Makarov Dreyar (マカロフ・ドレアー, Makarofu Doreā) is the son of guild co-founder Yuri Dreyar (ユーリ・ドレアー, Yūri Doreā), and serves as the third and incumbent master of the Fairy Tail guild throughout the series; Mashima came up with the character's name because he wanted it to sound Russian.[vol. 2] He is an old, diminutive man who is registered as one of the Ten Wizard Saints (聖十大魔導, Seiten Daimadō), a title given to those recognized by the Magic Council for possessing the highest magical power and skill of any wizard on the continent of Ishgal.[ch. 47] He has knowledge of numerous forms of magic, including the ability to vastly increase his size using the magic Giant (巨人, ジャイアント, Jaianto).[ch. 28] He is a grandfatherly figure who looks upon his guild's members as his own children,[ch. 50] although he is beleaguered by the problems they cause him with the council.[ch. 2] A running gag in the series is Makarov's inability to secure a permanent successor,[ch. 69] resulting in him holding the position of sixth and eighth guild master after Gildarts Clive and Erza Scarlet, respectively.[ch. 259, 448] He eventually sacrifices his life to annihilate the Alvarez Empire's army using his ultimate technique, Fairy Law (妖精の法律, フェアリーロウ, Fearī Rō), which reduces the caster's lifespan to eliminate anyone they consider to be an enemy without harming their allies,[ch. 66, 505] although Mavis Vermillion later resurrects him as a paraplegic upon her own death.[ch. 537, 545]
