D&D 2024 Backgrounds: All 16 With Ability Scores, Origin Feats and Skills
The 2024 Player's Handbook has 16 backgrounds. Each one lists three ability scores (add +2 and +1, or +1 to all three, to a maximum of 20), grants one Origin feat, two skill proficiencies, one tool proficiency, and a choice of an equipment package or 50 gp. In 2014, ability bonuses came from race instead.
How do backgrounds work in D&D 2024?
In the 2024 Player's Handbook, your background is the part of your origin that describes what you did before adventuring, and it carries most of your starting bonuses. Every background gives you the same five things:
- Ability scores: three abilities are listed. Add +2 to one and +1 to another, or +1 to all three. This increase can't push a score above 20.
- Origin feat: one specific 1st-level feat, such as Alert, Lucky or Magic Initiate.
- Skill proficiencies: two set skills.
- Tool proficiency: one tool, sometimes "one kind of" a category you choose (a gaming set, a musical instrument or artisan's tools).
- Equipment: a package of gear that includes some coins, or 50 gp to spend as you like.
The 2024 rules have you pick a background before you set your ability scores, because the background decides which three scores you can raise. If you want to see how the pieces fit together on a finished sheet, the D&D character generator builds a random level 1 character with a 2024 background, species and stats. For the full step-by-step process, see how to make a D&D character.
What are all 16 backgrounds in the 2024 Player's Handbook?
The table lists each background's three ability scores, Origin feat, skills and tool. Four of them (Acolyte, Criminal, Sage and Soldier) are in the free 2024 rules on D&D Beyond; the other twelve are in the Player's Handbook.
| Background | Ability scores | Origin feat | Skills | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acolyte | Int, Wis, Cha | Magic Initiate (Cleric) | Insight, Religion | Calligrapher's Supplies |
| Artisan | Str, Dex, Int | Crafter | Investigation, Persuasion | One kind of Artisan's Tools |
| Charlatan | Dex, Con, Cha | Skilled | Deception, Sleight of Hand | Forgery Kit |
| Criminal | Dex, Con, Int | Alert | Sleight of Hand, Stealth | Thieves' Tools |
| Entertainer | Str, Dex, Cha | Musician | Acrobatics, Performance | One kind of Musical Instrument |
| Farmer | Str, Con, Wis | Tough | Animal Handling, Nature | Carpenter's Tools |
| Guard | Str, Int, Wis | Alert | Athletics, Perception | One kind of Gaming Set |
| Guide | Dex, Con, Wis | Magic Initiate (Druid) | Stealth, Survival | Cartographer's Tools |
| Hermit | Con, Wis, Cha | Healer | Medicine, Religion | Herbalism Kit |
| Merchant | Con, Int, Cha | Lucky | Animal Handling, Persuasion | Navigator's Tools |
| Noble | Str, Int, Cha | Skilled | History, Persuasion | One kind of Gaming Set |
| Sage | Con, Int, Wis | Magic Initiate (Wizard) | Arcana, History | Calligrapher's Supplies |
| Sailor | Str, Dex, Wis | Tavern Brawler | Acrobatics, Perception | Navigator's Tools |
| Scribe | Dex, Int, Wis | Skilled | Investigation, Perception | Calligrapher's Supplies |
| Soldier | Str, Dex, Con | Savage Attacker | Athletics, Intimidation | One kind of Gaming Set |
| Wayfarer | Dex, Wis, Cha | Lucky | Insight, Stealth | Thieves' Tools |
A few patterns stand out. Magic Initiate appears three times, each tied to a different spell list, which is the easiest way for a non-caster to pick up a couple of cantrips. Skilled appears three times, Alert and Lucky twice each. Every other Origin feat belongs to exactly one background.
How do you apply background ability score increases?
Generate your six base scores first with any method your table uses: the standard array, point buy or rolling 4d6 drop lowest with the stat roller. Then apply your background's increase to the three listed abilities. You have two options:
- +2 / +1: add 2 to one listed ability and 1 to a different listed ability. The third gets nothing.
- +1 / +1 / +1: add 1 to each of the three listed abilities.
The +2/+1 split is the usual choice when your class's main ability is on the list, because it can turn a 15 into a 17 or a 16 into an 18. The +1/+1/+1 split is useful when you have several odd scores, since each +1 turns an odd score into the next even one and raises its modifier.
Example
A wizard using the standard array puts 15 in Intelligence, 14 in Constitution and 13 in Dexterity. With the Sage background (Con, Int, Wis), the player adds +2 to Intelligence and +1 to Constitution, ending at 17 Intelligence (+3) and 15 Constitution (+2).
How are 2024 backgrounds different from 2014 backgrounds?
The biggest change is where your starting bonuses come from. In the 2014 rules, your race supplied the ability score increases, usually +2 to one score and +1 to another, and your background gave skills, tools or languages, equipment and a roleplaying feature such as a place to stay or a contact network. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything later let players move their racial bonuses, but that was an optional rule.
| Part of your origin | 2014 rules | 2024 rules |
|---|---|---|
| Ability score increases | From your race | From your background (three listed abilities) |
| Level 1 feat | None, except variant human | An Origin feat from your background |
| Background feature | A roleplaying feature (for example, Shelter of the Faithful) | Removed; the feat does that job |
| Proficiencies | Two skills plus tools and/or languages | Two skills and one tool |
| Languages | Some backgrounds added languages | Every character knows Common plus two more, separate from background |
| Race / species | Gave ability bonuses and traits | Called species; gives traits only |
Because species no longer adjust ability scores, the choice of background now matters more for your numbers than your species does. More rule changes are covered in what changed in the 2024 D&D rules.
What is the best background for each class?
No background is wrong for any class, and story should come first. If you want the numbers to line up, these are reasonable starting points: each one lists the class's main ability and gives a feat that fits how the class plays.
| Class | Suggested backgrounds | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Soldier, Farmer | Strength and Constitution; Savage Attacker or Tough |
| Bard | Entertainer, Charlatan | Charisma; Musician or Skilled for extra proficiencies |
| Cleric | Acolyte, Hermit | Wisdom; extra cleric magic or Healer |
| Druid | Guide, Hermit | Wisdom and Constitution; extra druid magic or Healer |
| Fighter | Soldier, Guard | Strength or Dexterity; Savage Attacker or Alert |
| Monk | Sailor, Guide | Dexterity and Wisdom; Tavern Brawler boosts unarmed hits |
| Paladin | Noble, Soldier | Strength and Charisma, or Strength and Constitution |
| Ranger | Guide, Wayfarer | Dexterity and Wisdom; druid cantrips or Lucky |
| Rogue | Criminal, Wayfarer | Dexterity; Alert or Lucky, plus Thieves' Tools |
| Sorcerer | Charlatan, Merchant | Charisma and Constitution; Skilled or Lucky |
| Warlock | Charlatan, Hermit | Charisma and Constitution; Skilled or Healer |
| Wizard | Sage, Scribe | Intelligence; extra wizard spells or Skilled |
Alert and Lucky are strong on any character, so the Criminal, Guard, Merchant and Wayfarer backgrounds are good fallbacks when nothing else fits your concept.
Can you use 2014 backgrounds with the 2024 rules?
Yes. The 2024 rules include guidance for backgrounds and species from older books:
- Ability scores: an older background has no ability increases, so you raise one score by 2 and another by 1, or three scores by 1. As usual, none can go above 20.
- Feat: if the background doesn't grant a feat, you choose an Origin feat.
- Older species: ignore any ability score increases listed for a species from an older book and take your increases from the background instead.
That keeps an old background on the same footing as a new one. The rules don't say what to do with the 2014 background feature, so whether you keep it is a question for your DM.
Can you make a custom background in D&D 2024?
The 2014 Player's Handbook had a short "customizing a background" section for players. The 2024 Player's Handbook instead presents the 16 set backgrounds, so anything beyond them is up to your DM. If none of the 16 suits your character, the simplest route is to pick the background with the right numbers and rename it, or ask your DM to approve a custom combination of three abilities, an Origin feat, two skills and a tool.
FAQ
How many backgrounds are in the 2024 Player's Handbook?
Sixteen: Acolyte, Artisan, Charlatan, Criminal, Entertainer, Farmer, Guard, Guide, Hermit, Merchant, Noble, Sage, Sailor, Scribe, Soldier and Wayfarer. Only four of them (Acolyte, Criminal, Sage and Soldier) appear in the free 2024 rules.
Can you choose any ability scores with a 2024 background?
No. You can only raise the three abilities your background lists, either +2 to one and +1 to another or +1 to all three. If none of the backgrounds fits, ask your DM about a custom background.
Can you use 2014 backgrounds with the 2024 rules?
Yes. The 2024 rules say a background from an older book gives no ability increases of its own, so you raise one score by 2 and another by 1, or three scores by 1 (none above 20). If it has no feat, you take an Origin feat of your choice.
Can you swap the Origin feat of a 2024 background?
Not by the rules as written; each background grants a specific Origin feat. Some DMs allow a swap for another Origin feat, so ask before you build around it.
Related
- DnD Character Generator
- How to Make a D&D Character (2024 Rules, Step by Step)
- What Changed in the 2024 D&D Rules
- Point Buy 5e Explained: Costs, Legal Spreads and a Free Calculator
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