Key Takeaway
There are 11 backgrounds to choose from in Baldur’s Gate 3, and your decision impacts how other characters interact with you and how you interact with the world. Your background also determines which two skill proficiencies you have and which special quests will become available to you.
The 11 available backgrounds are:
- Acolyte
- Charlatan
- Criminal
- Entertainer
- Folk Hero
- Guild Artisan
- Noble
- Outlander
- Sage
- Soldier
- Urchin
By making decisions or performing actions that are in line with your character’s background, you’ll earn Inspiration Points. These can be used to reroll failed Ability Checks.
Along with choosing your race and class, you’ll need to select a character background in Baldur’s Gate 3. This determines who your character was before their current adventure and impacts how other characters interact with you. It also determines your special quests and how you obtain inspiration points.
Table Of Contents
About Backgrounds in Baldur’s Gate 3
Fans of Dungeons & Dragons will instantly recognize the importance of backgrounds, but new players may have trouble selecting their character’s lore. There are 11 backgrounds to choose from, and this dictates how you interact with other characters and the environment.
While you’re free to select any background you’d like regardless of your character’s race or class, certain backgrounds complement certain builds.
Backgrounds decide your character’s two skill proficiencies—for example, Criminals excel in Deception and Stealth, while Nobles are skilled at History and Persuasion. These proficiencies can help you pass certain ability checks as you explore.
Your background also determines which special quests are available to you.
NoteYou must create a custom character in order to choose your background. If you’re planning on playing as one of the six Origin Characters, this option won’t be available.
If you’re someone playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the story and are unconcerned about optimizing your build, feel free to choose the background that appeals to you the most. As replayable as this game promises to be, there’s no harm in trying a few different backgrounds on for size.
All Backgrounds and Skill Proficiencies
Below, you can find more information about every background, including the skill proficiencies that unlock with each.
| Background | Description | Proficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 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 guide you to Greatness. | Insight (Wisdom) Religion (Intelligence) |
| 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. | Deception (Charisma) Sleight of Hand (Dexterity) |
| Criminal | You have a history of breaking the law and survive by leveraging less-than-legal connections. Profiting from criminal enterprise will lead to greater opportunities in the future. | Deception (Charisma) Stealth (Dexterity) |
| Entertainer | You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike. | Acrobatics (Dexterity) Performance (Charisma) |
| 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. | Animal Handling (Wisdom) Survival (Wisdom) |
| 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. | Insight (Wisdom) Persuasion (Charisma) |
| Hermit | You were once sworn to seclusion and continue to prefer solitude over the chaos of society. | Medicine (Wisdom) Religion (Intelligence) |
| 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. | History (Intelligence) Persuasion (Charisma) |
| 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. | Athletics (Strength) Survival (Wisdom) |
| 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 greater purpose. | Arcane (Intelligence) History (Intelligence) |
| 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. | Athletics (Strength) Intimidation (Charisma) |
| 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. | Sleight of Hand (Dexterity) Stealth (Dexterity) |
About Background Quests and Inspiration
The background you choose eventually unlocks special quests that add more context to your character’s life as you explore the world of Baldur’s Gate 3. Completing these quests also grants you both Experience Points and Inspiration Points.
When you make a decision or perform an action that’s in line with your character’s background, you’ll become Inspired and gain 1 Inspiration Point and 25 Experience Points. Each Inspiration Point can be used to reroll failed Ability Checks, making them incredibly helpful as you progress through the game. Players can only hold four Inspiration Points at a time—any additional points earned are converted into Experience Points.
NoteYour companions can also become Inspired on your journey, and all Inspiration Points are stored in a pool with other members of your party. Bringing along characters with different backgrounds is a great way to increase your chance of gaining Inspiration Points.
Although you aren’t punished for acting against your character’s background, you’ll miss out on Inspiration Points for doing so. Consider this carefully when deciding how you’d like your character to behave and what you’d like their lore to be.
All Inspiration Goals
We’ve compiled all Inspiration goals for every background below. Completing these objectives will provide you with an Inspiration Point.
Acolyte
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Kiss Without Mercy | In the Shattered Sanctum, impress Abdirak by completing performance checks during the ritual of Loviatar. |
| A Unified Spirit | At Waukeen’s Rest, pray with the Flaming Fists. |
| Divinity Undone | In the Dank Crypt in the west chamber found on the Ravaged Beach, unlock and read the Book of Dead Gods. Complete two checks: unlock and examine it. |
| Fate Must Wait | Use a Scroll of Revivify on your party member or pay the skeleton in your camp after discovering him in the Dank Crypt. |
| Her Gift of Silver | Recover Selune's lost treasure through prayer inside Owlbear Cave by jumping behind the statue. Read the prayer sheet you find beside the glowing chest. |
| Last Rites of the Dark Dancer | Complete Eilistraee's ritual of sorrow and obtain her blessed blade in the Underdark. You'll need to pass a Religion check. |
| Justice Sees All | Discover why Anders betrayed Tyr by using Speak with the Dead on the body inside the Tollhouse. Confront Anders once this is done. |
| Saving the Heretic | Learn about Maglubiyet and safely free his priest by freeing the Goblin in the cage inside the Shattered Sanctum. You'll need to kill the guards and disarm the trap on the cage. |
| Silvanus’ Solitude | Witness the ritual that seals off the grove from the outside world. To do this, Kill Zevlor and report back to Kagha to trigger the ritual when you return to camp and end the day. |
| Shatter the Moon | Destroy the Moonstone on the statue in the Selunite Outpost located in the Underdark. |
| Tipping the Scales | Earn the worship of the Kuo-Toa by persuading them that you are BOOOAL's chosen before fighting and killing BOOOAL. |
| The Final Scribe’s Boon | Discover Jergal's amulet in the chapel's hidden tomb. This can be done after obtaining The Amulet of Lost Voices in the Dank Crypt. |
| Treefather’s Sorrow | Unleash Silvanus' curse upon the grove by killing all of the Druids. |
Charlatan
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Better Offer | Convince the pit spiders to attack the Goblins. |
| Anything for the Profit | Successfully steal the toe ring from the Novice Crusher in the Goblin Camp. |
| Cheese your Way Through | Persuade the Bandits in the Chapel to let you enter. Interact with the locked door and you'll hear a muffled voice. Choose the [Deception] option and pass the skill check—doing so will also inspire Asterion. |
| Devil’s Advocate | Interrogate the dead mind flayer without getting caught. |
| Flexible Diplomacy | After convincing the Tieflings to free Lae’zel, betray them. |
| Just Passing Through | In Moonhaven, persuade and trick the Goblins. |
| Merciless | Convince the Gnoll Flind into eating herself. She can be found on the the Risen Road with her pack. |
| Mirror Master | In the Thayan Cellar, Trick the magic mirror. |
| One of Us | Use the Hag mask to avoid Auntie Ethel's mind-controlled minions. |
| Silver Blades, Silver Tongue | Trick Kith’rak Voss to escape without a fight. |
| Spiked | Poison the beer in the Goblin Camp. |
| The Importance of Networking | Manipulate your way into the Zhentarim Hideout. |
| Very Important Parasite | Deceive any of the guards in the Goblin Camp. |
Criminal
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Fine Fortune | Steal an item worth at least 1000 gold. |
| A Sound Investment | Give Mol money to found a guild in Baldur's Gate. |
| Blood Price | Murder an innocent civilian. |
| Culling The Crowd | Poison the drunk Goblins in the camp. |
| Escape Artist | Escape from jail after being arrested. |
| Finders Keepers | Refuse to return Barth's locket. |
| Friend of the Family | Become an ally of the Zhentarim. |
| Heretic | Steal the Idol of Silvanus in the Druid Grove. |
| Jailbreaker | Smuggle the Goblin Sazza out of the Makeshift Prison in the Grove. |
| Lesser Evils | Rob the Enthralled fishermen on the shore. |
| Serpent’s Bounty | Take Zevlor’s payment for killing Kagha in the Druid Grove. |
| Slaughter’s Prize | Ally with the Goblin leader Minthara to loot and slaughter the Druid Grove. |
| Swiftly Stolen | Steal the Duergar boots from the Gnome. |
Entertainer
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Bard Muse | Help Alfira complete her song at the Druid Grove. |
| A Story for the Ages | Persuade someone to join your side with a well-timed story. |
| Celebrant | Dance with the Tieflings in the camp. |
| Chicken Chase Extraordinare | Win a match of Chicken Chase. |
| Feel the Beat | Successfully perform on the Goblin war drum. |
| Give Them a Show | Get the Goblins on your side while dueling the Novice Crusher. |
| Heart of the Creator | Interact with Bernard at the Arcane Tower by using one of the phrases from the plays found throughout the tower, then perform with him. |
| Life of the Party | In the Goblin Camp, take part in the toast. |
| Made You Look | Earn Mattis's respect by taking his Ring in the Druid Grove. |
| The Art of Agony | Perform in Loviatar's ritual. |
| The Price of Fame | Rescue Volo, Bard Extraordinaire, from the Goblin Camp. |
| The Price of Ink | Free Oskar the painter from the Zhentarim. |
Folk Hero
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Lethal Endeavor | In the Underdark, escort Baelen and successfully help him escape the Field of Bibberbangs. |
| A Timely Rescue | Save Findal from the Goblins that kidnapped him in the Underground Passage. |
| Fate Worse than Death | In the Shattered Sanctum, free Liam from his Goblin captors. |
| Guardian of the Forgotten | Save the Tieflings from the Goblin assault by defeating the three Goblin leaders (True Sol Gut, Minthara, and Dror Ragzlin). Afterwards, return to the Druid Grove and talk to Zevlor. |
| Liberator | Liberate the enthralled fishermen from the Mind Flayer near the crashed Nautiloid. |
| Protector of the Small | Save Mirkon and defeat the Harpies at the Secluded Cove. |
| Rescue from the Flames | Save everyone you can from Waukeen’s Rest. |
| Saved by a Thread | Save Smythin from falling to his death in the Spiders' Pit. |
| Snake Whisperer | Protect Arabella from Kagha and her serpent. |
| Soul Warden | Save Nadira from the Bugbear Assassin. |
| The Bard with Nine Lives | Rescue Volo from the Goblin Camp. |
| The Most Unfortunate Gnome | Rescue the gnome Barcus Wroot from the Windmill in the Blighted Village. |
| Unmasking the Truth | Free one of the Hag’s masked Thralls. |
Guild Artisan
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| An Acquired Taste | Drink one of Auntie Ethel’s unique potions. *Heart of Stone and A Mother's Loathing are the only two beneficial potions—the rest grant temporary or permanent debuffs. |
| An Artist in Need | In the Zhentarim Hideout, purchase Oskar’s freedom by speaking to Brem. |
| A Golden Masterpiece | Sell an item worth at least 1000 gold. |
| A New Vision | Combine the spearhead you get from the mother Owlbear and the broken shaft from True Soul Edowin. |
| In Working Order | Repair the elevator behind the illusionary wall in the Zhentarim hideout. |
| Mind Over Mushrooms | Gather ingredients for Omeluum's Potion by speaking to Blurg in the Myconid Colony and visiting the Arcane Tower. |
| Regeneration | Restore power to the elevator in the Arcane Tower by placing a Sussur flower in the generator at the base. |
| The Apprentice Turns Master | Craft Nettie's antidote in the cauldron. |
| The Finest Ingredients | Create a masterwork item from Sussur Bark. The blueprints can be found in the blacksmith's basement in the Blighted Village, and once you have the Sussur Bark, return here to craft your weapon of choice. |
| The Spider’s Gift | Identify the Drow armor near Waukeen's Rest. |
| Trash and Treasure | Observe the effects of the Chest of the Mundane by placing an item inside. The chest can be found on the northern balcony of the 3rd floor of the Arcane Tower. |
| Valued Customer | Trade with someone who has High approval of you. |
Noble
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Man Of Many Talents | Rescue Volo from the Goblin Camp and ask him to join your camp. |
| Blueblood Solidarity | Learn Wyll's family history. |
| Bodyguards For Hire | Recruit the Ogres to fight for you. |
| Dragon’s Horde | Have at least 2,000 Gold in each companion’s inventory. |
| Eldritch Authority | Become a True Soul. |
| Fine By Me | Use your wealth to bribe a guard. |
| Lest Ye Be Judged | Learn Astarion's history as a magistrate. |
| Noblesse Oblige | Dismiss a Companion for interrupting a conversation. |
| Penchant For Diplomacy | Reach a High level of approval with a Companion. |
| Protector Of The Duke | Rescue Counsellor Florrick from the second floor of the burning building in Waukeen's Rest. |
| Soul For Sale | Acquire a Soul Coin for your personal collection. You can find two inside the Dank Crypt, and a Tiefling hands one out at the Druid Grove. |
Outlander
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Abyss Jumper | Enter the Underdark through the bottomless well found in the Spider Cave. Be sure to use the Featherfall spell! |
| A Mother’s Fury | In Owlbear Cave, successfully defeat the Owlbear Mother. |
| A Noble Endeavor | Use a noblestalk mushroom. |
| Clever Cuckoo | Steal from the giant bird's nest in the Underdark. |
| Cub Tamer | Successfully tame the Owlbear Cub. |
| Cursebreaker | Discover the curse of Yeenoghu and destroy his hyenas. |
| Eyes Of The Wild | Successfully see past the illusion covering the swamp. |
| Mushroom Enthusiast | Destroy every kind of hazardous Underdark mushroom. |
| Nest Egg | Take an item from the Carrion Crawler nest in the Underdark. You must disguise yourself or be a short race to do this successfully. |
| Rock Steady | Survive the bandits' rolling boulder trap. |
| Sticky Fingers | Acquire the pouch from the spider's cave. |
| Walking On Air | Successfully use a Fairy Ring. |
Sage
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| All Knowledge Is Worth Having | Read the Thayan tome of Necromancy and pass all checks. |
| A Natural Alliance | Recognize the Druid and Harper armor. |
| A Solitary Spider | Read the arachnomancer's journals found at the bottom of the well in the Blighted Village. |
| Reanimator | Correctly follow Gale's instructions to resurrect him. |
| Roots Of The Grove | Learn local history from the Druidic frescos. |
| Secrets of the High Chieftain | Convince Booyagh Piddle to hand over Volo's Guide to Goblins in the Goblin Village and read it. |
| Secrets Of The Matron | Read the tome 'On Educating the Faithful' found in the Underdark. |
| Secrets Of The Necromancer | Read The Necromancy of Thay tome. |
| Secrets Of The Shadow Druids | Discover and read Faldron's Canticle found in the chest in Kagha's room in the Druid Grove. |
| Secrets Of The Sundering | Unlock and read the Book of Dead Gods found in the Dank Crypt. |
| Secrets Of The Sussur Tree | Read the Treatise of Anti-Magic found on the first floor of the Arcane Tower in the Underdark. |
| The Forbidden Arcane | Buy and read Omeluum's notes on illithid magic. |
| The Phases Unfold | Solve the moon puzzle sealing the door to the Underdark. |
Soldier
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Chain of Command | Follow Flaming Fist's orders at the burning inn. |
| Conquer of Conquerors | Defeat the Githyanki raiding squad. |
| Drowned in the Dark | Defeat the Duergar patrolling along the Ebonlake. |
| No One Left Behind | Ensure all of the Grove's defenders survive the first Goblin assault. |
| One for the Ages | Kill ten or more enemies in one fight without anyone in your party dying. |
| Pentacrush | Kill five Enemies in a single turn. |
| Strategist | Destroy a powerful foe in one strike. |
| To Arms! | Help the Tiefling Guex learn how to fight in Emerald Grove. |
| Warrior of the Hells | Kill the cultist leader chasing Karlach. |
Urchin
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Artful Dodger | Earn Mattis's respect by taking his ring. |
| Born Innocent | Save the Owlbear Cub from the Goblins. |
| Family Comes First | Encourage Meli to tell the truth about the Amulet. |
| Hunger Never Fades | Fill your plate at Raphael's House of Hope. |
| Idolatry | Help Mol steal the Idol of Silvanus. |
| Mercenary | Extort gold from Zhentarim survivors. |
| Not on My Watch | Save Arabella from Kagha and her serpent. |
| Protect Your Own | Protect the child who took the locket from Barth. |
| Pyramid Scheme | Convince the Ogres to fight for you without giving them gold. |
| Slaying the Piper | Rescue Mirkon from the Harpies. |
| The Allure of Coin | Steal from a child who was killed by Harpies. |
| What Price Dignity? | Steal the toe ring from Crusher in the Goblin Camp without getting caught. |
Choosing your character’s background is one of the more difficult decisions in the lore-heavy Baldur’s Gate 3. As with many other aspects of this highly customizable title, some trial and error may be needed to find the lore that best scratches your roleplaying itch.
