D&D 5e Backgrounds Guide - A Complete, Organised List
A few people have put together lists of all the D&D backgrounds available, but mostly they're a bit disjointed, so I thought I'd spend a few minutes categorising them and then put up that sorted list here.
We've organised it in a few different ways - firstly by lists for areas of Skills, then by Languages, and after that, you'll find a complete list of every background by its source, along with references for each.
Lists by Skill
Acrobatics (DEX)
- Entertainer
- Gladiator
Animal Handling (WIS)
- Folk Hero
- Iron Route Bandit
- Ticklebelly Nomad
- Caravan Specialist
Arcana (INT)
- Sage
- Cloistered Scholar
- Far Traveler
- Knight of the Order
- Haunted One
Athletics (STR)
- Outlander
- Pirate
- Sailor
- Soldier
- City Watch
- Mercenary Veteran
- Uthgardt Tribe Member
- Earthspur Miner
- Harborfolk
- Phlan Refugee
- Initiate
Deception (CHA)
- Charlatan
- Criminal
- Spy
- Urban Bounty Hunter
- Black Fist Double Agent
- Stojanow Prisoner
- Gate Urchin
- Secret Identity
- Shade Fanatic
- Mulmaster Aristocrat
- Heretic
History (INT)
- Knight
- Noble
- Sage
- Clan Crafter
- Cloistered Scholar
- Far Traveler
- Knight of the Order
- Waterdhavian Noble
- Vizier
- Archaeologist
Insight (WIS)
- Acolyte
- Guild Artisan
- Guild Merchant
- City Watch
- Clan Crafter
- Courtier
- Faction Agent
- Investigator
- Urban Bounty Hunter
- Black Fist Double Agent
- Hillsfar Merchant
- Phlan Refugee
- Anthropologist
Intimidation (CHA)
- Soldier
- Dragon Casualty
- Shade Fanatic
- Initiate
Investigation (INT)
- Investigator
- Haunted One
- Trade Sheriff
- Inquisitor
Medicine (WIS)
- Hermit
Nature (INT)
- Cloistered Scholar
- Knight of the Order
- Ticklebelly Nomad
- Cormanthor Refugee
Perception (WIS)
- Pirate
- Sailor
- Stojanow Prisoner
- Hillsfar Smuggler
Performance (CHA)
- Entertainer
- Gladiator
- Mulmaster Aristocrat
Persuasion (CHA)
- Guild Artisan
- Guild Merchant
- Knight
- Noble
- Courtier
- Knight of the Order
- Mercenary Veteran
- Urban Bounty Hunter
- Waterdhavian Noble
- Hillsfar Merchant
- Trade Sheriff
Religion (INT)
- Acolyte
- Hermit
- Cloistered Scholar
- Far Traveler
- Knight of the Order
- Haunted One
- Vizier
- Anthropologist
- Inquisitor
- Heretic
Sleight of Hand (DEX)
- Charlatan
- Urchin
- Gate Urchin
- Harborfolk
Stealth (DEX)
- Criminal
- Spy
- Urchin
- Urban Bounty Hunter
- Iron Route Bandit
- Phlan Insurgent
- Hillsfar Smuggler
- Secret Identity
Survival (WIS)
- Folk Hero
- Outlander
- Far Traveler
- Uthgardt Tribe Member
- Dragon Casualty
- Phlan Insurgent
- Haunted One
- Cormanthor Refugee
- Caravan Specialist
- Earthspur Miner
- Archaeologist
Lists by Languages
+2
- Acolyte
- Anthropologist
- City Watch
- Cloistered Scholar
- Courtier
- Faction Agent
- Heretic
- Investigator
- Sage
+1
- Archaeologist
- Caravan Specialist
- Clan Crafter
- Far Traveler
- Guild Artisan
- Guild Merchant
- Haunted One
- Hermit
- Hillsfar Smuggler
- Knight
- Knight of the Order
- Noble
- Outlander
- Phlan Refugee
- Uthgardt Tribe Member
- Waterdhavian Noble
Draconic
- Dragon Casualty
Dwarvish, Undercommon
- Earthspur Miner
Elvish
- Cormanthor Refugee
- Trade Sheriff
Giant
- Ticklebelly Nomad
Netherese
- Shade Fanatic
Complete Tables of Backgrounds
Players Handbook
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acolyte | 127 | Insight (WIS), Religion (INT) | +2 | - |
| Charlatan | 128 | Deception (CHA), Sleight of Hand (DEX) | - | Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit |
| Criminal | 129 | Deception (CHA), Stealth (DEX) | - | Gaming set x1, Thieves' tools |
| Entertainer | 130 | Acrobatics (DEX), Performance (CHA) | - | Disguise kit, Musical instrument x1 |
| Folk Hero | 131 | Animal handling (WIS), Survival (WIS) | - | Artisan's tools x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Gladiator | 130 | Acrobatics (DEX), Performance (CHA) | - | Disguise kit, Unusual weapon x1 |
| Guild Artisan | 132 | Insight (WIS), Persuasion (CHA) | +1 | Artisan's tools x1 |
| Guild Merchant | 132 | Insight (WIS), Persuasion (CHA) | +1 | Navigator's tools |
| Hermit | 134 | Medicine (WIS), Religion (INT) | +1 | Herbalism kit |
| Knight | 135 | History (INT), Persuasion (CHA) | +1 | Gaming set x1 |
| Noble | 135 | History (INT), Persuasion (CHA) | +1 | Gaming set x1 |
| Outlander | 136 | Athletics (STR), Survival (WIS) | +1 | Musical instrument x1 |
| Pirate | 139 | Athletics (STR), Perception (WIS) | - | Navigator's tools, Vehicles (water) |
| Sage | 137 | Arcana (INT), History (INT) | +2 | - |
| Sailor | 139 | Athletics (STR), Perception (WIS) | - | Navigator's tools, Vehicles (water) |
| Soldier | 140 | Athletics (STR), Intimidation (CHA) | - | Gaming set x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Spy | 129 | Deception (CHA), Stealth (DEX) | - | Gaming set x1, Thieves' tools |
| Urchin | 141 | Sleight of Hand (DEX), Stealth (DEX) | - | Disguise kit, Thieves' tools |
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Watch | 145 | Athletics (STR), Insight (WIS) | +2 | - |
| Clan Crafter | 145 | History (INT), Insight (WIS) | +1 | Artisan's tools x1 |
| Cloistered Scholar | 146 | History (INT) and one from Arcana, Nature, or Religion (all INT) | +2 | - |
| Courtier | 146 | Insight (WIS), Persuasion (CHA) | +2 | - |
| Faction Agent | 147 | Insight and one INT, WIS, or CHA skill as appropriate for your faction | +2 | - |
| Far Traveler | 148 | Insight (WIS), Perception (WIS) | +1 | Musical instrument x1 or Gaming set x1 |
| Inheritor | 150 | Survival (WIS), and one from Arcana, History, or Religion (all INT) | - | Gaming set x1, Musical instrument x1 |
| Investigator | 145 | Insight (WIS), Investigation (INT) | +2 | - |
| Knight of the Order | 151 | Persuasion (CHA), and one from Arcana; History; Nature; or Religion (all INT) | +1 | Gaming set or Musical instrument |
| Mercenary Veteran | 152 | Athletics (STR), Persuasion (CHA) | - | Gaming set x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Urban Bounty Hunter | 153 | Two from Deception (CHA); Insight (WIS); Persuasion (CHA); and Stealth (DEX) | - | Two from Gaming set x1, Musical instrument x1, or Thieves' tools |
| Uthgardt Tribe Member | 153 | Athletics (STR), Survival (WIS) | +1 | Artisan's tools x1 or Musical instrument x1 |
| Waterdhavian Noble | 154 | History (INT), Persuasion (CHA) | +1 | Gaming set x1 or Musical instrument x1 |
Curse of Strahd
http://dndadventurersleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Curse-of-Strahd-Backgrounds-v1.1.pdf
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Fist Double Agent | 2 | Deception (CHA), Insight (WIS) | - | Disguise kit, and either Artisan's tools x1 or Gaming set x1 |
| Dragon Casualty | 3 | Intimidation (CHA), Survival (WIS) | Draconic | One of eight tools, based on your origin |
| Iron Route Bandit | 5 | Animal handling (WIS), stealth (DEX) | - | Gaming set x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Phlan Insurgent | 6 | Stealth (DEX), Survival (WIS) | - | Artisan's tools x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Stojanow Prisoner | 8 | Deception (CHA), perception (WIS) | - | Gaming set x1, Thieves' tools |
| Ticklebelly Nomad | 9 | Animal Handling (WIS), Nature (INT) | Giant | Herbalism kit |
From the core book:
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haunted One | 209 | Two from: Arcana (INT); Investigation (INT); Religion (INT); and Survival (WIS) | Exotic Language +1 | - |
Rage of Demons
http://dndadventurersleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hillsfar-Regional-Character-Options.pdf
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cormanthor Refugee | 5 | Nature (INT), Survival (WIS) | Elvish | Artisan's tools x1 |
| Gate Urchin | 6 | Deception (CHA), Sleight of Hand (DEX) | - | Musical instrument x1, Thieves' tools |
| Hillsfar Merchant | 7 | Insight (WIS), Persuasion (CHA) | - | Vehicles (land), Vehicles (water) |
| Hillsfar Smuggler | 8 | Perception (WIS), Stealth (DEX) | +1 | Forgery kit |
| Secret Identity | 9 | Deception (CHA), Stealth (DEX) | - | Disguise kit, Forgery kit |
| Shade Fanatic | 10 | Deception (CHA), Intimidation (CHA) | Netherese | Forgery kit |
| Trade Sheriff | 11 | Investigation (INT), Persuasion (CHA) | Elvish | Thieves' tools |
Elemental Evil
http://dndadventurersleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Mulmaster-Bonds-and-Backgrounds.pdf
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caravan Specialist | 2 | Animal handling (WIS), Survival (WIS) | +1 | Vehicles (land) |
| Earthspur Miner | 3 | Athletics (STR), Survival (WIS) | Dwarvish, Undercommon | - |
| Harborfolk | 4 | Athletics (STR), Sleight of Hand (DEX) | - | Gaming set x1, Vehicles (water) |
| Mulmaster Aristocrat | 5 | Deception (CHA), Performance (CHA) | - | Artisan's tools x1, Musical instrument x1 |
| Phlan Refugee | 6 | Athletics (STR), Insight (WIS) | +1 | Artisan's tools x1 |
Plane of Amonkhet
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissenter | 11 | Special Background Feature | - | - |
| Initiate | 8 | Athletics (STR), Intimidation (CHA) | - | Gaming set x1, Vehicles (land) |
| Vizier | 10 | History (INT), religion (INT) | - | Artisan's tools x1, Musical Instrument x1 |
Tomb of Annihilation
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropologist | 191 | Insight (WIS), Religion (INT) | +2 | - |
| Archaeologist | 192 | History (INT), Survival (WIS) | +1 | Cartographer's tools or Navigator's tools |
Plane of Innistrad
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inquisitor | 12 | Investigation (INT), Religion (INT) | - | Thieves' tools, Artisan's tools +1 |
Ruins of Mezro
| Name | Page | Skills | Languages | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heretic | 28 | Deception (CHA), Religion (INT) | +2 | - |