Best D&D 5e Backgrounds for Every Class

Backgrounds give your character skills, tool proficiencies, languages, and starting equipment. They also set the stage for who your character was before adventuring.

Mechanical and narrative picks that work well together:

Criminal / Spy

• Skills: Deception, Stealth.
• Tool: One type of gaming set, thieves' tools.
• Equipment: Crowbar, dark clothing.

Best for: Rogues (thematic), Bards, Warlocks.

Synergies: Stealth doubles up with Rogue's expertise. Deception fits Charisma-based classes.

Folk Hero

• Skills: Animal Handling, Survival.
• Tool: One type of artisan's tools, vehicles (land).
• Equipment: Shovel, artisan's tools.

Best for: Barbarians, Fighters, Rangers (Survival bonus stacks).

Synergies: Survival is a key Ranger/Druid skill. Animal Handling helps with mounts.

Sage

• Skills: Arcana, History.
• Languages: 2 of your choice.
• Equipment: Bottle of ink, ink pen, small knife, letter from a dead colleague.

Best for: Wizards, Artificers, Clerics (Knowledge Domain), Bards.

Synergies: Intelligence-based skills. Lore for spell research.

Soldier

• Skills: Athletics, Intimidation.
• Tool: One type of gaming set, vehicles (land).
• Equipment: Insignia of rank, trophy.

Best for: Fighters, Paladins, Barbarians.

Synergies: Athletics for grappling. Intimidation for threatening NPCs.

Noble

• Skills: History, Persuasion.
• Tool: One type of gaming set.
• Language: One of your choice.
• Equipment: Fine clothes, signet ring.

Best for: Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers.

Synergies: Persuasion for Cha casters. History for Int-adjacent.

Acolyte

• Skills: Insight, Religion.
• Languages: 2 of your choice.
• Equipment: Holy symbol, prayer book.

Best for: Clerics, Paladins, Monks.

Synergies: Religion for Cleric spell lore.

Entertainer

• Skills: Acrobatics, Performance.
• Tool: Disguise kit, one musical instrument.
• Equipment: Musical instrument, costume.

Best for: Bards.

Synergies: Performance doubles with Bard. Acrobatics for Dex classes.

Guild Artisan

• Skills: Insight, Persuasion.
• Tool: One type of artisan's tools.
• Language: One of your choice.
• Equipment: Artisan's tools, introduction letter.

Best for: Clerics (Forge Domain), Rogues, Bards.

Synergies: Utility.

Hermit

• Skills: Medicine, Religion.
• Tool: Herbalism kit.
• Language: One of your choice.
• Equipment: Scroll case with your personal writings.

Best for: Druids, Monks, Rangers.

Synergies: Medicine and Religion fit wisdom classes.

Outlander

• Skills: Athletics, Survival.
• Tool: One type of musical instrument.
• Language: One of your choice.
• Equipment: Staff, hunting trap, animal trophy.

Best for: Barbarians, Rangers, Druids.

Synergies: Survival is a wilderness king.

Sailor

• Skills: Athletics, Perception.
• Tool: Navigator's tools, vehicles (water).
• Equipment: Belaying pin, silk rope.

Best for: Any class, especially martial.

Urchin

• Skills: Sleight of Hand, Stealth.
• Tool: Disguise kit, thieves' tools.
• Equipment: Small knife, map, pet mouse, letter.

Best for: Rogues, Bards, Warlocks.

In Solo Play

Solo characters benefit from backgrounds that cover multiple skill types:

• Soldier: Athletics + Intimidation. Strong combat skills.
• Sage: Arcana + History + languages. Strong information skills.
• Outlander: Athletics + Survival. Great for wilderness adventures.
• Criminal: Deception + Stealth. Great for social/sneak builds.

Pick a background that fills a gap in your class's skill list.

The Endlessness and Backgrounds

Our AI Dungeon Master applies background skills, tool proficiencies, languages, and equipment at character creation. The chosen background also informs narrative prompts (your Soldier PC gets different NPC reactions than your Noble).

For more, see our character creation guide.

Final Takeaway

Background isn't just flavor. It's mechanical value (skills, tools, languages) that shapes your character's effectiveness.

Pick a background that fits your class and playstyle. Start a character on The Endlessness and explore the options.