What D&D Backgrounds Are Best For Which Classes (& How To Choose)

The process of creating a Dungeons & Dragons character can be rather intensive. Players have to roll stats, decide on a race, figure out what class is most useful for them, and catalog an accurate inventory. They also have to decide which background to give their character, important both for adding skills and creating a textured backstory, which is vital for a full D&D experience.

A character’s backstory is typically decided third, after selecting from D&D’s races and classes. It’s important for players to understand what the many backgrounds provide, as each adds skill proficiencies, tool proficiencies and equipment to a character’s repertoire. Backgrounds put a final polish on a character’s abilities, further adding to a strong suit or rounding out weaker skills. Backgrounds also determine how much coin players start the campaign with.

As the name implies, backgrounds are also key for filling out a character’s origins. Dungeons & Dragons 5e provides a number of ready-made backgrounds, though players can instead work with their DMs to create backgrounds uniquely tailored to their characters. While some are better suited for certain classes, any background can theoretically be used for any character build. Fifth edition’s expansions have added additional backgrounds to choose from, but here are the 15 found in the Player’s Handbook.

D&D Backgrounds For Strength-Based Characters

Gladiator

Characters with the Gladiator background may have lived a harder life than other entertainers, but they are performers nonetheless. They fight for the spectacle of it, making the background a good fit for Barbarian and Fighter classes. Because Gladiators gain proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance, this background can help round out the Strength focus of those classes, but it could also be adapted to most other classes in D&D 5e.

Knight

Knights, similar to their real-world counterparts, come from well-established families of authority. This is a great background for warrior classes such as Barbarians and Fighters, though it could be tricky for Paladins, Clerics and Monks, as the religious alliances of those classes could conflict with the nobility of Knights. Knights are are proficient in D&D‘s History and Persuasion skills and come equipped with fine clothes, a signet ring and a pedigree scroll. Characters with the Knight background also have the option to have retainers – three NPCs who help the player outside of combat.

Noble

Despite that potential for conflict between religion and nobility, Noble is the recommended background for Paladins in the D&D Player’s Handbook, likely because it gives them the Position of Privilege feature, which causes NPCs to automatically think well of the character. Beyond that, this background is extremely similar to the Knight, hailing from a noble family and equipped with History and Persuasion proficiencies, as well as fine clothes, a signet ring and a pedigree scroll.

Sailor

Dungeons & Dragons’ Sailor background is for those who have spent their lives at sea. Most obviously suited for the Fighter class, the Sailor could also work for other athletic classes like the Rogue or Ranger, depending on what kind of sailor the character was (navy, privateer, pirate). Sailors have Athletics and Perception proficiencies and carry a belaying pin, a silk rope and a lucky charm.

Soldier

An ideal background for a Fighter or Barbarian, Soldiers are natural warriors. Characters with this background have studied combat since they were old enough to hold a sword. Proficient in Athletics and Intimidation, Soldiers bear a trophy won in battle, a gaming set of the player’s choice and common clothes. For this background, players should decide what kind of soldier and what rank their character is (or was) prior to the start of the campaign.

D&D Backgrounds For Dexterity-Based Characters

Charlatan

Rogues and Bards greatly benefit from the Charlatan background. D&D’s Charlatans are highly charismatic, charming people into giving them business while overlooking their more seedy qualities. Players who choose this background gain skills in Deception and Slight of Hand and receive fine clothes, a disguise kit and a forgery kit. Charlatans are an ideal background for those who favor an infiltrative, stealthy playstyle.

Criminal

The Criminal background is best suited for Rogues, though it can work for Fighters as well. Characters with this background follow their own moral compass, choosing to flout authority rather than follow the laws of society. They gain proficiencies in Deception and Stealth and can add a gaming set, thieves tools and common clothing to their inventories. Due to their sneaky nature, Criminals would likely not be a good fit for the Barbarian or Paladin classes.

Folk Hero

Folk Heroes are characters worthy of becoming legend, their stories passed down for generations to come. The Player’s Handbook‘s description of the Folk Hero is a perfect match for D&D‘s Ranger class, but this background is versatile and could work for Barbarians, Paladins, Sorcerers, Wizards, Druids and Warlocks. Characters with the Folk Hero background have Animal Handling and Survival proficiencies, and their inventories hold a set of artisan tools, a shovel, an iron pot and a set of common clothes.

Outlander

The Outlander background is well suited to any traveling class, and the D&D handbook specifically recommends it to Rangers. Outlanders have spent their lives roaming the wilds. Characters with this background have proficiency in Athletics and Survival, can learn one additional language of the player’s choice, and gain a staff, a hunting trap and travelers clothes.

Urchin

Urchins are those who grew up destitute in the streets. Because of this, they are cunning and have uniquely urban survival skills. Well suited for the Rogue class, Dungeons & Dragons Urchins are proficient in Sleight of Hand and Stealth, and they carry a small knife, a map of their hometown, and a single token of their lost family.

D&D Backgrounds For Intelligence-Based Characters

Sage

Sages are best for intelligent D&D characters. Their entire lives have been devoted to learning and becoming masters of knowledge. This makes the Sage an obvious selection for Wizards, and it can also work for Druids, Rogues and more. Sage characters are proficient in Arcana and History, know two additional languages and have writing materials, a knife and an unanswerable question. Players with this background should work with their DM ahead of time to sort out what knowledge their characters have pertaining to the campaign.

D&D Backgrounds For Wisdom-Based Characters

Acolyte

Acolytes are characters devoted to serving one of Dungeons & Dragons‘ gods. An ideal background for Paladin and Cleric classes, players who select Acolyte gain proficiencies in Insight and Religion, learn two languages and get a holy symbol. Due to their wisdom, Acolytes could also make a good background for Druids or Wizards.

Guild Artisan

The Guild Artisan background is ideal for characters who like to craft and have a specialty within the merchant world. Well suited for intelligent classes such as Wizards and Druids, Guild Artisans have proficiency in Insight and Persuasion, a language of the player’s choosing, artisans tools and a set of traveler’s clothes. It’s worth noting the Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything expansion adds the new Armorer Artificer subclass, which seems tailor-made for the Guild Artisan background.

Hermit

The Monk class description specifically calls out the Hermit background as an ideal selection. Hermits grew up in a secluded bubble, be it alone or in a tight-knit community. A Wisdom-centric background, Hermits have proficiency in Medicine and Religion, know an extra language and have notes from a lifetime of studies, an herbalism kit and common clothes.

D&D Backgrounds For Charisma-Based Characters

Entertainer

Entertainers most easily fit D&D‘s powerful Bard class, as they are unsurprisingly characters who grew up performing for others. Players can choose what type of skill their character has, such as singing or dancing, depending on what they’re most comfortable roleplaying. Dungeons & Dragons’ Entertainers gain Acrobatics and Performance proficiencies and have a disguise kit, a musical instrument of the player’s choice and a costume.

About The Author

Brittany Spurlin
(182 Articles Published)

Brittany Spurlin is Senior Writer for Screen Rant’s Game Features. Previously, she was a news editor on VENN’s editorial team. With a screenwriting degree from Boston University, she loves engaging narratives – especially the nerdy ones. More often than not, she can be found playing The Elder Scrolls, Wild Rift, The Legend of Zelda and Stardew Valley.

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