Makarov Dreyer serves as the third, sixth, and eighth guild master of the Fairy Tail guild and holds the esteemed title of one of the Ten Wizard Saints. He is the son of Yuri Dreyer, one of the founding members of Fairy Tail, and took on the role of master at the age of forty, succeeding the second master, Precht Gaebolg. His leadership tenure is the longest in the guild's history. Physically, Makarov is short in stature and nearly bald, though he sports a thick mustache and has a wrinkled face due to his advanced age. His typical attire consists of a beige coat worn over a red shirt. Despite his small frame, which creates an ironic contrast with his magical abilities, he remains a figure of immense power and authority.

In terms of personality, Makarov is generally温和 (gentle) and approachable, treating every member of his guild as if they were his own children or grandchildren. This paternal attitude is his most defining characteristic, and he is fiercely protective of his charges, willing to sacrifice his life to ensure their safety. He operates with a largely hands-off management style, believing that his members should pursue their own paths in magic. This often leads to considerable property damage at the hands of younger members like Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster, which in turn results in frequent and exasperated scoldings from the Magic Council. Makarov himself holds the Council and its rules in contempt, believing they stifle a wizard's growth. While he is a respected and wise leader, he also has an eccentric and occasionally perverted side, such as when he makes inappropriate comments toward female members like Lucy Heartfilia. His love for the guild has even taken precedence over his own flesh and blood; he expelled his son, Ivan Dreyer, for threatening the guild's integrity, and for a long time, he had a strained relationship with his powerful grandson, Laxus Dreyer, who eventually reconciled with him by calling him "grandfather".

Makarov’s role in the story is primarily that of the guiding patriarch of Fairy Tail. He is the moral compass and emotional anchor for the guild, inspiring fierce loyalty among its members. Throughout the series, he leads Fairy Tail through several major conflicts. During the war with the Phantom Lord guild, he was temporarily incapacitated by a sneak attack but recovered to defeat the enemy master, Jose Porla, using a powerful spell. On Tenrou Island, he faced his predecessor, the dark wizard Hades, and was gravely injured. Following that battle, he confronted the Black Dragon Acnologia to buy time for his younger members to escape, an act that resulted in him and the core team being cast into a seven-year stasis. Later, he temporarily disbanded the guild to protect its members during the Tartaros arc, only to reform it and lead them against the Alvarez Empire. His development sees him transition from an active fighter to a leader who ultimately entrusts the future of the guild to the next generation, formally passing the title of master to his successors while remaining a guiding figure.

Makarov is an exceptionally powerful wizard. His signature ability is Titan Magic, which allows him to enlarge his body or specific body parts to gigantic proportions, granting him immense physical strength and durability. At its maximum, he can grow to the size of an island and withstand powerful magical cannon fire. In addition to this, he is one of the few wizards capable of casting Fairy Law, a legendary and devastating light-based spell that eradicates anyone the caster perceives as an enemy without harming allies. He also has knowledge of Fairy Glitter and Fairy Sphere, the other two great fairy magics, as well as a wide array of other magical types, including fire, ice, wind, lightning, and light-based attacks, along with defensive and transformation spells. Despite his age requiring him to take regular medication, his magical reserves remain vast enough to challenge some of the most powerful foes in the series. His key relationships are primarily with his guild family, including his grandson Laxus, whom he sees as a pride and joy despite their past conflicts, and his close friends from the older generation, such as Porlyusica and the masters of other guilds like Blue Pegasus and Quatro Cerberus.