Guild Artisan has a few extra little issues, but still can be a fine choice if your table isn’t that invested in getting the most juice out of every inch of their character sheet.

The Player’s Handbook backgrounds all share some problems, namely that they don’t stack up well against other backgrounds printed more recently that come with feats. Folk Hero highlights this problem; their features offer you entirely flavorful ribbons that won’t matter at the vast majority of tables.

Entertainer is a middle-of-the-road background when compared to other options alongside it in the PHB; you get alright skills and a decent set of tools, but ultimately get close to nothing else beyond flavor.

Criminal does rise above many of its competitors, though; its feature isn’t superb, but it does come with excellent proficiencies that make it a consideration for rakish scoundrels, specifically those who aren’t already rogues.

Charlatan may be the closest to worth taking even when stacked against them, as it has some robust and expansive options that empower characters beyond just giving them a bit of backstory.

The Player’s Handbook backgrounds all share some problems, namely that they don’t stack up well against other backgrounds printed more recently that come with feats. Acolyte is no exception, but has even larger problems beyond a suspect feature in Shelter the Faithful

If Soldier doesn’t do enough for you, you could consider this side-grade option limited to the realm of the Sword Coast! It’s the Solider background with a faction stapled to it, no land vehicle proficiency, and a different set of skills that I rate worse on a character whose supposed to be physically imposing.

Inheritors are painted as a figure of destiny- somebody that’s bound to an object of significance. Whether they’re intended to protect it, wield it against evil, or destroy, an Inheritor usually has some direct ties into the plot. The option presented in the Sword Coast Advneture’s Guise introduces the premise, then reduces it to its most mundane.

This to me should be a whole system, not a background on its own. The Sword Coast’s factions play a major role in the world; people within those factions serve many roles from criminal to soldier to noble. This instead marries the Acolyte background to the lore around each faction and Insight and an Int, Wis, or Charisma skill.

This is an odd duck of a Background- it uses the stencil provided in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide of copying the traits of a Player’s Handbook background, but is an actual unique identity that is now lacking corresponding tables. It reads close to Noble, and definitely is lacking in substance.

Like most of the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide backgrounds, Cloistered Scholar steals its entire structure from a Player’s Handbook background. This time, it's Sage, and offers nearly nothing to distinguish the two apart.

Clan Crafter is one of many added backgrounds that don’t deserve to exist; it takes the Guild Artisan background presented in the Player’s Handbook, makes it marginally worse, and repackages it in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide.

The City Watch background, added in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, adds close to nothing worth talking about to the game. It steals the tables from the Soldier background, which implies that you probably should just, you know, use the soldier background.

This has to earn the title of the edgiest background out there. You’re a person defined by a Harrowing Event, somebody struck by ill fate or an overwhelming sense of dread that completely took control of your life.

In the Player’s Handbook, the Criminal background has a “Criminal Specialty” option, and included on that list is Smuggler. This background trades Stealth for Athletics and thieves’ tools for water vehicles while bringing practically nothing else to the table outside of a fun “Claim to Fame” table. I can’t figure out why this was printed.

Shipwright hits a sweet spot for me as a niche option some tables will have a blast with while others will find it close to useless. It's a background aimed at a specific setting and meaningfully contributes towards adventuring in that setting.

The Marine background definitely doesn’t need to exist. It’s a hybrid of soldier, sailor, and pirate that brings with it all the expected skills and tools you’d expect alongside a mediocre ability that won’t matter to the majority of tables.

I went into this not positive this background needed to exist; after all, Sailor is in the Player’s Handbook and could cover 90% of what this does. Having read through it now, I’m glad they printed this, even if we’re left with a flavor-rich option that fails to offer enough mechanical empowerment to justify taking it.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight's backgrounds tie players directly to a whimsical trek from wild circus to hag hunting romp across the Feywild. The Witchlight Hand does so about as directly as it can; you’re an employee of the Witchlight Carnival. If you aren’t playing this adventure, this option probably isn’t the best fit for your table.

Feylost ties your character to the realm of fairies with ample signs of your ancestry showing on your person. If you want a character of any feature that looks more fey, this is the option for you.