Outlander DnD 5e Guide: Background, Abilities, and Best Builds

The Outlander background in Dungeons & Dragons 5e is an excellent choice for players who want to portray a character deeply connected to nature, self-sufficient, and skilled in survival. Outlanders thrive in the wilderness, navigating treacherous landscapes and foraging for food while possessing a natural affinity for storytelling and music. This background suits a variety of classes, particularly Rangers, Druids, and Barbarians, making it a staple for wilderness adventurers.

If you’re looking to create a rugged and resourceful character with a compelling backstory and unique abilities, the Outlander background in DnD offers a wealth of possibilities. In this guide, we’ll explore the Outlander’s features, best class pairings, roleplaying opportunities, and optimal builds to enhance your gameplay experience.

Outlander Background Features and Benefits

The Outlander background provides unique advantages that set it apart from other backgrounds in DnD 5e. Below are the key features that define this wilderness wanderer:

Proficiencies and Equipment

Outlanders gain proficiency in Athletics and Survival, making them exceptional at navigating difficult terrain and enduring harsh conditions. These proficiencies are invaluable for characters frequently exploring untamed lands. Additionally, the Outlander background provides one musical instrument, a hunting trap, a staff, and traveler’s clothes—perfectly complementing a nomadic lifestyle.

Wanderer Feature

Perhaps the most defining trait of the Outlander background is the Wanderer feature. This grants an excellent sense of direction and the ability to find food and fresh water in the wild. Characters with this ability rarely struggle with survival, making Outlanders an essential part of any adventuring party that spends significant time outdoors. With this feature, Outlanders help keep their party well-fed and ensure they never lose their way.

Best Class Pairings for Outlanders

The Outlander background pairs exceptionally well with several classes, enhancing their natural strengths and roleplaying opportunities.

Ranger

The Ranger class is a perfect match for the Outlander. With their inherent tracking abilities and survival skills, Outlanders bolster a Ranger’s capability to traverse the wilderness effortlessly. The background’s Athletics proficiency also complements a Ranger’s physicality, making it an excellent choice for melee combatants.

Druid

Druids already possess a deep connection to nature, and the Outlander background amplifies this connection. The Survival proficiency is invaluable, and the ability to forage for food ensures a self-sufficient character. Additionally, the musical instrument provided by the background can enhance a Druid’s storytelling ability or roleplaying depth.

Barbarian

Barbarians benefit greatly from the Outlander’s strength-based proficiencies. Athletics is crucial for grappling and climbing, while Survival is ideal for tracking enemies. Barbarians with this background feel truly at home in the wilderness, relying on their raw physical prowess and instincts to thrive.

Roleplaying an Outlander: Personality and Backstory Ideas

The Outlander background offers countless roleplaying opportunities, allowing players to craft a unique and engaging character.

Unique Personality Traits

Outlanders often come from isolated regions, shaping their worldview differently from city-dwelling characters. Some common personality traits include:

• Deep respect for nature and the balance of life
• Minimalistic lifestyle with little attachment to material wealth
• Strong sense of independence and self-reliance
• Distrust of urban environments and complex social structures

Backstory Concepts

• The Exiled Warrior: Your character was banished from their tribe and forced to survive alone, honing their skills in the wild.
• The Secluded Mystic: Raised by druids or hermits, your Outlander has learned ancient secrets of the land.
• The Lost Noble: A former aristocrat who fled to the wilderness after a political betrayal, now living off the land.

Optimizing an Outlander Build: Skills, Feats, and Abilities

Building an effective Outlander character requires careful selection of skills, feats, and abilities.

Best Skills and Feats

• Observant: Boosts Perception and Intelligence, making Outlanders even more adept at tracking and noticing details.
• Tavern Brawler: If your character fights with improvised weapons, this feat enhances their melee capabilities.
• Mobile: Enhances movement speed, allowing Outlanders to traverse terrain with ease.

Ability Score Priorities

Depending on the class, the following ability scores are crucial:

• Strength (Barbarian, Ranger): Enhances melee combat and Athletics proficiency.
• Wisdom (Druid, Ranger): Boosts Survival, Perception, and spellcasting abilities.
• Dexterity (Ranger, Rogue): Improves stealth and ranged combat efficiency.

Outlander in Combat and Exploration

The Outlander’s strengths extend beyond survival skills and roleplaying—this background is incredibly useful in combat and exploration.

Exploration Strengths

The Wanderer feature ensures that Outlanders never get lost, making them essential for wilderness campaigns. They can navigate dense forests, treacherous mountains, and vast deserts without issue, keeping the party on course.

Combat Utility

While the Outlander background does not directly impact combat, its proficiencies in Athletics and Survival enhance movement and battlefield awareness. Outlanders can climb difficult terrain, track enemies, and create survival-based strategies in combat encounters.

Conclusion

The Outlander background in DnD 5e is a fantastic choice for players who want a rugged, survival-oriented character. Whether you’re leading your party through harsh landscapes, engaging in primal combat, or unraveling the mysteries of ancient nature magic, the Outlander provides an immersive and dynamic roleplaying experience. By pairing this background with the right class, skills, and feats, you can create an unforgettable character ready to conquer the wilderness.

FAQs About Outlander DnD

1. What is the Outlander background in DnD 5e? The Outlander background represents characters skilled in survival, navigation, and self-sufficiency, often coming from remote or untamed regions.
2. What proficiencies do Outlanders get? Outlanders gain proficiency in Athletics and Survival, plus one musical instrument.
3. Which classes work best with the Outlander background? Rangers, Druids, and Barbarians benefit the most from the Outlander’s features.
4. What is the Wanderer feature? Wanderer grants a reliable sense of direction and the ability to find food and water in the wild.
5. Can an Outlander be a spellcaster? Yes! Druids and Rangers are excellent spellcasting choices that align well with the Outlander theme.
6. Does the Outlander background affect combat? While it doesn’t directly impact combat, Athletics and Survival can provide tactical advantages.
7. Is the Outlander background good for roleplaying? Absolutely! It offers rich storytelling potential and character depth.
8. What races fit well with the Outlander background? Wood Elves, Firbolgs, and Half-Orcs make excellent Outlanders due to their natural traits.
9. Can Outlanders survive in urban settings? While they prefer the wild, Outlanders can adapt to cities but may struggle with social norms.

How does Outlander compare to other backgrounds? Unlike more social or scholarly backgrounds, Outlanders excel in nature-based exploration and survival.