Backgrounds in Baldur's Gate 3 affect starting Proficiencies the player has. Each Background also grants two Background features. Backgrounds are not limited to Races or Classes. Backgrounds affect how NPCS perceive the player and may change how events unfold.

Background Quests

Backgrounds not only provide you with skill bonuses now, they also grant you Quests that you can complete throughout the game. These Quests gives you Inspiration Points as well as Experience Points, and adds context to your character's background in the world of Baldur's Gate 3.

Inspiration Points

When a character performs an action that's true to their Background, they will be Inspired. Inspiration may be spent to reroll an Ability Check. Note that you may hold four Inspiration points at once. Inspiration earned over the cap will become Experience Points.

Background Information

All Backgrounds
Backgounds Inspiration Goals

 

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  sacredworks will you you to Greatness

Insight  Proficiency
Religion Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Sleight of Hand Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Stealth Proficiency

 

Entertainer

You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike. 

Acrobatics Proficiency
Performance Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Survival Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Persuasion Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Persuasion Proficiency

 

Hermit

You were once sworn to seclusion and continue to prefer solitude over the chaos of society.

Medicine Proficiency
Religion Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Survival Proficiency

 

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.

Arcana Proficiency
History Proficiency

 

Sailor

You are familiar with the workings of ships and life at sea, having spent years weathering storms and battling creatures of the deep. 

Athletics Proficiency
Perception Proficiency

 

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 Proficiency
Intimidation Proficiency

 

 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 Proficiency
Stealth Proficiency

 

Background Inspiration Goals Comparison Table

When a character performs an action that's true to their Background, they will be Inspired. Earning +1 Inspiration Point and +25 Exp. Inspiration may be spent to reroll an Ability Check. Not only your character can become Inspired, but also your Companions.

You may hold up to 4 Inspiration points at once. Inspiration earned over the cap will become Experience Points.

 

You can search by Name, Background or Objective. Just type into the search box what you are looking for.

Quick Search of All Background Inspiration Goals 

Name

Background

Objective

Pentacrush

Soldier Kill 5 enemies in a single run

Stalwart Heart

Persuade Rolan to stay and protect the grove

Chain of Command

Follow Flaming Fist orders at tje burning inn

Conquer the Conquerors

Defeat the Githyanki raiding squad

Crow Crusher

Kill every leader in the goblin camp

Warrior of the Hells

Kill the cultist leader seeking Karlach

Start Them Young

Inspire the tiefling children to train harder.

Drowned in the Dark

Defeat the duergar patrolling on the Ebonlake.

No One Left Behind

Ensure all of the Grove's defenders survive the first goblin assault.

Strategist 

Destroy a powerful foe in one strike.

One For The Ages

Survive a fight in which you kill ten or more enemies.

The Price of Ink

Entertainer Free Oskar the painter from the Zhentarim.

The Art of Agony

Perform for Loviatar's pleasure in her ritual.

Life of the Party

Take part in the goblin camp's toast.

Made You Look

Earn Mattis' respect by taking his ring.

Celebrant

Enjoy a dance in camp with the tieflings.

Give Them A Show

Get the goblins on your side while duelling Crusher.

Chicken Chase Extraordinaire

Win a match of chicken chase.

A Bard's Muse

Inspire Alfira the bard.

Heart of the Creator

Perform in a play with Bernard the automaton.

Feel the Beat

Successfully perform on the goblin war drum.

A Story for the Ages

Turn someone to your side with a well-timed tale.

Nest Egg

Outlander Take an item from the Carrion Crawler nest.

Rock Steady

Survive the bandits' rolling boulder trap.

Mushroom Enthusiast

Destroy each kind of hazardous Underdark mushroom.

Clever Cuckoo

Steal from the giant bird's nest in the Underdark.

Abyss Jumper

Enter the Underdark through the bottomless well.

A Noble Endeavor

Effectively use a noblestalk mushroom.

Sticky Fingers

Secure the pouch from the spider crevice.

Cub Tamer

Successfully tame the owlbear cub.

Walking on Air

Successfully use a fairy ring

A Mother's Fury

Triumph over the mother Owlbear.

Cursebreaker

Discover the curse of Yeenoghu and destroy his hyenas.

Eyes of the Wild

See past the illusion covering the swamp.

Saving the Heretic

Acolyte Learn about Maglubiyet and safely free his priest.

Her Gift of Silver

Recover Selune's lost treasure through prayer.

Treefather's Sorrow

Unleash Silvanus' curse upon the grove.

A Kiss Without Mercy

Endure the ritual of Loviatar until Abdirak is pleased.

Silvanus' Solitude

Witness the ritual that seals off the grove from the world.

Last Rites of the Dark Dancer

Complete Eilistraee's ritual of sorrow and obtain her blessed blade.

A Unified Spirit

Pray with the Flaming Fists at Waukeen's Rest.

The Final Scribe's Boon

Discover Jergal's amulet in the chapel's hidden tomb.

Tipping the Scales

Earn the worship of the Kuo-Toa.

Fate Must Wait

Resurrect anyone in your party.

Justice Sees All

Discover why Anders betrayed Tyr.

Shatter the Moon

Destroy Selune's protection over the Underdark fort.

Divinity Undone

Unlock and read the Book of Dead Gods.

Very Important Parasite

Charlatan Deceive any of the guards in the goblin camp.

Cheese Your Way Through 

Talk your way past the bandits and enter the chapel.

Merciless 

Manipulate the Flind into eating itself.

Silver Blades, Silver Tongue

Convince Kith'rak Voss to leave without violence.

Spiked

Poison the beer in the goblin camp.

Mirror Master

Trick the magic mirror in the Thayan cellar.

Flexible Diplomacy

Betray the tieflings after convincing them to free Lae'zel.

Anything For A Profit

Steal the toe ring from Crusher without getting caught.

Devil's Advocate

Interrogate the dead mind flayer without drawing suspicion.

A Better Offer

Convince the pit spiders to attack the goblins.

The Importance of Networking

Talk your way into the Zhentarim hideout.

One of Us

Use the hag's mask to peacefully bypass her thralls.

Just Passing Through

Trick the goblins in Moonhaven.

Protector of the Duke

Noble Rescue Counsellor Florrick from the burning inn.

Lest Ye Be Judged

Learn Astarion's history as a magistrate.

Noblesse Oblige

Dismiss a companion for interrupting a conversation.

Soul For Sale

Acquire a Soul Coin for your personal collection.

Blueblood Solidarity

Learn Wyll's family history.

Bodyguards For Hire 

Recruit the ogres to protect you.

Eldritch Authority

Become a True Soul.

Fine By Me

Use your wealth to bribe a guard.

Dragon's Horde

Have at least 2000 gold among the party. 

A Man of Many Talents

Expand your retinue by bringing Volo to camp.

Penchant For Diplomacy

Reach a High level of approval with a companion. 

A Natural Alliance

Sage Recognise the druid and Harper armour.

The Phases Unfold

Solve the moon puzzle sealing the door to the Underdark.

Secrets of the Matron

Read the obscure text by a drow matron.

Reanimator

Correctly follow Gale's instructions to resurrect him.

The Forbidden Arcane

Read Omeluum's notes on illithid magic.

Secrets of the Sussur Tree

Read the Treatise on Anti-Magic.

Secrets of the High Chieftain

Read Volo's Guide to Goblins.

Roots of the Grove

Learn local history from the druidic frescos.

Secrets of the Necromancer

Discover the strange nature of the Thayan tome.

All Knowledge Is Worth Having

Finish reading the Thayan tome of necromancy.

Secrets of the Shadow Druids

Discover and read Faldorn's Canticle.

A Solitary Spider

Read the arachnomancer's journals at the bottom of the well.

Secrets of the Sundering

Unlock and read the Book of Dead Gods.

What Price Dignity?

Urchin Steal the toe ring from Crusher without getting caught.

Protect Your Own

Protect the child who took the locket from Barth.

Born Innocent

Save the owlbear cub from the goblins.

Mercenary

Get some coin out of the Zhentarim survivors.

The Allure of Coin

Steal from a child charmed by harpies.

Pyramid Scheme

Convince the ogres to work for you without giving them gold.

Artful Dodger

Earn Mattis' respect by taking his ring.

Family Comes First

Encourage Meli to tell the truth about the amulet.

Not On My Watch

Save Arabella from Kagha and her serpent.

Hunger Never Fades

Fill your plate at Raphael's House of Hope.

Slaying the Piper

Rescue Mirkon from the harpies. 

Idolatry

Help Mol steal the Idol of Silvanus.

A Fine Fortune

Criminal Steal an item worth at least 1000 gold.

Friend of the Family

Become an ally of the Zhentarim.

Escape Artist

Escape from jail after being arrested.

Slaughter's Prize

Ally with Minthara to loot and slaughter the grove.

Finders Keepers

Refuse to return Barth's locket.

Serpent's Bounty

Take Zevlor's payment for killing Kagha.

Blood Price

Murder an innocent civilian.

Heretic

Steal the Idol of Silvanus.

Open For A Surprise

Acquire the Iron Flask from the Zhentarim.

Swiftly Stolen

Steal the duergar boots from the gnome.

Jailbreaker

Smuggle Sazza out of the grove.

A Sound Investment

Give Mol money to found a guild in Baldur's Gate.

Culling the Crowd

Use poison to kill the drunk goblins in camp.

Lesser Evils

Rob the enthralled fishermen.

In Working Order

Guild Artisan Repair the elevator in the Zhentarim hideout.

The Spider's Gift

Identify the drow armour near Waukeen's Rest.

Treasure & Tramp

Observe the effects of the Chest of the Mundane.

An Acquired Taste

Drink one of Auntie Ethel's unique potions.

The Apprentice Turns Master

Craft Nettie's antidote in the cauldron.

Valued Customer

Trade with someone who has High approval of you.

A New Vision

Reforge the broken spear.

An Artist in Need

Rescue Oskar the painter from the Zhentarim.

Mind Over Mushrooms

Gather ingredients for Omeluum's potion.

A Golden Masterpiece

Sell an item worth at least 1000 gold.

The Finest Ingredients

Create a masterwork item from Sussur Bark.

Regeneration

Restore power to the elevator in the Arcane Tower.

Unmasking the Truth

Folk Hero Free one of the Hag's masked thralls.

A Timely Rescue

Save Findal from the goblins who kidnapped him.

The Most Unfortunate Gnome

Rescue the gnome from his fate at the windmill.

Rescued From the Flames

Save whoever you can from Waukeen's Rest.

Liberator

Liberate the enthralled fishermen from the mind flayer.

The Bard With Nine Lives

Rescue Volo from the goblin camp.

Saved By A Thread

Save Smythin from his lethal fall.

Fate Worse Than Death

Save Liam from his goblin torturers.

Guardian of the Forgotten

Save the tieflings from the goblin assault.

A Lethal Endeavor

Escort Baelen out of the field of bibberbangs.

Snake Whisperer

Protect Arabella from Kagha and her serpent.

Protector of the Small

Save Mirkon from the harpies.

Soul Warden

Save Nadira from the bugbear assassin.

 

 




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    • Anonymous

      Hermit and Sailor backgrounds was retired in patch 5. Understandable based on how BG3 gives thematic Inspirations based upon your actions (hermit and sailor does not fit the game), but losing access to Sailor's Athletics and Perception, two of the strongest skills in BG3, is quite the loss.

      • Anonymous

        i wish to have the hilarious background from Arcanum:
        You were institutionalized at a young age and believed to be mentally handicapped. After several years, the institute lost funding and you were turned out onto the street with nothing more than the clothes on your back. You are brilliant with a keen grasp of numbers and mathematics, but you are barely able to talk. You gain a significant bonus to Intelligence (+6) and an exceptional bonus to your Gambling skill. However, years of being locked away makes you suffer physically and emotionally. You talk as if you had a much lower Intelligence and you suffer penalties to Strength (-1), Constitution (-1), Dexterity (-2), and Willpower (-2).

        • Anonymous

          If you choose a class that already has a proficiency in a skill and you choose a background that also grants the same proficiency does the proficiency double or are you wasting potential?

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