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Skills are specific talents that Sims (and in some games, pets and other creatures) can acquire. Skills can be learned in many ways, such as through reading certain books, using skill-building objects or Career rewards, learning them from other Sims, or through Chance cards.

Skills are relatively simplistic and generalized in The Sims and The Sims 2; for instance, playing the piano and painting pictures on an easel both use and build up the same skill. In The Sims 3, there has been a tendency to create more specific skill sets. Additionally, all games feature certain hidden skills, which are developed and improved without appearing in the game interface.

Learning skills allows Sims to become more proficient in certain activities, like cooking or repairing broken objects. Learning skills in these situations has a practical benefit, by decreasing the likelihood of Sims creating dangerous situations due to ineptitude, and by increasing the quality of work performed or of the items produced through the Sim's labor. Skill building is also central to promotions in a Sim's chosen career. In order to be promoted, a Sim must improve their skills to a certain level; those skills which must be improved are usually related to the career they are working in.  Vote for the next Featured Article · Past featured articles