What Are Backgrounds in DnD 5e?

Backgrounds are fantastic RPG elements in DnD that let you flesh out your character. Is your character a criminal, a war hero, or something entirely different?

Even though it is a great concept, it can be a confusing one for new players. That’s why I’ve written this resource. After reading this, you hopefully understand what backgrounds in DnD are and what they do for you. So, what are backgrounds in DnD?

Backgrounds in DnD explain how your character has lived up to the point where you start playing it. This provides guidance and depth when it comes to roleplaying, and also bonuses in the forms of proficiencies, features, and some starting gear. Backgrounds are usually found in sourcebooks or adventure books, such as the Player’s Handbook.

There’s more to this, of course. Keep reading to find out all of the published backgrounds in DnD and what they do for you both in a roleplaying and gameplay balancing aspect.

What Are Backgrounds in DnD 5e?

As I mentioned before, characters’ backgrounds are supposed to give us an idea of what they did before, and the backgrounds are (naturally) selected when you first create your character.

Backgrounds are mainly in DnD to provide additional depth to characters, for example, there will be others in the world with your particular background, so why aren’t you one of them? What made you become an adventurer? These are all questions that you’ll want to answer when first creating a character.

In other words, backgrounds help a lot in fleshing out characters. Every background in DnD has suggested flaws, strengths, personality traits, and more. Of course, these are only suggestions, you can do as you please.

I also mentioned that backgrounds in DnD provide proficiencies, gear, and more. Here’s what you typically get from a background:

• A couple of skill proficiencies (usually 1 or 2)

• Languages (usually one or 2)

• Some gear that reflects your background

• A feature that can have multiple different purposes

The features differ quite a lot. For example, Acolytes have a feature called Shelter of the Faithful where they have an increased chance of receiving free shelter and healing from temples they visit.

As you can tell, backgrounds in DnD aren’t particularly complicated, but they are important nonetheless. Let’s go through some more details about the different backgrounds in DnD.

What Are the Different Backgrounds?

There are almost an infinite number of backgrounds in the Dungeons and Dragons universe if you combine homebrew backgrounds with all of the backgrounds found in the different sourcebooks.

I’ll present you with the list of backgrounds that are officially published in DnD. Hold on to your hats, cause there are a lot of them!

Background	Book	Trait	Proficiencies
Acolyte	Basic Rules	Shelter of the Faithful	Insight, Religion
Acolyte – Baldur’s Gate	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Shelter of the Faithful	Insight, Religion
Acolyte (Luxonborn)	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Shelter of the Faithful	Insight, Religion
Anthropologist	Tomb of Annihilation	Adept Linguist	Insight, Religion
Archaeologist	Tomb of Annihilation	Historical Knowledge	History, Survival
Athlete	Mythic Odysseys of Theros	Echoes of Victory	Athletics, Acrobatics
Azorius Functionary	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Legal Authority	Insight, Intimidation
Boros Legionnaire	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Legion Station	Athletics, Intimidation
Celebrity Adventurer’s Scion	Acquisitions Incorporated	Name Dropping	Perception, Performance
Charlatan	Player’s Handbook	False Identity	Deception, Sleight of Hand
Charlatan (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	False Identity	Deception, Sleight of Hand
City Watch / Investigator	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Watcher’s Eye	Athletics, Insight
Clan Crafter	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Respect of the Stout Folk	History, Insight
Cloistered Scholar	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Library Access	History + one from Arcana, Nature, Religion
Courtier	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Court Functionary	Insight, Persuasion
Criminal (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Criminal Contact	Deception, Stealth
Criminal (Myriad Operative)	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Criminal Contact	Deception, Stealth
Criminal / Spy	Basic Rules	Criminal Contact	Deception, Stealth
Dimir Operative	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	False Identity	Deception, Stealth
Entertainer	Player’s Handbook	By Popular Demand	Acrobatics, Performance
Entertainer (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	By Popular Demand	Acrobatics, Performance
Faceless	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Dual Personalities	Deception, Intimidation
Faction Agent	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Safe Haven	Insight, 1x of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (Depending on faction)
Failed Merchant	Acquisitions Incorporated	Supply Chain	Investigation, Persuasion
Far Traveler	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	All Eyes on You	Insight, Perception
Fisher	Ghosts of Saltmarsh	Harvest the Water	History, Survival
Folk Hero	Basic Rules	Rustic Hospitality	Animal Handling, Survival
Folk Hero (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Rustic Hospitality	Animal Handling, Survival
Gambler	Acquisitions Incorporated	Never Tell Me the Odds	Deception, Insight
Gladiator	Player’s Handbook	By Popular Demand	Acrobatics, Performance
Golgari Agent	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Undercity Paths	Nature, Survival
Grinner	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Ballad of the Grinning Fool	Deception, Performance
Gruul Anarch	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Rubblebelt Refuge	Animal Handling, Athletics
Guild Artisan (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Guild Membership	Insight, Persuasion
Guild Artisan / Guild Merchant	Player’s Handbook	Guild Membership	Insight, Persuasion
Haunted One	Curse of Strahd: Character Options	Heart of Darkness	Choose two from Arcana, Investigation, Religion, or Survival
Hermit	Player’s Handbook	Discovery	Medicine, Religion
Hermit (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Discovery	Medicine, Religion
House Agent (Cannith)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Deneith)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Ghallanda)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Jorasco)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Kundarak)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Lyrandar)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Medani)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Orien)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Phiarlan)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Sivis)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Tharashk)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Thuranni)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
House Agent (Vadalis)	Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron	House Connections	Investigation, Persuasion
Inheritor	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Inheritance	Survival + one from among Arcana, History, and Religion
Investigator	Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft	Official Inquiry	Choose two from Investigation, Insight, Perception
Izzet Engineer	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Urban Infrastructure	Arcana, Investigation
Knight	Player’s Handbook	Retainers	History, Persuasion
Knight of the Order	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Knightly Regard	Persuasion + one from Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion (depending on Order)
Marine	Ghosts of Saltmarsh	Steady	Athletics, Survival
Mercenary Veteran	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Mercenary Life	Athletics, Persuasion
Noble	Basic Rules	Position of Privilege	History, Persuasion
Noble (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Position of Privilege	History, Persuasion
Orzhov Representative	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Leverage	Intimidation, Religion
Outlander	Player’s Handbook	Wanderer	Athletics, Survival
Outlander (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Wanderer	Athletics, Survival
Pirate	Player’s Handbook	Bad Reputation	Athletics, Perception
Plaintiff	Acquisitions Incorporated	Legalese	Medicine, Persuasion
Rakdos Cultist	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Fearsome Reputation	Acrobatics, Performance
Rival Intern	Acquisitions Incorporated	Inside Informant	History, Investigation
Sage	Basic Rules	Researcher	Arcana, History
Sage(Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Researcher	Arcana, History
Sage (Cobalt Scholar)	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Researcher	Arcana, History
Sailor	Player’s Handbook	Ship’s Passage	Athletics, Perception
Sailor (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Ship’s Passage	Athletics, Perception
Sailor (Revelry Pirate)	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Ship’s Passage	Athletics, Perception
Selesnya Initiate	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Conclave’s Shelter	Nature, Persuasion
Shipwright	Ghosts of Saltmarsh	I’ll Patch It!	History, Perception
Simic Scientist	Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica	Researcher	Arcana, Medicine
Smuggler	Ghosts of Saltmarsh	Down Low	Athletics, Deception
Soldier	Basic Rules	Military Rank	Athletics, Intimidation
Soldier (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	Military Rank	Athletics, Intimidation
Spy (Augen Trust)	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Criminal Contact	Deception, Stealth
Urban Bounty Hunter	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Ear to the Ground	Choose two from Deception, Insight, Persuasion, and Stealth
Urchin	Player’s Handbook	City Secrets	Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Urchin (Baldur’s Gate)	Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus	City Secrets	Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Uthgardt Tribe Member	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Uthgardt Heritage	Athletics, Survival
Volstrucker Agent	Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount	Shadow Network	Deception, Stealth
Waterdhavian Noble	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Kept in Style	History, Persuasion

As you can see, if you have the books, there is a boatload of background options in DnD 5e. Most of these books are worth buying, I’d say. On average they’re available for about $20 which is good value considering what you get.

Can I Do a Custom Background?

Whether or not you’re allowed to create a custom background for your character depends if your DM wants you to or not, but it can certainly be a good idea if you can’t find a background that suits you.

The Player’s Handbook actually states that you should feel free to come up with an original background. Usually, it’s very straightforward. First, select two proficiencies, then borrow a trait from another background. Feel free to use that giant table above for this purpose!

However, there are some rules that you should follow:

• Replace a trait or make a new one (cooperate with your DM)

• Choose only up to 2 skill proficiencies

• Choose only up to 2 languages/tools

• Either “spend” 175 gold for gear or use another background’s gear

• Either come up with your own flaws, personality traits, and strengths or borrow from another background!

After you’ve done this, you’re going to need some gear. A good rule of thumb for this is using 175 gold since that’s usually what the gear from backgrounds is worth.

Just remember to anchor your character’s identity to its background. Provide flaws, strengths, and personality traits that have come about from the history of your character.

Do Backgrounds Affect Stats?

An important note is that backgrounds do not affect your stats. This is a common question that new players have because backgrounds go hand in hand with other things such as race in character creation, which do affect the stats of a character.

Of course, if you want to use homebrew rules which make backgrounds affect stats, that’s up to you, however, in the official rules of DnD, they don’t.

What Are the Best Backgrounds in 5e?

Backgrounds are, as we’ve talked about in this article, mostly used for flavor, and their impact on the balance of the game isn’t that big compared with other things such as class and race.

There really aren’t any backgrounds that are better than others, that would simply be unsustainable for a game like DnD. People would choose backgrounds based on power level instead of flavor, and that’s not what backgrounds are for in the first place.

There are backgrounds that are more commonly used with some character builds, however, for example, a Fighter with a Soldier background, or a Rogue with a Criminal background.

These backgrounds go very well with the mentioned classes, of course, but they aren’t stronger than any other combinations, really.