History Main / DragonKnight

Compare MonsterKnight and ArmoredDragons. A DragonRider and TheDragonslayer (ironically) are almost always examples. They're usually a MagicKnight as well, and are another way OurDragonsAreDifferent.

* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries': In ''Soul Calibur V'', a Dragon Skull is available as DownloadableContent headgear, and "dark knight greaves" that look like a dragon's talons are one of the pre-order bonuses.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1400981378026227400
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

** Imperialdramon's Fighter Mode in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' resembles a warrior. This is taken further in the anime movie ''Revenge of Diaboromon'' with Imperialdramon Paladin Mode.
** [=EmperorGreymon=] in ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'' is a Dragon Warrior digimon with a {{BFS}} and fire-based abilities, including the ability to summon multiple dragons made of flame. Dynasmon of the Royal Knights is also one, having a draconic appearance and the ability to transform into a massive ethereal dragon. The two have a tendency to gravitate towards each other when the Royal Knights fight the heroes.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Grunbeld]] has dragon-themed armor, a flamethrower in his shield, and can turn into a dragon with scales that are harder than steel.

* ''LightNovel/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'': La Pucelle uses a dragon motif. La Pucelle's armor and swords have dragon-like markings all over them. The whole outfit is completed with dragon eyes, horns, and a dragon tail. In-Universe, La Pucelle's nickname is even "Dragon Knight"

[[folder:Films]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragonTheHiddenWorld'', the entire gang wears armor made from their dragons' scales. Snotlout's raid armor is especially designed to resemble Hookfang, his dragon. The hat routinely gets in his way, and the cape keeps getting snagged on things.

* James Eckert, ''Literature/TheDragonKnight'' is one of these, as well as a MagicKnight. That being said, the Knight aspect is a bit of a lie - he isn't one, not that this detail doesn't make him any less awesome.

* ''Series/TheMysticKnightsOfTirNaNog'': [[TheHero Rohan]]'s armor has a draconic appearance, which is to be expected given that his [[PlayingWithFire elemental power is fire]].

** Burai from ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' and his ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' counterpart Tommy; Burai's official title is even "Dragon Ranger". Burai is more knightly than Tommy is, but both qualify as dragon-themed warriors. It's taken even further when their dragon-themed Zords [[CombiningMecha combine with other zords]], transforming into Megazords that resemble giant warriors with dragon-themed armor.
** Nick of ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' becomes one when he physically merges with a dragon for his SuperMode, known as the Red Dragonfire Ranger.
** Salamandes from ''Series/RescueSentaiGogoFive'' and his US counterpart Olympius from ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' look like Dragon Knights. When they go OneWingedAngel during the finale, they turn into a dragon like form.
** Long from ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' and Dai Shi from ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'' have the ability to transform into a Dragon Knight-like form. But in this case its based on an eastern dragon. [[spoiler:It is revealed during the finale that Long and Dai Shi are actually real dragons, with Long disguising himself as a human to manipulate the other characters for his own amusement and Dai Shi possessing a human while he regains power.]]
** Shou Ronpo in ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'' is a DraconicHumanoid alien who channels the power of the Draco constellation in his Ranger form.

The Mexican luchador [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drago_(wrestler) Drago]] wears a costume making him look draconic.

** ''D&D''[='=]s 4th edition gives players the dragonborn -- reptilian humanoids with a breath weapon and stat bonuses that happened to line up just right to make them potentially great {{paladin}}s as well -- as a standard player character race right in the first ''Player's Handbook''.
*** A female Dragonborn Paladin could be Dragon, Knight and damsel-to-be-rescued all in one.
* They exist in ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'', but ironically they are not the cards called Dragon Knight (those are actually {{Dragon Rider}}s). Rather, the ones closer to this description are the Armordragons, including The Hero Drum Bunker Dragon and TheRival Jackknife Dragon. Armordragons usually wear at least some armor and use weapons, although the Crimson Battlers prefer GoodOldFisticuffs.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': Alhough not technically a knight, the [[PlayerCharacter Dovahkiin]] (literally "Dragonborn") can have elements of this depending on player build. The Dragonborn can also create dragon scale or dragon plate armor, and use fire-based shouts and magic to complete their dragon personage effectively and accurately.
** The Dragonknight class of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' is exactly what it says on the tin, having the ability to [[BreathWeapon breathe fire]] and grow scales among other dragony abilities.

* The ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series has dabbled with this with some of its monsters. Though it wasn't until ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' that there was actually a full blown Dragon Knight in the party.

* ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity'':
** ''VideoGame/DivinityIITheDragonKnightSaga'' is about a [[TheDragonslayer dragon slayer]] who learns to shapeshift into a dragon.
** ''VideoGame/DivinityDragonCommander'' is about a dragon knight ''general''.
* ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'' / ''VideoGame/DOTA2'' and ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' have respectively Dragon Knight and Shyvana, who not only mix dragon and knight elements, but can actually transform into a full fledged dragon. Unlike other examples of this trope, Dragon Knight fights with a short sword and shield bashing, and Shyvana uses gauntlets shaped like a Dragon's head.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfDragons'' has the Great Dragonian, a gold-armored dragon with WhipSword, shield and fire breath.
* ''VideoGame/CrystalStory'': In ''Crystal Story 2'', the protagonist is a dragon in humanoid form. His initial talent build is of a melee fighter, though he can specialize in other fighting styles later on.
* ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}'': Downplayed. The player can create a dark knight, or black knight, and his armor looks distinctively dragon like, complete with horns.
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries': In ''Soul Calibur V'', a Dragon Skull is available as DownloadableContent headgear, and "dark knight greaves" that look like a dragon's talons are one of the pre-order bonuses.
* ''VideoGame/MediEvil'': The Dragon Potion (called Dragon Armour in [[VideoGame/MediEvilResurrection PSP remake]]) gives Sir Fortesque a dragonlike appearance, invulnerability to fire and an ability [[BreathWeapon breathe it]].
* Roszondas from the RPG ''Gorasul: The Legacy of the Dragon''. The player decides whether he is a knight or mage; whatever the case, he can randomly manifest dragon-powered fear, strength, or fire breath as a DesperationAttack, and also has a passive Dragon Eyes skill to let him see farther than other party members can.

** Onox in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]'' appears to be a garden variety TinTyrant with an EpicFlail, but the dragon part comes when he turns into a [[ScaledUp dragon]] [[{{Dracolich}} with a skull for a head]].
** Volga in ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' is an evil dragon who takes a knight-like human form, and can breathe fire along with transforming back to his dragon form either in whole or in part.

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' has an example, but you'd never realise it unless you really pay attention: [[spoiler:the protagonist, Sol Badguy. He wields a large sword and uses fire magic, and his true form is that of a humanoid dragon. He was also once part of a knightly order]].
* ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'': Date Masamune is a samurai version of this. His name is "the One-eyed Dragon", his sheathes for his 6 swords have "webs" inbetween that gives them the splitting image of dragon's wings, and the dragon imagery comes up in some of his attacks.
* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Kagura Mutsuki is somewhat downplayed: He's a knight with a BFS and his moves have names related to dragons and have dragon imagery in them (and he sometimes shouts names of various dragons in different myths in his attacks), and... that's it.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfMajEyal'' features the Wyrmic class, which is a two-hand-weapon fighter with nature-based powers taken right from the dragons, including six different types of dragon breath (fire, ice, lightning, acid, sand and venom), which effectively allow them to become multi-hued dragons (which are a kind of monster in the game). But beware - enemies (and not only dragons) can use these powers as well.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': All three games feature the Path of the Dragon in various forms, an obscure warrior cult who seek to transcend humanity and become dragons, in emulation of the Everlasting Dragons of old. Progressing down this path will grant items that allow the user to partially transform themselves into a dragon, at least until the next time they die. Downsides: you can't wear armor. Upsides: Fire breath, and you look like a dragon, and in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' the scales are actually a unique and fairly decent suit of armor.
* ''VideoGame/DragonMarkedForDeath'': One of the player characters, the Warrior, is clad in a suit of living draconic armor formed from his body after making a pact with the DraconicAbomination Atruum.
* ''VideoGame/OgreBattleTheMarchOfTheBlackQueen'': Fogel, mightiest of the Three Knights and master of the [[FloatingContinent floating island]] Shiguld, was transformed into a reptilian freak by the dying curse of a Divine Dragon. He kept his kickass fencing skills and got a powerful dark blade out of the deal, though, so it's not all bad. Defeat him as a lawful, popular Opinion Leader while holding the Star of Heroes, and he'll join your army.

* The Wyrmic Class in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMajEyal'' are an order of {{Magic Knight}}s who are able to [[ScaledUp shapeshift into dragons,]] including [[DracoLich undead dragons]] and [[DraconicAbomination scourge dragons]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BlazingDragons'' is all about dragons dressed in knights' armor.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow A Dog and Pony Show]]", the baby dragon Spike envisions himself as a buff, muscular and [[DraconicHumanoid humanoid]] KnightInShiningArmor in an ImagineSpot while daydreaming of rescuing his crush.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MikeTheKnight'', while Mike himself isn't one, he has two dragon assistants who tried to be his squires at one point. [[HilarityEnsues It]]... [[SubvertedTrope didn't turn out well]].

* ''WebComic/TwoKinds'' has the same concept run through a different {{splat}}: Adrakists, humans who worship dragons in the same way a Cleric does a deity (ie, getting spells from them). This comes with a gradual, permanent shapeshift into a dragon themselves, leading to horns and dragon limbs.

* ''WebComic/TwoKinds'' has Adrakists, humans who worship dragons in the same way a Cleric does a deity (ie, getting spells from them). This comes with a gradual, permanent shapeshift into a dragon themselves, leading to horns and dragon limbs.

** Burai from ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' and his ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' counterpart Tommy; Burai's official title is even "Dragon Ranger". Burai is more knightly than Tommy is, but both qualify as dragon-themed warriors.

* A lot of Franchise/{{Digimon}} turn into one in their later forms:
** Imperialdramon's Fighter Mode in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' resembles a warrior. This is taken further in the anime movie ''Revenge Of Diaboromon'' with Imperialdramon Paladin Mode.
** Gallantmon in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' is the mega-level form of the vaguely dragon-like Guilmon. This is shown by having a mask of Guilmon's face on his forehead.
** [=EmperorGreymon=] in ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'' is a Dragon Warrior digimon with a {{BFS}} and fire-based abilities, including the ability to summon multiple dragons made of flame. Dynasmon of the Royal Knights is also one, having a draconic appearance and the ability to transform into a massive ethereal dragon. The two have a tendency to gravitate towards each other when the Royal Knights fight the heroes.
* [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Grunbeld]] in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' has dragon-themed armor, a flamethrower in his shield, and can turn into a dragon with scales that are harder than steel.

* Season Four of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' involves three knights who were transformed into dragons. Yami figures out how to return them to their human forms.
* La Pucelle from ''LightNovel/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'' uses a dragon motif. La Pucelle's armor and swords have dragon-like markings all over them. The whole outfit is completed with dragon eyes, horns, and a dragon tail. In-Universe, La Pucelle's nickname is even "Dragon Knight"

* Dracula's armor in ''Film/DraculaUntold'' has a strong dragon motif (it's in his name, after all).

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragonTheHiddenWorld'', Snotlout's raid armor is designed to resemble Hookfang, his dragon. The hat routinely gets in his way, and the cape keeps getting snagged on things.
** The entire gang wears armor made from their dragon's scales.

* The Targaryens, the ruling family of Westeros in the backstory of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', have a three-headed dragon as their sigil. They have a mystical connection with dragons and in the past were {{Dragon Rider}}s. After dragons went extinct, many of them remained Dragon Knights by motif if not by ability. Prince Aemon Targaryen, second son of King Viserys II and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was reputedly one of the finest knights in the history of the dynasty and was known as ''the'' Dragonknight.
* In ''One Good Knight'' of the ''Literature/TalesOfTheFiveHundredKingdoms'', knight Champion Gina is transformed into a dragon so that she can be with her love Adamant, a dragon, while Adam's brother Periapt is turned into a human so that he can be with his love, Princess Andromeda. Adam decides that he wants to become a Champion, and he and Gina are the first dragon Champions.

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=186392 Dragonsoul Knight]] who rides a giant lizard and transforms into a massive dragon.

** Starting from 3rd Edition it was suggested that a non-negligible number of bronze, gold and silver dragons became paladins (though the degree they kept to a draconic motif when in an alternate form varied). Many of them went on to become great dragonslayers, since, being dragons, they tended to focus their specific campaign against evil on evil dragons.
** D&D's 4th edition gave players the dragonborn as a standard player character race right in the first ''Player's Handbook'': reptilian humanoids with a breath weapon and stat bonuses that happened to line up just right to make them potentially great {{paladin}}s as well.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Though not technically a knight, the [[PlayerCharacter Dovahkiin]] (literally "Dragonborn") of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' can have elements of this depending on player build. The Dragonborn can also create dragon scale or dragon plate armor, and use fire-based shouts and magic to complete their dragon personage effectively and accurately.
* The Dragonknight class of VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline is exactly what it says on the tin, having the ability to [[BreathWeapon breathe fire]] and grow scales among other dragony abilities.

** Dragonfable, the prequel game, has Dragonlords, which are defensive MagicKnight class that uses the spirit of the eight main elemental Dragons to fight. Dragonlords in general are also {{Dragon Rider}}s and have their own special (read: barely better) of the standard FighterMageThief trio imaginatively named Dragonwarrior, Dragonrogue, and Dragonmage.

* The Dragoons in ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', who have a distinct dragon motif in their armor, and are famed for their [[InASingleBound jumping attacks]] and [[BladeOnAStick spears]]. Oddly, the translations name them for a type of real-world soldier that has nothing to do with spears, jumping, ''or'' dragons; they are properly "dragon knights" in the Japanese games. Translations of the SNES-era ran into CharacterNameLimits, and {{Woolseyism}} stepped in.

* ''VideoGame/DivinityIITheDragonKnightSaga'' is about a [[TheDragonslayer dragon slayer]] who learns to shapeshift into a dragon.
** Similarly, ''VideoGame/DivinityDragonCommander'' is about a dragon knight ''general''.

* In the web game ''[[VideoGame/CrystalStory Crystal Story 2]]'', the protagonist is a dragon in humanoid form. His initial talent build is of a melee fighter, though he can specialize in other fighting styles later on.
* This trope is downplayed in ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}''. The player can create a dark knight, or black knight, and his armor looks distinctively dragon like, complete with horns.
* In ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Calibur V]]'', a Dragon Skull is available as DownloadableContent headgear, and "dark knight greaves" that look like a dragon's talons are one of the pre-order bonuses.
* The Dragon Potion in ''VideoGame/MediEvil'' (called Dragon Armour in [[VideoGame/MediEvilResurrection PSP remake]]) gives Sir Fortesque a dragonlike appearance, invulnerability to fire and an ability [[BreathWeapon breathe it]].

* Onox in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]'' appears to be a garden variety TinTyrant with an EpicFlail, but the dragon part comes when he turns into a [[ScaledUp dragon]] [[{{Dracolich}} with a skull for a head]].
* Volga in ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' is an evil dragon who takes a knight-like human form, and can breathe fire along with transforming back to his dragon form either in whole or in part.

* Date Masamune of ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is a samurai version of this. His name is "the One-eyed Dragon", his sheathes for his 6 swords have "webs" inbetween that gives them the splitting image of dragon's wings, and the dragon imagery comes up in some of his attacks.
* Kagura Mutsuki of ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' fame is somewhat downplayed: He's a knight with a BFS and his moves have names related to dragons and have dragon imagery in them (and he sometimes shouts names of various dragons in different myths in his attacks), and... that's it.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "A Dog and Pony Show", the baby dragon Spike envisions himself as a KnightInShiningArmor in an ImagineSpot.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

** Imperialdramon's Fighter Mode in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' resembles a warrior. This is taken further in the ShortAnimeMovie ''Revenge Of Diaboromon'' with Imperialdramon Paladin Mode.

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=186392 Dragonsoul Knight]], who rides a giant lizard and transforms into a massive dragon.

* The Targaryens, the ruling family of Westeros in the backstory of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', have a three-headed dragon as their sigil. They have a mystical connection with dragons and in the past were Dragon Riders. After dragons went extinct, many of them remained Dragon Knights by motif if not by ability. Prince Aemon Targaryen, second son of King Viserys II and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was reputedly one of the finest knights in the history of the dynasty and was known as ''the'' Dragonknight.

* They exist in ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'', but ironically they are not the cards called Dragon Knight (those are actually DragonRiders). Rather, the ones closer to this description are the Armordragons, including The Hero Drum Bunker Dragon and TheRival Jackknife Dragon. Armordragons usually wear at least some armor and use weapons, although the Crimson Battlers prefer GoodOldFisticuffs.

** Dragonfable, the prequel game, has Dragonlords, which are defensive MagicKnight class that uses the spirit of the eight main elemental Dragons to fight. Dragonlords in general are also DragonRider and have their own special (read: barely better) of the standard FighterMageThief trio imaginatively named Dragonwarrior, Dragonrogue, and Dragonmage.

Compare MonsterKnight. A DragonRider and TheDragonslayer (ironically) are almost always examples. They're usually a MagicKnight as well, and are another way OurDragonsAreDifferent.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' has the final boss The Undying which is the BigBad [[TheEvilPrince Vayne]] grafted with with giant pair of [[ClockworkCreature clockwork dragon]] [[WingedHumanoid wings]], armor and head ac reated by fusing with machinery from his OminousFloatingCastle. His most powerful attack is to shoot a BreathWeapon from the skull of the dragon parts.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Dragoon as a [[PrestigeClass job for Lancers]] and are famed in-story among the people of Ishgard as [[TheDragonslayer dragon slayers]]. Their power is taken directly from dragons themselves for the purpose of using it against them. The power itself is implied to be [[ScaledUp slowly turning you into a dragon yourself]].

-->'''Iroh:''' Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname "the Dragon of the West"?\\
'''Azula:''' I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, uncle.\\
'''Iroh:''' [[PreAsskickingOneLiner I was thinking more of a]] [[BreathWeapon demonstration]]...

* The ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series has dabbled with this with some of it's monsters. Though it wasn't until ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' that there was actually a full blown Dragon Knight in the party.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

[[caption-width-right:[[DeathFromAbove Know the skies']] [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice true fury!]]

* The Dragoons in ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', who have a distinct dragon motif in their armor, and are famed for their [[InASingleBound jumping attacks]] and [[BladeOnAStick spears]]. Oddly, the translations name them for a type of real-world soldier that has nothing to do with spears, jumping, ''or'' dragons; they are properly "dragon knights" in the Japanese games.

** ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' / ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'', for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obvious reasons]]. Not only applies to the titular hero, but also their resident PaletteSwap ([[EvilTwin Kamen Rider Ryuga]] in ''Ryuki'', Kamen Rider Onyx in ''Dragon Knight'').
** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'' can also qualify, as his powers stem from the Dragon Phantom within him, though he's more of a Dragon Mage.

** Shou Ronpo in ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'' is a humanoid dragon alien who channels the power of the Draco constellation in his Ranger form.

** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'' can also qualify, though he's more of a Dragon Mage.

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': All three games feature the Path of the Dragon in various forms, an obscure warrior cult who seek to transcend humanity and become dragons, in emulation of the Everlasting Dragons of old. Progressing down this path will grant items that allow the user to partially transform themselves into a dragon, at least until the next time they die. Downsides: you can't wear armor. Upsides: Fire breath, and you look like a dragon, and in Dark Souls 2 the scales are actually a unique and fairly decent suit of armor.