Backgrounds

Backgrounds are a trait which describes a character's life outside of their career as an adventurer. Each background grants characters two skill proficiencies and determines what inspires them. Backgrounds also have narrative effects, including options in dialogue and the opinions or attitude of others towards the character.

Each origin character, including the Dark Urge, has a pre-selected background that cannot be changed. Custom characters select a background on character creation. A character may only have one background, and it cannot be changed once the game is started.

Acolyte

Main article: Acolyte

“

You have spent your life in service to a temple, learning sacred rites and providing sacrifices to the god or gods you worship. Serving the gods and discovering their sacred works will guide you to greatness.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Insight, Religion
• Characters: Shadowheart, Zenith Feur'sel

Charlatan

Main article: Charlatan

“

You're an expert in manipulation, prone to exaggeration and more than happy to profit from it. Bending the truth and turning allies against each other will lead to greater success down the road.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand
• Characters: Astarion, Kree Derryck

Criminal

Main article: Criminal

“

You have a history of breaking the law and survive by leveraging less-than-legal connections. Profiting from criminal enterprise will lead to greater opportunities in the future.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
• Characters: Ver'yll Wenkiir

Entertainer

Main article: Entertainer

“

You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike. Preserving art and bringing joy to the hapless and downtrodden heightens your charismatic aura.

„

Improves: Acrobatics, Performance Characters: Brinna Brightsong

Folk Hero

Main article: Folk Hero

“

You're a champion of the common people, challenging tyrants and monsters to protect the helpless. Saving innocents in imminent danger will make your legend grow.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival
• Characters: Minsc, Wyll, Danton

Guild Artisan

Main article: Guild Artisan

“

Your skill in a particular craft has earned you membership in a mercantile guild, offering privileges and protection while engaging in your art. Repairing and discovering rare crafts will bring new inspiration.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
• Characters: Jacelyn

Haunted One (Dark Urge only)

Main article: Haunted One

“

A wicked moment, person, or thing that cannot be slain by sword or spell haunts your mind and flickers in your peripheral vision. You carry it wherever your adventure takes you - or perhaps it carries you.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Medicine, Intimidation
• Characters: The Dark Urge

Noble

Main article: Noble

“

You were raised in a family among the social elite, accustomed to power and privilege. Accumulating renown, power, and loyalty will raise your status.

„

• Skill proficiencies: History, Persuasion
• Characters: Minthara, Kerz

Outlander

Main article: Outlander

“

You grew up in the wilds, learning to survive far from the comforts of civilisation. Surviving unusual hazards of the wild will enhance your prowess and understanding.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Athletics, Survival
• Characters: Halsin, Karlach, Eldra Luthrinn, Sina'zith

Sage

Main article: Sage

“

You are curious and well-read, with an unending thirst for knowledge. Learning about rare lore of the world will inspire you to put this knowledge to greater purpose.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Arcana, History
• Characters: Gale, Sir Fuzzalump

Soldier

Main article: Soldier

“

You are trained in battlefield tactics and combat, having served in a militia, mercenary company, or officer corps. Show smart tactics and bravery on the battlefield to enhance your prowess.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation
• Characters: Jaheira, Lae'zel, Varanna Sunblossom

Urchin

Main article: Urchin

“

After surviving a poor and bleak childhood, you know how to make the most out of very little. Using your street smarts bolsters your spirit for the journey ahead.

„

• Skill proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, Stealth
• Characters: Maddala Deadeye

Removed and unused

The following backgrounds existed in Early Access, but were removed in the final version of the game. While their art and text can be found in the game files, the following are not selectable in the release version.

Hermit

“

A life spent in seclusion grants a clear mind, but makes the chaos of society distasteful.

„

Sailor

“

You are pushed by greed and wanderlust, ever curious, seeking hoards and wonders unknown. Finding secret treasures opens the path to new discoveries.

„

Astral Zealot (Lae'zel)

“

Drafted from your crèche into a military life, a taste for violence and a love for the githyanki ruler, Vlaakith, were seeded and nurtured within you. Now you are an agent for Vlaakith on the Material Plane, working toward the advancement of your species.

„

In the release version of the game, Lae'zel has the Soldier background instead.

Blade of Frontiers (Wyll)

“

Sleek as a leopard and bold as a bear with an empty belly, you have developed a reputation that grows and shifts along the Sword Coast. However, a discontent has settled in you, tangling your present in the cruel and complicated details of your past.

„

In the release version of the game, Wyll has the Folk Hero background instead.

Blood War Veteran (Karlach)

“

Conscripted by an archdevil to fight in the Blood War against insane and horrifying demons, you emerged fiery and hardened as the core of a furnace. Escaping to the Material Plane, you have left the madness of war behind. But its burning squalling specter still haunts your waking dreams.

„

In the release version of the game, Karlach has the Outlander background instead.

Cloistered Stray (Shadowheart)

“

Adopted into a religious convent as a child, you grew up in the warm yet rigorous embrace of the faithful. Their tutelage was rigorous, too. Not much room for warmth, though, and you have found your heart yearning for fulfillment beyond the cloister, your boots for cobbles new.

„

In the release version of the game, Shadowheart has the Acolyte background instead.

Grove Tender (Halsin)

“

Master over a verdant grove that was home to life of all varieties, you have lived a life of peace-making and pain-mending. Forsaking the grove was difficult, but necessary, for the safety of the natural world is in jeopardy, and it is the duty of those with green thumbs and greener souls to aid it.

„

In the release version of the game, Halsin has the Outlander background instead.

Legend of Baldur's Gate (Minsc)

“

If evil is a nose you are fist squashing it flat. Such is the legend surrounding you in Baldur's Gate: a hero of the most boisterous variety, armed to the teeth, and packing a tiny space hamster.

„

In the release version of the game, Minsc has the Folk Hero background instead.

Trickster Hedonist (Astarion)

“

Looking at you, people see someone eloquent, experienced, and a little dangerous. There's a sensuality to you that people admire, and you've made use of that fact, oh yes. If ever there was an emblem for night and all its dark promise, surely that is you.

„

In the release version of the game, Astarion has the Charlatan background instead.

Underdark Exile (Minthara)

“

An apostate who has renounced not one, but two faiths, you find yourself adrift in a world where the Gods are real, certainly, but untrustworthy. What does it mean to live outside of church doctrine, outside cultist dogma? It is up to you to find that out for yourself.

„

In the release version of the game, Minthara has the Noble background instead.

Wizard of Waterdeep (Gale)

“

Bookish and ambitious, you rose to prominence among the upper crust of spellcasters in the thriving metropolis of Waterdeep. Displaced from that comfortable refined life, you find yourself adapting to a new one on the adventurers' road.

„

In the release version of the game, Gale has the Sage background instead.

World-Wise Heroine (Jaheira)

“

Veteran to a host of world-threatening conflicts, you have shrugged off the very idea of retirement. Peppermints and rocking chairs are for the infirm, and your muscle and mind are still as hard and strong as steel. Besides, young adventurers are headstrong - they need a little wisdom now and then.

„

In the release version of the game, Jaheira has the Soldier background instead.

Differences to the tabletop game

See D&D 5e rule changes

Most of the backgrounds used in Baldur's Gate 3 (including the removed Hermit and Sailor, above) are drawn from the 2014 Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook. The exception is the Haunted One, which was introduced with the popular horror adventure Curse of Strahd, and which is the only background to provide different skill proficiencies to the tabletop version.

In the tabletop game, backgrounds also provide additional benefits, including:

• Non-skill proficiencies not used in Baldur's Gate 3, like languages, tools, vehicles, games or musical instruments;
• Non-adventuring equipment, like clothing, trinkets or tools; and
• A "background feature" providing the character with one or more abilities usually not tied to mechanics, like an Acolyte being able to request shelter at a temple of their god or an Outlander being able to forage for food without a die roll, and having a very good sense of direction.

These additional benefits are all replaced in Baldur's Gate 3 by the specific inspiration conditions and special options in dialogue.