Backgrounds

📜 Backgrounds

Every Background now grants an Origin Feat at character creation, making your backstory mechanically meaningful from Level 1. There are 37 Backgrounds total — 19 from the Player's Handbook and 18 from the Forgotten Realms supplement.

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📘 Player's Handbook (19)

BACKGROUND	ORIGIN FEAT
Acolyte	Magic Initiate (Cleric)
Charlatan	Skilled
Criminal	Alert
Entertainer	Musician
Farmer	Tough
Folk Hero	Savage Attacker
Guide	Magic Initiate (Druid)
Guild Artisan	Skilled
Haunted One	Magic Initiate (Wizard)
Hermit	Magic Initiate (Druid)
Merchant	Lucky
Noble	Skilled
Outlander	Tough
Sage	Magic Initiate (Wizard)
Sailor	Tavern Brawler
Scribe	Skilled
Soldier	Savage Attacker
Urchin	Lucky
Wayfarer	Lucky

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🏰 Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn (18)

Each Forgotten Realms Background grants a unique Origin Feat tied to a specific faction or region of Faerûn.

BACKGROUND	ORIGIN FEAT
Chondathan Freebooter	Skilled
Dead Magic Dweller	Magic Initiate (Wizard)
Dragon Cultist	Cult of the Dragon Initiate
Emerald Enclave Caretaker	Emerald Enclave Fledgling
Flaming Fist Mercenary	Savage Attacker
Genie Touched	Genie Magic
Harper	Harper Agent
Ice Fisher	Tough
Knight of the Gauntlet	Tyro of the Gauntlet
Lords' Alliance Vassal	Lords' Alliance Agent
Moonwell Pilgrim	Magic Initiate (Druid)
Mulhorandi Tomb Raider	Alert
Mythalkeeper	Mythal Touched
Purple Dragon Squire	Purple Dragon Rook
Rashemi Wanderer	Tough
Shadowmasters Exile	Alert
Spellfire Initiate	Spellfire Spark
Zhentarim Mercenary	Zhentarim Ruffian

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💡 How Origin Feats Work

• Origin Feats are granted automatically when you select a Background at character creation
• They are separate from the standard Feat progression — you don't lose a Feat slot to gain them
• Some Origin Feats are exclusive to their Background and cannot be obtained any other way
• Forgotten Realms Origin Feats are particularly unique, tied to the factions and lore of Faerûn

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For the full list of Origin Feats and General Feats, see Feats.

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