Black
Rare and exceptionally discerning, with a reputation for intelligence and cunning.
Reader’s field guide · updated October 9, 2026
Fourth Wing Dragon Types: Colors, Tails and Riders
Fourth Wing dragon types are described by color and tail shape. Compare the six familiar colors and tail forms, then look up named dragons and riders at your reading progress. Later-book discoveries stay in labeled sections.
Basic classifications below. Named dragons, bonds and later discoveries stay inside labeled spoiler sections.
01 / The short version
How Fourth Wing dragon types are classified
At the start of Fourth Wing, the familiar dragon colors are black, blue, green, red, orange and brown. The five weapon-shaped tails are Clubtail, Daggertail, Swordtail, Scorpiontail and Morningstartail. Feathertail needs the separate book context below.
Color identifies a den or color group; tail type describes a physical feature. Record both: dragons of the same color can have different tails. Later books expand the classification, so changing appearances and identities belong in the appropriate book sections.
02 / Color groups
The six familiar Fourth Wing dragon colors
These six color groups have general reputations in the dragon den reference. Individual dragons have their own temperaments; color alone does not identify their tail or rider.
Blue
Large, formidable and ruthless. Navy and sapphire are shades of blue.
Green
Associated with intelligence and a measured temperament. Tail shape varies independently of color.
Red
Known for a fierce temper. “Strawberry red” is a shade within this group.
Orange
Unpredictable and dangerous to approach; this is a general reputation, not an individual personality.
Brown
A familiar color group with less temperament detail in the references. Named examples provide more useful context.
03 / Read the silhouette
Fourth Wing dragon tail types
Dragon tail types describe the shape of a physical weapon. The tail reference distinguishes five familiar weapon forms; Feathertail has additional context in the book notes.
Clubtail
A heavy, solid end delivers a bludgeoning blow. Its defining feature is concentrated weight.
Daggertail
Knife-like spikes make a flick dangerous. Sharp points identify this tail shape.
Swordtail
Long, sharpened edges form a blade-like weapon, distinct from a Daggertail’s spikes.
Scorpiontail
A venomous barb gives this tail its name. The sting adds to the force of a strike.
Morningstartail
A weighted, spiked end combines impact with piercing damage. The name refers to that weapon shape.
Feathertail
A feather-like tail. Its story context is in the labeled Fourth Wing note.
Symbols are simple reading cues, not anatomical drawings.
04 / Find the bond
Named dragons and riders by book
Look up a dragon’s color, tail and recorded rider bond. Choose the last book you have finished to see the information available at that stage.
Open dragon & rider lookupBook spoilers
This is a selected reference, not a complete roster. Rider entries include historical bonds. Unknown marks an unspecified detail; None marks an explicitly unbonded dragon.
External sources may contain spoilers beyond your selected book. About the sources
No dragons match these filters at your selected reading level. Try another combination or reset the filters.
Fourth Wing — base records
| Dragon | Color / appearance | Tail | Rider / bond | Book & reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tairn | Black | Morningstartail | Violet Sorrengail | Fourth Wing Tairn source |
| Sgaeyl | Navy blue | Daggertail | Xaden Riorson | Fourth Wing Sgaeyl source |
| Teine | Green | Clubtail | Mira Sorrengail | Fourth Wing Teine source |
| Feirge | Green | Daggertail | Rhiannon Matthias | Fourth Wing Feirge source |
| Aotrom | Brown | Swordtail | Ridoc Gamlyn | Fourth Wing Aotrom source |
| Deigh | Red | Daggertail | Liam Mairi | Fourth Wing Deigh source |
| Baide | Orange | Scorpiontail | Jack Barlowe | Fourth Wing Baide source |
| Andarna | Gold appearance | Feathertail | Violet Sorrengail | Fourth Wing Andarna source |
Iron Flame — additions and changes
Read alongside the earlier book tables.
| Dragon | Color / appearance | Tail | Rider / bond | Book & reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andarna | Seventh den; reflective, black-looking scales | Scorpiontail | Violet Sorrengail | Iron Flame Andarna source |
| Aaric’s dragon (name unknown at this stage) | Sapphire blue | Clubtail | Aaric Graycastle | Iron Flame Aaric’s dragon (name unknown at this stage) source |
| Solas | Orange | Daggertail | Burton Varrish | Iron Flame Solas source |
| Thoirt | Strawberry red | Daggertail | Sloane Mairi | Iron Flame Thoirt source |
| Marbh | Orange | Daggertail | Brennan Sorrengail | Iron Flame Marbh source |
| Aimsir | Brown | Unknown | Lilith Sorrengail | Fourth Wing Aimsir source |
| Cuir | Green | Unknown | Bodhi Durran | Fourth Wing; tail unspecified in this snapshot Cuir source |
Onyx Storm — additions and changes
Read alongside the earlier book tables.
| Dragon | Color / appearance | Tail | Rider / bond | Book & reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andarna | Irid; iridescent / color-shifting | Scorpiontail | Violet Sorrengail | Iron Flame + Onyx Storm Andarna source |
| Molvic | Sapphire blue | Clubtail | Aaric Graycastle | Onyx Storm, ch. 29 Molvic source |
| Leothan | Irid; iridescent | Feathertail | None (unbonded) | Onyx Storm Leothan source |
Threshing Day — additions and changes
Read alongside the earlier book tables.
| Dragon | Color / appearance | Tail | Rider / bond | Book & reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuir | Green | Swordtail | Bodhi Durran | Threshing Day: Bodhi Cuir source |
| Cath | Red | Swordtail | Dain Aetos | Fourth Wing; Threshing Day: Dain Cath source |
| Chradh | Brown | Scorpiontail | Garrick Tavis | Fourth Wing; Threshing Day: Garrick Chradh source |
| Glane | Orange | Daggertail | Imogen Cardulo | Fourth Wing; Threshing Day: Imogen Glane source |
| Sliseag | Red | Swordtail | Sawyer Henrick | Fourth Wing; Threshing Day: Sawyer Sliseag source |
Gold is a first-book appearance, not an additional mature den. Later tables update individual descriptions as the books disclose more.
05 / When the guide changes
Dragon discoveries in each book
Open only the books you have finished. These notes explain changes to dragon classifications, appearances and recorded bonds.
Fourth Wing First-book spoilers
Named dragons, Feathertails and rider bonds
Tairn is a black Morningstartail; Sgaeyl is a navy-blue Daggertail. Andarna first appears as a small golden Feathertail. Tairn and Andarna both bond Violet, while Sgaeyl bonds Xaden.
The first book reveals that Feathertails are young dragons. The lookup therefore keeps Andarna’s gold appearance and Feathertail label together at this reading level.
Dragons choose riders at Threshing. Bonding lets a rider channel magic and develop a signet; color does not assign every rider one predetermined ability.
References: Tairn, Sgaeyl, Andarna, bonding overview.
Iron Flame Through book two
Andarna’s appearance and the seventh den
Andarna develops a Scorpiontail and reflective, black-looking scales. This book identifies her as belonging to a seventh den, distinguishing her appearance from her underlying identity.
The lookup uses “Seventh den” at this level. It also adds Solas, an orange Daggertail bonded to Varrish; Thoirt, a red Daggertail bonded to Sloane; Marbh, an orange Daggertail bonded to Brennan; and Aaric’s blue Clubtail. Aaric’s dragon stays unnamed in this snapshot.
Aimsir is listed as brown with an Unknown tail. Unknown finds incomplete records; it represents a missing detail rather than an extra kind of tail.
References: Iron Flame overview, Andarna reference and the table’s individual links.
Onyx Storm Through book three
Irids and the changing meaning of Feathertail
The seventh group is identified as the irids. Andarna is an irid Scorpiontail, while Leothan is an unbonded irid Feathertail. The irids can retain feathertails by choice, expanding the earlier explanation of that shape as a juvenile feature.
Here, a tail can reflect a dragon’s choices as well as its developmental stage. The first-book explanation still applies to the juveniles encountered there.
Aaric’s dragon is named Molvic in Onyx Storm, chapter 29. An earlier reading level restores the unnamed entry and Andarna’s earlier description.
References: Leothan, Onyx Storm chart, Molvic chapter reference.
Threshing Day Collection + main-series spoilers
Additional tail details and earlier bonds
Threshing Day is a companion collection of thirteen bonding stories. It revisits earlier Threshings; the spoiler ladder follows publication and revelations, rather than in-story chronology.
In Bodhi’s story, Cuir is described as a green Swordtail. Thoirt is revealed as Deigh’s sister. Glane’s earlier bond to Imogen’s grandmother adds family history that a color-and-tail label cannot communicate.
The final lookup adds selected collection pairs, naming the source story beside each record. Unresolved identities remain unspecified.
References: author’s collection page, collection recap and story references.
06 / Common questions
Fourth Wing dragon types FAQ
Are dragon colors and tail types the same thing?
No. Color identifies a den or color group; tail type describes a physical feature. A full description needs both.
Is gold one of the six familiar mature colors?
No. Gold is listed as a first-book appearance, separately from the six introductory colors. Its explanation stays in the book notes.
Does a dragon’s color determine its rider’s signet?
There is no fixed color-to-signet chart. A rider’s signet depends on an individual bond rather than the lookup’s color filter.
Why does the lookup change with reading progress?
Later books reveal names and identities. Moving back restores the descriptions known through your chosen book.
Are the game’s thirty combinations official dragon species?
No. Our fan simulator combines six colors and five adult tail shapes for its own results. Its probability rules, Common-to-Legendary tiers and generated dragon names belong to the game, not to a canonical taxonomy.
07 / Reference desk
Sources and how to use this guide
This independent guide summarizes dragon classifications and recorded bonds in original wording. The novels are the primary story sources; linked fan guides support the selected records. Missing details remain Unknown. The guide covers Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm and Threshing Day through October 9, 2026.
- Rebecca Yarros’s official site — published books and collection information.
- Dragon dens and tail forms — fan reference descriptions.
- The Book Feed dragon index — individual records linked in each table.
- Empyrean Riders’ Onyx Storm chart — third-book cross-check.
- Threshing Day recap — collection-specific descriptions and bonds.
Take your own walk into the Vale
Find a dragon in the fan game
Use this Fourth Wing dragon types guide to read colors and tails, then try the fan simulator. Its generated dragons and rarity rules belong to the game.
Play the dragon-bonding game ↗