How to Train Your Dragon Characters – Complete Guide to Every Hero and Dragon

The How to Train Your Dragon characters have captured hearts worldwide with their incredible journeys, unique personalities, and unforgettable bonds with dragons. From the unlikely hero Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III to the fierce Night Fury Toothless, these characters have grown and evolved across three movies, multiple TV series, and short films. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the franchise, understanding the rich cast of Vikings and dragons brings deeper appreciation for this beloved story. This comprehensive guide explores all the main characters, their dragons, character development throughout the series, relationships, and what makes each one special in the world of Berk.

Main Human Characters

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

Who he is: The main protagonist and narrator of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

Personality: Intelligent, inventive, compassionate, sarcastic, and brave (though initially reluctant). Hiccup is a problem-solver who thinks outside the box and values understanding over conflict.

Physical appearance: Slender build, auburn/brown shaggy hair, green eyes, freckles. Loses his left leg below the knee at the end of the first movie and uses a prosthetic he designed himself.

Character arc: Transforms from an awkward, insecure Viking teen who doesn’t fit in, to a confident dragon trainer and peacemaker, and finally to the Chief of Berk. His journey is about finding his own path rather than living up to traditional Viking expectations.

Dragon bond: Toothless (Night Fury) – their relationship is the heart of the entire franchise. They share a special connection, both having lost part of their left side (Hiccup’s leg, Toothless’s tail fin), making them dependent on each other.

Key relationships:

• Son of Stoick the Vast and Valka
• Marries Astrid Hofferson
• Best friends with the Dragon Riders
• Mentored by Gobber

Special abilities: Master inventor, creates flight suits, dragon saddles, and prosthetics. Excellent dragon trainer and strategist.

Voice actor: Jay Baruchel

Astrid Hofferson

Who she is: Hiccup’s love interest and eventual wife, fierce warrior, and one of the most skilled Vikings in Berk.

Personality: Determined, competitive, loyal, brave, and strong-willed. Initially tough and serious, she develops a softer, more compassionate side while maintaining her warrior spirit. Not afraid to speak her mind or put others in their place.

Physical appearance: Athletic build, long blonde hair (styled in a braid wrapped around her head in the first film, worn down with a braid in later films), blue eyes. Wears Viking armor and carries an axe.

Character arc: Starts as the perfect Viking student focused solely on dragon-killing, becomes Hiccup’s first supporter and learns to see dragons differently. Grows from a individual warrior to a team player and eventually becomes a leader herself.

Dragon bond: Stormfly (Deadly Nadder) – a beautiful blue dragon with deadly tail spines. They share a strong, trusting relationship.

Key relationships:

• Marries Hiccup
• Close friendship with the Dragon Riders
• Has a daughter and son with Hiccup (shown in the epilogue)

Special abilities: Exceptional combat skills, expert axe-thrower, strategic thinker, and natural leader.

Voice actor: America Ferrera

Stoick the Vast

Who he is: Hiccup’s father and the Chief of Berk (until Hiccup succeeds him).

Personality: Traditional, strong, brave, protective, and proud. Initially rigid in his beliefs but learns to adapt. Deeply loves his family even when he struggles to understand his son.

Physical appearance: Large, muscular build, red hair and beard (graying in later films), imposing presence. Wears Viking chief armor with fur.

Character arc: Begins as a traditional Viking chief focused on destroying dragons, learns to accept them through Hiccup’s example. Reunites with his long-lost wife Valka. Tragically dies in the second film protecting Hiccup from a controlled Toothless.

Dragon bond: Briefly rides Thornado (Thunderdrum) and later Skullcrusher (Rumblehorn) after Thornado’s death.

Key relationships:

• Father to Hiccup
• Husband to Valka
• Best friend to Gobber

Legacy: His death becomes a turning point, with Hiccup becoming chief and fully stepping into his leadership role.

Voice actor: Gerard Butler

Valka

Who she is: Hiccup’s mother, thought to be dead for 20 years but actually living with dragons.

Personality: Compassionate, free-spirited, fierce, protective of dragons, independent. She’s essentially who Hiccup would have become if raised outside Berk’s traditional Viking culture.

Physical appearance: Slender build, long brown hair with gray streaks, green eyes (like Hiccup), wears dragon-scale armor and a mask. Moves with a grace that mimics dragon flight.

Character arc: Taken by dragons when Hiccup was a baby, chose to stay with them to protect them from Vikings. Reunites with her family in the second film. Struggles with guilt over leaving but ultimately helps Berk and dragons coexist. After Stoick’s death, becomes a mother figure and advisor to Hiccup.

Dragon bond: Cloudjumper (Stormcutter) – her primary dragon who took her from Berk. She’s also bonded with countless dragons in her sanctuary.

Special abilities: Can communicate with and understand dragons better than anyone except perhaps Hiccup. Expert flyer and fighter, developed a unique dragon-mimicking fighting style.

Voice actor: Cate Blanchett

Gobber the Belch

Who he is: Berk’s blacksmith, Stoick’s best friend, and Hiccup’s mentor.

Personality: Humorous, loyal, practical, gruff but caring. Provides comic relief while offering wisdom.

Physical appearance: Large build, blonde hair and mustache, missing left hand and right foot (replaced with interchangeable prosthetics like hammers, axes, etc.). Wears blacksmith apron.

Role: Father figure and mentor to Hiccup, voice of reason to Stoick, comic relief. He was the first to believe Hiccup might be onto something with dragons.

Dragon bond: Grump (Hotburple) – a lazy, purple dragon perfectly suited to Gobber’s personality.

Special trait: Has a collection of prosthetic attachments for different tasks, inspiring Hiccup’s own prosthetic designs.

Voice actor: Craig Ferguson

The Dragon Riders (Hiccup’s Friends)

Fishlegs Ingerman

Personality: Intelligent, gentle, nervous, enthusiastic about dragons. He’s the dragon expert who knows every species, their abilities, and statistics.

Physical appearance: Large build, blonde hair, blue eyes. Despite his size, he’s the least aggressive of the group.

Character development: Gains confidence throughout the series, becomes the group’s dragon encyclopedia and strategist.

Dragon bond: Meatlug (Gronckle) – a lovable, boulder-eating dragon. Their relationship is sweet and loyal.

Special trait: Can recite dragon facts and statistics from memory, often from the “Dragon Manual.”

Voice actor: Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Snotlout Jorgenson

Personality: Arrogant, boastful, competitive, insecure underneath the bravado. Tries too hard to be the alpha male but has a good heart buried under his ego.

Physical appearance: Stocky build, black hair, signature smirk.

Character development: Learns humility and becomes less self-centered over time. Develops genuine care for his friends and dragon.

Dragon bond: Hookfang (Monstrous Nightmare) – a temperamental, fire-coated dragon. Their relationship is volatile but ultimately loyal, mirroring Snotlout’s personality.

Running gag: Has an unrequited crush on Astrid, later various other characters.

Family: Nephew of Stoick, cousin to Hiccup (though they rarely acknowledge this relationship).

Voice actor: Jonah Hill (first film), then Zack Pearlman (TV series)

Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston

Who they are: Twin siblings who are virtually inseparable and constantly bickering.

Personality: Chaotic, destructive, comedic, dim-witted but surprisingly insightful at unexpected moments. They love explosions, pranks, and arguing with each other.

Physical appearance: Both have long blonde hair, lean builds. Tuffnut has a small braid and stubbly beard.

Character development: While they remain primarily comic relief, they show growth in loyalty and occasional wisdom. Ruffnut particularly matures in the third film.

Dragon bond: Barf and Belch (Hideous Zippleback) – a two-headed dragon perfect for twins. One head breathes gas (Barf), the other ignites it (Belch).

Dynamic: Their constant squabbling and competitions provide humor, but they’re fiercely loyal when it matters.

Voice actors:

• Ruffnut: Kristen Wiig
• Tuffnut: T.J. Miller (films), Justin Rupple (TV series)

Eret, Son of Eret

Who he is: Introduced in the second film as a dragon trapper who switches sides.

Personality: Confident, skilled, charming, pragmatic. Initially self-serving but develops strong loyalty to Hiccup and dragons.

Physical appearance: Muscular build, dark braided hair, tribal tattoos, wears dragon-trapper armor.

Character arc: Starts as an antagonist working for Drago, realizes the error of his ways, joins Berk and becomes one of the Dragon Riders.

Dragon bond: Skullcrusher (Rumblehorn) – inherits Stoick’s dragon after his death, showing he’s earned Berk’s trust.

Role: Provides an outside perspective on Berk, becomes a valuable warrior and ally.

Voice actor: Kit Harington

Main Dragon Characters

Toothless (Night Fury)

Who he is: The last known Night Fury and Hiccup’s best friend/dragon.

Species traits: Fastest, stealthiest dragon species. Fires purple plasma blasts, can become nearly invisible at night, extremely intelligent.

Personality: Loyal, playful, protective, intelligent, sassy, expressive. Acts like a combination of a cat and a dog—can be aloof and dignified but also goofy and affectionate.

Physical appearance: Black scales (which can reflect light making him appear blue in certain lighting), green eyes, retractable teeth (hence the name), bat-like wings, missing left tail fin.

Special bond: His relationship with Hiccup is one of mutual dependence (the prosthetic tail fin) and deep friendship. They mirror each other’s growth throughout the series.

Character arc: Goes from a feared “unholy offspring of lightning and death itself” to Hiccup’s best friend, to Alpha dragon (leading all dragons), to finding love and eventually choosing to live in the Hidden World with his species.

Mate: Light Fury (third film)

Special ability: As an Alpha, he can command other dragons. His plasma blasts are extremely powerful.

Legacy: Represents the bond between humans and dragons, and the theme that sometimes love means letting go.

Stormfly (Deadly Nadder)

Rider: Astrid

Personality: Proud, fierce, loyal, protective. Has attitude similar to Astrid.

Appearance: Blue scales with yellow spikes, beautiful and deadly.

Special ability: Tail spines can be shot like projectiles with incredible accuracy. Magnesium-based fire (hottest dragon fire).

Bond: She and Astrid have perfect synchronization in battle.

Meatlug (Gronckle)

Rider: Fishlegs

Personality: Sweet, gentle, loyal, slow-moving, loves to eat rocks.

Appearance: Round, boulder-like body, gray/brown coloring, small wings.

Special ability: Eats rocks and can forge them into lava blasts. Can also create Gronckle Iron when fed the right combination of rocks.

Bond: Perfectly matches Fishlegs’s gentle nature, though she becomes fierce when protecting him.

Hookfang (Monstrous Nightmare)

Rider: Snotlout

Personality: Temperamental, aggressive, independent, but ultimately loyal.

Appearance: Red and black scales, can engulf himself in fire, large and intimidating.

Special ability: Can set his entire body on fire (fire coat), making him impervious to attacks.

Bond: Often challenges Snotlout and sometimes abandons him temporarily, but always comes back, teaching Snotlout about earning respect.

Barf and Belch (Hideous Zippleback)

Riders: Ruffnut and Tuffnut

Personality: The heads have distinct personalities. One is more cautious, the other more aggressive, but both enjoy chaos.

Appearance: Two-headed dragon, green scales, snake-like body.

Special ability: One head produces explosive gas, the other ignites it with sparks, creating massive explosions.

Bond: Perfect for the twins—two heads that argue but need each other to function, just like Ruffnut and Tuffnut.

Cloudjumper (Stormcutter)

Rider: Valka

Personality: Wise, noble, protective, gentle despite fearsome appearance.

Appearance: Large dragon with four wings, owl-like face, gray and white coloring.

Special ability: Extremely agile despite size, can create powerful wind gusts, has a unique wing structure allowing incredible maneuverability.

Significance: Took Valka from Berk, starting the chain of events that shaped Hiccup’s life.

Light Fury

Who she is: A female member of a dragon species related to Night Furies.

Personality: Shy, wild, cautious of humans, playful once comfortable, strong-willed.

Appearance: White scales with purple/pink highlights, no external spines like Toothless, more streamlined and graceful.

Special ability: Can heat her scales to become temporarily invisible, allowing her to disappear in daylight.

Role: Love interest for Toothless, represents the wild dragon world, and ultimately leads Toothless to choose between humans and his own kind.

Significance: She doesn’t have a name in the films, representing dragons in their natural state without human influence.

Antagonists

Drago Bludvist

Who he is: Main villain of the second film.

Motivation: Wants to conquer the world using an army of dragons under his control.

Personality: Ruthless, power-hungry, intimidating, traumatized by dragons in his past.

Physical appearance: Large, muscular, missing left arm (replaced with a dragon bone prosthetic), dreadlocks, heavy armor made from dragon parts.

Dragon control: Uses fear and pain to control dragons, maintains a Bewilderbeast as his Alpha dragon.

Represents: The dark path Berk could have taken—using dragons as weapons rather than partners.

Fate: Defeated when Toothless challenges and defeats his Bewilderbeast, breaking his control.

Voice actor: Djimon Hounsou

Grimmel the Grisly

Who he is: Main villain of the third film, a dragon hunter specializing in Night Furies.

Motivation: Wants to kill Toothless, the last Night Fury, to complete his life’s mission of exterminating the species.

Personality: Calculating, patient, arrogant, sophisticated villain. More cerebral than Drago.

Methods: Uses deception, traps, and the Light Fury as bait. Controls Deathgrippers (dragon species) using their venom.

Philosophy: Believes dragons are dangerous beasts that must be eliminated, opposing Hiccup’s belief in coexistence.

Represents: Humanity’s destructive relationship with nature when driven by fear and a desire for control.

Fate: Falls to his apparent death during the final battle.

Voice actor: F. Murray Abraham

Alvin the Treacherous

Who he is: Primary antagonist in the first TV series (Riders of Berk).

Motivation: Wants to train dragons to conquer Berk and other lands.

Character arc: Eventually reforms and becomes an ally to Berk.

Voice actor: Mark Hamill

Dagur the Deranged

Who he is: Antagonist-turned-ally in the TV series, chief of the Berserker tribe.

Personality: Unhinged, violent, obsessed with Hiccup (alternating between wanting to kill him and be his friend).

Character arc: One of the most dramatic transformations—goes from psychotic villain to reformed ally and Dragon Rider.

Dragon bond: Shattermaster (Gronckle)

Voice actor: David Faustino

Supporting Characters

Gothi

Who she is: Berk’s elderly healer and mystic.

Special trait: Never speaks, communicates by drawing in the dirt with her staff.

Role: Provides medical care and spiritual guidance, often cryptic wisdom.

Spitelout

Who he is: Snotlout’s father, Stoick’s brother.

Personality: Tough, harsh on Snotlout, traditional Viking.

Role: Shows where Snotlout’s insecurity comes from.

Gustav Larson

Who he is: Younger Viking who idolizes the Dragon Riders (primarily appears in TV series).

Personality: Eager, enthusiastic, sometimes annoying, wants to prove himself.

Character arc: Matures from pest to genuine Dragon Rider.

Dragon bond: Fanghook (Monstrous Nightmare)

Character Development Throughout the Franchise

The Evolution of Hiccup

First Film (Age 15):

• Scrawny, insecure, trying to fit in
• Discovers empathy can be stronger than violence
• Loses his leg, gains confidence and Toothless

Second Film (Age 20):

• Confident dragon rider and explorer
• Reluctant to become chief
• Finds his mother, loses his father
• Accepts his role as leader

Third Film (Age 21-22):

• Established chief, struggling with responsibilities
• Must make the hardest decision: letting dragons go for their safety
• Fully matures into a selfless leader

Epilogue (10 years later):

• Married to Astrid with two children
• Fulfilled and at peace with his decision
• Reunites with Toothless

The Dragon Riders Growing Up

All of Hiccup’s friends mature throughout the series:

Astrid: From competitive loner to supportive partner and co-leader

Fishlegs: From timid follower to confident expert

Snotlout: From arrogant bully to loyal (if still boastful) friend

Twins: From chaotic troublemakers to… still chaotic but loyal troublemakers

Eret: From enemy to trusted ally

Themes Represented by Characters

Hiccup: Innovation, compassion, choosing your own path

Toothless: Loyalty, wild nature, the beauty of freedom

Astrid: Strength, partnership, challenging gender roles

Stoick: Tradition, parental love, sacrifice

Valka: Following your heart, protection, second chances

The Dragon Riders: Friendship, diversity of strengths, teamwork

Grimmel: Fear, control, humanity’s destructive potential

The Light Fury: Nature, independence, choosing freedom

Why These Characters Resonate

The How to Train Your Dragon characters work so well because:

Relatability: Hiccup’s awkwardness and feeling like an outsider resonates with audiences of all ages.

Growth: Every character experiences meaningful development over the trilogy.

Relationships: The bonds between characters feel genuine and earned.

Complexity: Even minor characters have distinct personalities and motivations.

Universal themes: The characters explore belonging, identity, leadership, love, and letting go.

Humor and heart: Perfect balance of comedy and emotional depth.

Representation: Shows different types of strength, intelligence, and heroism.

The Franchise Beyond the Films

The characters appear across:

Movies:

• How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
• How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

TV Series:

• Riders of Berk / Defenders of Berk (2012-2014)
• Race to the Edge (2015-2018)

Short Films:

• Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010)
• Book of Dragons (2011)
• Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
• Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
• How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)

Each expands character backstories and relationships.

Final Thoughts

The How to Train Your Dragon characters have become iconic because they grow, change, and face real challenges. From Hiccup’s journey from outcast to chief, to Toothless’s evolution from feared predator to beloved companion, to the supporting cast who each bring something unique to Berk, these characters create a rich, emotionally resonant world.

The franchise’s willingness to let characters genuinely evolve—and even to end with Hiccup and Toothless parting ways—shows a maturity rare in animated films. These aren’t static characters who reset at the end of each adventure; they carry their experiences forward, learning and growing in ways that feel authentic.

Whether you’re drawn to Hiccup’s ingenuity, Astrid’s strength, the twins’ chaos, or the incredible bond between human and dragon, there’s a character for everyone in this beautifully crafted world.

10 Frequently Asked Questions About How to Train Your Dragon Characters

1. Does Hiccup ever get his leg back?
   No, Hiccup never gets his biological leg back. He lost his left leg below the knee during the final battle in the first film when he and Toothless fell from the sky after defeating the Red Death. Toothless saved him, but couldn’t prevent the injury. Throughout the rest of the franchise, Hiccup wears prosthetic legs that he designs and upgrades himself. This permanent injury is significant—it physically represents his bond with Toothless (who also lost part of his tail fin) and shows that heroic actions can have real, lasting consequences. The prosthetic becomes part of his identity and showcases his ingenuity as an inventor.
2. Do Hiccup and Astrid have children?
   Yes, Hiccup and Astrid have two children together, revealed in the epilogue of the third film, “The Hidden World.” They have a daughter named Zephyr and a son named Nuffink. The epilogue takes place about 10 years after the main events of the third film, showing the family living peacefully in New Berk. Their children visit the Hidden World with them to reunite with Toothless, his mate the Light Fury, and their three baby Night Lights (Toothless’s offspring). The epilogue provides a satisfying conclusion showing that life went on happily for both humans and dragons, even living separately.
3. What happened to Hiccup’s mother Valka?
   Valka was taken by a dragon (Cloudjumper) when Hiccup was a baby. Stoick and everyone in Berk believed she was killed, but she actually chose to stay away, living with dragons for 20 years to protect them from Viking attacks. She created a dragon sanctuary and became their protector. In the second film, she reunites with Hiccup and Stoick. After Stoick’s death (killed by Drago’s controlled Toothless), Valka returns to Berk permanently and helps Hiccup adjust to being chief. She appears in the third film as a supportive mother figure and advisor, eventually living in New Berk when dragons leave for the Hidden World.
4. Is Toothless really the last Night Fury?
   By the end of the franchise, it’s unclear if Toothless is truly the last Night Fury, but he’s definitely the last one known to humans. Grimmel claims to have hunted Night Furies to extinction and believes Toothless is the last one. However, the Light Fury (a related but distinct species) exists, and the Hidden World likely contains more dragons unknown to humans. Toothless and the Light Fury have three hybrid babies (Night Lights) in the epilogue, so the Night Fury genetics continue. The films suggest that Night Furies are extremely rare and possibly extinct in the wild, making Toothless irreplaceable and explaining why keeping him with humans put him in constant danger from hunters.
5. Why did Stoick die in the second movie?
   Stoick dies sacrificing himself to save Hiccup. During the climactic battle, Drago uses his Bewilderbeast to control Toothless and commands him to kill Hiccup. At the last second, Stoick jumps in front of Hiccup and takes Toothless’s plasma blast, dying instantly. His death serves multiple narrative purposes: it’s the ultimate expression of parental love, it forces Hiccup to step up as chief (something he’d been avoiding), it shows the dangers of controlling dragons against their will, and it raises the stakes of the conflict. Stoick’s death is one of the most emotional moments in the franchise and fundamentally changes Hiccup’s character arc.
6. Are Hiccup and Snotlout related?
   Yes, Hiccup and Snotlout are cousins, though this relationship is rarely emphasized in the films. Snotlout’s father, Spitelout, is Stoick’s brother, making Snotlout and Hiccup first cousins. This explains why Snotlout feels extra pressure to compete with Hiccup and why there’s particular tension when Hiccup becomes chief instead of continuing any line of succession that might include Snotlout. Their relationship is more like rivals or reluctant friends than family in most of the franchise, with Snotlout often antagonizing Hiccup before ultimately supporting him when it matters.
7. Who does Snotlout end up with?
   Snotlout doesn’t end up with anyone definitively shown in the films. Throughout the series, he has unrequited crushes on multiple people—primarily Astrid (who never reciprocates), Ruffnut (who mostly ignores him), and briefly other characters. In the TV series “Race to the Edge,” there’s some development of a relationship between Snotlout and Fishlegs’s romantic interest, Ruffnut, but nothing conclusive. The third film shows him still trying to win Ruffnut’s attention. Unlike Hiccup and Astrid’s relationship, Snotlout’s romantic life is played for comedy, and the franchise ends without showing him in a committed relationship.
8. What kind of dragon is Toothless exactly?
   Toothless is a Night Fury, described as the “unholy offspring of lightning and death itself.” Night Furies are the rarest and most intelligent dragon species, known for being the fastest, stealthiest, and most mysterious dragons. They’re characterized by jet-black scales (which reflect blue in certain light), retractable teeth, cat-like behavior, powerful plasma blasts, echolocation abilities, and the capacity to fly silently and become nearly invisible at night. Night Furies are Strike Class dragons—small to medium-sized but extremely powerful. Toothless specifically becomes an Alpha dragon, able to command other dragons, which is rare and indicates his exceptional status even among Night Furies.
9. Why do the dragons leave at the end of the third movie?
   Hiccup makes the difficult decision to let all dragons leave Berk and live in the Hidden World (a secret dragon sanctuary) because humans like Grimmel will never stop hunting them. As long as dragons live with humans, they’ll be in constant danger from trappers, hunters, and those who want to weaponize them. Toothless, as the Alpha, leads all dragons to the Hidden World where they can live safely, away from humanity. This represents Hiccup’s maturation—choosing what’s best for dragons even though it means losing his best friend. The epilogue shows this was temporary, as humans eventually evolve enough for safe reunions, but the separation allows dragons to live freely and safely while humanity progresses.
10. Will there be a How to Train Your Dragon 4?
    No, there are no plans for a fourth mainline How to Train Your Dragon film. Director Dean DeBlois has stated that the third film, “The Hidden World,” is the definitive conclusion to Hiccup and Toothless’s story, completing the planned trilogy. However, the franchise continues in other forms: there’s a live-action adaptation in development, and there have been TV series and short films that explore the characters between the movies. The 2019 short “Homecoming” provides additional closure by showing Berk’s holiday traditions. While fans would love more content with these characters, the creators intentionally ended the story in a satisfying, complete way that they don’t want to undermine with unnecessary sequels.