Solasta 2 Best Backgrounds Guide (Early Access)

Discover the best backgrounds to use in Solasta 2 Early Access as we share how they work, why they are important, and best selections based on every playstyle.

Solasta 2 is launching into it’s initial Early Access on March 12, 2026. With it, comes a brand new tactical RPG with many similarities and differences to classic DnD games like Baldur’s Gate 3. One such major change is backgrounds, and their overall impact on your character, build, and playstyle. The purpose of this guide is to give you an overview of backgrounds and specific selections that will make your campaign much easier.

How Backgrounds Work in Solasta 2

The major factor to understand about Solasta 2 is that it uses the 2024 DnD 5e ruleset. This means, backgrounds now determine your stat bonuses like +1 and +2 to ability scores. No longer does race determine this, but your background, which is a massive change. Moreover, every character gets a +2 and +1 bonus. However, your background only lets you increase three abilities at a time. Thus, it’s critical to pick a background that correlates to your two or three most important stats. Typically your primary (WIS, CHA, INT, etc.) and a secondary like Constitution.

Another massive change is your Origin Feats, which is a feat unlocked with each background. There are eight total origin feats, and each give you some type of bonus. For instance, the Skilled feat shown above is designed for the “party face” type of build which focuses on passing checks rather than combat performance. Meanwhile, Savage Attacker is designed for melee, Robust for tanks, and so on.

Yet another important part of backgrounds are personalities. Your first time playing this won’t make sense, but your party is made up of four characters, who all interact in dialogue together. You won’t have one specific main character, rather four, and each one can interject into conversations, based on their pre-selected personality. Your background choice lists a recommended personality, such as Ruler for the Lawkeeper. Like a pesky Paladin rule follower!

Lastly, consider the equipment that is given with your background choice. Acolyte, for instance, offers a potion, gold, a letter, and a Holy Symbol.

As you can see, there is a ton to consider when selecting the Background. We aren’t aware of any respecs in Solasta 2, or reroll like Withers in BG3. Meaning, backgrounds are the most important factor in making your build complement your playstyle in combat and while exploring. Next, let’s run through each background, then give you optimal selections based on our time in game.

Related Guides

• Solasta 2 Best Builds for Early Access
• Solasta 2 Subclass Tier List
• Solasta 2 Ruleset Explained
• Solasta 2 Faction Guide
• Solasta 2 World Map Explained
• Solasta 2 Wiki and Guides

Backgrounds List (Early Access)

The background list below is from Early Access. These are subject to change, and might not follow strict DnD naming conventions or bonuses. Solasta 2 has taken some liberties and deviated from strict backgrounds, so these might look unfamiliar to BG3 or DnD fans.

Best Backgrounds for Builds in Solasta 2

Below are the recommended best backgrounds for a variety of playstyles in Solasta 2. We go into more specific details on the “why” and how to use them in the following section.

Spy – Best for Rogues

• Description: You were once a hostage from a noble family in the Kingdom of Gallivan, and lived in a small castle as a groom, but one day your steward learned that your family had been wiped out by the Soraks, and you had no political value anymore.
• Improved Ability Score: DEX, INT, CHA (Choose one +2 and one +1, or three +1s).
• Recommended Personality: Outlaw
• Skills: Perception, Deception.
• Origin Feat: Vigilant – gain proficiency in Perception. Being surprised doesn’t impose disadvantaged on your initiative roll.
• Mastered Tool: Herbalism Kit
• Equipment: Letter from Your Spymaster

The Spy is the best choice for a Rogue type of character who’s primarily using shortbow or dual daggers in their build. While you have a few choices in backgrounds for Rogue type of character, the Spy gives you improved ability score in Dexterity, Intelligence, and Charisma. Dexterity is an obvious choice here, but Intelligence is helpful if you’re playing the Shadowcaster Rogue, which has access to the Wizards spellbook.

The Origin Feat Vigilant is a reworked version of Alert. You gain perception skill proficiency, which is huge when exploring and finding things of value. You can also increase Charisma ability score if you want a better “skill” based character, and the story elements fits with an outlaw or Nobleman that was thrown out once their family fell out of political power.

Keep in mind, the Rogue class will give you Mastered Tools Thieves Tools, so this won’t be lacking in your kit.

The alternative choice if you don’t intend to play the Shadowcaster is Lowlife. The strength of Lowlife is the Quick Origin Feat, which increases distance by 5 feet each turn and opportunity attacks have disadvantage against you. This is perfect for a melee Rogue like the Scavenger subclass.

The major downside of the Lowlife is the ability score improvements include strength. Since your weapons are likely (very likely) to scale in effectiveness with Dexterity, this is a waste. Thus, you have to spend at least one point on Charisma, and it can mess up some of your ability score loadout. However, if you don’t plan on spellcasting and want to play a melee dual wielding Rogue, Lowlife is your best background choice.

Acolyte – Best for Wizards

• Description: You were found as a baby in front of the Colwall orphanage.
• Improved Ability Score: CON, INT, WIS.
• Skills: Religion, Medicine
• Recommended Personality: Caregiver
• Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (Cleric) – Choose 2 Cantrips (Guidance recommended) and one 1st-level spell (Guiding Bolt).
• Mastered Tool: Herbalism Kit.
• Equipment: Holy Symbol, Vestments, Potion Making Starter Pack, 15 Gold Pieces.

The best background for the Wizard is the Acolyte because of its access to the Cleric’s spells and cantrips. While this might seem odd, Guiding Bolt is one of the best spells in Early Access, capable of one-shotting many enemies. Plus, access to Guidance or other Cleric overpowered Cantrips is super helpful. Using these spells will scale on whichever is higher: intelligence, charisma, or wisdom, so don’t worry if your wisdom is low.

Additionally, your ability score improvements are Intelligence and Constitution, which is great for any Wizard. The major downside with this selection is if you intend to reach 16 Dexterity in clothing with Mage Armor for 16 Armor Class (AC). That combo would require you to use a Background with both Intelligence and Dexterity like Academic. Academic gives you the Wizard Origin Feat, which is somewhat odd since you are Wizard and it’s a waste to get more Wizard spells.

Also, be aware of the personality type with this choice, as it’s recommended for a caregiver. Meaning, if you have a Cleric with the same or a similar background, we’d recommend a different choice.

The secondary choice for backgrounds on a Wizard is Sellsword because it gives the Ready for War feat. This feat gives you light armor, shields, and martial weapons. With this selection, your Wizard can play a more tank style with one hand and Shield. The School of Ruin glass cannon DPS playstyle’s would make great use of this selection because they lack shield proficiency while Court Mage has it in their subclass bonuses.

• Acolyte = optimal combat choice for early level damage with Guiding Bolt.
• Academic = standard Wizard choice that gives a ton of Wizard spells and cantrips at level 1.
• Sellsword = Battlemage to compliment School of Ruin’s lack of shield and armor

Occultist – Best for Sorcerers

• Description: During your time at the orphanage, you were always attracted to hidden and forbidden knowledge.
• Improved Ability Score: DEX, CON, CHA.
• Skills: Medicine, Deception
• Recommended Personality: Sage
• Origin Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard) – Grants 2 Cantrips and one 1st-level Wizard spell (Shield or Sleep recommended).
• Mastered Tool: Scroll Kit
• Equipment: Something You Scribbled in Your Notebook in Haste, Wand

The Sorcerer class wants to select the Occultist background because of it’s origin feat and ability score improvement. You can increase Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma, perfect if you intend to reach 16 AC with Mage Armor, clothing, and 16 Dexterity. However, you can go 14 Dexterity and increase Constitution higher if you want more HP while always having 16 or 17 Charisma depending on your feat choice at level 4.

An additional benefit of the Occultist is the Magic Initiative Wizard origin feat which grants one level 1 spell and two cantrips. These spells from the Wizard kit scale in effectiveness off your charisma too, so don’t worry about them being weak. The best spell for survival is Shield, which uses a reaction to grant 5 AC when you’re about to be hit by an enemy. With 16 AC, and Shield trigger, you’re nearly impossible to hit.

This combination is perfect for the Mana Painter Sorcerer. This build uses a bit more melee risk because of its subclass feature Mana Drain. One per long rest, you can attack in melee range to deal damage and regenerate a Sorcery point used for metamagic. Additionally, Solasta 2 has a powerful melee cantrip called True Strike. This uses your spellcasting modifier (meaning Charisma) to deal damage. Thus, giving the Sorcerer two ultra-powerful melee attacks, putting them in harms’ way more often.

An alternative choice to consider is the Aristocrat because of its Skilled Origin Feat. You gain proficiency in three skills or tools of your choice. This background is perfect for more story focused players who want high charisma and to pass skill checks. Plus, you gain Ruler as your recommended personality, and it fits a super charismatic leader of your party.

The downside however is weaker combat potential without additional spells, HP, or help in combat.

Ascetic – Best for Tank & Cleric

• Description: You eschew material concerns, devoting yourself to spiritual and intellectual perfection.
• Improved Ability Score: DEX, CON, WIS.
• Skills: Nature, Acrobatics
• Recommended Personality: Innocent
• Origin Feat: Robust (Tough) – Grants +1 Max HP for every level.
• Mastered Tool: Herbalism Kit.
• Equipment: Letter from Rickard

The best background for Tanks and Clerics is Ascetic because of the Robust Origin Feat. This feature gives you extra HP each level, plus natural healing, and hard to kill. The Healthy bonus gives you max HP equal to your character level when you gain the feat, and 1 HP each additional level. This is super helpful when playing a healer or melee build that’s bound to be attacked repeatedly.

The Natural Healing bonus is perfect for Clerics and Paladins who intend to heal. Whenever you use a hit die to regain HP, you roll twice and keep the highest result. With many ways to heal, this comes in handy especially when fighting on the front lines in combat. Plus, if you get downed, you stabilize with 1 HP instead of dying. This is similar to the Half-Orc bonus in BG3, and makes a huge difference in overall survivability.

The core ability score improvements are Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom. This can be the problem for the background depending on your class because it lacks Strength for Fighter melee builds. Moreover, having high DEX is only useful if you don’t plan on using heavy armor, which now requires 13 strength.

Another consideration is the story impact, as your personality is Innocent, and it might not fit with a meat head melee tank style and story.

The Lawkeeper is a good alternative for melee-minded tanks. You gain STR, CON, and WIS as your ability score improvement, so you can use it with any class. The Origin Feat Vigilant is not as good as Robust, but with the Human Ancestry, you can take two at character creation and counter this negative. Plus, your personality is Ruler, so it might be a better fit for a Paladin or Fighter who wants to be the alpha character in the group.

Wanderer – Best for Melee DPS

• Description: You were found by villagers and brought to the Colwall orphanage at a very young age.
• Improved Ability Score: STR, DEX, CON.
• Skills: Animal Handling, Survival.
• Origin Feat: Savage Attacker – Once per turn when you hit with a weapon, you can reroll the damage dice and use the higher total.
• Mastered Tool: Herbalism Kit.
• Equipment: A Letter from Rickard.

The Wanderer is by far the best background for a melee damage dealing build like a two-handed Greatsword Fighter or Paladin. Mainly because you gain Savage Attacker feat, one per turn rerolling your damage dice twice for the higher total. Plus, you gain STR and CON as ability score improvements, perfect for a melee damage dealer using weapons as their primary means for damage.

There isn’t much downside to selecting the Wanderer outside of the personality labeled as an Outlaw. This might class if you have a Spy Rogue in your group and you want some diversity in your characters personalities. Lawkeeper is a good alternative if you don’t mind missing out Savage Attacker and want Rule personality. Plus, you can still increase strength and constitution so it works great on a variety of classes.

The last option for a melee DPS is a hybrid spellcaster often referred to as battlemage. For this type of playstyle, pick Sellsword for it’s ready for war origin feat. Here you get shields, light armor, and marital weapons. It allows Sorcerer and Wizards more equipment options, helping with their survivability. Plus with various subclasses like Court Mage or Mana Painter, it might fit well with a hybrid spellcaster and melee DPS playstyle. Shield alone increases AC by +2, with Mage Armor, another +3, and 16 DEX in clothing, yet another +3. The result is 18 AC, higher than most heavy armor builds while retaining the ability to spellcast.

Philosopher – Best for Utility

• Description: You were brought to the orphanage by a retiring cleric.
• Improved Ability Score: INT, WIS, CHA.
• Skills: History, Persuasion
• Origin Feat: Skilled – Gain proficiency in any 3 additional skills of your choice.
• Mastered Tool: Herbalism Kit.
• Equipment: Letter from Gorm the Wise

If skills and diversity is what you value in character creation, Philosopher is your best background. You gain the skilled origin feat, granting three additional skill proficiencies. Plus, you gain History and Persuasion, two useful skills for exploring. Your ability score improvements are Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, allowing you to use this background on any build outside of Fighter.

Remember that in Solasta 2, everyone in the party rolls on skill checks even while talking. You won’t have a party face, but one person can jump in and or trigger a pass depending on their skills. Spreading out your ability score isn’t recommended for combat power, but for passing skill checks it works great. Having a Wizard with 14 Charisma, Intelligence, and Wisdom might not be wise for combat, it’s incredible for exploration and dialogue!

One combination you can use with a utility character is the Scavenger Rogue. This subclass unlocks at level 3 and grants 10% sell and buy bonuses at vendors. This is helpful small feature for players interested in getting the best gear in Solasta 2 Early Access.

More Powerful Solasta 2 Builds!

Check out our complete list of powerful Solasta 2 builds to start your next adventure!

• Best Solasta 2 Builds List
• Battle Domain Cleric Build
• Life Domain Cleric Build
• Oblivion Domain Cleric Build
• Aether Warden Fighter Build
• Commander Fighter Build
• Oath Of Judgement Paladin Build
• Oath Of Liberation Paladin Build
• Scavenger Rogue Build
• Shadowcaster Rogue Build
• Mana Painter Sorcerer Build
• Star Child Sorcerer Build
• Court Mage Wizard Build
• School Of Ruin Wizard Build