Light My Fire

Minecraft is an open-ended game, but the Ender Dragon can be considered the last boss since the ending credits are cued after it is defeated. The Ender Dragon dwells in a barren wasteland appropriately known as the End. It will destroy almost any blocks it comes into contact with, and its wings can launch any living creature through the air. The dragon is also known to charge at opponents at blazing speeds and spew out deadly acid. It’s no easy task to slay the dragon, and a lot of preparation is required. Players will be well rewarded for their time and effort, however. When defeated, the Ender Dragon will erupt in a spectacular explosion of light and will give players tons of experience. A player with no experience can jump all the way up to level 78 if they somehow manage to defeat the dragon!

Edge’s nameless dragon has already been recognized as one of gaming’s greatest mounts, so it shouldn’t be too surprising to see him on this list as well. He not necessarily as recognizable as some of the other dragons on this list – the Panzer Dragoon series has been MIA for nearly two decades and Panzer Dragoon Saga had a limited release – but Edge’s dragon is compelling in how it grows and evolves as its adventure progresses. The dragon can morph during battle to increase its attack, agility, or other attributes. It’s not unusual for players to have control over certain stats in an RPG, but Edge’s dragon is notable for being able to take on hundreds of different forms. His appearance is a direct reflection of his abilities, so this is one of those rare cases where you can judge a book by its cover.

Corrin was born into the Hoshido royal family, but was kidnapped as an infant and raised by the royal family of the neighboring kingdom of Nohr. When the two kingdoms met in battle many years later, Corrin was faced with a difficult decision of choosing a side. As member of the Manakete race, Corrin can be a tremendous asset to either kingdom thanks to an ability to transform into a dragon. While other Manaketes can transform into dragons too, Corrin has the unprecedented ability to freely shapeshift specific body parts into dragon form. Hands can be shaped into lances, wings can sprout from shoulder blades, and dragon breath can be unleashed without warning. Despite living a sheltered life, Corrin is a natural on the battlefield. This is apparent in Fire Emblem and Super Smash Bros. alike.

It’s a little unfair to put both Bubblun and Bobblun on this list, but Bubble Bobble is one of the most iconic co-op games ever created and there’s no real reason to recognize one of the Bubble Dragons over the other. Besides, it would somehow feel wrong to separate the duo. I’ll be the first to admit that Bub and Bob have more in common with dinosaurs than dragons. They are specifically referred to as dragons in the series on numerous occasions, however, so I’m putting them on this list regardless. It’s easy to inspire fear in the hearts of man, and dragons that breathe fire are a dime a dozen. Dragons that blow bubbles, on the other hand, are patently rare. While most dragons bide their time burninating the countryside, Bub and Bob are content to trap their enemies in bubbles and happily pop them out of existence. What a delightful way to die.

The world of Skyrim is filled with immortal dragons, and Paarthurnax is the most compelling of the lot. Despite their beast-like appearance, the ancient dragons in Skyrim are highly intelligent beings with a strong command of speech and language. As the leader of an order of philosopher monks known as the Greybeards, Paarthurnax chose to live much of his life in seclusion in order to quell his innate lust for power. While acting as a lieutenant during the Dragon War, Paarthurnax had committed unspeakable atrocities against mankind. He eventually betrayed his leader and turned the tide of the war in favor of the humans. He brought death to thousands and some view his past actions as unforgivable, but Paarthurnax argues that overcoming evil through effort is more virtuous than simply being born good.

Bahamut is depicted as a vast fish in Arabian mythology, but the Final Fantasy version is more in line with the dragon-like form that was popularized by Dungeons & Dragons. Bahamut is recurring boss in the Final Fantasy series and the most prevalent summon in the franchise. The conqueror of the skies is known by many names – the Dragon King, the Hallowed Father, the First Sire – but he’s known incredible wisdom and might regardless of his moniker. Elements in his body combine to generate a nuclear fusion blast, and his trademark Megaflare attack allows him to decimate his opponents with concentrated energy. Outside of the Final Fantasy series, Bahamut appeared as an enemy in Super Mario RPG and was a central figure in Bahamut Lagoon. He has also become a popular figure for Final Fantasy merchandise.

There are no shortage of dragons and wyverns in the Monster Hunter universe, but Rathalos are arguably the flagship monsters of the franchise. The flying wyverns have been a part of the series since the very beginning and have appeared in every Monster Hunter game thus far. Known as the “Kings of the Skies,” Rathalos patrol the sky around their nests and search for prey. The colorful creatures are prone to launching surprise aerial attacks, but they’re also formidable opponents on the ground. They can inflict poisonous wounds with their talons, burn their adversaries with flaming projectiles, or simply chase them down and inflict damage with their clubbed tails. After beating their prey into submission, they carry them away to eat in private. They basically treat the battlefield like the drive-thru at Wendy’s.

Samas Aran’s arch-nemesis satisfies all the requirements you’d look for in a dragon. He has wings and sharp claws, he breathes fire from his mouth, and his lava-filled lair may as well be a volcano. He also inspires fear in children and was responsible for turning Samas into an orphan. Although he looks like a savage beast, Ridley is anything by mindless. Unlike most dragons, Ridley has conquered space and has the means to move from planet to planet. He’s intelligent enough to launch premeditated assaults on his enemies and organized enough to lead to notorious Space Pirates. Ridley’s connections to technology are made even more apparent after he is revived from the brink of death through the wonders of genetic engineering. The rebuilt “Meta Ridley” is somehow even more terrifying than its original form.

En route to rescuing his dragon brethren and locating secret treasures, Spyro attacks his foes with fire breath, smashes open crates with his horns, and reaches far off places with the help of his wings. Spyro sits alongside Crash Bandicoot as one of the de facto mascots of the original PlayStation. (The Spyro series was the closest thing PlayStation owners had to a 3D platformer in the vein of Super Mario 64, after all.) Unlike many franchises from the era, Spyro soared to new heights and his popularity actually grew. While other mascots faded into obscurity, the Spyro series was completely rebooted in 2006 and later kicked off the entire “toys to life” craze with Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Spyro might have nabbed the top spot on this list if he didn’t require so many makeovers in order to stay relevant.

Charizard is defined by its intense flames and its short temper. They spit fire hot enough to melt boulders, and the temperature of the flames are said to increase as they gain experience in battle. They have been known to start to set forests ablaze, and their breath can inflict tremendous pain on enemies. Charizard patrols the skies in search of worthy opponents and is altogether uninterested in weak rivals and unworthy trainers. With the exception of Pikachu, Charizard is arguably the most iconic Pokémon. It has appeared in numerous Pokémon spinoffs and has made multiple appearances in the Smash Bros. series, but Charizard is perhaps best known for frequently disobeying Ash Ketchum in the Pokémon anime. As the first character to appear in the Japanese opening, Charizard holds the distinction of being the first Pokémon to be seen in animated form.