Skills

Nineteen skills can be developed by Sims who are teens and older. In addition, four special skills can be learned and developed only by child Sims. Each skill begins at level 1 as soon as a Sim learns the skill. Skills can be developed all the way to level 10 where they max out. As Sims develop skills, they gain new abilities, actions, and socials that they can use.

Learning Skills

Gaining a skill to begin with is a bit different in The Sims 4 than in previous The Sims games. Child Sims begin with all four child skills at level 1. However, teen and older Sims begin with no skills whatsoever. They can quickly gain skills right at the start. When a Sim begins doing an action or activity related to a skill, they gain that skill. For example, if a Sim gets out a cell phone and starts playing a video game, they gain the Video Gaming skill. Want to learn the Fishing skill? Go to a fishing spot and start angling. See a piano at a nightclub? Sit down and practice playing and you become level 1 in the Piano skill. In addition to just trying out skills, Sims can learn skills by reading books about them. The library contains books on all of the 19 non-child skills, or you can purchase these books; use a bookcase in your home and the books will be delivered to your inventory.

Your Sims can learn and develop lots of skills. Always try to be working on one skill, or even two if possible. Many skills can help meet some of your Sims’ needs.

Developing Skills

Once you learn a skill, you can develop that skill to increase your skill level. While you don’t necessarily need to max out every single skill to level 10, it is a good idea to level up most of the skills you learn so you can do more and different things related to those skills. The first way to develop skills is to read books. Each skill is covered in three different volumes. Volume 1 of each skill book will help your Sims get to level 3. Volume 2 of each skill book is for Sims wanting to advance to levels 4 through 6, and volume 3 can help Sims get all the way to level 10. However, your Sims won’t want to just read about skills. They also need to be practicing and using their skills. In fact, Sims can max out their skills to level 10 and never even pick up a book.

Let’s take a look at all 23 skills that are available in The Sims 4 as well as how to develop them and why your Sims need them. The adult skills are covered first, followed by the child skills.

Charisma

Charisma affects how well you interact with other Sims. You can start working on Charisma either by reading volume 1 of the charisma series of books or by having your Sim start practicing a speech to the mirror. Several careers require Sims to work on the Charisma skill: some early on while others don’t need it until later promotions. However, Charisma is a good skill for all Sims to have—at least the first few levels.

Practicing a speech in the mirror is a good way to get started on Charisma skill.

Use charisma-based socials to build relationships and develop this skill.

The Charisma skill is useful for Sims during conversations with other Sims. Your friendly, funny, and even mischief socials are more likely to succeed the higher your Sims’ Charisma skill. In fact, when Sims use the charisma socials—indicated by a pair of sunglasses next to the social—they actually gain a bit of Charisma skill. In addition, the Charisma skill is affected by emotions. Sims gain this skill faster when they are Happy. Playful, Confident, and Flirty also have a positive impact on developing this skill, but not as much as being Happy. As you develop this skill, you can eventually use the computer to further work on this skill. Activities such as donating to online charities help build Charisma and a bit later you can start a social network. This opens up more actions—all of which increase Charisma.

As you develop this skill, you can do Charisma actions on the computer, such as setting up a social network and then maintaining it.

Charisma Skill Unlocks

Comedy

The Comedy skill can be useful for just socializing as well as for working on a career. It is easy to start this skill. Just use a funny social while in a conversation. You instantly are at level 1. You can also read volume 1 of the comedy books. Developing this skill is not that tough either. Continue telling jokes, using funny socials, and watching comedies on television. Eating a meal at home? Watch a comedy on TV and you are taking care of your Hunger need while developing a skill.

All Sims can use funny socials. As you develop the Comedy skill, you gain access to better jokes and are more likely to succeed in using these socials.

As you progress in this skill, you can start writing jokes on the computer and developing routines. The higher your skill level, the longer the routines you can write and then perform. Eventually at level 10, you can perform impromptu routines. While most Sims won’t need to develop this skill past level 2 or 3 unless they are pursuing an Entertainer career in the Comedy branch, all Sims can benefit from telling jokes and using other funny socials during a conversation to help create a Playful emotion in themselves and other Sims.

It’s open mic night at the nightclub. Try telling jokes or practicing a comedy routine.

Comedy Skill Unlocks

Cooking

Cooking is an important skill for all Sims to develop—at least to some degree. You begin this skill as soon as you click on a stove or refrigerator and choose to prepare a meal. All Sims begin with a few basic recipes. As Sims increase in skill level, they gain access to additional recipes, which are more complex and can provide better moodlets to the Sims who consume them.

All Sims can cook three basic meals and two different types of cakes. Develop the Cooking skill to learn more recipes.

Sims develop their Cooking skill by reading cooking books, preparing meals, and watching the cooking channel on TV. No only can your Sims prepare better meals as they progress in this skill, they can also use cooking-related socials in conversations. It is a good idea to get your Sims up to at least level 3 or 4 in Cooking skill. You don’t have to do this all at once. Just prepare a meal every day or two and if watching television, pick the cooking channel. When choosing to prepare a meal, you can make an single serving, a family size (for four people), or a party size (for eight people). If you have fresh ingredients in your inventory—that you can harvest from plants—you can choose to use them in your recipes. This decreases the cost of the meal, but uses up those ingredients. Plus, when you use fresh ingredients, it provides a Happy moodlet to the Sims who eat it and the meal has an improved chance of being higher quality. Therefore, Gardening is a good skill to develop along with Cooking (or someone in the same household should work on it) if you are going to be preparing a lot of meals.

While you can read about cooking or watch it on TV, the best way to develop this skill is to get into the kitchen and start cooking.

Cooking Skill Unlocks

Fishing

Fishing is a good skill for Sims who love the outdoors or those who just need a hobby for relaxing and having fun. Pick up a book on fishing to learn this skill or just go to a fishing spot and cast a line. There are fishing spots in every neighborhood in Willow Creek and most of the neighborhoods in Oasis Springs. When you are a beginning angler, you can only catch common fish and you may not have much luck at some fishing spots. However, as you develop this skill—by reading and fishing—you can start fishing with bait and even examine the water to determine what might attract more fish. Plus you can start talking about fishing during conversations.

Get out there and fish to learn and develop this skill.

As you catch different types of fish, you add them to your collections. There are 22 different types of fish. To catch some of the more rare fish, you will need to have a high Fishing skill and try different types of bait. When you catch a fish, it goes into your inventory. Then you can use it for bait or sell it for Simoleons. Uncommon and Rare fish go for higher prices and the larger the fish, the higher the price as well. In addition, you can put a caught fish in a bowl in your home or mount it on the wall as a decoration—which actually provides a Confident emotional aura.

Buy a fish bowl and put your caught fish on live display in your home. Or mount your prize catches and increase the confidence in a room.

Fishing Skill Unlocks

Fitness

Fitness is another skill that all Sims should learn and develop at least a bit. You can read a book about fitness or start exercising. Click on your Sims and select Go Jogging to get this skill going. You can also go to the gym and work out. You can use three different types of exercise equipment to develop this skill—the treadmill, a punching bag, or an exercise machine. You can even purchase these for your home.

Jogging is an easy way to get started on the Fitness skill, and you can do it anytime and anywhere.

Working on the Fitness skill can provide for your Sims’ Fun needs. However, it does decrease their Hygiene, so after a workout, take a shower. As you progress through the skill levels, you can begin to talking to Sims about exercise techniques or research these topics on the computer. Several careers, such as Astronaut, Criminal, and Secret Agent careers, require you to develop the Fitness skill to be promoted.

The gyms offer different types of exercise equipment to help your Sims develop the Fitness skill.

While at the gym working on Fitness, you can socialize and watch TV to work on other skills at the same time.

Fitness Skill Unlocks

Gardening

The Gardening skill doesn’t assist any career, but is almost a career in itself. It is also related to collecting, because you can harvest 31 different plants to add to your collection. To get started on this skill, you can read a book about gardening or purchase some seeds either from a computer or by clicking on a planter box. The seeds will arrive in the mail. Then drag them from your inventory onto the planter box. Now click on the seeds and tell your Sims to plant them.

Start off gardening by planting some seeds.

Once the seeds begin to grow, your Sims need to take care of them. This helps develops the skill. As you level up in Gardening, you gain new interactions. At the beginning you can water, weed, and harvest plants. Then you can talk to plants and fertilize plants. Eventually you can splice and graft plants to create new plants by combining parts of different plants.

Plants need to be watered and weeded.

When you harvest the plants, you can use some of this produce as ingredients in your cooking. You can also sell what you produce for a little extra money.

Purchase a bonsai plant and put it inside your home. You can develop Gardening skill by shaping it. As your Gardening skill increases, you can do more advanced designs.

You can find some interesting seeds in outer space or while collecting things such as this cowplant. Just don’t eat the cake—its a trap!

Gardening Skill Unlocks

Gourmet Cooking

Gourmet Cooking is a unique skill. Unlike any of the others, you start this skill only by advancing in another skill—Cooking. Once your Sim has reached level 5 in the Cooking skill, you unlock Gourmet Cooking at level 1. Then you can advance this skill by reading books or cooking gourmet recipes. When you go to prepare a meal, you can choose from a normal meal (which develops your Cooking skill) or a gourmet meal (which develops your Gourmet Cooking skill).

There are more advanced recipes when you cook a gourmet meal.

Gourmet meals provide positive moodlets to Sims who partake of this fine cuisine. When your Sim chooses to cook a gourmet meal, this opens up an entirely new set of recipes and more of these recipes are unlocked as Sims develop this skill. Most Sims will not spend a lot of time developing Gourmet Cooking. However, those going into the Chef branch of the Culinary career will definitely need to get this skill up high if they want to get promoted.

Think of Gourmet Cooking as an advanced branch of the Cooking skill. You develop it in the same way as the Cooking skill—just with different recipes.

Gourmet Cooking Skill Unlocks

Guitar

If your Sim is in the Entertainer career, you will need to learn to play the guitar. However, it is a hobby skill as well. Buy a guitar and then practice playing it to learn the Guitar skill. Continue to practice and play to develop the skill to higher levels. Of course, you can also read a book about guitar to develop this skill.

Pick up a guitar to get started on this skill.

Playing the guitar helps take care of Sims’ Fun need. Playing music can also influence the emotions of all Sims in the room. As a Sim increases in skill, they learn to play different types of music. They start off being able to play the blues and then add rock ’n’ roll and then other types of music to their repertoire. These include country, ballad, classical, Latin, jazz, and avante garde.

Playing a guitar is fun and can create a positive environment for the Sims in the room.

When you get to level 5, you can start playing for tips. Put a guitar in your inventory and then go to a nightclub or other venue and play for some extra cash. Later you can write songs and eventually sell your songs for money.

Guitar Skill Unlocks

Handiness

Most players don’t think about the Handiness skill until something in their home breaks. It could be a computer or a sink, or something else. Any electronic or plumbing object can break. Then when you click on it, you can choose to repair it or replace it. Repairing is free and can save you money. As soon as you start repairing something, you gain the Handiness skill.

Repair a broken object such as a toilet to get started on the Handiness skill.

Read a book or continue to repair things to develop this skill. As you increase in skill level, you can begin to upgrade objects and make them better. Some of these upgrades require parts, which can be purchased using the computer. The higher your skill level, the more upgrades you can do. After repairing something, there is usually a pile of stuff left behind. Be sure to salvage parts from the pile before you throw it away because you can use the parts for upgrades. To do this, click on the pile and select Scavenge for Parts. This saves you from having to buy the parts.

A workbench helps develop the skill while your Sim makes sculptures and furniture for your home.

There are only so many repairs and upgrades you can do around a home. Therefore, purchase the workbench. Here you can carve sculptures that you can then display in your home. Later, as your skill level increases, you can begin building furniture such as tables and chairs.

As your Sims develop the Handiness skill, they can eventually build a wooden bathtub. While it may not be all that comfortable, Sims can take pride in their creations.

Handiness Skill Unlocks

Logic

Logic is a unique skill. It is usually related to three different objects. While there are books on logic, the main ways to learn and develop this skill are by playing chess or using either the microscope or observatory. Travel to a park and play chess at one of the tables there. This also lets your Sims socialize and have fun. As your Sims level up in Logic, they are more likely to win games of chess—especially if the other Sim has a lower Logic skill level.

Play some chess and learn Logic skill at the same time.

Purchase a backyard observatory and place it on your lot. Then you can use the observatory to look at the stars. Not only does this help develop Logic, but you can also get space prints to add to your collection and hang on the walls of your home. There are 15 different space prints, and the only way to get them is by using the telescope.

Observe the stars with your own personal backyard observatory.

Another way to develop Logic is by using the microscope—which is not very micro at all. While you can just use the microscope, if you also have the Gardening skill, you can collect microscope samples. Then view these microscope slides in the microscope. If you are successful, you get a microscope print to add to your collection and hang on the wall of your home. You can also take samples of fossils. Just put a fossil from your inventory in the world, and then take a sample. These can also result in prints from the microscope. You can collect 12 different microscope prints.

Use the microscope to increase your Logic skill and study the samples you take from fossils and plants.

Logic Skill Unlocks

Mischief

Mischief is a social related skill that is required by some careers such as the Criminal career and the Villain branch of the Secret Agent career. As soon as you use a mischief social during a conversation, you learn the Mischief skill. You can further develop it by reading a book on the skill and by continuing to use mischief socials and interactions.

A hand buzzer is always a funny gag to use while in a conversation.

As you develop this skill and increase in level, you gain new interactions. Some let you interact with objects such as kicking over a garbage can or clogging the drain of a sink. You can also use your cell phone to make prank calls or play hooky from work. Finally, there can also be mischief on the computer as you “troll teh forums.”

Make a prank call to one of the Sims you have met to help build up your Mischief skill.

Once you learn the Mischief skill, you can order a voodoo doll by using the computer. It will arrive in the mail. In order to use this, you must bind it to another Sim who must be in the same area. Once it’s bound, you can do different actions to the doll, which affect the person as well. However, sometimes these actions backfire and happen to your Sim instead.

Bind a voodoo doll to another Sim, and then make mischief with the doll.

Mischief Skill Unlocks

Mixology

Mixology is the skill of crafting drinks. In previous The Sims games it was known as bartending. Use a bar to make a drink and you have learned the basics of this skill. At first, Sims can make only a very limited selection of drinks. If you don’t have a bar at your home, just go to a nightclub or lounge and use theirs. They don’t mind if a person who is not an employee makes their own drinks.

Sims at level 1 of the Mixology skill can make only three different drinks.

Sims in the Culinary career need to develop their Mixology skill before they decide whether to branch into the Chef or Mixologist branches. Because you don’t always have bar handy to use to develop this skill, you might want to get the books and read about the Mixologist skill. In addition, when you go out on the town, spend some time tending bar. Other Sims will ask you to make drinks and this can give you experience. Though you may not be able to put on a great performance early on, practice makes you better. In addition, each time you increase in skill level, you learn how to make new types of drinks.

Get behind a bar and make drinks when you are out with your friends. As you develop this skill, you can make even more types of drinks and your performance while making the drinks improves.

Mixology Skill Unlocks

Painting

Painting is a skill required for the Painting career. However, for other Sims it is a hobby. Painting provides Fun for Sims’ needs and can be a good break from work. To learn this skill, you can either read a book on painting or buy an easel and start painting. You have to pay for the canvases you use, so it is good to have a source of income if you take up painting. A small canvas is §50, a medium canvas is §75, and a large canvas is §100.

All you need is an easel and you can start working on the Painting skill.

When you start out as a painter, you can only paint low quality classical paintings. Then as you develop this skill and level up, you can eventually paint pop art, realism, abstract, surrealism, and finally impressionistic art. Each time you learn a new style, you begin at the lower quality. However, keep building up the Painting skill and the quality of your art will get better.

As your skill increases, your paintings get better.

Once you complete a painting, you can put it in your inventory, frame it, hang it up in your home, or sell it to a collector. Eventually you can make good money by selling your paintings. Plus, as you level up in this skill, you can talk about painting to other Sims.

Painting Skill Unlocks

Piano

Piano is another skill based on a musical instrument. At the start of a game, your Sims probably don’t have enough money to buy a piano. No problem. Head over to the nightclub and use their piano. Sit down and start hitting the keys and you have learned the Piano skill. Of course, you can also read books about the skill to develop your prowess at tickling the ivories.

A nightclub is a great place to learn to play the piano.

The best way to develop the Piano skill is to keep playing. Eventually you will want to purchase a piano for your home. When you first begin, you can just practice. Then as you level up the skill, you can begin playing traditional songs. Keep playing and as you get to higher skill levels, you learn new styles.

Keep improving this skill and your Sims can eventually earn tips by playing the piano for other Sims. Maybe they can make enough to pay for their drinks.

When you get to level 2, you can begin using the computer to help you on this skill. Start by researching the Piano skill and then eventually you can write songs on the computer and even sell your songs. When you are good enough, you can play for tips when there are other Sims around. Nothing like making some money while working on a skill.

Piano Skill Unlocks

Programming

Several careers require Sims to learn and develop the Programming skill. These include Secret Agent, Criminal, and of course Tech Guru. Unless your Sims are in those careers, they don’t really need to develop Programming skills unless they intend to get to the higher levels where there are some tangible benefits. To get started on this skill, your Sims can read a book on programming, or get a computer and practice programming.

if you want to start working on this skill, just get onto a computer and practice programming. This can get you up to level 2.

As you increase your skill levels in Programming, you can do more and more things on the computer. Your Sims can make plugins, mod games, and even hack into accounts to make a little money. Programming Sims can take on freelance jobs for money and eventually make money by designing games of their own. Try to get your Sims Focused before they begin programming. They can complete projects faster and develop this skill in less time.

Programming can take a lot of time on the computer, so it pays to invest in a more reliable computer that won’t break down frequently.

Unlike some skills that provide a benefit even if Sims only develop the first few levels, Programming takes a lot of time and development to become profitable. However, if your career requires you develop this skill to levels 6 or higher, you might as well go all the way to the max at level 10.

Programming Skill Unlocks

Rocket Science

Sims employed in the Astronaut career are required to learn and develop the Rocket Science skill. However, this is a fun skill for any Sim to work on. Think of it as an expensive hobby that can lead to a lot of adventures. Sims can pick up volume 1 of the rocket science books and get started learning this skill. However, for only §5,000 you can buy a Steampunk Flyamajig. Well actually, you just buy a kit for this rocket. Then you have to assemble it yourself. You need an open 6x6 square of land on your lot to place the launch pad. Then click on the pad and have your Sim start building the rocket. As soon as you start, you gain the Rocket Science skill.

Unfortunately the rocket does not come pre-assembled. You will have to build it yourself.

The rocket takes hours and hours to build. You will probably have to stop working and come back to it later so you can take care of your Sims’ needs or so they can go to work. If you start building a rocket with no skill in Rocket Science, by the time the rocket is completed, you can be at level 3! Then do some upgrading, and you’ll be to level 5 before you even take it up for a spin.

Building the rocket will take many hours. Your Sims will have to take breaks and can’t build it all at once.

While building and upgrading the rocket really helps develop this skill, you can continue to develop it by using the rocket to explore space. When you do this, your Sim dons a space suit, climbs into the rocket, and takes off, leaving the earth. You monitor the Sim’s progress via message windows that pop up. The choices you make can result in rewards—whether it be parts, space rocks, money, seeds for alien plants, or even aliens—that you can add to your collections.

Space travel can be dangerous. There is a risk that your rocket will crash on landing. Be sure to put out the fire so it does not spread and burn down your house. You have to buy another rocket and build it if you want to continue to explore space.

Rocket Science Skill Unlocks

Video Gaming

Is Video Gaming really a skill? Yes it is. As soon as you play a game on your cell phone or a video game on the computer, you have learned the Video Gaming skill. Then as you continue playing, you develop the skill and level up. Playing video games is a great way for Sims to relax and have some fun. So after a hard day at work or while working diligently on another skill, take a break and play a video game to get some positive moodlets. Or you can try reading a book about video games. (Isn’t that what you are doing right now?)

Everyone can play a video game on their cell phone.

When you first start playing video games on the computer, there are not a lot of choices. However, as you advance and increase your skill level, more games become available. Then you can eventually enter novice tournaments and finally professional tournaments where you can test your skills against other Sims to see how you come out.

Once you get a computer, you can play video games on it.

Sims in the Tech Guru career need to develop the Video Game skill if they go into the eSport Gamer branch. In fact, to get to the highest level in this career, Sims need to develop their Video Gaming skills to level 9. If you are that close, you might as well go to level 10 and max out the skill.

The MotionMonitor Gaming Mat is the ultimate in video games.

Video Gaming Skill Unlocks

Violin

The Violin skill is the third musical instrument skill and is very similar to Guitar and Piano skills. You can read books on the violin or you can buy a violin and start practicing. This will give you the skill. Continue practicing to increase your skill level. As you do, you will learn new styles of music and with each style, you also learn several new songs that you can play.

Buy a violin and start practicing.

Like the other instruments, as you increase in skill level, you can begin playing for tips. You can also use your computer to research violin. Keep developing the skill, then you can write violin songs and even sell them.

As you advance in skill levels, you learn new styles of music and new songs.

Violin Skill Unlocks

Writing

Sims pursuing the Writer career will need to learn and develop the Writing skill. In fact, they will need to max it out at level 10 to get to the highest level of promotion. Sims can read a book on writing to get started or get onto a computer and practice writing. Once they get to level 2, Sims can begin writing a genre book. At this level, they can only write a children’s book. Other genres become unlocked later, along with the ability to write poetry and short stories.

Inspired Sims write faster, develop the skill faster, and have a better chance of writing a best seller.

As Sims develop the Writing skill, they can discuss literature with other Sims. In addition, they can try to self-publish their books to make money and eventually sell their books to publishers. Writing can take a lot out of a Sim. After writing for a few hours, the Sim gets a Writer’s Block moodlet that prevents the Sim from writing for a few hours. Use this time to take care of the Sim’s needs or work on another skill that is fun. Then as soon as the moodlet is gone, the Sim can get back to writing. A Sim will usually have to take at least one break while writing a book.

When you write a book, you get to name the title and write a short description. When it is finished and on your bookshelf, this is the information that will appear.

All authors get writer’s block. When this happens, have something fun for them to do while they are waiting for the block to go away.

Writing Skill Unlocks