Dhampirs have originally been born from Moroi mixing with humans. They cannot reproduce with each other or with humans, but only with Moroi. When dhampirs and Moroi have children together, they come out as standard Dhampirs: half human and half vampire. Since Moroi are the only ones with whom dhampirs can reproduce, they have to stay close to them. It is in their interest that the Moroi survive; this is how the Guardian system started.

Most of the dhampir men and few dhampir women train to become guardians. After their graduation they stay with a Moroi who they have to protect from the Strigoi.

Dhampirs have no magical gifts, but they are very strong and can turn into great warriors. Their reflexes and senses are the same as vampires with strength and endurance from humans. Their strength surpasses both humans and Moroi. They heal faster then humans do. Rose Hathaway states this when she sees a human feeder who had scars on her neck from years of Moroi bites she then goes on to say hers are healed and gone after a day or so. They feed the same way as humans do and have no problems being out in the sun. Their looks are human, too though they are described as being more attractive then humans. They are not as powerful as the Strigoi so they have to train very hard to increase their strength, speed and stamina.

There are only few long-term Moroi-dhampir relationships because most Moroi want to have Moroi children. Many Moroi men like being with dhampir women, but in the end marry Moroi women. That's why there are a lot of single Dhampir mothers.

Plenty of dhampir women do not become guardians because they want to raise their children. They either work normal jobs or live in communities that have a very bad reputation. It is said that they let Moroi men bite them during sex. For that reason they are called "blood whores".

There are also dhampirs who have a long-term relationship with another dhampir, which is considered scandalous. It is seen as a waste and disgrace because they cannot have children and neglect their duty of protecting Moroi.

The most commonly known relationship between two dhampirs is between Rosemarie Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov, despite being Guardians.