Black dragon Black dragons are associated with earth . Most are members of the Black Dragonflight The term " dragon " is sometimes used instead of the term " mature " to describe the adult phase of a black dragon ' s lifecycle , between adolescence and becoming a wyrm . They are 100 - 500 years old . Description . Black dragons are large creatures that are carnivorous . They spend their time hunting , as well as watching the various wars around the world , and can often be found torturing prisoners , animals , or anything else unfortunate enough to fall into their care . A black dragon is a large , thickly - built creature with a massive chest and a long , sinuous neck . Its hide is a rich , lustrous black with large scales that are supple yet hard as rock . A crest made of peaked bone spikes runs from its head and down its back , and bristles when the great beast grows angry . Its fangs shine a coppery - red , and deep inside its mouth a constant sulpurous light emits a faint glow . Most civilized races say that black dragons have a cruel , callous look to their serpentine faces . Black dragons do not shed individual scales , but rather molt once a year — usually by spending a week resting within a lava flow of an active volcano , which peels off and consumes their discarded skin . The skin of a black dragon nearing its molt grows dull and grey . Most black dragons appear with their horns and wings in a shade of orange to brown , but a few females appear with purplish wings and horns . Deathwing himself appears black , plated with adamantium , with fiery veins running across his body . Black Dragon Society . The Aspect of the black flight , Deathwing , is one of the fiercest and most evil creature in existence . In his lifetime , he has destroyed many ancient cities . Deathwing often makes deals with intelligent races , trading members of his dragonflight for slaves and humanoid torture subjects . Black dragons were once earthwarders , caring for stone and mountain and using their formidable abilities to cause the rise and fall of terrain . They were to maintain boundaries between the races so that none would fall to war over land . They maintained this purpose for a time , living in relative harmony with other races and shaping the land to better use . At this time , Deathwing was known as Neltharion . When Neltharion was influenced by the Old Gods he no longer was Neltharion but became Deathwing . He began a policy opposite his charge by the titans . He lowered mountains so that races would mingle and destroyed land so that the races would fight each other . His occupation became death . They traded their powers of earth for the powers of fire and magma . All other dragons of Azeroth fight against Deathwing ’ s flight . Combat . Although overconfident , black dragons are canny . On spotting a target , black dragons may make a snap decision to attack rather than following and considering the enemy party ’ s size or strength . Still , they will not land until all ranged fire has ended and the enemy seems routed . Black dragons will not remain committed to battle unless certain they can win or unless the enemy taunts them beyond the point of reason . They are not interested in material possessions and are more than willing to leave behind physical goods . They are drawn to prisoners , particularly nobles and children . If the situation seems desperate , a black dragon will flee with a prisoner in each clawed fist . Although they are not as large as some other dragonflights , they use daring and savage intellect to entrap and destroy their enemies . Black dragons prefer to flame their prey , trapping targets on dangerous ground before swooping in for the kill . They are vicious fighters and rarely retreat . They are most often encountered alone , as they are jealous of sharing kills with another . Still , families with a new clutch of drakes or a clutch of enslaved black dragons are not unknown . Trivia . " Obsidian " , " Ebon ( y ) " , and " Onyx " is usually associated with the black dragons .