A character’s background has a lot of depth behind it, even if some players don’t regard it as too important.
Backgrounds usually contain two essential aspects that a character needs to consider: whether the stats are beneficial and what the background says about the character before becoming an adventurer.
For a full roleplaying Cleric, you might look for backgrounds focusing on morality, piousness, and divine selection.
Best Cleric Backgrounds
5. City Watch
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Athletics, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Uniform in the style of your unit and indicative of your rank
- Horn (Value: 3 GP Weight: 2 lbs) with which to summon help
- Set of manacles (Value: 2 GP Weight: 6 lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 10 GP
Explanation
City Watch gives access to one Cleric skill, but unfortunately, Athletics won’t help you much.
The two languages are quite useful, as your Charisma will be relatively high.
4. Courtier
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Set of fine clothes (Value: 15 GP Weight: 6 lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 5 GP
Explanation
Courtier gives you two good Cleric skills that let you play a more Rogueish character if you need to.
The two languages are quite useful, as your Charisma will be relatively high.
3. Hermit
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Medicine, Religion
Tool Proficiencies – Herbalism kit
Languages – One of your choice
Equipment
- Scroll case (Value: 1 GP Weight: 1 lb) stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers
- Winter blanket (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3 lbs)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Herbalism kit (Value: 5 GP Weight: 3 lbs)
- 5 GP
Explanation
Hermit gives you a knowledge skill, and Medicine, which isn’t that good, but it does use your Wisdom.
Proficiency with the Herbalism kit lets you easily craft healing potions for your party to save your spell slots.
2. Faction Agent
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight and one Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom skill you choose, as appropriate to your faction
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Badge or emblem (Value: 5 GP Weight: 0) of your faction
- Copy of a seminal faction text (or a code book for a covert faction)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
Faction Agent gives you access to one Cleric skill as well as having access to other mental, Face, and knowledge skills.
The two languages are quite useful, as your Charisma will be relatively high.
Faction Agent can fit quite well with a Cleric’s background, as they usually belong to divine factions around the world.
1. Acolyte
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight, Religion
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Holy symbol (a gift to you when you entered priesthood)
- Prayer book or prayer wheel
- 5 Sticks of incense
- Vestments (Value: 0 Weight: 0)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
Acolyate is seen by many players as the default Cleric background.
It has two Cleric skills that are both roleplay-friendly and good skills for the Cleric in general.
The two languages are quite useful, as your Charisma will be relatively high.
The equipment you get is also good, and the Shelter of the Faithful feature will come in handy when traveling around the world.
Final Thoughts
Clerics are considered the divine spellcasters of D&D and can be played as such or changed by using an appropriate background.
The backgrounds above will give you the best bang for your buck when talking about player benefits, even if they’re only slight.
However, the stories of these backgrounds aren’t set in stone and can always be changed to fit how you want your Cleric to be!