There is no universally best background in Avowed, and choosing one does not lock you into a starting class. Each of the five backgrounds gives a different +2 attribute bonus and a role-play identity. Pick the attribute that suits the character you want to build; you can develop abilities across the game’s Fighter, Ranger, Wizard, and Godlike skill trees.
What each Avowed background gives you
Obsidian Entertainment’s 2026 anniversary update lists five backgrounds, each with a +2 bonus to a different attribute. The official list does not rank them or designate a best background for any particular class or skill tree.
| Background | Attribute bonus | Choose it if… |
|---|---|---|
| Arcane Scholar | +2 Intellect | You want to emphasize Intellect. Its character concept is a scholar who graduated with honors. |
| Court Augur | +2 Resolve | You want to emphasize Resolve. |
| Noble Scion | +2 Perception | You want to emphasize Perception. |
| Vanguard Scout | +2 Dexterity | You want to emphasize Dexterity. |
| War Hero | +2 Constitution | You want to emphasize Constitution. |
These are the bonuses published by Obsidian for the current game in 2026. The practical choice is the attribute you want to prioritize, balanced against the background’s role-play appeal—not a claim that one option is objectively stronger for everyone. Obsidian’s 2026 anniversary update also lists attribute bonuses for species, so your background is only one part of your starting profile.
Background is not the same as class
Avowed does not assign a permanent combat class based on your background. Its official launch announcement describes four skill trees—Fighter, Ranger, Wizard, and Godlike—and says players can mix and match abilities to create a playstyle. It gives examples such as stealthy ranged combat or combining melee with a grimoire. In other words, treat your background as an attribute and role-play choice, then develop abilities across the trees as you play. Xbox Wire’s launch announcement explains the flexible skill-tree approach.
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- Requires base game, Game Pass Ultimate, or PC Game Pass Membership (Sold Separately)
- Premium Upgrade includes: Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
Species also contribute to starting attributes. In Obsidian’s 2026 update, Humans receive +1 Might and +1 Resolve; Elves, +1 Dexterity and +1 Perception; Aumaua, +2 Might; Dwarves, +1 Might and +1 Constitution; and Orlans, +1 Perception and +1 Resolve. Consider those bonuses alongside the background when shaping your initial attribute profile.
How to choose the best background for your character
- Pick the attribute you want to emphasize. Use the table to match your preference to a background’s +2 bonus.
- Consider your broader starting profile. Factor in your species’ bonuses rather than judging the background in isolation.
- Choose the identity you want to role-play. Backgrounds connect the character to the setting as well as to an attribute bonus.
- Build your combat style through abilities. Develop across the skill trees instead of treating the background as a class assignment.
For example, if you want a character whose defining starting bonus is Dexterity, Vanguard Scout is the direct match. That choice does not, by itself, make you a Ranger or require you to specialize in ranged combat; your abilities shape that playstyle.
Rank #2
- Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
Why backgrounds fit Avowed’s story
The backgrounds are designed around the player character’s Aedyran court origin and role as an envoy to the Living Lands. In an official Xbox Wire interview, Avowed narrative designer Kate Dollarhyde explained that the backgrounds help make the character’s closeness to the emperor—and appointment as an envoy—feel appropriate to the setting. They also inform how non-player characters perceive the player. The Xbox Wire interview with Dollarhyde discusses that role-play purpose.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the background choice does not establish
The official material cited here gives attribute bonuses and role-play context, but does not provide a background-by-background starting weapon or equipment list. It also does not say that a background is mandatory for a particular skill tree. Choose based on the stated bonus and character concept rather than assuming a background grants a specific weapon or locks in a combat role.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Premium Edition includes: Avowed base game, Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for each of your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
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