Viggo Grimborn, the cunning and ambitious antagonist in How to Train Your Dragon 2, presents a fascinating challenge: how do you train a dragon whose primary motivation is conquest and control? Forget the typical "friendship and understanding" approach; Viggo requires a different strategy altogether, one that leverages his strengths and exploits his weaknesses. This post explores revolutionary, and arguably ethically grey, training methods for this formidable dragon rider.
Understanding Viggo: Beyond Brute Force
Before we delve into training methods, we need to understand Viggo. He isn't driven by simple greed; he's a strategic thinker, a master manipulator, and deeply resentful of Stoick the Vast. His dragon, a formidable Bewilderbeast, reflects his personality – powerful, commanding, and easily swayed by strategic manipulation, rather than brute force. Traditional dragon training techniques, focused on bonding and empathy, won't work here.
Exploiting Viggo's Ambition: A Strategic Partnership
Forget taming; think manipulation. Viggo's ultimate goal is power. A revolutionary approach involves subtly aligning your "training" with his ambitions. This could involve:
- Offering Strategic Advantage: Present information or resources that advance his conquest plans, positioning yourself as a valuable ally, not a trainer. This could be intelligence on Berk's defenses or access to rare resources.
- Playing to his Ego: Viggo is arrogant and believes in his superiority. Flattery, strategically applied, can be a powerful tool. Highlight his tactical brilliance, acknowledge his past successes, and make him feel indispensable to your (and, by extension, his) “success.”
- Creating Internal Conflicts: Sow discord amongst Viggo's allies, making him increasingly reliant on you for support and strategic guidance. This will subtly shift the power dynamic in your favour.
Leveraging the Bewilderbeast: Indirect Control
The Bewilderbeast itself is a key component. Directly confronting it is suicide; instead, focus on indirect control:
- Exploiting the Bewilderbeast's Abilities: Understand the Bewilderbeast's powers and how they can be leveraged for specific objectives. This isn't about riding the beast; it's about using its abilities to further Viggo's (and your) ambitions.
- Subtle Influence: Instead of forceful commands, use subtle suggestions and carefully worded strategies to influence the Bewilderbeast's actions through Viggo. A whisper in Viggo's ear can be far more effective than a shout at the dragon.
- Strategic Placement: Use the environment to your advantage, positioning the Bewilderbeast in strategic locations that subtly influence its behavior and actions without direct confrontation.
The Ethical Tightrope: A Necessary Evil?
This approach skirts the edge of ethical dragon training. It manipulates and exploits, rather than builds a bond. However, dealing with a character like Viggo requires a departure from traditional methods. This isn't about befriending a dragon; it's about neutralizing a threat using unconventional and strategically sound methods.
Conclusion: A Masterclass in Manipulation
Training Viggo Grimborn isn't about taming a beast; it's about mastering the art of manipulation. By understanding his motivations, leveraging his ego, and exploiting the Bewilderbeast's capabilities, you can achieve control without resorting to brute force. This approach offers a revolutionary, and arguably morally complex, alternative to traditional dragon training. It's a masterclass in strategic thinking, applied to a truly formidable opponent.
