diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/commands.py b/src/mudlib/combat/commands.py
index e97fcb1..fc5abab 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/combat/commands.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/commands.py
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ async def do_attack(player: Player, target_args: str, move: CombatMove) -> None:
         target_args: Remaining args after move resolution (just the target name)
         move: The resolved combat move
     """
+    # Check unlock gating
+    base_command = move.command or move.name
+    if move.unlock_condition is not None and base_command not in player.unlocked_moves:
+        await player.send("You haven't learned that yet.\r\n")
+        return
+
     encounter = get_encounter(player)
 
     # Parse target from args
@@ -124,6 +130,12 @@ async def do_defend(player: Player, _args: str, move: CombatMove) -> None:
         _args: Unused (defense moves don't take a target)
         move: The resolved combat move
     """
+    # Check unlock gating
+    base_command = move.command or move.name
+    if move.unlock_condition is not None and base_command not in player.unlocked_moves:
+        await player.send("You haven't learned that yet.\r\n")
+        return
+
     # Check stamina
     if player.stamina < move.stamina_cost:
         await player.send("You don't have enough stamina for that move.\r\n")
diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/engine.py b/src/mudlib/combat/engine.py
index c803d92..98e5adf 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/combat/engine.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/engine.py
@@ -174,6 +174,14 @@ async def process_combat() -> None:
                             winner.mob_kills.get(loser.name, 0) + 1
                         )
 
+                    # Check for new unlocks
+                    from mudlib.combat.commands import combat_moves
+                    from mudlib.combat.unlock import check_unlocks
+
+                    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(winner, combat_moves)
+                    for move_name in newly_unlocked:
+                        await winner.send(f"You have learned {move_name}!\r\n")
+
                 if isinstance(loser, Player):
                     loser.deaths += 1
 
diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py b/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
index 57a4a4c..2058e39 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/moves.py
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 CommandHandler = Callable[..., Any]
 
 
+@dataclass
+class UnlockCondition:
+    """Condition that must be met to unlock a combat move."""
+
+    type: str  # "kill_count" or "mob_kills"
+    threshold: int = 0
+    mob_name: str = ""  # for mob_kills type
+
+
 @dataclass
 class CombatMove:
     """Defines a combat move with its properties and counters."""
@@ -37,6 +46,7 @@ class CombatMove:
     telegraph_color: str = "dim"  # color tag for telegraph
     announce_color: str = ""  # color tag for announce (default/none)
     resolve_color: str = "bold"  # color tag for resolve
+    unlock_condition: UnlockCondition | None = None
 
 
 def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
@@ -68,6 +78,16 @@ def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
     base_name = data["name"]
     variants = data.get("variants")
 
+    # Parse optional unlock condition
+    unlock_data = data.get("unlock")
+    unlock_condition = None
+    if unlock_data:
+        unlock_condition = UnlockCondition(
+            type=unlock_data["type"],
+            threshold=unlock_data.get("threshold", 0),
+            mob_name=unlock_data.get("mob_name", ""),
+        )
+
     if variants:
         moves = []
         for variant_key, variant_data in variants.items():
@@ -108,6 +128,7 @@ def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
                     resolve_color=variant_data.get(
                         "resolve_color", data.get("resolve_color", "bold")
                     ),
+                    unlock_condition=unlock_condition,
                 )
             )
         return moves
@@ -133,6 +154,7 @@ def load_move(path: Path) -> list[CombatMove]:
             telegraph_color=data.get("telegraph_color", "dim"),
             announce_color=data.get("announce_color", ""),
             resolve_color=data.get("resolve_color", "bold"),
+            unlock_condition=unlock_condition,
         )
     ]
 
diff --git a/src/mudlib/combat/unlock.py b/src/mudlib/combat/unlock.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..376a321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mudlib/combat/unlock.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Skill unlock checking."""
+
+from mudlib.combat.moves import CombatMove
+from mudlib.player import Player
+
+
+def check_unlocks(player: Player, moves: dict[str, CombatMove]) -> list[str]:
+    """Check if player has met unlock conditions for any locked moves.
+
+    Returns list of newly unlocked move names (base command names, not variants).
+    """
+    newly_unlocked = []
+
+    # Deduplicate by base command (variants share unlock condition)
+    seen_commands = set()
+
+    for move in moves.values():
+        if move.unlock_condition is None:
+            continue
+
+        # Use base command name for unlock tracking
+        base = move.command or move.name
+        if base in seen_commands:
+            continue
+        seen_commands.add(base)
+
+        # Already unlocked
+        if base in player.unlocked_moves:
+            continue
+
+        condition = move.unlock_condition
+        unlocked = False
+
+        if condition.type == "kill_count":
+            unlocked = player.kills >= condition.threshold
+        elif condition.type == "mob_kills":
+            count = player.mob_kills.get(condition.mob_name, 0)
+            unlocked = count >= condition.threshold
+
+        if unlocked:
+            player.unlocked_moves.add(base)
+            newly_unlocked.append(base)
+
+    return newly_unlocked
diff --git a/tests/test_unlock_system.py b/tests/test_unlock_system.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b67efc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_unlock_system.py
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+"""Tests for the skill unlock system."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.combat.moves import CombatMove, UnlockCondition, load_move
+from mudlib.combat.unlock import check_unlocks
+from mudlib.player import Player
+
+
+def _mock_writer():
+    """Create a mock writer with all required attributes."""
+    writer = MagicMock()
+    writer.write = MagicMock()
+    writer.drain = AsyncMock()
+    writer.send_gmcp = MagicMock()
+    # Add local_option and remote_option for gmcp_enabled property
+    writer.local_option = MagicMock()
+    writer.remote_option = MagicMock()
+    writer.local_option.enabled = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+    writer.remote_option.enabled = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+    return writer
+
+
+def test_unlock_condition_dataclass():
+    """UnlockCondition stores type, threshold, and mob_name."""
+    condition = UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5)
+    assert condition.type == "kill_count"
+    assert condition.threshold == 5
+    assert condition.mob_name == ""
+
+
+def test_combat_move_with_unlock_condition():
+    """CombatMove can have an unlock_condition field."""
+    condition = UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=10)
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        unlock_condition=condition,
+    )
+    assert move.unlock_condition is condition
+    assert move.unlock_condition.threshold == 10
+
+
+def test_combat_move_unlock_condition_defaults_to_none():
+    """CombatMove.unlock_condition defaults to None when not provided."""
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="punch",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=10.0,
+        timing_window_ms=300,
+    )
+    assert move.unlock_condition is None
+
+
+def test_check_unlocks_grants_move_on_kill_threshold():
+    """check_unlocks adds move to unlocked_moves when kill threshold met."""
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0)
+    player.kills = 5
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        command="roundhouse",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+    moves = {"roundhouse": move}
+
+    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(player, moves)
+
+    assert "roundhouse" in player.unlocked_moves
+    assert newly_unlocked == ["roundhouse"]
+
+
+def test_check_unlocks_grants_move_on_mob_kills_threshold():
+    """check_unlocks unlocks move when specific mob kill count met."""
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0)
+    player.mob_kills = {"goblin": 3}
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="goblin_slayer",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=15.0,
+        timing_window_ms=400,
+        command="goblin_slayer",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(
+            type="mob_kills", mob_name="goblin", threshold=3
+        ),
+    )
+    moves = {"goblin_slayer": move}
+
+    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(player, moves)
+
+    assert "goblin_slayer" in player.unlocked_moves
+    assert newly_unlocked == ["goblin_slayer"]
+
+
+def test_check_unlocks_does_not_unlock_when_threshold_not_met():
+    """check_unlocks does not add move when kill threshold not reached."""
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0)
+    player.kills = 2
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        command="roundhouse",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+    moves = {"roundhouse": move}
+
+    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(player, moves)
+
+    assert "roundhouse" not in player.unlocked_moves
+    assert newly_unlocked == []
+
+
+def test_check_unlocks_returns_empty_list_if_nothing_new():
+    """check_unlocks returns empty list when no new unlocks."""
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0)
+    player.kills = 10
+    player.unlocked_moves = {"roundhouse"}  # already unlocked
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        command="roundhouse",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+    moves = {"roundhouse": move}
+
+    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(player, moves)
+
+    assert newly_unlocked == []
+
+
+def test_load_toml_with_unlock_condition():
+    """load_move parses [unlock] section from TOML."""
+    toml_content = """
+name = "roundhouse"
+move_type = "attack"
+stamina_cost = 20.0
+timing_window_ms = 500
+
+[unlock]
+type = "kill_count"
+threshold = 5
+"""
+    with NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write(toml_content)
+        temp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        moves = load_move(temp_path)
+        assert len(moves) == 1
+        move = moves[0]
+        assert move.unlock_condition is not None
+        assert move.unlock_condition.type == "kill_count"
+        assert move.unlock_condition.threshold == 5
+        assert move.unlock_condition.mob_name == ""
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_toml_without_unlock_section():
+    """load_move sets unlock_condition to None when no [unlock] section."""
+    toml_content = """
+name = "punch"
+move_type = "attack"
+stamina_cost = 10.0
+timing_window_ms = 300
+"""
+    with NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write(toml_content)
+        temp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        moves = load_move(temp_path)
+        assert len(moves) == 1
+        move = moves[0]
+        assert move.unlock_condition is None
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_toml_with_mob_kills_unlock():
+    """load_move parses mob_kills unlock condition with mob_name."""
+    toml_content = """
+name = "goblin_slayer"
+move_type = "attack"
+stamina_cost = 15.0
+timing_window_ms = 400
+
+[unlock]
+type = "mob_kills"
+mob_name = "goblin"
+threshold = 3
+"""
+    with NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write(toml_content)
+        temp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        moves = load_move(temp_path)
+        assert len(moves) == 1
+        move = moves[0]
+        assert move.unlock_condition is not None
+        assert move.unlock_condition.type == "mob_kills"
+        assert move.unlock_condition.mob_name == "goblin"
+        assert move.unlock_condition.threshold == 3
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gating_locked_move_rejected_in_do_attack():
+    """Locked move with unlock_condition rejects player without unlock."""
+    from mudlib.combat.commands import do_attack
+
+    writer = _mock_writer()
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0, writer=writer)
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()  # no unlocks
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        command="roundhouse",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+
+    await do_attack(player, "", move)
+
+    # Check that the rejection message was sent
+    writer.write.assert_called()
+    calls = [str(call) for call in writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert any("You haven't learned that yet." in str(call) for call in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gating_unlocked_move_works_normally():
+    """Unlocked move executes when player has it in unlocked_moves."""
+    from mudlib.combat.commands import do_attack
+
+    writer = _mock_writer()
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0, writer=writer)
+    player.unlocked_moves = {"roundhouse"}  # unlocked
+    player.stamina = 100.0
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="roundhouse",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=20.0,
+        timing_window_ms=500,
+        command="roundhouse",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+
+    # Try to attack without target (will fail to find target, but won't
+    # reject for unlock)
+    await do_attack(player, "", move)
+
+    # Should NOT reject for unlock (gating check passes)
+    calls = [str(call) for call in writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert not any("You haven't learned that yet." in str(call) for call in calls)
+    # Will get "need a target" message instead
+    assert any("You need a target" in str(call) for call in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gating_move_without_unlock_condition_always_works():
+    """Moves without unlock_condition work without gating check."""
+    from mudlib.combat.commands import do_attack
+
+    writer = _mock_writer()
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0, writer=writer)
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()  # empty, but move has no unlock condition
+    player.stamina = 100.0
+
+    move = CombatMove(
+        name="punch",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=10.0,
+        timing_window_ms=300,
+        command="punch",
+        unlock_condition=None,  # no unlock needed
+    )
+
+    # Try to attack without target (will fail to find target, but won't
+    # reject for unlock)
+    await do_attack(player, "", move)
+
+    # Should work normally (no unlock rejection)
+    calls = [str(call) for call in writer.write.call_args_list]
+    assert not any("You haven't learned that yet." in str(call) for call in calls)
+    # Will get "need a target" message instead
+    assert any("You need a target" in str(call) for call in calls)
+
+
+def test_check_unlocks_deduplicates_variants():
+    """check_unlocks only checks base command once for variant moves."""
+    player = Player(name="test", x=0, y=0)
+    player.kills = 5
+    player.unlocked_moves = set()
+
+    # Two variants of "punch" with same unlock condition
+    punch_left = CombatMove(
+        name="punch left",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=10.0,
+        timing_window_ms=300,
+        command="punch",
+        variant="left",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+    punch_right = CombatMove(
+        name="punch right",
+        move_type="attack",
+        stamina_cost=10.0,
+        timing_window_ms=300,
+        command="punch",
+        variant="right",
+        unlock_condition=UnlockCondition(type="kill_count", threshold=5),
+    )
+    moves = {"punch left": punch_left, "punch right": punch_right}
+
+    newly_unlocked = check_unlocks(player, moves)
+
+    # Should only unlock "punch" once, not twice
+    assert "punch" in player.unlocked_moves
+    assert newly_unlocked == ["punch"]