If you’ve started Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing and reached the dragon-bonding ceremony, you may be wondering: What exactly is Threshing, and why is it so important?

In Fourth Wing, Threshing is the dangerous ceremony at Basgiath War College where first-year dragon-rider candidates enter the valley and attempt to form a bond with a dragon. The crucial rule is simple: the dragon chooses the rider—not the other way around.

For Violet Sorrengail and the other first-year riders, Threshing is one of the most important moments of their first year at Basgiath.

What Is Threshing in Fourth Wing?

Threshing is the dragon-bonding ceremony in Fourth Wing.

After months of training and surviving the brutal challenges of Basgiath War College, first-year candidates enter the valley where dragons gather.

Their goal is not to capture or select a dragon.

Instead, they must survive the encounter and hope a dragon chooses them.

A dragon can choose a candidate and form a magical bond with them. Once bonded, the human becomes a dragon rider.

This makes Threshing fundamentally different from a conventional military examination. The candidate can prepare, fight, and survive, but ultimately the dragon makes the choice.

What Chapter Is Threshing in Fourth Wing?

Threshing begins in Chapter 13 of Fourth Wing.

This is when Violet and the other first-year riders enter the valley for the dragon-bonding ceremony.

The events surrounding Threshing continue beyond that initial chapter and become an important turning point in Violet’s story.

If you’re looking for the exact place where the ceremony begins, Chapter 13 is the key chapter to look for.

Looking for the bigger picture? Read our complete Threshing Day guide for the ceremony, Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection), Xaden’s Threshing, release information, and more.

How Does Threshing Work?

The basic process is surprisingly simple:

1. First-year candidates enter the valley.
2. They encounter dragons gathering for the ceremony.
3. Candidates try to survive and demonstrate that they are worthy.
4. Dragons choose the humans they want to bond with.
5. A successful bond makes the candidate a dragon rider.

The candidates cannot choose their dragons.

The Dragon Chooses the Rider

The rider does not choose the dragon.

The dragon chooses the rider.

Dragons are intelligent and independent beings in The Empyrean. Their relationships with humans aren’t simply based on strength or military usefulness.

The bond is a partnership.

Why Is Threshing So Dangerous?

Threshing takes place in a world where becoming a dragon rider can cost someone their life.

Before candidates even reach the ceremony, they have already faced dangerous training and challenges at Basgiath.

But Threshing itself remains unpredictable.

A candidate cannot guarantee that a dragon will choose them.

And in the world of Fourth Wing, failing to become a rider can have serious consequences for a first-year cadet.

That’s part of what makes the ceremony so significant: survival and success are not the same thing.

Why Is Threshing Important to Violet?

For Violet Sorrengail, Threshing becomes one of the defining moments of her journey at Basgiath.

She enters the Riders Quadrant under difficult circumstances and is not initially viewed as the obvious candidate for a life as a dragon rider.

Her physical limitations make the challenges particularly dangerous.

But Violet’s intelligence, determination, and ability to adapt become just as important as physical strength.

What happens during Threshing changes the direction of her life and sets up major developments throughout Fourth Wing and the wider Empyrean story.

How Do Dragon Bonds Work?

Dragons play a central role in the ceremony because they are the ones who ultimately decide which candidates become riders.

The bond between dragon and rider isn’t simply about gaining a powerful creature as an ally.

The relationship creates a lasting connection between the two.

For Violet, the dragons she eventually bonds with become central to her identity and her role in the larger conflict.

What Happens After Threshing?

Threshing isn’t the end of a candidate’s training.

It’s the beginning of life as a dragon rider.

Once a rider has formed a bond, they must learn how to live with that connection and continue their training at Basgiath.

The dragon bond also affects the rider’s abilities, relationships, responsibilities, and place within the Riders Quadrant.

For Violet, what happens after Threshing becomes just as important as the ceremony itself.

Threshing Day vs. Threshing Day the Book

There are now two meanings of “Threshing Day” that Fourth Wing readers should know.

Threshing Day — The Ceremony

In Fourth Wing, Threshing Day is the annual dragon-bonding ceremony at Basgiath War College.

It is where first-year candidates attempt to become dragon riders.

Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection) — The Book

Rebecca Yarros is also releasing a companion collection titled Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection). [Pre-order now on Amazon].

The collection is scheduled for September 29, 2026, and contains 13 stories from across The Empyrean universe.

The official information also confirms that Xaden Riorson’s Threshing is included.

So when readers search for “Threshing Day,” they may be looking for either the ceremony from Fourth Wing or the new companion collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Threshing is one of the most important events in Fourth Wing because it determines which first-year candidates will enter the world of dragon riders.

But the ceremony is about more than simply getting a dragon.

The bond between rider and dragon becomes one of the foundations of The Empyrean, shaping characters, relationships, and the larger conflict of the series.

And with Rebecca Yarros’s Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection) arriving on September 29, readers now have another opportunity to explore the stories behind the dragon riders of Basgiath.

Want to learn more about the ceremony and Rebecca Yarros’s upcoming companion collection? Read our complete complete Threshing Day guide.