Arc Dragons

History[]

Background[]

Long ago, the Firstbourne became the first Arc Dragon, revered as the Mother of all dragons. During the War of Oni and Dragon, the Arc Dragons of that time united under the dragon army to battle the Oni.^[13] Among them was Thunderfang, who served as Firstbourne's first lieutenant and ascended to become the Highest Arc.^[14] However, following the war, Thunderfang believed that his numerous victories would elevate him to the status of a Source Dragon. When he was denied, he unleashed his anger by attacking the City of Temples, aiming to destroy the followers of the Source Dragons as part of his broader plan to wreak havoc across the realms. In response to this escalating threat, the Council of Sources voted to summon the mortal avatar of the Source Dragon of Focus, the Arc Dragon of Focus, to confront Thunderfang. In the battle, the Arc Dragon of Focus ultimately overpowered Thunderfang, who was then imprisoned within Storm Mountain.^[15][16]

Following the battle, dragons began to form distinct tribes,^[17] each led by an Arc Dragon. The Arc Dragon of each tribe was adorned with a Crown of Horns, which was linked to the Source Dragons.^[18]

Before the Merge, the Arc Dragons lived with their respective tribes in different realms.

Hunted[]

The Dragon Hunters started to hunt dragons under the leadership of Iron Baron, who lost one of his legs and arms to the Firstbourne.

Later, Cole and young Wu learned of the Dragon Armor and that it could control the Mother of all Dragons. When young Wu drove Jay's invention, the Firstbourne mech, under the guidance to protect the Wind Dragon, the real Firstbourne arrived to free her captive children, during which the Ninja manage to free Slab the Earth Dragon, a Fire Dragon, and the Wind Dragon.

After learning Wu was the son of the First Spinjitzu Master, Iron Baron made him a deal to bring him to the Dragon Armor and he will command Firstbourne to send him and the Ninja home. Iron Baron never intended to keep his word and when he got to the Dragon Armor, Firstbourne appeared, and he tried ordering her to kill Wu. However, Wu revealed he lied about the armor having control over the Firstbourne, and that she sensed the good in his father's heart, which allowed him to tame her. With Iron Baron, she sensed evil and encased him in molten metal. Firstbourne notices Wu and senses the good in his heart as she did with his father and gives him the armor. After the ninja board dragons of their own, they fly off to return to Ninjago. Firstbourne helped attempt to fight off Garmadon, but he proved to be too powerful.

March of the Oni[]

After the Oni returned to the First Realm, Firstbourne and her children tried to fight them off with the Dragon Hunters, but the Oni proved to be too powerful and forced her and Faith to escape to Ninjago to warn the Ninja.

After the ninja were victorious in defeating the Oni, the Firstbourne is fully healed and flew above the monastery as the ninja and their allies celebrate.

Dragons Rising, Season 1[]

The Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons discovered a baby dragon with the ninja aboard the Destiny's Bounty just as the ship was about to crash. Initially suspicious, the Matriarch accused the ninja of being dragon hunters like the Claws of Imperium, but Riyu defended them, insisting they were not. The ninja explained they had come to warn the dragons about the Claws of Imperium. The Matriarch, somewhat convinced, gave them a chance to prove their innocence by helping to protect the herd. During the confrontation, the dragon hunters targeted the Matriarch, but Lloyd used Riyu's powers to perform a dragon-powered Spinjitzu and defeat them, freeing the Matriarch.

Grateful, the Matriarch shared the struggles her herd had faced since the Merge and decided to relocate them to a safer location. Though concerned about Riyu's decision to join the ninja, the Matriarch recognized it as an opportunity to foster a deeper connection between Elemental Masters and dragons. She assured Lloyd that Riyu would always be able to find her herd when needed. The Matriarch and her herd then departed to the Land of the Three Mountains.

Dragons Rising, Season 2[]

After Nokt escaped the Nether-Space, he and Rox, who possessed Jordana, began to plan a way to release the rest of the Forbidden Five. Since they needed Dragon Ivory to access the Nether-Space, they began to hunt Arc Dragons to steal their crowns. They attacked the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons, the Matriarch of Fallen Leaves, and the Patriarch of the Northern Spiral and stole their horns.

The Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons was fatally wounded by Nokt and Rox and told Lloyd with the last of her strength that the Source Dragons were in danger. After she died, the ninja found her newborn and successor in one of her nursing pouches and brought her to her herd. Later, when the Ninja were back in the monastery, the Source Dragon of Motion came and revealed to them that the Patriarch of the Northern Spiral and the Matriarch of Fallen Leaves were also killed.

To find out who committed the killing spree, the ninja participated in the Tournament of the Sources. Eventually, they were led to the Monastery of Gates, where they found the three Dragon Horns. Both Nokt and Nya used the horns to free the remaining Forbidden Five, Kai, and Bonzle respectively.

Dragons Rising, Season 3[]

Known Arc Dragons[]

• Firstbourne^[1]
• Thunderfang (formerly)^[4]

Mortal avatars[]

• Arc Dragon of Focus
• Arc Dragon of Strength^[3]
• Arc Dragon of Life^[19]

Tribe leaders[]

• Arc Dragon of the Fire Tribe^[20]
• Arc Dragon of the Earth Tribe^[21]
• Arc Dragon of the Lightning Tribe^[21]
• Arc Dragon of the Ice Tribe^[21]
• Arc Dragon of the Water Tribe^[21]
• Arc Dragon of the Wind Tribe^[21]
• Arc Dragon of the Life Tribe^[2]
• Arc Dragon of the Djinjagan Dragons (deceased)^[22]
• Arc Dragon of the Jungle Dragons^[22]
• Arc Dragon of the Shintaran Ridgebacks^[22]
• Past Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons (deceased)
  • Eridany
• Past Matriarch of Fallen Leaves (deceased)
  • Arc Dragon of Fallen Leaves
• Past Patriarch of the Northern Spiral (deceased)
  • Arc Dragon of the Northern Spiral^[23]
• Urd Leatherwing^[5] (deceased)^[6]

Abilities[]

• Draco-Ergokinesis - Like other powerful dragons such as Source Dragons, Thunderfang, and Riyu, Arc Dragons are capable of manipulating their dragon energy.
  • Sparks - The Arc Dragons possess the ability to share their dragon energy with other beings, manifesting as sparks dependent on the level of their Elemental Powers.^[24]
    • Elemental Power Augmentation - Using their Crown of Horns, the Arc Dragons can increase the powers of Elemental Masters.
• Telepathy - Similar to the Source Dragons, the Arc Dragons can communicate with other living beings using telepathic powers.

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

• Dragon tribes are allowed to select their Arc Dragon however they see fit. The choosing or becoming of an Arc Dragon can be decided in either forms of combat, descent of a previous Arc Dragon, tribe voting, or by the council of elders of the tribe.^[12]
• The previous Arc Dragons of the Mountain Dragons, Northern Spiral, and Fallen Leaves draw their powers from either the Source Dragon of Motion or the Source Dragon of Life.^[10]
  • The Matriarchs of the Mountain Dragons and Fallen Leaves are claimed by the Source Dragon of Life.^[25][26]
  • The Patriarch of the Northern Spiral is claimed by the Source Dragon of Motion.^[27]
  • Currently, with the exceptions of Energy, Water, and Wind Dragons, the elements used by dragons are limited to only four of the sources. With Chris "Doc" Wyatt stating that the Arc Dragon's Crowns of Horns are the source of the connections between the Source Dragons and Arcs,^[18] it could be possible that Arc Dragons' element extend to beyond the elements of Creation.
• When asked if there is one Arc Dragon per realm, Chris "Doc" Wyatt stated, "Not one per realm. One (at least) per tribe."^[28]
  • This implies that a Dragon Tribe can have multiple Arc Dragons.
• A Conduit’s connection to a Source Dragon is not similar to that of Arc Dragons.^[29]
• The existence of twelve of the Arc Dragons was confirmed by Chris "Doc" Wyatt instead of in the series.
  • These twelve are Arc Dragon of the Lightning Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Earth Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Ice Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Wind Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Water Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Life Tribe, Arc Dragon of the Fire Tribe, Arc Dragon of Strength, Arc Dragon of the Northern Spiral, Arc Dragon of the Djinjagan Dragons, Arc Dragon of the Jungle Dragons, and Arc Dragon of the Shintaran Ridgebacks.
• The Firstbourne is the strongest Arc Dragon^[30] and can be considered their leader.^[1]
• Arc Dragons do not embody concepts in the same manner as Source Dragons.^[31]
• Eridany is the only Arc Dragon to have her name and title revealed, as she's referred to as the "Matriarch of the Mountain Tribe" in "Their Draconic Majesty's Request", while Firstbourne and Thunderfang's Arc Dragon titles are unknown.
  • However, it is unlikely Firstbourne and Thunderfang have titles as they were born in a time before tribal divisions occurred.^[17]
• Arc Dragons aren't more powerful than the Dragon Masters.^[32]
• It is unknown why Firstbourne and Thunderfang lack Crowns of Horns, as Arc Dragons are born with them, as shown with Eridany.
• As seen with Eridany and the Mountain tribe, Arc Dragons can be referred to as "Majesty" within their tribe.
  • Lloyd also refered to the previous Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons as "Majesty" in "The Merge: Part 2."
• According to Chris "Doc" Wyatt, if an Arc Dragon dies without leaving a successor, a succession struggle could play out in various ways.^[33]
• Estian the Nomad is the only dragon known to reject the status of becoming an Arc Dragon, and for a total of three times.^[34]
• While generally associated with heads of families, the terms Matriarch and Patriarch are meant to be gender-based equivalents of Arc Dragons in the context of dragons. Thunderfang, for instance, can be regarded as a Patriarch due to his role as a general in the dragon army.^[35]

Gallery[]

In LEGO form[]

Firstbourne

Firstbourne (BrickHeadz)

Thunderfang

The Arc Dragon of Focus

The Arc Dragon of Life

Members[]

Firstbourne

Eridany

Past Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons (deceased)

Past Matriarch of Fallen Leaves (deceased)

Past Patriarch of the Northern Spiral (deceased)

Thunderfang (formerly)

Arc Dragon of Focus

Arc Dragon of Life

Promotional media[]

Firstbourne on the poster of Season 9: Hunted

Firstbourne, in the background at the top left corner on the Sons of Garmadon mural

Firstbourne as she appears behind Iron Baron in the Hunted mural

The Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons on the poster of Dragons Rising Season 1

The Arc Dragon of Focus

The Arc Dragon of Life

In Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu[]

Season 9: Hunted[]

Tales from the Monastery of Spinjitzu[]

Season 10: March of the Oni[]

Firstbourne behind Iron Baron in the Season 10 opening

In Ninjago: Dragons Rising[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

The Matriarch's death

Three deceased Arc Dragons depicted by the Source Dragon of Motion

Season 3[]

Thunderfang fighting against the Arc Dragon of Focus in the Battle of the City of Temples

Season 4[]

In other media[]

Firstbourne visualized, behind Morro, Nadakhan, and Garmadon in his Oni form.

Concept art[]

Firstbourne on the storyboard for "Green Destiny"

Translations[]

References[]