Baldur’s Gate 3 – Best background to pick

Aden Carter

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What background should you choose in Baldur’s Gate 3? Backgrounds are an important part of creating your character. Each background offers you proficiency with different skills that will benefit you in and out of combat.

There are plenty of backgrounds to choose from with them increasing your chance of succeeding on ability checks. Keep in mind, backgrounds don’t increase ability scores like Dexterity, Charisma, or Wisdom and are instead only for skills.

Backgrounds also provide different bonuses than your race. Choosing different races like Dwarf, Drow, or Half-Elf will grant you additional bonuses. In the early access version of the game, there are only a few backgrounds. More are coming in the full release. Here are the best backgrounds to pick in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Best background to pick for each class in Baldur’s Gate 3

The best background in Baldur’s Gate 3, depends on the class that you choose. The following backgrounds are best for each class:

• 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 lead you to greatness.”
  • Grants proficiency in Insight and Religion
    • Best used with Cleric, Paladin, Wizard
• 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 bring you success down the road.”
  • Grants proficiency in Deception and Sleight of Hand
    • Best used with Bard, Rogue, Warlock
• Criminal – “You have a history of breaking the law and surviving by leveraging less-than-legal connections. Profiting from criminal enterprise will lead to greater opportunities in the future.”
  • Grants proficiency in Deception and Stealth
    • Best used with Fighter, Rogue, Warlock
• Entertainer – “You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike.”
  • Grants proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance
    • Best used with Bard, Sorcerer
• 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.”
  • Grants proficiency in Animal Handling and Survival
    • Best used with Barbarian, Fight, and Ranger
• 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.”
  • Grants proficiency in Insight and Persuasion
    • Best used with Bard
• 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.”
  • Grants proficiency in History and Persuasion
    • Best used with Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
• Hermit – “You were once sworn to seclusion and continue to prefer solitude over the chaos of society.”
  • Grants proficiency in Medicine and Religion
    • Best used with Cleric, Druid
• Outlander – “You grew up in the wilds, learning to survive far from the comforts of civilization. Surviving unusual hazards of the wild will enhance your prowess and understanding.”
  • Grants proficiency in Athletics and Survival
    • Best used with Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Ranger
• 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 a greater purpose.”
  • Grants proficiency in Arcana and History
    • Best used with Bard, Cleric, Wizard
• Sailor – Grants proficiency in Athletics and Perception
  • Best used with Barbarian
• 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.”
  • Grants proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation
    • Best used with Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer
• Urchin – “After surviving a childhood on the streets, you know how to make the most out of very little. Using your street smarts bolsters your spirit for the journey ahead.”
  • Grants proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth
    • Best used with Monk, Ranger, Rogue

Each of the backgrounds offers different advantages that will help you with dice rolls and increase your stats. Sometimes, a slight increase is all that matters to help you with saving throws on the battlefield.

Keep in mind that each Background comes with inspiration goals. Completing actions linked to your Background will get you inspiration points – a great reward that helps with checks. At launch, there will be more backgrounds that will help you create a better custom character. Remember, no background will help you get better damage with abilities like sneak attack.