Gronkle

Description:

One of the toughest dragons in the world is the Gronkle. Gronkles have gigantic heads, short bodies, and round tails. They are lazy, and spend most of their time sleeping in communal heaps. They have even been known to fall asleep while flying, waking only when they crash into the ocean or the side of a mountain. Gronkles have relatively small wings that beat as fast as a hummingbird's. They are slow in the air, but make up for this with their maneuverability. A Gronkle can fly backwards, sideways, and even hover. Gronkles attack from the air, where their primary weapon is most effective. Gronkles chew rocks, melting them in their bellies and firing them as balls of molten lava.

Personality:

It is relentless, stubborn, and direct, like a compact berserker rhino, yet very loyal to its rider.

HAH! Factor:

Good luck waking up a Gronkle. They have been known to sleep through hailstorms. 

AHH! Factor:

Its tail expands like a ram and will give you a nasty bonk on the head if you make it mad.     

Deadly Nadder

Description:

One of the most beautiful dragons in the world is the Deadly Nadder. It is easily recognized by the bright blue body and brilliant yellow spikes that cover it from head to tail. This colorful dragon is active during any time of the day or night. Nadders are quick and agile in the air and can fly for long distances, but will almost always land before attacking. Nadders travel and raid in groups, making them especially dangerous. The Deadly Nadder isn't the largest or the fastest dragon, but it possesses the hottest fire in the dragon world. The blast of a Nadder can melt steel or turn a man to ash in seconds. But the dangers of the Nadder don't stop there. The tail of the Nadder can be whipped around, releasing a volley of giant spikes that can penetrate trees, walls, and Vikings.

Personality:

It is flighty, aggressive, and has a quick and explosive temper. Its vanity is evident in the generous amounts of time it spends preening itself.

HAH! Factor:

Blind Spot: If you stand in front of a Nadder's nose, it won't be able to see you. Don't sneeze!

AHH! Factor:

Spine Time: Without warning, the prickly Nadder can whip hundreds of sharp spines at you from its tail. Better play nice.    

Night Fury

Description:

The rarest and most intelligent of the known dragon species, the Night Fury is distinguished by its dark color and piercing yellow eyes, as well as its smaller size, heavy chest, and short neck. Possessing the largest wing-to-body ratio of all dragons, it can fly higher, faster, and longer than any dragon, and its incredible power-to-weight ratio renders it capable of vertical takeoff. Its unconventional fire (a semi-solid mass alight with an acetylene/oxygen flame) explodes its target on impact. Its signature attack mode is executed after sundown and from high altitude; enwrapped in its wings, it dives like a bullet, pulling up at the last moment to deliver one precise and explosive burst...then vanishing back into the darkness. The only warning is the ballistic noise the diving Night Fury makes. Its kamikaze attack, along with its cautious behavior and analytical mind, makes the Night Fury a devastating opponent with an extraordinary success rate. To date, no Night Fury has ever been brought down.

Personality:

Reclusive, analytical, and the most intelligent of the known dragon species.

HAH! Factor:

Picky Eater: If a Night Fury eats something it doesn't like, stand back. Flaming food flies fast.

AHH! Factor:

Kamikaze Bomber: Using the night to hide its dark hide, it dive bombs villages, ships, and armies virtually unseen.   

Whirlwind's Attack Info

Attack 1: Rainbow of Doom

Rainbow of Doom starts out as a normal ranged attack. It does low damage, but the explosion at the end of the rainbow can hit multiple enemies grouped tightly together. While most of the upgrades for this power are straightforward, Rainbow Singularity stands out. Fully charging Rainbow Singularity takes three seconds, but you can move around (at reduced speed) while charging it. Once the attack is charged, releasing the Attack 1 button sends out a small black hole. When it hits an enemy, it creates a gigantic rainbow vortex that sucks in and damages all nearby enemies!

Attack 2: Tempest Cloud

Send out one of these rain clouds, and it slides to a stop a few feet from Whirlwind. Any enemies near the cloud take damage every few seconds as lightning juts out from the cloud. This is a great power because you can release the cloud, then focus on evading enemies. Initially, you only get one cloud, but Triple Tempest is an early upgrade that allows Whirlwind to shoot out three clouds at once, filling the battlefield with damaging dark clouds. Improving the damage via Tempest Tantrum transforms Tempest Cloud from a low/medium damage attack to a high damage attack. Once you get Tempest Matrix, you can actually create a wall of Clouds with arcing blasts that serve as a defensive barrier against charging enemies.

Attack 3: Dragon Flight

Dragon Flight can be helpful for avoiding traps and slime on the ground, and also allows Whirlwind to speed through timed puzzles.

Wow Pow Power: Cloudbursting!

This is a great add-on for Tempest Cloud. The clouds fire off arcing rainbow shots. These rainbow shots are the same power as Whirlwind's regular Rainbow of Doom, so if you upgrade Whirlwind's Rainbow of Doom damage, the Cloudbursting! damage increases as well.

Soul Gem Ability: Rainbow of Healing

This is a great power to purchase if you are playing Skylanders with a friend in co-op mode. Just shoot a rainbow at a friend to give them some extra health. If you are playing by yourself, it doesn't have any use.  

     

Flashwing's Attack Info

Attack 1: Crystal Shards

This is a great long-range attack. Not only does the Crystal Shard inflict above average damage for a rapid fire attack, but it also proves significant knockback against charging enemies. Once Flashwing unlocks the ability to stick Crystal Shards into nearby walls, this power becomes interesting. Use the crystal embedding to hit tough enemies from behind. Unlock Healing Crystals and you can get some extra health whenever you need it. Also, Armored Aura increases Flashwing's base armor by 40.

Attack 2: Shimmering Spin

Shimmering Spin is a deadly dash attack that can be used both offensively and defensively. When you get Reflection Deflection, Flashwing's base armor goes over 100 while spinning! The last upgrade in the Super Spinner path, Lights, Crystal, Action!, doesn't add too much to Shimmer Spin. The damage output from the laser is low, and you can't aim it. Definitely purchase Crystal Lighthouse first.

Attack 3: Surrounded by Shards

The best part about this power is that it's cheap. While hitting enemies behind Flashwing can come in handy, Surrounded by Shards is not a power you will use often.

Soul Gem Ability: Crystal Lighthouse

This is an astoundingly awesome addition to Flashwing's arsenal. Crystal Lighthouse requires Flashwing to be stationary, but once it's set up, it flashes the battlefield in a huge arc, damaging enemies within the light's radius every few seconds. Even after other powers are upgraded, this is Flashwing's highest-damaging attack.     
 

 

Whirlwind

Whirlwind is an air dragon with unicorn ancestry, two species that could not be more opposite in nature, which caused her to not quite fit in with either group. Other dragons were envious of her beauty, while unicorns shunned her for her ability to fly. But Whirlwind found peace within the dark and stormy clouds, where she learned to harness the tempest power within her. Despite her turbulent youth, she was the first to defend both dragons and unicorns when the trolls began hunting them, unleashing her ferocity in a brilliant and powerful rainbow that could be seen throughout many regions of Skylands. From that day forward, evildoers would quake when dark clouds brewed, and run from the rainbow that followed the storm.

Spyro's Attack Information

Attack 1: Flameball

Flameball is slower than most ranged attacks, but it deals better damage than average and has an excellent knockback. It also has plenty of upgrades, increasing range, damage, and number of fireballs. Daybringer Flame is the upgrade to save for last. Attacking with regular Flameballs actually deals more damage in the amount of time it takes to charge and release Daybringer Flame.

Attack 2: Charge

Charge is one of the best dash-type attacks in the game. Once Spyro hits full speed, the damage from the attack more than doubles. Charge also has two great secondary effects. First, Stun Charge unlocks a stun effect. Any enemy hit by the Charge cannot move for approximately 3 seconds. The second effect is a huge knockback. Charge is a fantastic power for crowd control and knocking enemies off ledges. However, due to its low damage, it's tough to unconditionally recommend the Blitz Spyro path over the higher-damage Sheep Burner path.

Attack 3: Spyro's Flight

Flight increases Spyro's speed and can be helpful when navigating dangerous level hazards. While flying, Spyro can use Flameball, but not Charge attacks.

Soul Gem Ability: Earth Pound

This dive bomb attack is a great addition to Spyro's arsenal. It's not quite as good as Fireslam, but it's a great area-of-effect attack with excellent range.

Wow Pow Power: Fireslam!

This is a fantastic power that keeps Spyro out of harm's way while slamming enemies with blasts of fire and kinetic energy. This power fundamentally changes how Spyro is played since flight becomes a much more effective tactic. Use Fireslam against large groups of enemies and against single tough monsters alike.