DnD 5e Backgrounds

Sage 5e Background Guide

Published on December 29, 2024

Explore which D&D classes work best with the Sage background and how it can help your bookish character study up!

A Wizard with the Sage background meditating

Jehan Choo - Wizards of the Coast - Symmetry Sage

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What Is the Sage Background in D&D?

The Sage is a DnD 5e background that represents a character who has devoted their life to the pursuit of knowledge. Whether through formal study or personal exploration, Sages are defined by their insatiable curiosity and understanding of the multiverse. This background is ideal for characters who rely on intelligence and study in their adventuring lives.

How Does the Sage Background Work?

The Sage background offers the following features:

  • Ability Scores: Receive a +2 bonus to one ability and +1 to another, or a +1 bonus to all three: Constitution, Intelligence, and Wisdom.
  • Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard). This feat allows you to learn two cantrips and one level 1 spell from the Wizard spell list, adding a versatile layer to your spellcasting.
  • Skill Proficiencies: Arcana and History.
  • Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher’s Supplies.
  • Equipment:
    • Option A: Quarterstaff, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (history), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, 8 GP.
    • Option B: 50 GP for a more customizable loadout.

Let’s break down the benefits:

Ability Scores: This distribution is perfect for casters who rely on Intelligence or Wisdom, such as Wizards, Druids, or Clerics. The Constitution boost also helps increase your survivability in combat by improving hit points and Concentration checks.

Magic Initiate (Wizard) Feat: This feat is fantastic for adding versatility to any class’ repetoire. The Wizard’s spell list can offer additional utility or damage and even non-casters can gain access to spells that enhance their toolkit, like Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Find Familiar, or Shield. The level 1 spell is castable once per Long Rest without expending spell slots, making a viable option for non-caster characters.

Arcana and History Proficiencies: Both of these are niche Intelligence-based skills that are more situational than Persuasion, Perception, or Stealth.

Calligrapher’s Supplies: In the 2024 Player’s Handbook, every tool has been giving a mechanical use and items that you can craft using the tool. The Calligrapher’s Supplies are the only tool that can craft Spell Scrolls, but they can also be crafted by having a proficiency in Arcana, which this background also provides, which makes this tool proficiency redundant.

What Type of Character is the Sage Background For?

For Wizards, Druids, and Clerics, the Sage background boosts crucial ability scores. Intelligence is essential for Wizards, enhancing their spell save DCs and spell attack bonuses. Wisdom helps Druids and Clerics with their spellcasting, and Constitution helps all spellcasters maintain Concentration during combat while boosting their Hit Points.

The Magic Initiate (Wizard) feat gives characters access to useful cantrips and a level 1 spell from the Wizard spell list, which can add a variety of combat and out-of-combat options to any class. Proficiencies in Arcana and History are okay knowledge-based skills that may come up when you’re hitting the books.

Which 5e Classes Make the Most of the Sage Background?

The color code below has been implemented to help you identify, at a glance, how good the Sage 5e background is for a specific class/subclass.

  • Red : Isn’t going to contribute to the effectiveness of your character build at all
  • Orange : Situationally good, but a below-average option otherwise
  • Green : A good option
  • Blue : A great option, you should strongly consider this option for your character
  • Sky Blue: An amazing option. If you do not take this option your character would not be optimized

Artificer: Boost Intelligence, Constitution, grab extra spells from Magic Initiate (Wizard), and pick up some useful skill proficiencies. A perfect background for Artificers.

Barbarian: Without a Strength boost, there isn't much here for a Barbarian.

Bard: Without a Charisma boost, there isn't much here for a Bard.

Cleric: You can boost Wisdom by +2, Constitution by +1, and Magic Initiate (Wizard) offers plenty of excellent spells to add to your repertoire.

Druid: You can boost Wisdom by +2, Constitution by +1, and Magic Initiate (Wizard) offers plenty of excellent spells to add to your repertoire.

Fighter: Without a Strength or Dexterity boost, there isn't much here for a Fighter.

Monk: Without a Dexterity boost, there isn't much here for a Monk.

Paladin: Without a Strength or Charisma boost, there isn't much here for a Paladin.

Ranger: You can boost Wisdom and Constitution, so if you focus on improving Strength or Dexterity when planning your ability scores, you can still start off with a good foundation for your Ranger. This is further boosted by the Magic Initiate (Wizard) feat, which can provide your Ranger with some incredible spells, including Find Familiar.

Rogue: Without a Dexterity boost, there's not much here for a Rogue.

Sorcerer: Without a Charisma boost, there isn't much here for a Sorcerer.

Warlock: Without a Charisma boost, there isn't much here for a Warlock.

Wizard: The perfect background for Wizards. You can boost Intelligence, Constitution, and grab more spells for your massive repetoire with Magic Initiate (Wizard). The additional Intelligence skills are an added boost.

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Mike Bernier

Mike Bernier is the lead content writer and founder of Arcane Eye. He is a Adamantine best-selling author of Strixhaven: A Syllabus of Sorcery on DMs Guild and is a contributing author at D&D Beyond. Follow Mike on Twitter.