17 Feb GameNews All Skills In The Sims 4 And How To Improve Them February 17, 2026 Posted by GataGames Leave a comment Just like with human beings, there are a lot of different things a Sim can be good at. These things are known as skills, and The Sims 4 has amassed more than four dozen of them over the past decade, with new expansions and game packs gradually adding in new ones. At this point, the options are legion–there are more skills than most of us probably even remember. And each new expansion adds more of them–the new fairy-focused expansion, Enchanted by Nature, even added two surprisingly novel new skills for your Sims to train in. Even without adding more using The Sims 4 mods, we’re practically drowning in skills these days. Every skill in The Sims 4 has related activities that your Sims can do to improve that skill, but there are also things a Sim can do that will increase their gains in any skill. 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. Taking these perks is always recommended. Likewise, there are skill books that will help you Sim learn a skill by reading about it. But your Sim won’t max out any skills that way. Theory is good, but it can’t beat actually doing it. So if you want your Sims to master a skill, they’ll need to get their hands dirty. 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, Royalty & Legacy, 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 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 Archery Adventure Awaits Activities: Practice with an archery target or take part in an archery competition Ideal emotion: Focused Diving Adventure Awaits Activities: Use a diving board next to a pool Ideal emotion: Focused Entemology Adventure Awaits Activities: Catch bugs and study them Ideal emotion: Focused Papercraft Adventure Awaits Activities: Use a Papercraft kit to make things Ideal emotion: Focused, inspired Swordsmanship Royalty & Legacy Activities: Practice with dummy, challenge another Sim to a duel, participate in a dueling tournament Ideal emotion: Focused Source link Facebook Twitter Email Pinterest