Every Avowed Background and What They Do

Author : Jacob Mar 16,2025

Avowed boasts a deep character creator, letting you craft your hero's look and choose a Background that shapes their backstory and narrative before the adventure begins. Here's a breakdown of each Avowed Background and its impact on your journey.

Every Background in Avowed Listed

Avowed offers five distinct Backgrounds, each influencing dialogue options and providing a unique starting weapon. However, all equipment and abilities remain accessible regardless of your chosen Background.

Avowed Backgrounds:

Arcane Scholar: This scholarly Background grants access to unique dialogue options rooted in your character's academic past. As a graduate of Bragganhyl Academy, your published treatise on soul lineages threatened a local lord, leading to your arrest but ultimately your recruitment by the emperor to the imperial court archives. Expect dialogue reflecting expertise in the occult, legal precedent, history, and poetry.

Court Augur: A tragic past colors this Background, with visions that branded you as a witch. After a village crop failure and suspicion surrounding your insights, you fled to Highcrown, where the emperor recognized your mystical abilities. This Background offers dialogue options reflecting spiritual insight and interactions with magic and the Gods. Ideal for players envisioning a wizard-like character, and particularly resonates with the companion Giatta.

Noble Scion: The Living Lands equivalent of a fallen noble, you were born into wealth and influence but your family's downfall due to scandal led you to seek the emperor's mercy. As a valuable ally to the emperor, this Background suits players who want to remain loyal to the empire and serve its interests.

Vanguard Scout: Spared from execution, this Background depicts a humble past before your service to the emperor. Preferring wilderness to cities and politics, your tracking and spying skills make you a valuable asset. This Background lends itself to a hunter-style play and connects strongly with the companion Marius.

War Hero: Your role in quelling a violent Skaenite uprising earned you a place among elite warriors in the emperor's service. Loyalty and grit define this Background, making it perfect for players who want to embody a warrior archetype and potentially find kinship with the companion Kai.

Starting Weapons in Avowed:

An Avowed Starting Weapon, a Common Sword, resting against crates at the beginning of the game

Each Background provides a Common-quality, one-handed melee weapon: a Dagger (Arcane Scholar), Mace (Court Augur), Sword (Noble Scion), Axe (Vanguard Scout), or Spear (War Hero). These are intended as temporary starting equipment and are easily replaceable as you progress through the game. Prioritize choosing the Background that best suits your roleplaying preferences, as these starting weapons are readily found within the Living Lands shortly after the tutorial.

Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.