Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Like the rest of his species, Altair is a mighty warrior. He has a streak of pride and jealousy that often gets in the way of his good heart. Though he doesn't mean to, he often ends up feeling ill will towards Shining. When he isn't being affected by that he spends most of his time teasing his fellow male dragons. He does it just for fun, not to be evil, but he often goes too far. This, he feels, has secured his unwanted enmity with Shining. It also got him sent into the world of Star Trek by Trekkie, where he was attacked with phasers that didn't affect him visibly but greatly depleted his magical ability for weeks.