10 Must-Know Tips to Dominate Umamusume: Pretty Derby from Day One
Jumping into Umamusume: Pretty Derby can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but with the right approach, you’ll be on your way to becoming the Arima Kinen champion in no time. This game isn’t just your typical gacha—it’s a deep horse racing simulation packed with unique mechanics, engaging stories, and thrilling races. To help you get started smoothly, here are 10 essential tips that every new player should know.
- Why support cards matter more than characters early on
- How to borrow legacies and support cards effectively
- Understanding and activating unique skills
- Choosing the right skills based on your horse’s style
- Boosting friendships for better training bonuses
- Keeping your horses happy for peak performance
- Tailoring stats to your horse’s strengths
- When to rest instead of risking failed training
- The thrill of watching races and why you shouldn’t skip them
- How to maximize free carats and rewards
Prioritize Support Cards Over Characters
It’s tempting to focus on the flashy characters since they’re the ones racing, but support cards are your real MVPs. They boost your horses’ stats, skills, and even friendship levels across the board. Remember, these cards are versatile and help every horse in career mode, making them key to your overall success.
Borrow Legacies and Support Cards from Other Players
Starting out, your collection of legacies and support cards might be limited. Luckily, you can borrow from other players. You get to pick two legacies and six support cards to boost your horse’s stats and skills. Legacies can be borrowed up to three times daily, while support cards have no limit. Use the “Auto Select” feature to let the game choose for you or follow trainers with powerful setups to borrow from them.
Unique Skills Need Specific Conditions
Don’t get frustrated if your horse’s unique skill doesn’t trigger during races. Often, it’s because the race conditions or your horse’s position don’t meet the skill’s activation requirements. For example, some skills only activate if your horse is near the back on the final corner, so adjust your racing style accordingly.
Pick Skills That Match Your Horse’s Style
In career mode, you earn skill points that unlock abilities for your horse. Be selective—some skills only work for certain distances (like sprint or mile) or racing strategies. Check the skill descriptions carefully to ensure they fit your horse’s running style.
Improve Friendships for Training Bonuses
Friendship levels with your support cards impact your training efficiency. Focus on stats where you have multiple friendships. When a friendship gauge hits the orange tier during the correct training type, you unlock “rainbow training,” which grants bonus stat points. This can significantly boost your horse’s growth.
Keep Your Horses Happy
Happy horses perform better in races and training sessions. A horse in a good mood is more likely to activate skills during races and gain more stats from training. Aim to reach the “great” mood level quickly to maximize your horse’s potential.
Customize Stats Based on Your Horse’s Aptitude
Each horse has different strengths, preferred distances, and racing styles. For example, sprinters don’t need much stamina, while long-distance runners do. Always check your race goals and tailor your training to fit your horse’s natural aptitudes.
Rest Instead of Risking Failed Training
Training requires energy, and if your horse’s energy is low, the chance of failure rises. Failed training hurts your horse’s mood and wastes valuable turns. When energy is low, it’s smarter to rest and recover rather than push your luck.
Watch the Races for the Full Experience
The races are the heart of Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Watching your horse make a dramatic comeback is exciting and adds to the game’s charm. You can skip races if you want, but you’ll miss out on one of the best parts of the game.
Claim Free Carats and Rewards
Carats are the premium currency used to unlock horses and support cards. Check the missions tab daily for easy rewards, including carats. Don’t forget to explore Story and Race modes—Story offers cutscenes and carats (which you can skip if you prefer), while Race mode features events like Team Trials and Daily Races with additional prizes.
