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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThere is no single best background in Avowed. Pick the origin story and dialogue flavor you want to play, then use the +2 attribute bonus that comes with it as a tiebreaker. Obsidian Entertainment’s Anniversary Update lists five backgrounds, each with one +2 bonus: Arcane Scholar (+2 Intellect), Court Augur (+2 Resolve), Noble Scion (+2 Perception), Vanguard Scout (+2 Dexterity), and War Hero (+2 Constitution).
Xbox Wire’s Avowed coverage says backgrounds mainly shape dialogue. Equipment and abilities stay open to every background, so the choice affects who your character is and how some conversations unfold, not which build you can run.
The five backgrounds at a glance
| Background | Attribute bonus (Anniversary Update) | Origin theme (secondary guide) | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane Scholar | +2 Intellect | Academic, magic-and-knowledge origin | You want a learned character whose strength is understanding the world. |
| Court Augur | +2 Resolve | Court mystic and augur role | You like a seer-style identity built around omens and courtly ritual. |
| Noble Scion | +2 Perception | Fallen aristocrat drawn into court politics | You enjoy scheming, status and the politics of old privilege. |
| Vanguard Scout | +2 Dexterity | Wilderness tracker | You want a frontier-minded character who reads terrain and movement. |
| War Hero | +2 Constitution | Veteran with battlefield experience | You want a hardened character with a military past. |
The attribute bonuses come from Obsidian’s Anniversary Update announcement. The origin themes are a summary from a secondary guide published in 2026, so treat them as flavor descriptions rather than official lore.
What a background changes in play
The attribute bonus
Each background adds +2 to one attribute. The bonus is the only mechanical difference the official update names between the five choices. If two backgrounds appeal to you equally, the attribute you lean on most is the sensible tiebreaker.
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#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Dialogue and personality
Dialogue is where the background shows. Xbox Wire’s preview says the five backgrounds primarily affect in-game dialogue choices, and its June 2024 coverage reports that some background- or attribute-linked options add personality and can change how conversations go. Official material does not publish a complete list of background-specific dialogue outcomes, so you will discover most of them only by playing through the conversations.
Equipment and abilities
According to Xbox’s official preview, all equipment and abilities are available regardless of background. A War Hero is not barred from light weapons, and a Vanguard Scout is not barred from heavy armor. The background therefore does not act as a class or a permanent weapon restriction.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- L'édition Premium SteelBook comprend: le jeu de base Avowed, jusqu'à 5 jours d'accès anticipé, le SteelBook Avowed, la carte des Terres Vivantes, deux packs de skins Premium et l'accès à l'Artbook numérique Avowed et à la bande-son originale
- Vous êtes l'envoyé d'Aedyr, une terre lointaine, missionné pour enquêter sur les rumeurs selon lesquelles une épidémie se propagerait dans les Terres Vivantes, une île pleine de mystères et de secrets, de dangers et d'aventures, de choix et de conséconsés. quences, et d'une nature sauvage
- Explorez une île qui abrite de nombreux environnements et paysages différents, chacun avec son propre écosystème unique
- Mélangez et associez des épées, des sorts, des armes et des boucliers pour vous frayer un chemin
- The compagnons d'un large éventail d'espèces se battront à vos côtés, avec leurs propres capacités uniques
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.
Rank #2
- 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.
What the sources do not establish
- No objective ranking. The official material explains the differences but does not rank the backgrounds. Any claim that one is best overall goes beyond the evidence.
- Changing the background later. The official sources available do not say whether a selected background can be changed after character creation. Assume your first pick is the one you will play with unless you confirm otherwise in the game.
- Complete dialogue coverage. The dialogue differences are described in general terms only. The full set of background-specific lines and outcomes is not documented in the sources reviewed.
How to choose
- Decide which character identity you would enjoy playing for a long stretch: scholar, seer, aristocrat, scout or veteran. Use the table above to narrow the list to one or two options.
- Check which attribute you would most like to boost. If the choice is between two backgrounds, the +2 bonus is the tiebreaker.
- Commit to the background that matches your choice in step 1. Do not select a background expecting it to unlock particular gear or abilities, because the official preview says all equipment and abilities are available to all backgrounds.
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