Mixed transition metal oxides, such as Ni_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NMC811), are intended to combine the high capacity of nickel oxides, the rate capability of cobalt oxides, and the structural stability of manganese oxides to meet the capacity and power demands of electric vehicles and commercial portable electronics. However, the capacity fade mechanisms in Ni-rich chemistries (x >y+z in Ni_xMn_yCo_zO₂) can be elusive due to factors at the crystallographic, particle, or electrode level. In this study, bulk and surface x-ray spectroscopy characterization of NMC cathodes was used to explore cathode degradation mechanisms as influenced by cycling protocol, namely current rate and upper voltage limits. Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS) was used to probe the surface of recovered NMC electrodes via transition metal L-edge and O K-edge spectroscopy. The effect of rate and upper voltage potential under charge will be discussed to illustrate the versatility of sXAS for NMC cathode electrode characterization.