Power in House of the Dragon is never just about the Iron Throne. It’s a tangled mix of bloodlines, alliances, and the occasional dragon roast. Everyone wants a piece of the crown, but not everyone has the fire, brains, or sheer audacity to grab it. Here’s a look at the characters who defined the balance of power in Westeros, ranked by their cunning, charisma, and capacity to burn things down, literally.
10. Ser Criston Cole
A knight with a grudge is a dangerous man, and Criston Cole takes it to Olympic levels. Once the picture of honour, he turns bitterness into strategy, shaping the Green faction’s rise. He’s not born into power, but he wields it like a blade once he gets close enough to the throne.
Power Type: Political and Martial
Strength: Ruthless loyalty
Weakness: Emotional volatility
9. Mysaria
The so-called White Worm doesn’t need dragons to make things move. She’s a master of whispers, trading secrets like gold and proving that information is the deadliest weapon in King’s Landing. If Varys had a spiritual successor, it would be her, only sharper and with better instincts for survival.
Power Type: Intelligence and Espionage
Strength: Networks and information control
Weakness: Limited open influence
8. Aemond Targaryen
If ambition had wings, it would look like Aemond on Vhagar. The man radiates cold fury and battlefield poise, though his hunger for dominance sometimes outpaces his sense. Still, riding the largest dragon alive earns him serious points. He’s the Greens’ most terrifying weapon, equal parts arrogance and fire.
Power Type: Military and Symbolic
Strength: Vhagar and raw combat skill
Weakness: Overconfidence
7. Corlys Velaryon
The Sea Snake commands not just fleets but the flow of wealth across Westeros. Corlys is that rare noble who built his power, rather than inherited it. His alliances define wars before swords are drawn, and his loyalty to Rhaenyra proves as valuable as his navy.
Power Type: Economic and Strategic
Strength: Naval dominance and wealth
Weakness: Pride and stubbornness
6. Otto Hightower
Otto plays the long game with the patience of a spider and the precision of a chess master. As Hand of the King, he shapes politics without needing a dragon. Every whisper he plants takes root. He’s the man who sets the board for the Dance of the Dragons before anyone realises they’re playing.
Power Type: Political and Manipulative
Strength: Influence over kings and heirs
Weakness: Underestimating emotional chaos
5. Rhaenys Targaryen
The Queen Who Never Was carries herself like the Iron Throne is still rightfully hers. She’s regal, calculating, and utterly unbothered by the nonsense of lesser lords. Her presence alone commands respect, and when she bursts through the floor of the Dragonpit on Meleys, she becomes a symbol of Targaryen defiance itself.
Power Type: Symbolic and Military
Strength: Wisdom and dragonpower
Weakness: Reluctance to play dirty politics
4. Daemon Targaryen
The rogue prince is pure chaos wrapped in charisma. He’s unpredictable, which makes him dangerous, and his mixture of brutality and brilliance keeps everyone guessing. Daemon doesn’t follow rules, he rewrites them in blood. Whether slaying the Crabfeeder or seducing power itself, he’s both weapon and wildfire.
Power Type: Military and Charismatic
Strength: Fearlessness and experience
Weakness: Impulsiveness and pride
3. Alicent Hightower
Behind every king sits someone quietly steering his decisions, and Alicent does it with terrifying finesse. Her transformation from naïve pawn to political matriarch is one of the show’s sharpest evolutions. She knows the court’s every weakness, and she plays her role as queen like a master of theatre.
Power Type: Political and Emotional
Strength: Strategy wrapped in empathy
Weakness: Inner conflict between morality and ambition
2. Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra is the embodiment of Targaryen resilience. She’s ambitious, intelligent, and determined to redefine who gets to rule Westeros. Every slight against her only makes her stronger, and her ability to command both respect and dragons sets her apart. When she finally claims her place in the war, she feels unstoppable, because she nearly is.
Power Type: Dynastic and Commanding
Strength: Birthright and leadership
Weakness: Overreliance on loyalty and legacy
1. King Viserys I Targaryen
A surprising pick, but hear me out. Viserys isn’t physically powerful, nor is he a ruthless tactician. Yet his ability to hold the realm together for decades, balancing dragons and egos alike, is an act of pure political genius. His downfall isn’t weaknes, it’s exhaustion. He’s the rare ruler whose compassion and decency delayed the inevitable civil war, even if it broke him.
Power Type: Moral and Political
Strength: Authority through respect
Weakness: Emotional wear and denial
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Power in House of the Dragon is about fire and blood, it’s about knowing when to breathe it and when to hold it in. The show thrives on blurred lines, where kindness can be a weapon and cruelty a strategy. Whether you side with the Blacks or the Greens, one thing’s clear: in this world, power always comes at a price.
