Dragon Hunters

The Dragon Hunters are the main antagonists in Dragons: Race to the Edge. Their leaders are Viggo and Ryker Grimborn.

They made their debut in the third expansion pack in School of Dragons, Battle for the Edge, and their series debut in Night of the Hunters, Part 1.

History
Currently not much is known about them except that The Reaper and the Original Dragon Eye, are part of their history.

Loyal Order of Ingerman
There is a particular sect of Dragon Hunters residing on Dramillion Island called the "Loyal Order of Ingerman". These Hunters have a small base camp with an elaborate piece-meal house and a statue honoring Ingar Ingerman. These Hunters train with techniques developed by Ingar, who was a Dragon Hunter themselves.

"For generations, Hunters have learned the trade using the Ingerman Method."

- Cleve

This, presumably, entails live-catching Dramillion dragons and caging them with a manacle around their strong tails so that they cannot fly. Once new Dragon Hunter recruits arrive, the Dramillions are then released to be hunted down by the recruits to train. These dragons offer a good Hunter training opportunity, since they can mimic any dragon's fire.

The Loyal Order of Ingermans even have a song. New recruits often touch the statue of Ingar for luck in Hunting. Cleve is even seen requesting protection from Ingar as if to a god.

Dragon Eye of the Beholder, Part 1
Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snoutlout, and the twins went to the Ship Graveyard to seize Trader Johann's treasure before Dagur the Deranged did. They were told about The Reaper by Johann, and how he tried to go onto it several times, only to be thwarted by the booby traps. Hiccup wondered why someone would go through so much trouble to keep people away from the ship, and deduced that there was something on it that the owners didn't want people to find.

Dragon Eye of the Beholder, Part 2
The Reaper had dragon proof cages that could withstand dragon fire.

Night of the Hunters, Part 1
The Dragon Riders first encountered the Dragon Hunters after Ryker took Stormfly away from Astrid. On their way to their port, Ryker then captured the other dragon riders except Hiccup and Snotlout. Ryker then revealed that he was working with the Berserker Tribe's chief, Dagur the Deranged, his sister Heather.

Night of the Hunters, Part 2
The riders then found out about the Hunters' dealings, such as making Gronckle Iron, making spear tips with Deadly Nadder spikes, and skinning Hideous Zipplebacks for their hides. Luckily, the riders and their dragon were able to escape Ryker's ship with Hiccup's and Snotlout's help.

Snow Way Out
Ryker and the Dragon Hunters later went to Glacier Island to get a tooth from the Snow Wraith to make their own Dragon Eye key. During this time, Heather and Windshear were actually infiltrating the Dragon Hunters in order to bring them down from the inside. Only Astrid knew of this mission. Ryker and his men failed in capturing the Snow Wraiths.

Edge of Disaster, Part 1
The Hunters then attacked an island and tortured the wild dragons living there in order to get them to attack Trader Johann's ship and distract Hiccup.

Edge of Disaster, Part 2
They attacked Dragon's Edge in order to get the Dragon Eye. However, Ryker and Dagur failed when Hiccup returned with the wild dragons.

A Time to Skrill
The Dragon Hunters then briefly captured the Frozen Skrill, but lost it when Hiccup and his riders freed it.

Maces and Talons, Part 1
Ryker then brought Dagur, Heather, and his Berserkers to meet with Viggo Grimborn. Viggo and Heather set out to capture a Flightmare. Heather met up with Hiccup and Astrid about the plan and decided to use the opportunity to take the head of the Dragon Hunters down. However, Viggo was aware that Heather was a spy and used the riders plan against them, capturing Heather, Windshear, and the Flightmare.

Maces and Talons, Part 2
Viggo decided to test Hiccup's abilities by leaving the game Maces and Talons on his ship, with pieces representing him, Hiccup, and Heather. Knowing the prize was Heather's life, Hiccup took the challenge. However, Viggo was able to outsmart Hiccup and take the Dragon Eye. Using the Flightmare's mist, Viggo was able to activate the emergency release, giving him access to the Dragon Eye's information, even without a Snow Wraith tooth.

Enemy of My Enemy
The Dragon Hunter then broke off their alliance with Dagur. They then set up a trap for Hiccup. However, it failed when Dagur helped Hiccup and Toothless escape. Dagur also took one of their ships.

Buffalord Soldier
The Dragon Hunters then spread the Scourge of Odin onto one of their ships in order to create a outbreak to demand the only known cure. They were then able to find the last Buffalord on Odin's Respite in order to get the cure from the dragon. However, they were unable to keep the Buffalord caged on their ship.

Stryke Out
Ryker and one of his fellow hunters then hosted a series of Dragon Fights that had the Triple Stryke win numerous victories against various dragon. However, it's victories became to routine. However, the hunter in charge of the fights was able to Hiccup and Toothless. Toothless was able to hold his own against a Razorwhip and the Triple Sryke. The fights ended when the other riders freed the dragons from the Hunters.

Tone Death
The Dragon Hunters then tried to move a shipment of Dragons and eggs, but were stopped by the riders.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Using a pair of Quakens, the Dragon Hunters then took large shipments of marble work from island back to their island to build a dragon-proof fortress. However, their efforts were stopped by Hiccup's riders and the fortress was collapsed by the Quakens.

Family on the Edge
The Hunters then set up a trap for the riders, but it failed when Dagur and Shattermaster attacked (probably killed).

Last Auction Heroes
The Dragon Hunters then had auction which brought in a large number of buyers from across the Barbaric Archipelago including a special guest (a member of Drago Bludvist's Army). However, the auction ended when the Riders freed the dragons. However, Viggo was able to escape with Berk's gold.

Defenders of the Wing, Part 1
Viggo then decided to make a truce with hiccup on Botany Blight. However, the Hunters used Hiccup's riders to distract Queen Mala and her Defenders of the Wing to take the Eruptodon from the Caldera Cay's volcano.

Defenders of the Wing, Part 2
A pair of hunters were left behind and attempted to kill Mala. After questioning the two hunters, Mala, Hiccup, and three of his riders tracked the Hunters. At first, they were only able to find a ship that did not have the Eruptodon. Hiccup then realized that Viggo's plan was for the Great Protector to awaken Dragon's Edge volcona in order to deprive the Riders of their base. The hunter were also to turn the Edge's outpost's weapons upon the Riders. However, the riders were able to take back their outpost and the Edge's gronckles were able to return the Great Protector back to Caldera Cay.

Gruff Around the Edges
Gruffnut Thorston had a debt to pay with the hunters. He attempted to sell Barf and Belch to the hunters but failed when Ruffnut pushed off Barf and Belch. However, Ruff and Tuff rescued him from the hunters and left him at the mercy of a quaken.

Midnight Scrum
Viggo and his dragon hunters then placed a bounty on Hiccup. Several bounty hunters, such as Savage attempted to take him to Viggo. Only Krogan was succesful in capturing Hiccup and bringing him to Ryker. However, Ryker double-crossed Krogan and lost Hiccup. Ryker and his dragon hunters were then warned by Stoick not to continue with Hiccup's bounty.

Not Lout
The dragon hunters then increased their supply of Dragon root arrows. They also arranged a trap for the Riders. However, the trap failed and their supply was disrupted.

Living on the Edge
Following the apparent demise of Viggo, the Dragon Hunters were then led by Krogan. Together, they captured a Death Song and used it to capture dragons. Krogan then had a hunter killed for questioning his methods.

Return of Thor Bonecrusher
Krogan then discovered that Viggo had survived and agreed to work with Krogan. Viggo took back command and his men then worked with Krogan on how to take the edge and find the Dragon Eye.

Dawn of Destruction
The Hunters took part in taking the Edge alongside Krogan's Dragon Flyers. Despite Viggo's and Krogan's difficulties in working together, they were able force the riders to retreat to Caldera Cay. The Dragon Hunters then attempted to capture Fishlegs Ingerman, to no avail. The Hunters then assisted Viggo in finding the Dragon Eye.

The Wings of War, Part 1
The Hunters then used Hiccup's Diving Bell to go into the Edge's volcano. There, Viggo and and one of his hunters found the Dragon Eye.

The Wings of War, Part 2
The Hunters were then forced to leave when a fleet from Berk came and Hiccup was able to lure all but Krogan's Singetail away from the Edge. Despite losing the Edge, Krogan, Viggo and his hunters were able to leave with the Dragon Eye.

Sins of the Past
After Krogan and his flyers failed to retrieve Heather's Dragon Eye Lens, Krogan, Viggo, and his hunters were then given the lens by there spy, Johann at the Hunter's headquarters. Together, they planned to find the king of all dragons.

King of Dragons, Part 2
In the final battle between the riders and the hunters on Berserker Island, every dragon that the riders had befriended and saved in the past joined in to assist their saviors and friends in their fight, along with their friends the Wingmaidens, so they could once and for all end the rain of the Dragon Hunters. While in the underground den of the King of all Dragons, Johann was killed by the icy breath of the dragon he seeked, which somehow didn't harm Hiccup despite being in it's line of fire. With both the Grimborns and Johann dead, followed by Krogan when he returned to the master emptied handed, the hunters fled and were believed to be dispended. As they had no leader to lead them and were stripped of their ships, weapons and power to continue their dragon hunting.

School of Dragons
The Dragon Hunters first appear on Hobblegrunt Island, stealing a mysterious blue object, later found out to be an egg of a Luminous Krayfin. They are driven off by the Dragon Riders.

Harald Forkbeard, who tricked the Dragon Riders, aided the hunters in returning their weapons, as well as capturing a Catastrophic Quaken and Armorwing. Though Harald somewhat redeems himself by giving the player a Dragon Hunter disguise and taking them to the Hunters' hideout to free the dragons.

The Dragon Hunters later attack Dragon's Edge, but thanks to the preparations that the Dragon Riders, including Heather, have made, they are able to defeat the Hunters and drive them away.

Abilities and Skills
As demanded by their chief and his brother, the Dragon Hunters were know for their skills in hunting dragons.
 * Dragon training and enslaving: The hunters were able to make dragons, such as Scardian's pack of Forest Island, very hostile towards humans after torturing them.("Edge of Disaster, Part 1", "Edge of Disaster, Part 2") The hunters were also able to ensure obedience from a pair of quakens by using a hammer. ("Between a Rock and a Hard Place")


 * Inventing: The Hunters were able to create dragon-proof cages.("Dragon Eye of the Beholder, Part 1") They were able to make spears and ballistas out of nadder spikes. They were also able to force gronckles to make Gronckle Iron for them.("Night of the Hunters, Part 2") The hunters also made tents out dragon skins. ("Maces and Talons, Part 1")

Known Members

 * Viggo Grimborn (chieftain)
 * Ryker Grimborn
 * Cleve
 * Skarsgard
 * Nygren
 * Lars #2

Allies

 * Johann
 * Krogan
 * Dragon Flyers
 * Savage
 * Amos
 * Berthel
 * Drago Bludvist (clandestinely)
 * Harald Forkbeard (School of Dragons only)

Enemies

 * Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
 * Astrid Hofferson
 * Fishlegs Ingerman
 * Snotlout Jorgenson
 * Tuffnut Thorston
 * Ruffnut Thorston
 * Heather
 * Dagur the Deranged
 * Gobber the Belch
 * Stoick the Vast
 * Spitelout Jorgenson

Trivia

 * The Dragon Hunters' clothing bears a strong resemblance to the Berserker Tribe. The only exceptions are the clothing being red and the helmets only have spikes going down the middle. They also wear armor and clothes made of dragon skin.
 * Their arrows are dipped in Dragon Root, which enable them to capture most dragons easily.("Night of the Hunters, Part 1")
 * It might be possible that the Dragon Hunters are allied to Drago Bludvist.
 * In a Megafan video on DreamworksTV, they theorize that the red fist symbol the Hunters have is an allusion to Drago. Secret Villain Conspiracy Revealed! | MEGAFAN: RACE TO THE EDGE
 * "Bloody fist;" "Bludvist."
 * "Bloody fist" is also what Hiccup refers to Drago as when telling Stoick about the events at Eret's Fort in the movie.
 * The branding tool they almost used on Hiccup("Enemy of My Enemy") is the same symbol that Eret has branded on his chest in How to Train Your Dragon 2
 * During his auction, Viggo was expecting a man who had the same insignia as the sails of Drago's fleet on his beltbuckle and the pin of his cloak.
 * Viggo makes a comment about him not wanting to rule the world "like some people." He could have been referring to Drago.