House of the Dragon has been met with an overwhelming tide of praise since its initial release. After the less-than-beloved ending to Game of Thrones, it's a relief to see such quality in the pilot episode. The story leading up to A Dance of Dragons is both a bloody and intriguing one, and as the series progresses, its fan base will be sure to increase, making many fans of the show and of Dungeons & Dragons desire a crossover of some sort aimed at the show's extensive cast of characters.
Still, it may be too great a task to bring the entire world of Westeros and Essos under the banner of Dungeons & Dragons. That doesn't mean that players can't create characters inspired by those from the series, including Daemon Targaryen, who is played brilliantly by Matt Smith. An imposing and well-portrayed version of the figure from Fire and Blood, Daemon is impulsive and cruel, with eyes set on the iron throne. There are ways to create this character that don't necessitate a typical human fighter build.
Daemon Targaryen Build Summary
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Race |
Variant Human or Dragonborn |
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Class |
Fighter (Samurai), Bard (College of Swords) |
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Background |
Courtier |
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Ability Scores (in order of importance) |
Charisma, Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom |
The Best D&D Races for Daemon Targaryen
The first and most obvious choice for Daemon Targaryen's race would be Variant Human with a +1 for both Charisma and Dexterity, and proficiency in Intimidation to demonstrate his skill with both his imposing nature and sword fighting abilities. However, there's another option that requires some work on the part of the Dungeon Master. Instead of picking Variant Human, the DM could allow for a more human-like depiction of a Dragonborn to show Daemon's Targaryen blood and affinity for dragon riding. Both options are great choices, but the latter may be harder to pull off and requires extra homebrew work on the part of the DM.
The Best Backgrounds for Daemon Targaryen
Several backgrounds work surprisingly well for Daemon Targaryen. He's the brother of the current king and previous heir to the throne. Coming from such a prestigious royal bloodline means backgrounds like Courtier, Noble, and Knight can all apply, depending on what aspect of Daemon the player is looking to demonstrate. However, there are a few others that can better illustrate Daemon's position as head of the newly formed Gold Cloaks, such as City Watch, Urban Bounty Hunter, and Soldier.
The Best D&D Classes for Daemon Targaryen
While the most obvious choice for Daemon's class is Fighter, there are two specific subclasses that fit him best and a potential multiclass that could work quite well. First, Daemon is a fantastic melee combatant and a skilled jouster, making him perfect for the Cavalier subclass, which specializes in singling out targets and riding into combat on horseback. However, the best subclass for Daemon is Samurai. With a bit of re-flavoring, a Samurai can become the perfect courtier warrior. Their ability to navigate social situations and proficiencies in Performance and Persuasion is perfect for a character like Daemon, while their ability to strike true imitates the destructive power of Daemon's Valyrian Steel Sword, Dark Sister.
An alternate way of demonstrating Daemon's unique prowess is through a particular multiclass with a College Of Swords Bard, allowing Daemon to spend Inspiration to both strike fear into his enemies and rally his Gold Cloaks, dealing increased damage. While on its own, the College Of Swords Bard is a strange fit for Daemon due to his high charisma, it could potentially be the perfect subclass if taken at around 8th level or above.
The Best Ability Scores for Daemon Targaryen
First and foremost, Daemon's most important Ability Score is Charisma. This helps him to navigate tense social situations and frighten his foes through intimidation. Strength and Dexterity are both important in equal measure. Daemon is strong, fast, and skilled with a sword, making him an excellent melee combatant. This is why Constitution is the next important Ability Score, allowing Daemon to take blows that would otherwise destroy others. This leaves Wisdom and Intelligence. Daemon is rash and impulsive, but not stupid. For this reason, Intelligence should be prioritized over Wisdom.