Understanding the potential drought characteristics under climate change is essential to reduce vulnerability and establish adaptation strategies, especially in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (3H Plain), which is the grain production base in China. In this paper, we investigated the variations in drought characteristics (drought event frequency, duration, severity, and intensity) for the past 50 years and under future scenarios , based on the observed meteorological data and the RCP 8.5 scenario, respectively. First, we compared the applicability of three climatic drought indices: the standardized precipitation index (SPI), the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index based on the Penman-Monteith equation (SPEI-PM) and the Thornthwaite equation (SPEI-TH) to trace the recorded agricultural drought areas. Then, we analyzed the drought characteristics using "run theory" for both historical observations and future RCP 8.5 scenario based on proper index. Correlation analyses between drought indices and agricultural drought areas showed that SPEI-PM performed better than SPI and SPEI-TH in the 3H Plain. Based on the results of SPEI-PM, the past 50 years have experienced reduced drought of shorter duration, and of weaker severity and intensity. However, under the future RCP 8.5 scenario, drought is expected to rise in frequency, duration, severity, and intensity from 2010-2099, although drought components during the 2010-2039 are predicted to be milder compared with the historical conditions. This study highlights that the estimations for atmospheric evaporative demand would bring in differences in the prediction of long-term drought trends by different drought indices. The results of this study can help inform researchers and local policy makers to establish drought management strategies.