Backgrounds in the 2024 Player’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide

Backgrounds Got a Facelift

The 2024 Player’s Handbook introduces exciting updates to the game’s character creation process. These notable updates in tacking ASIs onto backgrounds instead of species and introducing the concept of Origin feats, which are also tied to your background. 

While ASIs at character creation were previously granted by your species, the Origin feat at level 1 definitely boosts player character power from the get-go compared to a player created with the 2014 rules. While gaining a free feat at level 1 has been something Wizards of the Coast has been toying with since Spelljammer: Adventures in the Multiverse, it’s now fully baked into the game.

In this article, I’ll break down the backgrounds found in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, so you know what you’re getting into when creating a character using the 2024 rules!

The Significance of Backgrounds

In the 2024 rules, backgrounds do a lot of heavy lifting, mechanically speaking, compared to their 2014 counterparts. Not only are they tied into your character’s backstory, but they now give you ASIs, feats, and skill and tool proficiencies.

Your background now plays as big of a role as your species (if not more), but that also means you have to balance flavor with min-maxing.

Say you want to have a Criminal upbringing but the ASIs don’t match your character build. Will you choose to forgo an optimized character to achieve the story you’re looking to tell?

So, while backgrounds have certainly seen a power boost, it comes at the cost of potentially sacrificing your character’s flavor.

What Are Origin Feats?

Every background grants a specific feat that ties into the core skills and attributes of that background. For instance, an Acolyte gains the Magic Initiate (Cleric) feat, emphasizing their training in the spiritual side of things, while a Charlatan gains the Skilled feat, reflecting their life of deceit and versatility.

These feats not only give mechanical advantages but also help tell the story of a character’s early life. Whether your character grew up in a noble house, learning the ways of diplomacy and history, or on the streets as a criminal, relying on stealth and cunning to survive, their Origin feat reinforces those experiences.

We cover these feats in our article about Origin feats.

Detailed Background Breakdown

Now, onto the good stuff. Which backgrounds can you take and what will it add to your character build? Below is a table that allows you to see the traits bestowed by your background at a glance:

Every Background in the 2024 Player’s Handbook

There are 16 backgrounds in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, each of which will work with specific character builds. Check below for an overview of which backgrounds work with which classes!

Acolyte

• Ability Score Increase: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (Cleric)
• Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion

The Acolyte background is perfect for Clerics, Druids, and Paladins. Wisdom is key for Clerics and Druids, boosting their spellcasting modifier, while Charisma does so for Paladins. It can also make a good choice for Wizards who want to tap into healing magic offered by Magic Initiate (Cleric) because of the Intelligence bonus it provides.

Artisan

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence
• Origin Feat: Crafter
• Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Persuasion

Artisan is a decent choice for martial classes who want to round out their out-of-combat utility. Fighters and Barbarians can boost Strength for their attacks and Dexterity for AC. Plus they get Crafter, which provides tool proficiencies and allows them to build all sorts of mundane items. Investigation and Persuasion are two decent skill proficiencies to have for exploration and social situations, respectively.

Charlatan

• Ability Score Increase: Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Skilled
• Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand

If you’re looking to play a Bard, Rogue, or Ranger the Charlatan background fits like a glove. Dexterity boosts Ranged weapon attacks or attacks made with Finesse weapons, AC, Stealth checks, and helps with the all-important Dexterity saving throw. Charisma is a great secondary skill for these expert classes (or primary skill for Bards). Or you could pick up Constitution to help keep you on your feet. The Skilled feat is ideal for these classes that thrive on versatility—letting you add extra proficiencies, which are gold for Bards, Rangers, and Rogues.

Finally, the skill proficiencies offered are perfect pickups and likely once you’d be interested in taking with Skilled or your class’s skill proficiencies anyway, leaving room to take more niche options.

Criminal

• Ability Score Increase: Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence
• Origin Feat: Alert
• Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, Stealth

For Monks, Rogues, and Rangers, the Criminal background is another natural choice. It offers Dexterity and Constitution, which we’ve already discussed  are crucial for these nimble builds.

The main difference is this background grants the Alert feat, which is perfect for characters who want a boost to their combat prowess, rather than their skill versatility. Whether you’re picking locks or sneaking past guards, the Criminal background gives you the tools you need to pull off some daring capers.

Entertainer

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Dexterity, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Musician
• Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance

For Bards and Dexterity-based Fighters or Monks, the Entertainer background sets you up for success. Dexterity increases your attack bonus with Finesse weapons like Rapiers, improves your AC, and boosts Dexterity saving throws. Charisma is vital for Bards, enhancing your spellcasting modifier and boosting your social skills. Strength is a nice damage bump for martials using heavier weapons or wearing heavy armor.

The Musician feat can provide your party with Heroic Inspiration after a Short or Long Rest, which is a huge boon to any party. Proficiencies in Acrobatics and Performance aren’t particularly important but can be tailor-made for bombastic Bards.

Farmer

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Constitution, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Tough
• Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Nature

For Barbarians, Strength-based Fighters and Rangers, and potentially Wisdom-based casters, the Farmer background offers a rugged foundation. Strength improves your melee attacks, while Constitution boosts your hit points and helps you maintain concentration on spells. Wisdom is essential for a Cleric, Druid, or Ranger’s spellcasting, improving your spell attack rolls and saving throw DCs.

The Tough feat adds a hefty chunk to your hit points, making this background excellent for front-liners or anyone who plans to be in the thick of combat. With Animal Handling and Nature proficiencies, you’re well-equipped to handle creatures in the wild and understand the natural world, making it a great fit for classes that thrive outdoors.

Guard

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Alert
• Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Perception

The Guard background offers awkward ability score increases. Maritals usually want Strength or Dexterity with a side of Constitution, while casters want their spellcasting ability and Dexterity or Constitution. The combo of +2 to Strength and +1 to Intelligence could be a perfect choice for Eldritch Knights, but not many other builds.

The Alert feat helps you react quickly in combat, which can be a boost for casters looking to drop a big spell before combat kicks off. Plus, proficiencies in Athletics and Perception round out your skillset, letting you spot hidden threats and engage enemies with physical prowess.

Guide

• Ability Score Increase: Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (Druid)
• Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Survival

For Druids, Monks, Rangers, and even Rogues or Clerics, the Guide background provides a variety of valuable benefits. Dexterity improves your ranged or finesse weapon attacks, boosts your AC, and increases your stealthiness. Constitution keeps you on your feet during long battles, while Wisdom is vital for spellcasting Druid, Clerics, and Rangers, improving your spell save DC and healing abilities.

The Magic Initiate (Druid) feat gives you access to useful Druid cantrips and a 1st-level spell, perfect for a Monk, Ranger, or Rogue looking for some extra utility or crowd control or a Cleric looking to Entangle their foes. Stealth and Survival proficiencies align well with Druids, Monks, Rangers, and Rogues, ensuring you can navigate the wilderness and sneak past enemies undetected.

Hermit

• Ability Score Increase: Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Healer
• Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion

The Hermit background works best for Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, or Warlocks. Constitution increases your durability and helps maintain concentration on important spells, while Wisdom is crucial for spellcasters like Druids and Clerics. Charisma benefits classes like Sorcerers and Warlocks, improving spell attack rolls and save DCs.

The Healer feat provides powerful out-of-combat healing, making Hermit ideal for any class that wants to act as the party’s medic—or at least support the party’s dedicated healer. Proficiencies in Medicine and Religion further reinforce this support role, whether you’re healing wounds or drawing on ancient knowledge for guidance.

Merchant

• Ability Score Increase: Constitution, Intelligence, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Lucky
• Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Persuasion

The Merchant background offers a solid boost for Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. Constitution keeps you in the fight longer, Intelligence boosts your ability to gather information and cast spells for Arcane spellcasters, while Charisma is essential for Bard and Sorcerer spellcasting, improving both your spell save DCs and attack bonuses.

While the Lucky feat normally works best on martial characters who will be making plenty of attack rolls, these casters all have cantrips and spells that require spell attack rolls. your lucky dice can also be used to make enemies reroll their attacks against you, providing a safety net for crucial moments. Proficiencies in Animal Handling and Persuasion fit well for characters who thrive in social encounters, whether you’re charming NPCs or negotiating trades.

Noble

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Intelligence, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Skilled
• Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion

The Noble background provides perfect ASIs for Paladins. Strength increases the potency of their melee attacks and enables Heavy armor, while Charisma helps them boost their spellcasting modifier.

The Skilled feat grants additional proficiencies but isn’t particularly exciting for Paladins as it doesn’t help them smite their foes with righteous justice. It can be helpful to round out your weaker areas, however. Proficiencies in History and Persuasion are great for social interactions and knowledge-based skill checks, making Paladins with the Noble background natural leaders and tacticians.

Sage

• Ability Score Increase: Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard)
• Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History

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.

Sailor

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Tavern Brawler
• Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Perception

The Sailor background is a good choice for Fighters and Rogues and a great choice for Monks and Rangers. Strength enhances your melee attacks and enables Heavy armor, while Dexterity improves your AC (without Heavy armor) and attack rolls with Finesse or Ranged weapons. Wisdom benefits Rangers by increasing their spellcasting modifier and Monks by boosting their Focus abilities.

The Tavern Brawler feat gains you access to improvised weapons and grants a bonus to unarmed strikes, which is great for Monks or Fighters looking to get scrappy. Acrobatics and Perception skills ensure you’re nimble and aware of your surroundings, useful in both combat and exploration.

Scribe

• Ability Score Increase: Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
• Origin Feat: Skilled
• Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Perception

The Scribe background is perfect for Monks and Rangers but can also provide useful boosts to Rogues and Wizards. Dexterity boosts your Monk’s, Rogue’s, and Ranger’s AC and Finesse and Ranged weapon attack rolls, Intelligence enhances Wizard spellcasting, and Wisdom improves your Monk’s and Ranger’s Focus and spellcasting, respectively.

The Skilled feat provides you with additional proficiencies, making the Scribe background ideal for classes that thrive on versatility, like Rangers, though a Monk gaining extra skill proficiencies couldn’t hurt. Proficiencies in Investigation and Perception are crucial for uncovering secrets and spotting hidden dangers, making Scribe a great choice for characters that rely on their keen senses as much as they do their fighting prowess.

Soldier

• Ability Score Increase: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution
• Origin Feat: Savage Attacker
• Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation

The Soldier background is tailor-made for melee classes like Fighters, Barbarians, and Paladins, though it can also provide the necessary boost to Dexterity-based martials, like Monks, Rogues, and Rangers. Strength or Dexterity increases your melee attack rolls and damage, while Constitution boosts your Hit Points. 

The Savage Attacker feat is an okay boost for any front-line martial, giving you the option to roll your weapon damage twice once per turn and use either roll. Proficiencies in Athletics allow for more successful grapples and shoves, while Intimidation enhances your social skills in and out of combat.

Wayfarer

• Ability Score Increase: Dexterity, Wisdom, Charisma
• Origin Feat: Lucky
• Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Stealth

The Wayfarer background is an excellent choice for Bards, Rogues, and Rangers who rely on spellcasting, agility, and social skills. Dexterity boosts your AC, attack rolls with finesse weapons, and Stealth, making it crucial for these nimble classes. Wisdom and Charisma are must-haves for Rangers and Bards, respectively, because they improve their spell attacks and spell save DCs.

The Lucky feat is an invaluable asset for Rogues, especially because they only get one Attack per turn to land their Sneak Attack.  It’s also a great look for Dexterity-based classes sneaking out ahead of their parties or Bards making important social checks. Proficiencies in Insight and Stealth complete the package, ensuring you’re not only deadly in combat but also hard to pin down and great at reading people and situations.

Turn Your Backgrounds into Foregrounds

The 2024 Player’s Handbook has definitely thrown a curveball at character creation with its expanded background offering. Now, you’ll have to consider which background best suits your build, on top of which species and ability scores are optimal.

But, whether you want to build a cunning Charlatan, a wise Farmer, or a fierce Soldier, these new backgrounds grant the mechanical advantages to back up these backstories.  So, I, for one, am excited to get creative and see what stories we can tell with these new options!

Fill out the form below to receive Escape From Mt. Balefor for free!

• Fill out the form below to receive Escape From Mt. Balefor for free!

• First Name*
• Email*
• CAPTCHA
• Comments
  This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

Or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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.