diff --git a/Characteristics.cpp b/Characteristics.cpp
index b068d45..2ce8b64 100644
--- a/Characteristics.cpp
+++ b/Characteristics.cpp
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ Characteristics<T>::Characteristics(int a, int b, int c, int d, T t) {
     tier = t;
 }
 
-template class Characteristics<char>;
-template class Characteristics<int>;
+
 
 template<>
 Characteristics<char>::Characteristics(int a, int b, int c, int d) {
@@ -51,7 +50,16 @@ Characteristics<int>::Characteristics(int a, int b, int c, int d) {
     tier = 1;
 }
 
-std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream &out, const Characteristics<char> &c) {
+template class Characteristics<char>;
+template class Characteristics<int>;
+
+template<typename T>
+std::ostream & operator<< (std::ostream &out, const Characteristics<T> &c) {
     out << "Tier: " << c.tier << "\n";
     return out;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+template
+std::ostream& operator<< <>(std::ostream& o, const Characteristics<int>& x);
+template
+std::ostream& operator<< <>(std::ostream& o, const Characteristics<char>& x);
diff --git a/Characteristics.h b/Characteristics.h
index cfbc039..40ddd3a 100644
--- a/Characteristics.h
+++ b/Characteristics.h
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include "Rating.h"
 
+template <typename T>
+class Characteristics;
+
+template <typename T>
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const Characteristics<T>& c);
+
 template <class T = int>
 class Characteristics {
 private:
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@ class Characteristics {
     float getMatching(const Characteristics &c);
 
     void updateCharacteristics(const Characteristics &extra, int multiplier);
-    friend std::ostream & operator << (std::ostream &out, const Characteristics &c);
+    friend std::ostream& operator<< <>(std::ostream&, const Characteristics<T>&);
 };