D&D Strixhaven: New Backgrounds Explained

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos is a new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook that adapts the magical Strixhaven University from Magic: The Gathering into the D&D multiverse. The book adds five new backgrounds to D&D, all of which are far more powerful than the ones introduced in the other D&D books, which might have something to with how they were brought into the game. Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos was originally going to have the Mages of Strixhaven subclasses, which were unique, in that multiple classes could take them.

The Mages of Strixhaven classes didn’t make it past their Unearthed Arcana article, due to negative player feedback. Instead, there are now five backgrounds that are used to define characters that belong to the five colleges of Strixhaven. The creators of Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos told Screen Rant that players don’t have to take these backgrounds when playing the adventures in the book, and they’re free to pick whichever ones they choose.

The backgrounds in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos are notable for their spells. Choosing one of these backgrounds will add two new spells to the character’s spell list, from levels one to five. This means characters can add some powerful spells to their repertoire that they wouldn’t normally have. A D&D Druid with the Prismari Student background would add haste to their spell list, while a Wizard with the Witherbloom Student background would add Cure Wounds to their spell list. The possible combinations are staggering and these new D&D backgrounds are bound to become popular with players who are looking to roll up a spellcaster.

The Benefits Of A Strixhaven Background

The Lorehold Student Strixhaven background gives the character skill proficiencies in History and Religion, and two languages. The Lorehold Spells are comprehended Languages and Identify for first level spells, borrowed knowledge and locate object for second level spells, speak with dead and spirit guardians for third level spells, arcane eye and stone shape for fourth level spells, and flame strike and legend lore for fifth level spells.

The Prismari Student Strixhaven background gives the character skill proficiencies in Acrobatics and Performance, a tool proficiency in one musical instrument or artisan’s tool, and one language. The Prismari Spells for Strixhaven mages are chromatic orb and thunderwave for first level spells, flaming sphere and kinetic dance for second level spells, haste and water walk for third level spells, freedom of movement and wall of fire for fourth level spells, and cone of cold and conjure elemental for fifth level spells.

The Quandrix Student Strixhaven background gives the character skill proficiencies in Arcane and Nature, a tool proficiency in one artisan tool, and one language. The Quandrix Spells are entangle and guiding bolt for fist level spells, enlarge/reduce and vortex warp for second level spells, aura of vitality and haste for third level spells, control water and freedom of movement, and circle of power and passwall for fifth level spells.

The Silverquill Student Strixhaven background gives the character skill proficiencies in Intimidation and Persuasion, and two languages. The Silverquill Spells are dissonant whispers and silvery barbs for first level spells, calm emotions and darkness for second level spells, beacon of hope and daylight for third level spells, compulsion and confusion for fourth level spells, and dominate person and Rary’s telepathic bond for fifth level spells.

The Witherbloom Student Strixhaven background gives the character skill proficiencies in Nature and Survival, tool proficiency in herbalism kit, and one language. The Witherbloom Spells are cure wounds and inflict wounds for first level spells, lesser restoration and wither and bloom for second level spells, revivify and vampiric touch for third level spells, blight and death ward for fourth level spells, and antilife shell and greater restoration for fifth level spells.

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos will be released on December 7, 2021.

About The Author

Scott Baird
(2504 Articles Published)

Scott has been writing for Screen Rant since 2016 and regularly contributes to The Gamer. He has previously written articles and video scripts for websites like Cracked, Dorkly, Topless Robot, and TopTenz.
A graduate of Edge Hill University in the UK, Scott started out as a film student before moving into journalism. It turned out that wasting a childhood playing video games, reading comic books, and watching movies could be used for finding employment, regardless of what any career advisor might tell you. Scott specializes in gaming and has loved the medium since the early ‘90s when his first console was a ZX Spectrum that used to take 40 minutes to load a game from a tape cassette player to a black and white TV set. Scott now writes game reviews for Screen Rant and The Gamer, as well as news reports, opinion pieces, and game guides. He can be contacted on LinkedIn.

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