As a human, Dracula was known as Vlad the Impaler. He claimed to have killed more people than God's plagues combined before he was ever a vampire, and made reference to impaling people in times past, such as those who failed to show him deference, for example. He was turned into a Vampire sometime prior to the 19th century.

Besides the regular powers of vampires, Dracula possessed a number of magical abilities, which took him decades to master them. Because of his advanced age, Dracula possessed greater strength than most vampires. He was an excellent hand-to-hand combatant and was skilled with many medieval melee and ranged weapons. He also was proficient in sword-fighting.

Dracula could display functional vampire fangs and/or eyes without taking on the full "vampire visage" of many common vampires. Additionally he could read people's minds and project himself in others' dreams. Dracula also implied that he was capable of daywalking, although limited to shapeshift only at night.

In the 19th century, Dracula's story was published in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, which caused concern among the vampire community, who labeled him a sell-out for making their vulnerabilities public knowledge to humans. He became a celebrity in both demon and human societies, but was considered by many to be a myth.

In 2000, Dracula went to Sunnydale, a Californian town which lay on a Hellmouth and was home to Buffy Summers. He had heard the stories about the world-famous Slayer and wanted to meet her himself. Introducing himself to the starstruck Scooby Gang, Dracula hypnotized Buffy's friend Xander into becoming his servant. He later seduced Buffy's mother into inviting him into their home, and hypnotized Buffy to let him bite her whilst in her bedroom.

Xander eventually led Buffy to Dracula's mansion on the outskirts of Sunnydale, where she tried to take control and kill him, but once again fell victim to his "thrall." Dracula forced her to feed of his blood, however, this caused Buffy to regain her senses and she proceeded to battle the vampire and staked him. Upon her apparent departure, Dracula tried to reform from mist, but Buffy reappeared and staked him a second time, telling him she was wise to his tricks, having "seen his movies." When he again tried to reform, she reminded him that she was still there and would just stake him again if he came back.

Sometime after the destruction of Sunnydale, a lonely Dracula kidnapped Xander and put him under his thrall for a second time. Discovering Xander's location, Buffy arrived at Dracula's castle with two other Slayers and demanded her friend be returned to her. He eventually agreed to release his "manservant" from his trance, but not before bidding him an emotional goodbye and thanking Xander for the time they spend together.

Both an enemy and ally to the Scooby Gang, Dracula maintained a rivalry with the Slayer, Buffy Summers, and an unusual friendship with Xander.