Baldur's Gate 3 has plenty of elements that make role-playing in this RPG an incredible time for players. In character customization, the player gets to design their character by not only choosing its race and class but also by selecting a background.

Related

Baldur’s Gate 3: 15 New Subclasses That Could Be Added To The Game

Though Baldur's Gate 3 features some truly great subclasses for players to experiment with, it would be nice to have access to a few more.

This background will have its moments in the dialogue Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3), where players can use their character's experience to deal with a situation or relate to an individual. This background can also be used to gain proficients in certain skills or garner inspiration through completing acts that relate to the player's background.

Updated January 9, 2024, by Megan Smith: Baldur's Gate 3 was finally released onto the Xbox Series X/S in December 2023. This has meant that players have had over a month already on the console to create their characters and explore the world of BG3. However, with many likely starting a new run, they may be interested in learning what makes the BG3 Backgrounds so different and which is the best BG3 background. With this in mind, this article hopes to present every possible background a player can select and which companions already have these backgrounds, so they not only don't double up on backgrounds but also so players can finally see which is the best background in BG3 to go for.

12 Charlatan

Skills: Deception & Sleight of Hand

• Astarion

Players who are hoping to play a master manipulator will find the Charlatan background most beneficial to their play style. No matter what class the player decides on, characters with the Charlatan background will be proficient in both Deception and Sleight of Hand.

Deception can be used to get information from NPCs without them even realizing they are giving it or simply lying to guards to help out the player's party that may or may not have been stealing things. Sleight of Hand, meanwhile, can be used to pick vulnerable pockets or get into the various locked chests of Baldur's Gate 3. This is one of the many BG3 backgrounds that are best suited for a morally grey or even evil playthrough. While it's a solid background for this type of roleplay, it's not as useful as most of the others the game has to offer.

11 Soldier

Skills: Athletics & Intimidation

• Lae'zel
• Jaheria

Players who wish for their character to have a military background should choose Soldier for their character. Lae'Zel is the only companion other companion that has this background. Therefore, when completing certain activities, a player who also has this background will share these inspiration moments with her.

Soldiers are proficient in both Athletics and Intimidation. This means that players are more likely to shove enemies away from them in battle when using this bonus action or resist being pushed by others. Intimidation, on the other hand, will help a player get their own way during certain moments of dialogue.

10 Folk Hero

Skills: Animal Handling & Survival

• Wyll
• Minsc

For those who are looking to play the good guy for the entire game, Folk Hero is the best Baldur's Gate 3 background for them. As the name suggests, the player's character has done something noble in their past that has led them to be respected by many — they're sort of the moral opposite of the Charlatan.

Related

Baldur’s Gate 3: 6 Hidden Secrets In Act 3

There are plenty of secrets spread throughout Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3; here are some that players might have missed.

This has made them proficient in Animal Handling and Survival. Like any valiant character, the player should have an easier time soothing the animals they meet on their adventures, even if they can't directly speak to them. As for survival, if the player has a shovel on them, they are likely to have an easier time finding mounds of dirt to dig.

9 Outlander

Skills: Athletics & Survival

• Karlach
• Halsin

As the name suggests, the Outlander has never lived in a city. They have been known to survive in the forests, living off the land where no one else would dare step foot. This will give the player far more experience than most when it comes to Survival, as well as Athletics.

This background would go perfectly with a player who has decided to choose the class Druid or Ranger due to their nature connection, though a player is free to choose the others if they believe it would fit their character's story better.

8 Acolyte

Skills: Insight & Religion

• Shadowheart

Spending their life inside the temple, close to the gods, an Acolyte will rely heavily on religion and their connection to holy things through their adventure of Baldur's Gate 3. Players who have an interest in the religions in games like Dungeons and Dragons or just BG3 will find this background to be of great use to them.

Players who have selected the class of Paladin or Cleric may find this background to suit their character nicely, though any class can be religious if they so wish. With this background, players will be proficient in both Religion and Insight, the latter of which allows them to look within people to find their motives.

7 Entertainer

Skills: Acrobatics & Performance

In a land with little technology but heaps of magic, it's no surprise to see that many leave their old lives behind to become entertainers. These folk travel to different towns and cities in the hope of putting on a show.

Related

Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Subclasses, Ranked

Every class in Baldur's Gate 3 has a variety of subclass choices, and these are the best options players can choose.

The Entertainer lived a glamorous life before getting caught by Mind Flayers, though their past will still help them on their adventure. Naturally, those who are Entertainers gain proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance. Acrobatics is a Dexterity skill that some players may lack when playing melee-based classes such as Fighter.

6 Urchin

Skills: Sleight of Hand & Stealth

Many of the backgrounds in Baldur's Gate 3 seem as if the player has had it easy in the past. However, a background that many enjoy in both BG3 and Dungeons & Dragons is the Urchin. Growing up with hardly anything, the player's character has likely had it tough in the past, being forced to beg and steal if they hope to survive on the streets.

This tragic beginning may have caused the character to grow into an even darker adult or perhaps take the opposite direction of helping others. Nevertheless, a player with the Urchin background is incredibly streetwise, as they have lived in the shoes of a beggar. This will give players proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth, which players may find themselves using to get the upper hand.

5 Sage

Skills: Arcana & History

• Gale

Many players start their journey into an RPG like Baldur's Gate 3 with a thirst for knowledge as they hope to learn everything they possibly can. The Sage also has this passion for knowledge as they have spent their entire life finding out more from history.

A character with the Sage background will become inspired when they learn new things, and they even have the proficiencies to help with this as they are highly skilled in Arcana and History.

4 Criminal

Skills: Deception & Stealth

While an Urchin could possibly have a criminal childhood, those with an actual Criminal background have continued their unlawful ways, with perhaps even a love for it. Players who choose the Criminal background are most likely hoping to continue their villainous ways while exploring in BG3. Therefore, every time they do something that is deemed unlawful, they will be rewarded for it.

Related

Baldur’s Gate 3: 8 Weirdest Spells

One of the best things about Baldur's Gate 3's adaptability is the comedic approach players can take to spellcasting.

Any class can be a criminal, and characters with this background will find themselves proficient in Deception and Stealth. Being able to deceive will help the player stay in the good books of many NPCs while also pulling the wool over their eyes.

3 Noble

Skills: History & Persuasion

• Noble

Players are free to play this background as they see fit, as it possesses a lot of potential. A character can roleplay as a pompous noble with no care for others or a noble that has high respect for those who have less than them. Either option can lead to some interesting moments.

As an individual who has survived the noble courts, a player will gain a lot of benefits from gaining power or loyalty from others. With proficiency in History and Persuasion, a player will know their family history while also convincing others to join them.

2 Haunted One

Skills: Medicine & Intimidation

• The Dark Urge

Players who decide to create a Dark Urge character won't be able to choose between the different backgrounds that are available for a usual custom character. However, players instead are given an entirely new background in BG3 that none of the companions are able to have. This is known as the Haunted One, as the players have something dark within them that seems to be haunting their every choice.

Because of this, players will find themselves proficient in medicine and intimidation. While medicine may not have many uses, being able to scare many away from fighting them can help the player avoid many deadly battles.

1 Guild Artisan

Skills: Insight & Persuassion

Out of all the backgrounds available, Guild Artisan is the best. With this background, a player's character is well-known for their crafted goods, which has allowed them to make some connections. These connections may come in handy during the adventure of BG3 while also giving them two incredible proficiencies.

Proficiency in Persuasion and Insight will both come in handy when engaging in conversation with various NPCs in Baldur's Gate 3 while also making sure the player doesn't get swindled for their coin. Additionally, it gives players the most freedom to make up their own backstory for their character that isn't heavily connected to how they grew up.