The House of the Dragon Season 3 finale ends with the long-awaited Battle of Tumbleton. It’s a horrific battle in George R.R. Martin‘s books, infamous for the immense loss of life for no real purpose. Did the HBO version do the battle justice? And did Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) survive the day?

**Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8, now streaming on HBO Max**

We’ve known for weeks that House of the Dragon was building to a massive battle at the market town of Tumbleton. The unassuming settlement was targeted by Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) because it was known for its loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and the Blacks. Ormund took the city, using the innocent locals as human shields against Rhaenyra’s dragons.

Finally, in House of the Dragon‘s Season 3 finale, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), the Rivermen, and Winter Wolves close in on Tumbleton and prepare their assault. While the Blacks have the numbers, Ormund has some awful tricks up his sleeve. In addition to manning the battlements with children — to further dissuade the use of dragonfire — Ormund has managed to turn Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) to his side. Or, at least, he thinks he has. When the battle begins, Ulf is nowhere to be found. It’s only after the walls have been breached that Ormund discovers the drunkard passed out on a toilet. The lord of Oldtown begins berating the lowborn dragonlord, kicking him and cursing him as badly as Daemon had done.

Even though the Blacks meet with some success — Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan) and his Winter Wolves make it over the walls, Daemon burns down the gate with Caraxes’s firepower, and Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) and Black Aly (Annie Shapiro) infiltrate the city their own way — the whole battle turns when Ulf finally takes to the skies. At first he’s blazing up scores and scores of Riverlands troops, to Team Black’s horror. Then, just as Roddy the Ruin and Ormund Hightower exchange vicious mortal blows to each other, Ulf turns on the Greens, too. “And f*ck you, too!” he yells before engulfing an overjoyed Roddy and horrified Ormund in flames.

Eventually, Tumbleton is left brutalized and both armies are on the back foot. Daemon attempts to push his way through the battle, but Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) finds him and explains the fight is over. Ulf has turned, chaos rules, and it’s time to leave.

In the aftermath, we’re left to see who’s lived, who’s died, and whose fates are still up in the air. Who dies in the Battle of Tumbleton in the House of the Dragon Season 3 finale? Did Daeron the Daring survive? Here’s what you need to know…

Does Daeron Die in House of the Dragon Season 3?

We don’t know! House of the Dragon Season 3 ends with Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) surviving the Battle of Tumbleton. The noble knight immediately starts looking through the rubble for his nephew, who is nowhere to be found.

In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, we’re told that Daeron survives the first Battle of Tumbleton. (Yes, there’s a second one coming!) In fact, Daeron is supposed to die at the second Battle of Tumbleton, but no one knows exactly how. Some say he was murdered by a mercenary named Black Trombo, while others say he was cut down by someone who had no clue he was killing a prince. Finally, there’s a rumor that he died when his burning tent fell on top of him.

The mystery surrounding Daeron’s death in the book means we don’t know what’s going to happen to the charming young prince. It could be that Gwayne will find him alive and well in Season 4, just for the prince to die in a second battle at Tumbleton. However, if House of the Dragon is combining the two battles, we might learn that he’s dead after all.

Further complicating Daeron’s fate? Actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will be starring as Link in next spring live action Legend of Zelda movie. If that’s a hit, will his schedule suddenly be too packed to squeeze in House of the Dragon Season 4? Are they waiting to see if he can come back? (Just speculation!)

House of the Dragon Season 3 Ending Explained: Who Dies in the Battle of Tumbleton? Who Dies in King’s Landing?

Even if we don’t know Prince Daeron’s fate, we do know for sure several other characters died during the Battle of Tumbleton:

• Lord Ormund Hightower was killed by a combination of being stabbed up the butt and being set on fire by Silverwing.
• Lord Roderick Dustin, aka Roddy the Ruin, had his arm cut off and his belly stabbed by Ormund Hightower. While both injuries probably would have eventually claimed his life, he gets to die instantly in Silverwing’s dragonfire.
• Kat (Ellora Torchia), Hugh the Hammer’s wife, is slain when Hightower soldiers use her as a human shield against the invading army.
• Many, many, many innocent Tumbleton residents and many, many, many nameless soldiers also die.

Unfortunately, the carnage wasn’t confined to Tumbleton. Two major deaths occurred in King’s Landing which are sure to have massive ramifications in Season 4…

• Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) dies by sucide when she leaps from her chamber window and is impaled on spikes below.
• The High Septon (Simon Chandler) is killed by Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) on Rhaenyra’s orders when he refuses to anoint her as queen.

The House of the Dragon Season 3 finale is now streaming on HBO Max.