In The Sims 4, your Sims can develop a vast array of abilities, much like real people. Over its ten-year lifespan, the game has accumulated over fifty unique skills through various expansions and game packs. The sheer number of skills available is impressive, with recent additions like the fairy-themed “Enchanted by Nature” expansion introducing innovative new proficiencies. Players can find themselves with an overwhelming selection of skills to master, even without community-made mods.
While each skill has specific activities for improvement, several methods can accelerate any Sim`s learning process. Certain aspiration rewards are highly beneficial: `Night Owl` and `Morning Sim` boost skill acquisition during their respective times of day, while `Savant` provides a permanent 25% increase to all skill gains. These perks are highly advisable. Skill books offer a foundational understanding, allowing Sims to learn through reading. However, theoretical knowledge alone won`t lead to mastery; true proficiency comes from hands-on practice.
Below you`ll find every single skill in The Sims 4, from the base game through the most recent expansion, Enchanted by Nature, along with the unique activities you can do to improve them and the emotional state that`s best for each.
Skills
Cooking
- Base game
- Activities: Prepare basic food recipes using a refrigerator, oven, or grill
- Ideal emotion: focused
Gourmet Cooking
- Base game
- Activities: Prepare gourmet food recipes using a refrigerator, oven, or grill
- Ideal emotion: focused
Baking
- Get to Work
- Activities: Bake something tasty using an oven or cupcake factory
- Ideal emotion: focused
Charisma
- Base game
- Activities: Use charisma speech options, practice speech with a mirror
- Ideal emotion: happy
Fitness
- Base game
- Activities: Go jogging, do push-ups and other exercises, or use workout equipment at home or the gym
- Ideal emotion: energized
Programming
- Base game
- Activities: Practice programming on a computer, or do any other action in the programming sub-menu
- Ideal emotion: focused
Rocket Science
- Base game
- Activities: Build or upgrade a rocket, or explore space in one
- Ideal emotion: focused
DJ Mixing
- Get Together
- Activities: Use a DJ booth
- Ideal emotion: focused
Video Gaming
- Base game
- Activities: Use a game console, or play a game on a computer
- Ideal emotion: focused
Handiness
- Base game
- Activities: Repair or upgrade household appliances
- Ideal emotion: focused
Logic
- Base game
- Activities: Play chess, use a telescope or observatory, use a microscope.
- Ideal emotion: focused
Archaeology
- Jungle Adventure
- Activities: Excavate artifacts, then study and authenticate them
- Ideal emotion: focused
Selvadoradian Culture
- Jungle Adventure
- Activities: Go to Selvadorada and talk to people and eat food
- Ideal emotion: none
Flower Arranging
- Seasons
- Activities: Use a flower arranging table
- Ideal emotion: focused
Painting
- Base game
- Activities: Paint a picture using an easel
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Guitar
- Base game
- Activities: Play a guitar
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Piano
- Base game
- Activities: Play a piano or keyboard
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Singing
- City Living
- Activities: Sing using a microphone or a guitar
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Pipe Organ
- Vampires
- Activities: Play a pipe organ
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Violin
- Base game
- Activities: Play a violin
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Skiing
- Snowy Escape
- Activities: Use the ski slopes in Mt. Komorebi
- Ideal emotion: focused
Snowboarding
- Snowy Escape
- Activities: Use the ski slopes in Mt. Komorebi
- Ideal emotion: focused
Vampire Lore
- Vampires
- Activities: Search for vampire secrets on a computer, ask other sims about vampires, read vampire tomes
- Ideal emotion: focused
Herbalism
- Outdoor Retreat
- Activities: Practice identifying plants in Granite Falls, and brew herbal teas with them
- Ideal emotion: focused
Writing
- Base game
- Activities: Practice writing, write books, or do assignments in the writer career
- Ideal emotion: inspired or focused
Mischief
- Base game
- Activities: Do any Mischief interactions with other sims or on the computer, sabotage household items like toilets
- Ideal emotion: angry, happy, or confident
Pottery
- Businesses & Hobbies
- Activities: Use the pottery wheel
- Ideal emotion: inspired or focused
Fishing
- Base game
- Activities: Use fishing spots in lakes, rivers and oceans
- Ideal emotion: focused
Gardening
- Base game
- Activities: Do any interactions with plants
- Ideal emotion: focused
Acting
- Get Famous
- Activities: Practice acting in front of a mirror or microphone, perform in acting gigs
- Ideal emotion: confident
Media Production
- Get Famous
- Activities: Use the More Views Video Station or Mix Master Music Station
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Medium
- Paranormal Stuff Pack
- Activities: Use the seance table
- Ideal emotion: focused
Cross-Stitch
- Cottage Living
- Activities: Do cross-stitching (no equipment is required)
- Ideal emotion: focused or inspired
Entrepreneur
- High School Years
- Activities: Sell things you made, like paintings and books, or by doing Simfluencer activities
- Ideal emotion: none
Gemology
- Crystal Creations Stuff Pack
- Activities: Use the gemology table
- Ideal emotion: focused
Rock Climbing
- Snowy Retreat
- Activities: Climb mountains in Mt. Komorebi or rock walls at a gym, research handhold techniques on the computer
- Ideal emotion: focused
Robotics
- Discover University
- Activities: Use a robotics workstation or modify a servo
- Ideal emotion: focused
Research and Debate
- Discover University
- Activities: Use a podium or mirror to practice debate, or use a research station at a library
- Ideal emotion: focused
Bowling
- Bowling Night Stuff Pack
- Activities: Play bowling
- Ideal emotion: focused
Parenting
- Parenthood Game Pack
- Activities: Interact with your kids, read parenting forums on a computer
- Ideal emotion: happy
Veterinarian
- Cats & Dogs
- Activities: Work at a veterinary clinic
- Ideal emotion: focused
Pet Training
- Cats & Dogs
- Activities: Give your dog orders
- Ideal emotion: focused
Nectar Making
- Horse Ranch
- Activities: Use a nectar maker
- Ideal emotion: focused
Photography
- Base game
- Activities: Use a camera
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Fabrication
- Eco Lifestyle
- Activities: Use a fabricator
- Ideal emotion: focused
Juice Fizzing
- Eco Lifestyle
- Activities: Use a fizzing station
- Ideal emotion: focused
Knitting
- Nifty Knitting Stuff Pack
- Activities: Have a yarn basket in your inventory and use it
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Wellness
- Spa Day
- Activities: Meditate, do yoga, get a massage
- Ideal emotion: focused
Riding
- Horse Ranch
- Activities: Ride a horse
- Ideal emotion: focused
Tattooing
- Businesses & Hobbies
- Activities: Practice on sketchpad, or use a tattooing table
- Ideal emotion: focused
Mixology
- Base game
- Activities: Make drinks at a bar
- Ideal emotion: inspired
Comedy
- Base game
- Activities: Do comedy interactions, write jokes on a computer, practice jokes at a microphone
- Ideal emotion: playful
Spellcasting
- Realm of Magic
- Activities: Do magic, use a cauldron
- Ideal emotion: focused
Apothecary
- Enchanted by Nature
- Activities: Use an apothecary table to study cures, and craft various elixirs like cures or other, less wholesome things.
- Ideal emotion: focused
Natural Living
- Enchanted by Nature
- Activities: Forage for anything by clicking the ground, bathe in a natural body of water, sleep outside on the ground, use a Privy Bush instead of a toilet.
- Ideal emotion: none