Dragon

Dragons (known as nelghor in orcish) are immense, powerful, winged reptilian creatures, created from proto-dragons by the titans and keepers to safeguard the world of Azeroth millennia ago. They are divided into several types called dragonflights. Since the fall of Deathwing, they have lost their titan-given powers as well as the ability to reproduce. They still remain powerful sorcerers, however.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."The Last of the Last As of the blooming of Amirdrassil the Dragon Aspects, including Vyranoth, were empowered by Azeroth. Though gifted with their ancestral power again, it remains to be seen if their ability to reproduce has also returned.
== Name ==
Dragon is the name for these beings in the Common language.: "Zuluhed was bombarded with vivid dreams of his clan taming and riding strange, powerful winged creatures. In the human tongue, these beasts were called dragons." It's not confirmed what they call themselves in Draconic.
In Orcish, dragons are called nelghor, meaning "loyal beasts". The Dragonmaw clan originally used this word to refer to their rylak mounts on Draenor. After arriving on Azeroth, they applied the term to dragons as well. All orcs eventually came to refer to dragons as nelghor.
A female dragon is sometimes called a dragoness.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 4, pg. 68, 73; chapter 12, pg. 198; chapter 17, pg. 302 (paperback)
== History ==
The proto-dragons were the ancestors of dragons before they evolved into the sapient, beautiful majestic creatures that they are known as today.http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode3.xml Brann Bronzebeard recently uncovered evidence, corroborated by reports from adventurers in Deepholm, that proto-dragons and dragons may have originated from elemental drakes (i.e, stone dragons and storm dragons).Ask CDev Answers - Round 2 Dragons share a common ancestry with both gryphons and wyverns,Warcraft III manual, pg. 27 but it is unknown how far back they diverged.
Galakrond, a massive proto-dragon,Warcraft: Legends Volume 3, pg. 19 is known as the "progenitor of dragonkind." It is said that it is from Galakrond the titans created the Aspects,Audience With The Dragon Queen but this is a rumor the Aspects actively encouraged so as to keep the truth about Galakrond a secret from the dragonflights.Dawn of the Aspects Part 5
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 was 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. Over time, the dragons have endured much hardship and only a handful still remain, hostile to all that may tamper with the titans' creations.
=== Aegwynn and the dragon hunt ===
823 years before the First War, a large hunting party of demons were stalking blue dragons in Northrend, having also managed to kill a green one.The Last Guardian, pg. 111 - 124 Aegwynn traveled to the distant north and tracked these demons into the mountains. There, she found that the demons were killing and draining their preys of their innate magic. The mighty dragons, who had fled from the ever-advancing march of mortal societies, found themselves too evenly matched against the dark magics of the Legion. Aegwynn confronted the demons, and with help from the noble dragons, eradicated them.
=== Second War ===
Dragons first appeared as a unit of the Old Horde in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. They were described as such:
Dragons are native to the untamed northlands of Azeroth. Reclusive by nature, Dragons have had little contact with their earthbound neighbors over the centuries. Rend and Maim, the Chieftains of The Black Tooth Grin clan, masterminded the capture of the Dragon Queen Alexstraza by the Dragonmaw clan. With their Queen held captive, these majestic creatures have been forced into subservience by the Horde - her progeny being raised by the Dragonmaw clan to slaughter the enemies of the Horde.
By combining their incredible destructive powers with a keen intellect, the Dragons represent the single most powerful force within the Horde. The devastating flame that issues forth from the mouths of older serpents can level any number of enemy troops, while their powerful wings allow them to tirelessly soar through the skies.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Air Units of the Horde, Dragon
Despite being depicted with green sprites, the dragons of Warcraft II were enslaved members of the red dragonflight as later lore developed. These red dragons were additionally explained to be mounted by orcish riders instead of acting on their own. The Dragonmaw riders launched attacks on Lordaeron through the war and even after its end.Day of the Dragon, chapter 3
In Beyond the Dark Portal the dragons of the Horde were then being described as once having been enslaved but now continuing to feed upon humans, roosting at Blackrock Spire and being led by Deathwing.The Battle for Nethergarde (WC2 Human), Dragons of Blackrock Spire (WC2 Orc) Later lore changed them to being willing members of the black dragonflight.
=== Third War ===
On some melee maps dragon roosts were available to buy dragons. The colors of the dragons varied depending on the tileset of the maps.
== Dragonflights ==
thumb|Dragons of the five great dragonflights
=== Main ===
* Black dragonflight
* Blue dragonflight
* Bronze dragonflight
* Green dragonflight
* Red dragonflight	
=== Derived ===
* Chromatic dragonflight created as experiments in Blackrock Mountain from samples of the five main dragonflights
* Infinite dragonflight corrupted bronze dragons that seek to subvert the timelines
* Netherwing dragonflight created by black dragon eggs being altered by energies of the Twisting Nether
* Nightmare dragonflight corrupted green dragons by Old Gods' forces
* Twilight dragonflight originally created with experimentation from various dragonflights stolen eggs through dark magic	
== Biology and culture ==
Although each dragonflight has its own unique characteristics, there are a number of traits shared by all dragons.
=== Physique ===
The older a dragon gets, the larger they grow. They have enough sexual dimorphism that it's possible to determine if they're male or female based on their appearance.Day of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 29; chapter 9, pg. 136 Specifically, males have larger crests.The Well of Eternity, chapter 13, pg. 190
Dragons have keen senses far surpassing even those of high elves,Day of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 28 including exceptional hearing,Day of the Dragon, chapter 17, pg. 296; chapter 20, pg. 351 eyesight,The Demon Soul, chapter 11, pg. 177 night vision, and smell.Day of the Dragon, chapter 17, pg. 301 They are able to recognize the scents of individual mortals,Dawn of the Aspects, part III, chapter 2 and some mortals even say that they can, within limitations, smell magic.
Dragons are covered in scales, but they're vulnerable at the back of the skull and can be killed if struck there.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 14, pg. 253-254; chapter 15, pg. 260-261 (paperback) Dragon scale is an extremely strong and durable material, and very small amounts of it can go a long way in crafting.Scales of the Arcane One of the few things capable of ripping through their scales are the beings' own claws.Day of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 31 When a dragon shakes their body, their scales clatter rhythmically. They generally lose scales in the same way that other creatures lose fur. The exposed area eventually hardens and becomes new scales, but until then, the soft flesh is vulnerable to weapons and poison.The Demon Soul, chapter 2, pg. 30-33 Holding a scale or other part of a dragon supposedly grants a hold of their power, as expressed in a saying once heard by Rhonin: "To bear some bit of the greatest of leviathans is to have a hold on their power".Day of the Dragon, chapter 17, pg. 291 Korialstrasz internally remarked that a gem he had magically fashioned from one of his scales bore properties that would've astounded any mage if they'd known how to cast "dragon magic", which few do.Day of the Dragon, chapter 18, pg. 319
Dragons are known for their deadly breaths, each dragonflight having a different one. But cutting off their air passage when they are seeking to unleash their internal powers might end in catastrophic results, such as the dragon exploding from within.The Demon Soul, chapter 16
Dragon blood is scarlet in color.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 4, pg. 68 (paperback) Most animals can't tolerate ingesting dragon blood, with the notable exception of crocolisks, whose stomachs are protected like plate armor.Night of the Dragon, chapter 5, pg. 63-64Night of the Dragon, chapter 5, pg. 67-68
While the blue dragonflight are the ones most attuned to it, all dragons are "creatures of magic". As a result, draining the magic from them is even more lethal than plunging a sword through their throat.Night of the Dragon, chapter 5, pg. 65 Dragons always keep various natural magical defenses about themselves.The Demon Soul, chapter 7, pg. 113
Dragons are born to the sky.The Demon Soul, chapter 11, pg. 173-174, 177-179The Well of Eternity, chapter 16, pg. 234 Despite their size, they can leap into the air with less effort than many other flying creatures,Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 6, pg. 94-96 (paperback) fly much faster than hippogryphs and most other creatures, and cover several miles in a matter of minutes.The Demon Soul, chapter 16, pg. 253 They can fly at least as high as Azeroth's , thousands of feet above the ground.The War of the Shifting Sands Racing has always been a popular competition among dragons,Dawn of the Aspects, part II, chapter 2 and they play games where they maneuver through mountain ranges from the moment they can fly.
They are also skilled swimmers. Some are more born to the water than others, but even members of the red dragonflight—who are primarily creatures of the sky—can swim very well, and Korialstrasz had the ability to hold his breath for more than an hour.Night of the Dragon, chapter 3, pg. 43
Dragons do not need as much sleep as most races.Stormrage, chapter 12, pg. 181 (paperback) They can slumber for minutes, days, or weeks at a time, depending on the circumstances.Night of the Dragon, chapter 5, pg. 61 During some periods, the black dragon Sinestra went for more than a century without sleeping, though this is not normal for most of her kind.Night of the Dragon, chapter 16, pg. 199 Dragons do dream, a fact not limited to the green dragonflight.The Sundering, chapter 5, pg. ??
At least some dragons can survive being submerged in lava, but only for a short time before burning to death. If gravely injured, red and black dragons can dive into lava and use its heat to revive themselves, but this is more the way of the black flight and is a very unpleasant experience for reds.Night of the Dragon, chapter 18, pg. 230-231; chapter 23, pg. 291
=== Name ===
Every dragon has a unique name; among them, "a name is granted to one and one alone".The Well of Eternity, chapter 13, pg. 192 Most of the dragonflights have unique naming patterns, however, not all flights use them extensively.
Common name suffixes
Dragonflight 	Red 	Green 	Blue 	Bronze 	Black
Male suffix 	-strasz 	-us, -ikus
(no standard suffix)	-gos 	-dormu, -rmu	-ion, -ian
Female suffix 	-strasza	-sera, -ra	-gosa	-dormi, -rmi	-ia
Gender neutral suffix	-stra 	Unknown 	-go 	-dorm 	Unknown
=== Behavior ===
Dragon minds are far more complex and advanced than those of the short-lived races. They think on a larger scale and can cope with sensory impressions that humans would find overwhelming, such as a spell to expand one's view in all directions.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 13, pg. 209 (paperback)
Among their kind, many dragons regard with arrogance the mortal races which they call the "lesser races". The others are intrigued by them, and take pleasure in mingling among them with their mortal forms.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 6
Since dragons live long, and their mind refuses to forget the horrors that have beset this world for ages upon ages, the duty and burdens of the world can often weigh heavy on their mind wishing for silence or the peace of a dream. Consequently, some dragonkin specialize in tinctures and tonics to ease the burdens for a time, so that the dragons might find their way to a dream.Dreamkeeper Y'sani#Quotes
A common draconic show of affection is to gently nuzzle each other.The Well of Eternity, chapter 14, pg. 214Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 3, pg. 48; chapter 18, pg. 321 (paperback)Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 19, pg. 333-334 (paperback)"Visage Day" They can also hug each other by folding their wings around the other's body. They express respect or obeisance by bowing their headsThrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 22, pg. 396 (paperback) (which can also be done as a polite greeting) and gratitude by sliding their tails back and forth.Dawn of the Aspects, part I, chapter 1 They prick up their ears when attentiveThrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 13, pg. 214 (paperback) and flatten them against their skulls when angered.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 2, pg. 36 (paperback) Dragon cheers are described as sounding thrumming and musical, and their laughter is oddly sweet and bell-like.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 14, pg. 250 (paperback) When fighting, they snap, hiss, and display their teeth and claws to each other.Dawn of the Aspects, part I, chapter 3 Despite being covered in scales, dragons visibly blush when they feel embarrassed.
Objects called oathstones are important to dragons as bonds of agreement.Scourge of the Downs
Dragons enjoy the sport Lish Llrath.
=== Life cycle ===
Dragon is both the name for the race as a whole and the short title for the mature-aged dragon (aka "mature dragon"). When young, dragons are known for their bloodlust, which they eventually grow out of when becoming older and wiser.Day of the Dragon, chapter 18 Once a dragon has come of age, it is acceptable for them to choose a different gender identity than the one they were born with if they wish.
*Whelp (whelpling)
*Drake 
*Dragon (mature)
*Wyrm 
==== Mature dragons ====
* Black dragon
* Blue dragon
* Bronze dragon
* Green dragon
* Red dragon	
* Infinite dragon 
* Nether dragon 
* Proto-dragon 
* Twilight dragon 
* Storm dragon	
==== Reproduction ====
Since the fall of Deathwing during the Cataclysm, the main dragonflights have all lost the ability to lay eggs.
According to Sinestra, it was possible for dragons from different flights to interbreed, but the flights tended to keep strictly to their own kind due to tradition and prejudice.Night of the Dragon, chapter 11, pg. 146
When dragons could still reproduce, only half of all eggs ever hatched, and only half of those who hatched survived to adulthood—a harsh beginning to a life of wonder and glory.The Well of Eternity, chapter 13, pg. 195 Dragon eggs can range from being the size of an elf's fist to being almost as large as one whole elf.The Sundering, chapter 1, pg. 23 Newly-laid eggs are smooth and nearly round. As they get closer to hatching, they take on an oval shape, and their shells become rough and scaly.Day of the Dragon, chapter 14, pg. 245-246 At this point, they shine with a pulsing glow from within and have veins running through their thick shells.Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 22, pg. 337, 340 (paperback) Dragons are already conscious while in their unhatched eggs.To Catch a Thief
Dragons from the same clutch of eggs refer to each other as "clutch brother"/"clutch sister" and are considered the closest of siblings.Dawn of the Aspects, part I, chapter 2Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 2, pg. 31 Dragons also use the term "my blood" for individuals they have close ties with; not just comrades or members of the same flight, but closer yet, such as clutch siblings or parents and offspring.
==== Death and afterlife ====
When dragons near the end of their lives, they fly to the Dragon Wastes in the center of the Dragonblight in Northrend to die and enrich the land with their passing.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Units, Frost Wyrm As a result, the Dragon Wastes are a place of powerful magical energies left by the spirits of the dead dragons, and some of their bones still hold this power. The taunka believe that this magic can be wielded by those that the dragons' spirits deem worthy.Fiend The reason they fly specifically to the Dragonblight is possibly because it is the site of Wyrmrest Temple and the Chamber of Aspects, where the Dragon Aspects were allegedly empowered by the Pantheon. Many choose to set their bodies close to the resting place of Galakrond, since he is (incorrectly) believed to have been the progenitor of dragons.Dawn of the Aspects, part III, chapter 5
Kalecgos has variously thought of his own soul as "what passed for a dragon's soul" and "any soul one of his kind might have",Dawn of the Aspects, part I, chapter 5 implying that their souls are different in some way from short-lived races. Members of the blue dragonflight often stay near the Dragonblight to commune with the spirits of long-dead dragons.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Creatures of Lordaeron & Northrend, Dragons, Blue
As they are creatures of the sky, the Wild God Aviana considers dragons to be under her protection. Prior to the War of the Ancients, the souls of dragons who died were brought to Aviana's realm, the great tree G'Hanir in the Emerald Dream, to spend the afterlife alongside birds and other winged creatures.The Demon Soul, chapter 15 It's unclear if this is still the case; G'Hanir died alongside Aviana during the War of the Ancients, but she set out to restore the tree after her resurrection during the Cataclysm.Tome of the Ancients: G'Hanir, the Mother Tree Some dragons believe that the spirits of their dead kin "ascend" to the Chamber of Aspects.Wyrmrest Vanquisher#Quotes Zeryxia claimed that she could hear the voice of the deceased Sintharia whispering to her from "the Dark Beyond".The Twilight Master After Ysera died, her soul was sent to the Shadowlands realm of Ardenweald to recover in a wildseed, while Sapphiron was summoned by Kel'Thuzad in the form of an undead dragon in Maldraxxus. Maldraxxus is also home to other undead dragons such as Xantuth the Blighted and the Rotwing Construct, but their origin is not stated.
=== Shapeshifting ===
Dragons and some other dragonkin like the dracthyr have the innate ability to shapeshift into many different forms,Traveler: The Shining Blade, chapter 28 primarily the various humanoid races. As evidenced by Alurmi, Wrathion, and some of Chronormu's appearances, they have this ability even when they are as young as whelps.
They shapeshift for a variety of reasons, the main one being that it is easier to communicate, work with, and live among mortals while wearing a mortal guise.Penumbrius#QuotesThe Dragon Queen (Frenzyheart) / The Dragon Queen (Oracles) When the Aspects first realized that dragons were destined to share Azeroth with the younger races, the timeways told them that they had to learn to live alongside them. As such, each of them took on a form to allow them to see the world as the young races do. The dragonflights keep disguised spies placed among each of the younger races, who (in the dragons' view) have a tendency to cause disasters when left to their own devices.The Well of Eternity, chapter 11, pg. 157-163 Even when the mortals they interact with know their true nature, some dragons choose to use their humanoid form to appear less threatening as a show of courtesy.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 13, pg. 217 Other reasons include moving unnoticed through areas where a being as large as a dragon would be easily spotted,Night of the Dragon, chapter 9, pg. 115 fitting in smaller spaces,The Nexus Vault (mage) / The Nexus Vault (priest): or even for enjoyment: one of the great pleasures of humanoid forms is that soft skin is more sensitive to receiving a loving touch than scales.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 2, pg. 26 (paperback) / pg. 32 (e-book) According to Desharin, dragons generally do not use their disguises to take positions of power among the short-lived races, with some exceptions: black dragons often use humanoid disguises to manipulate mortal affairs (with Deathwing and Onyxia both famously infiltrating human kingdoms) and Korialstrasz became a member of the Council of Six under the name Krasus. Up to the Second War, it was considered a secret even amongst mages that dragons had such transformation powers.
All dragons are individuals and prefer different shapes for different reasons, though some dragons will have shapes looking like those of their own relatives. Deathwing, Onyxia and Nefarian all had visage shapes featuring similar facial features.Beyond the Dark Portal, chapter 8 When a dragon comes of age, they undergo a ceremony known as Visage Day and cast a special incantation that defines their main mortal form ("visage"). The choice of visage is deeply personal and says much about the dragon's personality, as it is not only about how they wish for others to perceive them, but also about how they see themselves and how they experience the world alongside others. The guises of the former Aspects are elaborate and formal, as they command the respect of both dragons and mortals, and many dragons follow their example with their own visages. Others like Kalecgos intentionally choose humbler forms as a contrast to this, since they want to walk among mortals as friends and equals. Yet others, like Onyxia, view shapeshifting solely as a tool to manipulate mortals and take what they want, which was reflected in Onyxia's choice of a form that appealed to human vanity. Tyrygosa refuses to take the form of a human, since she finds elves to be more aesthetically pleasing.Dragon Hunt While all dragons decide for themselves what form they want to use, each of the main dragonflights tend to gravitate to appearing as certain races. Greens prefer the forms of night elves due to their relationship with Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage. Reds prefer high elves / blood elves, blues prefer humans, and bronzes (though their task necessitates a variety of disguises) seem to enjoy appearing as gnomes.
Even after choosing a visage, dragons are not limited to a single disguise and can assume any form they wish,Dawn of the Aspects, part V, chapter 2 as shown by Deathwing, Korialstrasz, Acridostrasz, Kairozdormu, and Vaelastrasz all appearing as different races on different occasions. However, if they use a form different from one they're used to, this may be evident by unnatural-looking movements.Hellscream
They are not limited to appearing as humanoids—for example, they can also take on the appearance of proto-dragons or disguise themselves as part of a treeDawn of the Aspects, part I, chapter 4—nor even to lifeforms that actually exist. A red dragon assigned to spy on Cenarius prior to the War of the Ancients used a form whose face resembled a strange mix of reptile and elf. During his long madness, Malygos wore the form of a strange, insect-like humanoid creature,Day of the Dragon, chapter 9Legacy of the Aspects and on one occasion, Nozdormu used an elf-like shape with the face of an owl.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 21, pg. 368 (paperback) Dragons also do not need to transform the entirety of their body all at once, and can instead choose to alter only certain parts of it,Dawn of the Aspects, part V, chapter 1 such as stretching a smile to inhuman length and revealing menacing draconic teeth.Day of the Dragon, chapter 10
Transforming is normally a quick process that takes place in the space of a heartbeat or the blink of an eye, with the dragon's body changing faster than the eye can follow.Night of the Dragon, chapter 7, pg. 87Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 4, pg. 61; chapter 12, pg. 204 (paperback) Sometimes, the transformation is accompanied by a swirl of magic that envelops the dragon as they shift, such as a cloud of golden magic for Nozdormu and Chronormu, swirls of arcane magic for Kalecgos, and a cloud of ash for Onyxia. However, rapidly shifting back and forth can be very painful and exhausting.
Dragons are more vulnerable in mortal form, such as being more sensitive to poison, but they can still survive wounds and injuries that would kill or incapacitate humans and other mortal races.Night of the Dragon, chapter 6, pg. 79 Their senses—including sight, smell, and night vision—remain much more acute than those of the beings they disguise themselves as,The Well of Eternity, chapter 5, pg. 70The Well of Eternity, chapter 13, pg. 189 though their night vision is implied to be weaker than when they're in their true shape.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 4, pg. 74 (paperback): "Even in the dim light with her human eyes, [Kirygosa] could see that each head [on Chromatus] was a different color [...]" When in mortal form, they also require far less food than when they are in their dragon form.
Many dragons have nicknames they use when in the company of mortals, since dragon names can sound "a bit formal" for the younger races. The clothes they wear in their humanoid forms are not true clothes but rather a false image conjured by the dragon. This also means that they are much more durable than true garments.Night of the Dragon, chapter 18, pg. 229 If such clothes do get damaged, the disguised dragon can make them whole again with a simple wave of their hand. When they resume their dragon form, any clothes they're wearing either fade to nothingNight of the Dragon, chapter 15, pg. 195 or get shredded, fly into the air, and settle on their body to become scales.Night of the Dragon, chapter 1, pg. 12 If a dragon carries an injury in their true form, this will be reflected in their mortal guise as well (such as with Sinestra's various scars and burns).Night of the Dragon, chapter 11, pg. 144 If they die while shapeshifted, they remain in their shapeshifted form.Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, chapter 1, pg. 11-13 (paperback)@Loreology, Twitter, July 30th, 2014. Archive lore tweets from loreology.
Various factors can cause dragons to become trapped in their mortal guise. During the Cataclysm, Ysondre appeared exclusively as a night elf since she was too weak to assume her true form.Taerar's Fall Dar'Khan Drathir used an enchanted collar to keep Kalecgos trapped in his mortal form. Years later, the Twilight's Hammer did the same to Kirygosa using a magical chain.Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, chapter 19, pg. 338 (paperback)
== The Dragon Aspects ==
The titans chose a member of each of the five dragonflights to watch over Azeroth in their absence. Several have died, though others have risen to take their place:
==== Current ====
Name 	Empowered by	Title 	Description 	Status
Alexstrasza	Eonar 	The Life-BinderThe Dragon-Queen 	First Aspect of the red dragonflight. A red leviathan chosen to safeguard all living creatures in the world. She is the sister of Ysera, Aspect of the green dragonflight. 	
Nozdormu 	Aman'Thul 	The Timeless One 	First Aspect of the bronze dragonflight. A massive bronze dragon chosen to guard time itself and police the ever-spinning pathways of fate and destiny. He is in contention with a group known as the infinite dragonflight; led by a potential future version of himself known as Murozond. 	
Kalecgos 	Embrace 	The Spell-WeaverThe Steward of Magic	Second Aspect of the blue dragonflight. He was a former investigator for Malygos and guardian of , he succeeded Malygos as the new Blue Aspect after his death.Alignment (quest) 	
Merithra 	N/A 	The Dreamer 	Second Aspect of the green dragonflight. Daughter of Ysera, and de-facto leader of the flight following Ysera's death. She truly accepted her position as the Dreamer following the Primalists attack on the Emerald Dream.The Dreamer (quest) 	
Ebyssian 	N/A 	The Earth-Warder 	Second Aspect of the black dragonflight. Uncorrupted black dragon rescued as an egg from Neltharion's Lair by Huln Highmountain. He was appointed Aspect of the Black Dragonflight by both Wrathion and Sabellian following the events of Aberrus and Sarkareth's death. 	
Vyranoth 	Azeroth 	The FrozenheartAspect of Storms 	Originally the Primal Incarnate of Frost. She joined the Aspects after Fyrakk's attack on the Emerald Dream and was empowered by Azeroth following her brother's defeat at Amirdrassil, alongside the Aspects proper. She has taken the Netherwing and Thorignir, as well as some proto-dragons who follow her still, as her flights; representing the less conventional dragons.	
==== Previous ====
Name 	Empowered by	Title 	Description 	Status
Malygos 	Norgannon 	The Spell-Weaver 	First Aspect of the blue dragonflight. This blue dragon was chosen as the guardian of magic and hidden arcanum. After declaring war against all mortal spellcasters, he was killed by agents of Alexstrasza. 	
Neltharion Deathwing	Khaz'goroth 	The Earth-Warder The Destroyer 	First Aspect of the black dragonflight. This mighty black wyrm was given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world. He was driven mad by the whispers of the Old Gods and managed to drive the blue dragonflight to near extinction, naming himself as Deathwing. He was slain by forces of the Alliance, Horde and adventurers, with the help of Thrall and the other Aspects.	
Ysera 	Eonar 	The Awakened The Dreamer (former)	First Aspect of the green dragonflight. She was chosen to watch over the growing wilds of the world from her verdant realm, the Emerald Dream. Ysera fell to the Nightmare and was put to rest by Tyrande Whisperwind. Her spirit was reborn in Ardenweald. She is the sister of Alexstrasza, Aspect of the red 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.Day of the Dragon, chapter 4
Name	Consort of 	Role 	Status
 	Nozdormu 	Prime Consort. Most sensitive to changes in the timestream apart from Nozdormu himself.Soridormi#Gossip Participated heavily in the War of the Ancients. 	
 	Alexstrasza	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. 	
 	Alexstrasza	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. 	
 	Ysera 	Taken by The Nightmare. Later freed, and returned to fight along Ysera's side before sacrificing himself to defeat Lethon. 	
 	Malygos 	Prime Consort. Perished after Deathwing's betrayal during the War of the Ancients. Raised by the Lich King to lead the Frostbrood into war. 	
 	Malygos 	Matron Protectorate of Mazthoril. 	
 	Malygos 	Guardian of Coldarra. Killed by Keristrasza as revenge for her imprisonment. 	
 	Malygos 	Taken captive by Malygos, and forced to be his new consort as revenge for Saragosa's death. 	
 	Deathwing 	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.	
==== Other consorts ====
*Nozdormu has three other unnamed consorts.
*Alexstrasza has two other unnamed consorts who both perished during the Second War. At least two Ruby Consorts.
*Ysera has at least two Emerald Consorts.
*Malygos had at least two Azure Consorts. See also Consort of Malygos
*Deathwing had at least two Obsidian Consorts.
=== Other notable dragons ===
Name	Role 	Flight	Status
 	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	
 	Son and intended Heir of Malygos. One of the two likeliest successors as the Blue Aspect. 	Blue 	
 	Guardian of the ruins of the ancient highborne city of Eldarath in Azshara. Holder of the Blue Scepter Shard. 	Blue 	
 	Son and Heir of Alexstrasza. Participated in the War of the Shifting Sands. Sacrifices himself to save his mother and is taken prisoner by Deathwing. Killed in the Bastion of Twilight. 	Red 	
 	Bronze agent working to preserve critical timelines, and ambassador to the Wyrmrest Accord. Simultaneously found in Andorhal, Wyrmrest Temple, and Old Stratholme in the guise of Chromie. 	Bronze	
 	Largest known dragon, the progenitor of dragonkind. Remains can be found in the Dragonblight where the Scourge is attempting to reanimate him. 	None 	
 	Daughter and Heir of Ysera. Participates in the War of the Shifting Sands. Known as Merithra of the Dream. 	Green 	
 	Son of Deathwing. Alive in Blackwing Descent 	Black 	
 	Daughter of Deathwing. Raised from the dead as an expirment of her brother Nefarian. 	Black 	
 	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 	
 	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 	
 	Agent secretly working against his rival, Nefarian, and his minions in Blackrock Spire. Ultimately succumbs to Nefarian in Blackwing Lair. Holder of the Red Scepter Shard. 	Red 	
== Other draconic species ==
* Chimaera
* Dragon golem
* Faerie dragons
* Fel dragons
* Proto-dragons
* Storm drakes
*
* Plagued dragon
* Dragonspawn
* Drakonid
* Drakeadon
* Dragonman
* Cloud serpents are frequently referred to as dragons, but are not directly related to the dragonflights.
== In the RPG ==
A dragon is a reptilian creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities.Monster Guide, pg. 188
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.
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.Manual of Monsters, pg. 27
=== 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.Dark Factions, pg. 175
== Notes and trivia ==
*It is said among dragons that the ornate shoulder armor worn by the mortal races started as an attempt to emulate their wings.Avenger's Pauldrons (quest)
*Some legends say that dragons were born in the dawn of the world when it was created by the titans from the primal plane.The Sundering, pg. 157 - 158
*In the canceled Warcraft Adventures, dragon teeth necklaces were common enough in the ranks of the Old Horde that Zul'jin could trade five of them weekly at his shop.
== Gallery ==
Dragonflight key art.jpg|World of Warcraft: Dragonflight key art.
Warcraft II - Render dragon.jpg|Cinematic render of a Warcraft II dragon.
OrcDragon.gif|Warcraft II dragon unit.
DragonsWar3.jpg|The dragons in Warcraft III.
Dragon skulls.jpg|Dragon skulls in Dragonflight.
Concept dragons in Dragonflight.jpg|Concept dragons in Dragonflight.
Concept slitherdrake in Dragonflight.jpg|Concept slitherdrake in Dragonflight.
Concept 2 slitherdrake in Dragonflight.jpg|Concept slitherdrake in Dragonflight.
Draconic Coin HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
The Dragonflights HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
== See also ==
*Dragon roost
== References ==
 
Category:Monster Guide
Category:Manual of Monsters
Category:Dark Factions