All Skills In The Sims 4 And How To Improve Them

One of the core pieces of gameplay in The Sims 4 is skills--you know, the stuff that your sims are good at. As it is in our world, there are tons of skills that every sim can hypothetically learn over the course of their lives, and every new expansion adds a small pile of new ones. It can be a lot to keep track of; even folks who've been playing The Sims 4 since launch have probably forgotten about some of these. There are more than four dozen skills that adult sims are able to learn at this point, and that's not even counting the many Sims 4 mods that add more.

Every skill in The Sims 4 has related activities that you can do to learn them, but there are also universal methods. There are several aspiration rewards you can take that will make your sim gain skills faster--Night Owl and Morning Sim will increase your skill gains at night and in the morning, respectively, and Savant will give you a 25% boost to all skill gains permanently.

Every skill also has corresponding skill books you can read to jumpstart your skill gains, though you won't be able to max out any skill just by reading about it--learning theory will only take you so far. Likewise, you can learn skills by taking college classes, or by using a research terminal at a library. But eventually you'll have to practice for real.

Gardening is one of the dozens of skills your sims can learn in The Sims 4.
And that's why we're making this list. Below you'll find every single skill in The Sims 4, from vanilla through the most recent expansion, Businesses & Hobbies, 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
• 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

Source