Dragonglass is an archaic term the smallfolk use to describe what maesters call obsidian. It is a type of volcanic glass created under intense heat and pressure. Also called Frozen Fire by the Valyrians, it had many properties that made it a go-to tool for some of the oldest creatures in the known world. Before the arrival of the first Men, the Children of the Forest used obsidian blades as a cutting tool and weapon. They also made dragonglass arrowheads and spears.
Before the age of humans in Westeros, the Children of the Forest had a long battle with the giants for dominance. During their war, the Children used arrowheads and blades made with dragonglass. Later, the first Men arrived, and conflict started. However, though Dragonglass was sharper than the weapons of the First Men, it was too brittle and no match for the humans.
Characteristics
Dragonglass is a brittle volcanic glass created under the Earth. Maesters believe it comes from volcanoes, but the smallfolk think the dragons made it. Called obsidian by the elite, it has many unique properties, one being extreme sharpness. Its edges are thinner than steel, giving it a superior advantage. Dragonglass cannot hold its edge against dense metals; this makes it a terrible choice of weaponry in battle.
Dragonstone has a large deposit of dragonglass. It is also an export of Asshai. The Skagosi also trade dragonglass weapons, and the Free Folk carry dragonglass daggers.
History
When the First Men arrived at Westeros, they met the Children of the Forest, who started a war with them over the destruction of trees. The brutal war lasted many centuries, and though the Children used obsidian weapons, they were no match for the bronze swords of the First Men. Eventually, the war ended, and the Wall’s construction started during the Age of Heroes. When the Night’s Watch began operations, the Children of the Forest gave the Black Brothers one hundred obsidian daggers annually.
In Essos, during the reign of Old Valyria, the dragonlords created candles made from dragonglass. During the Doom of Valyria, the Peninsula trembled and broke apart, the Fourteen Fires erupted, and red clouds rained obsidian on every living thing.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
In Winterfell, Osha, Rickon, and Bran Stark visit Luwin’s turret. The old maester shows the group many arrowheads, and Bran notices one that is black glass. He then asks Luwin if he can keep it.
A Clash of Kings
After leaving Craster’s Keep, the brothers of the Night’s Watch arrive at the Fist of the First Men. Jon Snow discovers a cache of leaf-shaped spearheads, arrowheads, and knives made from dragonglass. He also finds an old warhorn. Jon gives the spearhead and a dozen arrowheads to Samwell Tarly and shares the remaining loot among his friends.
When Daenerys Targaryen arrives in Qarth, many people give her gifts, including dragonglass artifacts from Asshai, to learn if the dragons are alive. She sells most of the items she receives but wastes them on the Pureborn, whom she tries to negotiate with. After the death of the Undying Ones, Dany learns from Xaro that glass candles are beginning to burn again.
A Storm of Swords
After the fight at the Fist of the First Men, Sam and the remaining survivors head back to Craster’s Keep. On the way, an Other attacks the group. In a panic, Sam stabs the creature with a dragonglass dagger, and the beast dissolves. When Grenn tries retrieving the blade, he almost gets injured by the cold emanating from it.
On reaching Craster’s Keep, Sam tells Lord Commander Jeor Mormont about the encounter. The Lord of the Night’s Watch states he will want more dragonglass, and Sam tells him they can find some from the Children of the Forest. However, Jeor tells Sam the Children are long extinct.
A mutiny occurs at Craster’s Keep, and Sam escapes with Gilly. While traveling with the young woman and her newborn son, Sam gets attacked by an undead Small Paul. He tries killing the wight with dragonglass, thinking it will work as it did for the Other. However, the dragonglass does not affect Paul.
Lord Tywin Lannister gives Ser Ilyn Payne a new sword with a dragonglass pommel after he takes the Starks’ great Valyrian steel sword, Ice.
Upon returning to the Wall and the defeat of Mance Rayder, Sam tells King Stannis Baratheon about the properties of dragonglass, and he sends a message to the castellan of dragonstone, Ser Rolland Storm, to start mining for the volcanic rock.
A Feast for Crows
In Oldtown, Lazy Leo tells his friends, including Pate, that a glass candle is burning in Archmaester Marwyn’s chambers. The acolytes discuss the new revelation and how it affects the tradition of becoming a maester, which involves trying to light a dragonglass candle overnight. Some of the acolytes also talk about the return of the dragons.
On the Wall, Sam tells the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow, about how the Children of the Forest gave the Night’s Watch one hundred obsidian daggers annually during the Age of Heroes. Jon later sends him to the Citadel, and on reaching Marwyn’s chambers, Sam sees a dragonglass candle burning.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, dragonglass was crucial in the fight against the White Walkers and the Night King. Sam, Edd, and Green find a cache of dragonglass spear heads at the Fist of the First Men.
After Bran Stark traveled to the three-eyed raven’s cave, he learned the Children of the Forest created the first White Walker by forcing dragonglass through a man’s heart.
The Night King and his undead army attack Bran and his friends in the three-eyed raven’s cave, and though Meera and Bran make it to safety, their companions die.
Before the fight with the Night King, Daenerys allows dragonglass mining on dragonstone. Gendry forges blades, axes, and arrows for the soldiers. Arya asks for a spear, and she later kills the Night King.
Dragonglass: The Weapon of Fire
Dragonglass is a type of volcanic rock that became crucial to learning about the world’s dark past. When Sam discovers it can kill Others, a new weakness arises in the invincible creatures of the night, who once brought terror to Westeros.
