Wyldheart backgrounds are the 19 roleplaying origins available during character creation in Wayfinder Studios' co-op action RPG. Instead of assigning a rigid combat class, your chosen background establishes who your character was before being captured by the House of Black, directly determining your starting gear, initial equipment proficiencies, and baseline stat distribution.
Because Wyldheart operates on a "You Are Not the Chosen One" design philosophy, every background represents a humble vocation or disgraced lifestyle rather than a mythic hero archetype.
Complete List of All 19 Wyldheart Backgrounds
During the closed beta and alpha previews, character creation menus revealed all 19 backgrounds planned for the game's Early Access launch. While developer Wayfinder Studios has confirmed that each role grants tailored starting gear and attributes, specific numerical stats for several roles remain unfinalized in early testing builds.
| Background | Narrative Role & In-Game Description | Confirmed Starting Details & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | A town baker accustomed to hearths and ovens. | Begins with a rolling pin as an improvised bludgeoning weapon, as noted in hands-on preview sessions. |
| Butcher | A meat processor trained in slicing tools and heavy cleavers. | Geared toward heavy blades and physical prep. |
| Candlestick Maker | A craftsman working with wax and fire supplies. | Confirmed in the closed beta character creation list. |
| Drover | A laborer who drives herds and cattle across roads. | Confirmed in the closed beta character creation list. |
| Drunk | A disgraced local drowning their sorrows in taverns. | Starts the game armed with a broken bottle. |
| Exiled Noble | A fallen aristocrat who used to be someone of great worth before losing status. | Possesses higher social pedigree despite being cast down with peasants. |
| Field Hand | A rural farm laborer accustomed to hard outdoor work. | Physical stamina and agrarian labor background. |
| Gong Farmer | A peasant tasked with clearing out and hauling night soil from latrines. | A deliberate low-status survivalist background confirmed by developers at PAX East. |
| Grave Robber | A desperate looter of crypts, graves, and barrows. | Suited for scavenging, stealth, and tomb delving. |
| Gardener | A tender of plants, soils, and town greenery. | Familiar with foraging and plant life. |
| Lapist Friar | A religious acolyte trusted with sacred words, rites, and stones. | Tied to faith, scripture, and early magical or ritual items. |
| Mercenary | A hired soldier of fortune who fought for coin. | Offers standard martial equipment from previous paid combat. |
| Miner | A subterranean laborer skilled with pickaxes and rocks. | Suited to underground environments and crushing gear. |
| Outlaw | A criminal cast out by their people for offenses real or alleged. | Equipped for rugged survival away from legal protections. |
| Rat Catcher | An urban pest exterminator operating in sewers and alleys. | Practical scavenging and vermin management skills. |
| Scullion | A lowly kitchen servant who washed pots while others feasted. | Domestic servant background with improvised kitchen utensils. |
| Squire | A knight's attendant trained in armoring and martial basics. | Possesses rudimentary martial and shielding knowledge. |
| Tinkerer | A handyman skilled in mechanics, contraptions, and repairs. | Synergizes with dungeoneering, trap interaction, and crafting trees. |
| Trapper | A wilderness hunter experienced in stalking wild prey. | Starts with a bow, arrows, and outdoor survival equipment. |
How Backgrounds Work in Wyldheart
Wyldheart rejects traditional RPG classes. When you enter a campaign, you do not select a "Warrior," "Mage," or "Rogue." Instead, you customize your ancestry, cosmetic appearance, and background.
Official Steam data and developer interviews confirm three main functions tied to your background:
- Starting Equipment: Every player is cast into the introductory dungeon (the Trial of the Slime Lord) stripped of luxury. Your background dictates what rudimentary tools you have in your pack. Trappers start with basic bows and arrows, Drunks hold broken bottles, Bakers carry rolling pins, and Squires carry martial-leaning pieces.
- Initial Stat Modifiers: Developer gameplay overviews confirm that backgrounds provide distinct starting stat advantages. For instance, backgrounds with martial backgrounds start with physical or weapon adjustments, while craft-oriented backgrounds lean toward secondary utility.
- Roleplay and Narrative Context: Town NPCs in settlements like Elderlight interact with you through a rumor-driven dialogue system. Starting as an Exiled Noble or a Gong Farmer provides unique context for how your peasant fits into the fallen kingdom of Caerwyn.
Interaction with Ancestries and Classless Skill Trees
Your background is the foundation of your build, but it does not limit your future progression. Wyldheart features a fully flexible, classless progression system across 11 or more distinct skill trees.
After completing objectives and gaining party-shared experience, players earn skill points that can be spent freely in:
- Attributes & Adventuring: Health, spirit, and stamina pools.
- Survival: Cooking, herbalism, harvesting, and brewing concoctions.
- Dungeoneering: Lockpicking, sneaking, and trap detection.
- Weaponry: Swords, axes, maces, bows, and spears.
- The Oldways of Magic: Magic branches including Blight, Pyre, Rime, Storm, Veil, and Binding.
A player who starts with the Tinkerer background can choose to specialize entirely in Pyre magic, while a Baker can invest their skill points into heavy maces and dungeoneering.
Backgrounds also pair alongside playable ancestries:
- Freefolk: Adaptable, standard human lineage.
- Mosslings: Small, forest-dwelling kin with nimble frames.
- Grimhorns: Tall, horned beings built for endurance and power.
- Stonefolk: Sturdy, dwarf-like folk added to the roster during development.
- Veilborn: An ancestry unlocked via community crowdfunding stretch goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your background lock you into specific weapons or skills?
No. Official developer streams confirm that Wyldheart uses a completely classless system. Your background only determines your starting gear, initial baseline attributes, and thematic origin. You can unlock and equip any weapon, armor piece, or magic spell from the skill trees as you level up.
How many backgrounds are in Wyldheart?
There are 19 backgrounds available in the early access launch build of Wyldheart, ranging from practical trades like the Miner and Tinkerer to desperate roles like the Drunk and Gong Farmer.
Can you change your background mid-campaign?
No. Your background is chosen during initial character creation in Session Zero and remains permanent for that character. However, because Wyldheart campaigns support multiple character slots and party-shared experience levels, you can roll a new character with a different background at the same level as your party if you want to try a different starting configuration.
