The Kaladeshi dragon's arms are muscular. Their appendages look like tiger paws, with shorter and thicker digits compared to other planes' dragons. Digit count differs from dragon to dragon, with some having five and others having six.

Dangers

Kaladeshi dragons are seen more frequently on less urbanized parts of the world, far from the busier airways chock-full of airships and thopters. They are apex predators, feeding on the plane's larger creatures such as skywhales and hydras. Most of the time they ambush their prey, waiting for them to come into view and then launching towards them using their powerful wings. When attacking, these dragons hold flame within their mouths. They then quickly finish their prey with a fiery, explosive bite.

Skyship Stalker by Tyler Jacobson

Dragons obviously pose a threat to airships and aether harvester towers. These dragons, while not as large as dragons from other planes, are tremendously fast and just as destructive. One reason airships are armed with harpoons is to defend against aerial predators such as dragons, either driving them off or straight up killing them. Some daring dwarves resort to a less violent approach - instead latching onto a dragon, finding the correct pressure point, and then knocking the dragon unconscious.

The dragons perching in Freejam's towers symbolize the zone's fierce independence. 

Freejam Regent by Volkan Baga

On the other hand, dragons are a source of inspiration for the plane's inventors and engineers. The elegant form of the dragon inspires architects, while engineers try to emulate the strength and function of its flame. Being an agile flying creature of irrepressible freedom and ferocity, the dragon finds itself a symbol of the zone full of heights and daring inventors and aeronauts. All around Freejam, dragon motifs and figures can be seen - from its dragon-shaped archway to the dragon statues at the tops of its tallest structures. Dragons even perch on some of these towers.