In the 2024 rules, your background shapes both your character’s history and their starting mechanics: it sets three ability scores you can increase, grants a specific Origin feat, two skill proficiencies and one tool proficiency, and gives you a choice of an equipment package or 50 GP. You can use an older background, too, with the 2024 ability-score rules and a free choice of Origin feat if that background has none.
What a 2024 background gives your character
Each background lists three ability scores and provides four other parts of your starting character: an Origin feat, two skill proficiencies, one tool proficiency, and starting equipment. The official 2024 Basic Rules explain backgrounds as the formative experiences, place, and work that shaped a character before adventuring. Treat that description as a story prompt; you can alter the narrative details to fit your character and campaign.
- Ability-score increases: Choose either +2 to one of the background’s listed abilities and +1 to a different listed ability, or +1 to all three. No increase can raise an ability score above 20.
- Origin feat: The background names the feat your character receives. Feats have distinct rules, so check the feat’s full text rather than relying on its name or a one-word summary.
- Skills: Gain proficiency in the two skills listed by the background.
- Tool: Gain proficiency with the listed tool.
- Starting equipment: Choose the background’s equipment package or 50 GP.
These are separate parts of the choice: for instance, the ability scores you increase do not have to match the skills or tool that suit your character concept.
How Origin feats work
An Origin feat is a specific feat granted by your background. Origin feats do not all provide the same kind of benefit. The 2024 Basic Rules feat descriptions illustrate how their mechanics differ:
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- Alert adds your proficiency bonus to Initiative and, under the feat’s stated conditions, lets you swap Initiative with a willing ally.
- Magic Initiate grants two cantrips and a level 1 spell from a selected spell list, plus a free casting of that spell once per long rest.
- Skilled grants proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools. You can take the feat more than once.
Those examples are not interchangeable bonuses. Read the exact feat text for its choices, limits, and use conditions.
Can you use an older 5e background?
Yes. If you choose a background from an older book, use the 2024 procedure for assigning ability-score increases: choose from the abilities listed by that background. If the older species you use also lists ability-score increases, ignore those older species increases rather than applying both sets.
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If the older background does not include a feat, choose an Origin feat for your character. The 2024 Basic Rules’ compatibility guidance covers these adjustments. Apply them before comparing the background’s mechanical benefits with other options.
Can you make a custom background?
Yes. The official Dungeon Master guidance allows a unique or customized background to suit a campaign theme or character concept. The DM-facing procedure is to assemble these elements:
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- Choose three suitable ability scores.
- Choose one Origin feat.
- Choose two suitable skill proficiencies.
- Choose one associated tool proficiency.
- Assemble an equipment package worth 50 GP, including any unspent gold.
The skills do not have to correspond to the three ability scores. Because this is DM guidance, work with the DM to settle a custom background for the campaign. The steps appear in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide campaign-creation guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose a background
Start with the character you want to build, then compare each background’s mechanical parts. The background’s story is adaptable; the listed choices determine what it provides at character creation.
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- Check the three listed abilities. Make sure they include the abilities you want to increase. Plan the +2/+1 split or the three +1 increases without exceeding 20.
- Compare the Origin feat. Look at what it actually lets the character do and whether those rules support your intended play style.
- Check the proficiencies. Consider whether the two skills and tool proficiency are useful for the character and likely campaign activities.
- Compare the equipment choice. Decide whether the listed package or 50 GP better suits your starting needs.
- Apply older-background rules if needed. Use the 2024 ability procedure, disregard older species ability increases, and choose an Origin feat if the background has none.
The free D&D Beyond Basic Rules and the System Reference Document 5.2 provide free references for the core mechanics described here. The 2024 Player’s Handbook overview describes the full handbook; buying it is not necessary to use the free rules for these mechanics.
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