TableMimic Backgrounds

A D&D 5e backgrounds reference: skills, tools and features at a glance.

D&D 5e Backgrounds

A background says where your character came from before the adventuring started. In D&D 5e it hands you two skill proficiencies, tools or languages, starting gear and a story feature to play with. This free reference lists every background from the SRD and other open-license sources in one searchable place. Click any entry to see its skills, tool proficiencies, languages and feature in full, so you can compare a Sage against an Urchin without flipping through a book. Useful when you are building a character, filling a gap in the party, or improvising an NPC's history mid-session.

Key features

FAQ

What does a background give your character in D&D 5e?
Two skill proficiencies, usually a tool proficiency or extra languages, a set of starting equipment, and a background feature, a roleplaying perk such as free lodging or contacts in the criminal underworld. It also comes with personality, ideal, bond and flaw suggestions.
Which background should I pick?
Pick the one that fits the story you want to tell, then check the skills for overlap with your class. Browse the list here, open a background to read its skills, tools, languages and feature in full, and choose the one that fills a gap in your party.
Can I customise a background?
Yes. 5e lets you swap a background's feature and replace its skills, tools or languages with others of the same kind, as long as your DM agrees. Many tables treat the printed backgrounds as templates rather than fixed packages.

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