Summary
Dragons are the most famous Western fantasy monsters of all time. In legends, they serve as the ultimate test of valor and might for knights. In that sense, it seems like Man and Beast are constantly at war, but these two parties aren’t always separate.
Several role-playing games havedragon knights. As the name suggests, this class combines flying reptiles with armored warriors. That mixture informs the shape and style of their armor. It also influences their abilities, as the fighters take inspiration from dragons for their moves. This repertoire distinguishes them from other knights. More importantly, it makes them a novelty to play.
Not only doesThe Elder Scrollsintroduce dragons as enemies, but it integrates their gifts into the player-character. The obvious example of this isSkyrim. Here, theDragonborn absorbs the souls of the mythical lizardsand learns various incantations in their ancient language. This lets the warrior channel their abilities in the form of Shouts. The effects vary with each incantation. Players may emit shockwaves, breathe fire, enhance their items, disarm enemies, and even summon other dragons. Because of the open-ended nature of customization, though,Skyrimdoesn’t tie these gifts to a defined class.
That changes inThe Elder Scrolls Online.This MMO has a plethora of classes, Dragon Knight being one of them. Users can once again breathe fire. However, they can also buff allies, poison foes, and turn themselves into tanks through sheer bestial fury. They may not boast the pivotal power of the Dragonborn, but they can shape up to be a worthy alternative.
The Dragon Knight ofFinal Fantasyoriginates inFinal Fantasy 2along with many other franchise staples. Since then, it’s been a recurring job. The developers usually fashion mysterious characters around said job. Fan favorites include Kain fromFinal Fantasy 4, Freya fromFinal Fantasy 9, and Kimahri fromFinal Fantasy 10.Other entries let players apply the class to a character through certain items. The dragon-themed boots inFinal Fantasy 6and corresponding garb inLightning Returnsgrant Dragon Knight gifts to wearers.
Those gifts mean Dragon Knights typically serve as dragoons. Basically, they’re lance-wielding warriors who can launch enemies into the air. They can even jump to extraordinary heights themselves, emulating a dragon’s flight and avoiding damage in the process. These factors make them extremely tough to pin down.
How ironic that a series calledDragon Questdoesn’t have Dragon Knights, at least until its eighth mainline entry with the Dragovians. The hero ofDragon Quest 8begins asa standard silent protagonist. His humble beginnings hide a grand destiny as the land’s savior. That said, there’s more to his backstory than meets the eye.
The hero actually originates from a Dragovian Sanctuary. He’s the child of human and Dragovian parents, which is probably the reason he can tap into ancient magic. Dragon Soul, for instance, deals a massive amount of non-elemental damage to enemies. His roots also inform his armor choices, as certain sets are distinctly draconian in appearance. On top of being cool, these elements let him stand out from the myriad of other silentDragon Questheroes.
TheDark Soulsgames offset their difficulty with countless options for character creation and growth. One of those options is the Path of the Dragon. This avenue may not seem enticing at first, as it means that players must forgo wearing armor. Fortunately, the class offers natural protection in the form of scales. The character gradually shapeshifts intoa reptilian wreckeras the game moves along.
The path also has its perks on the offensive side. Of course, it comes with aSkyrim-style shockwave. However, once the hero’s head turns into a lizard mug, they can breathe fire. This is more effective than many melee attacks. Considering how Dark Souls handicaps the players, though, that’s not saying much. Still, the gauntlet is a bit easier with a literal Dragon Knight.
TheFire Emblemseries hasnumerous recurring classes, but the Wyvern Rider is among the most iconic for obvious reasons. Also known as “Dracoknights,” these warriors ride dragons. This ability is invaluable in a tactical RPG. Flight offers an increased rate of movement across the board, even over difficult terrain. It also lets them conduct aerial attacks on unsuspecting victims. Of course, that’s only a small part of their repertoire.
These riders have several other offensive options. Along with their dragon-style armor, they usually wield axes and lances. The skills associated with these tools - such as Axefaire and Lance Buster -severely undermine the target’s defense and stun capacity. Wyvern Rider’s Ploy and other high-tier moves can break through enemies' guard entirely. In short,Fire Emblemaficionados can deliver a crippling blow to foes and be gone before they retaliate. True, it’s not very knightly, but it does make ample use of the unique mount.
It doesn’t take a genius to guess thatDivinity 2: The Dragon Knight Sagawould have a Dragon Knight. However, the profession’s purpose is counterintuitive. The protagonist actually acquires these draconic gifts to fightagainstthe beasts. Thus, players have the powers of both a dragon and a dragon slayer.
The latter is typical knight fare. Users upgrade the character with one/two-handed weapons and shields. Flame projectiles and other magical moves fall under different classes. Luckily, this is only half the equation.
The knight truly comes alive afterchanging into a dragon. This form boasts a separate set of skills. It can once again breathe fire and summon reptilian allies, butDivinitythrows in a few surprises. The creature can also conjure a shield and turn surrounding foes into harmless ladybirds. Best of all, it can fly. In that respect, this two-faced fighter puts other Dragon Knights to shame.
