> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nudj.cx/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Achievements as Actions

> Gate challenges behind earned achievements — the Complete-Achievement action pattern

A **Complete-Achievement action** (#729) is a special challenge action that requires the member to have already earned a specific achievement. It gates progression.

## How it works

Add the Complete-Achievement action to a challenge:

1. Pick an existing achievement.
2. Members who haven't unlocked that achievement see a **locked** state on the challenge.
3. Once they unlock the achievement (through the achievement's normal criteria), the challenge becomes playable.

***

## Why this pattern

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tutorial flows" icon="graduation-cap">
    Each tutorial challenge requires the previous one. Members finish in order.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Progression ladders" icon="stairs">
    Bronze -> Silver -> Gold challenges, each gated behind the previous tier.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Prerequisite mastery" icon="book">
    Advanced challenges require baseline knowledge (unlocked via a "completed basics" achievement).
  </Card>

  <Card title="VIP content" icon="crown">
    Gate special content behind an achievement earned through repeated engagement.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Creating the pattern

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the source achievement" icon="medal">
    E.g. "Bronze Completer" — criteria: `challenge_completed count >= 5`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new challenge" icon="trophy">
    * New -> Challenge. Fill out basics.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the Complete-Achievement action" icon="key">
    On the Content step, add a **Complete Achievement** action. Pick your source achievement.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the real content" icon="pen">
    Add the actions that make up the actual challenge content.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish" icon="rocket">
    Members who've earned Bronze Completer can play. Others see the lock.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Layering with keys

Combine with [key-gated challenges](/admin-guide/challenges/unlock-keys) for multi-dimensional gating:

> Unlock: requires 3 keys AND Bronze Completer achievement.

Members must satisfy both to play.

***

## Note on stability

Earlier versions of this feature had a page-crash on action-achievement rendering (#955) — fixed. If you're on a very old build and see crashes, force-refresh.

***

## Best practices

<Tip>
  Don't gate **every** challenge. If members hit too many locked doors, they disengage. Rule of thumb: 80% open, 20% gated for progression.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Make the source achievement visible**. If a member sees a locked challenge but doesn't know how to unlock it, they give up. Link the achievement in the challenge description.
</Tip>