diff --git a/proplot/axes.py b/proplot/axes.py
index 92fa22be9..df1532a66 100644
--- a/proplot/axes.py
+++ b/proplot/axes.py
@@ -2980,7 +2980,14 @@ def format(
         lonlines=None, lonlocator=None,
         latlines=None, latlocator=None, latmax=None,
         labels=None, latlabels=None, lonlabels=None,
-        patch_kw=None, **kwargs,
+        etopo=None, shadedrelief=None, bluemarble=None,
+        mapscale=None, mapscale_kw=None,
+        tissot=None, tissot_kw=None,
+        counties=None, counties_kw=None,
+        lsmask=None, lsmask_kw=None,
+        nightshade=None, nightshade_kw=None,
+        wmsimage=None, arcgisimage=None,
+        patch_kw=None, **kwargs
     ):
         """
         Modify the meridian and parallel labels, longitude and latitude map
@@ -3036,6 +3043,22 @@ def format(
             Keyword arguments used to update the background patch object. You
             can use this, for example, to set background hatching with
             ``patch_kw={'hatch':'xxx'}``.
+        counties, counties_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Draws county borders for United States.
+        lsmask, lsmask_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Draws land-sea mask.
+        nightshade, nightshade_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Shades parts of map on night side of Earth.
+        mapscale, mapscale_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Draws a map scale.
+        tissot, tissot_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Draws Tissot indicatrixes.
+        bluemarble, shadedrelief, etopo : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Draws the blue marble image or topography
+            data.
+        wmsimage, wmsimage_kw, arcgisimage, arcgisimage_kw : optional
+            For basemap axes only. Adds user input images to the background
+            of the map projection.
         rc_kw : dict, optional
             Dictionary containing `~proplot.rctools.rc` settings applied to
             this axes using `~proplot.rctools.rc_configurator.context`.