Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Complete Training Guide (March 2026)

Updated by Ankit Babal
July 3, 2025
Gaming

Welcome to the world of horse girl racing! I’ve been training Uma Musume since the Japanese launch, and with the global release finally here in March 2026, I’m excited to share everything you need to know to become a master trainer. Whether you’re struggling with your first URA Finals or aiming for top ranks in Team Trials, this comprehensive guide will transform your training approach and help you raise championship-caliber horse girls.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Essential Training Concepts

Before diving deep into advanced strategies, let me share the fundamental concepts that will make or break your training runs. Understanding these basics will save you countless failed attempts and frustration.

Core Concept	What It Means	Why It Matters
Rainbow Training	Training with orange friendship gauge support cards	Provides 2-3x more stats than regular training
Friendship Gauge	Bond level with support cards (0-80 points)	Unlocks rainbow training at 80 points (orange)
Skill Hints	Red exclamation marks on support cards	Unlocks new skills and provides discounts
Mood/Motivation	Your Uma Musume’s mental state (5 levels)	Higher mood = more training stats & better race performance
Energy Management	Green bar at top of screen	Low energy = training failures & injuries

Understanding the Five Core Stats

The five core stats in Uma Musume Pretty Derby are speed, stamina, power, guts, and wit (intelligence). Each one affects a different part of racing and growth. Let me break down exactly what each stat does and why you should care:

Speed – The King of Stats

Speed increases how fast your Uma Musume runs in the final stretch. This stat is always essential. From my experience, this is your primary focus for 90% of builds. Without adequate speed, even perfect stamina and power won’t win races.

Training Priority: Always prioritize Speed training when:

Multiple support cards appear in Speed facility
You have rainbow training available
Building for short/mile distances

Stamina – Your Lifeline

Stamina lets your racer hold speed longer, especially during the last spurt. Needed more on longer tracks or steep courses. Think of it as your horse girl’s HP bar – run out, and you’ll watch her dramatically slow down in the final stretch.

Minimum Requirements by Distance:

Short (≤1400m): 300-400
Mile (1401-1800m): 400-500
Medium (1801-2400m): 500-600
Long (>2400m): 600-700+

Power – The Acceleration Engine

Power is the stat that turns raw potential into actual race results. This stat is the key to accessing and applying potential on the track, governing the explosive force needed for acceleration, maneuvering, and overcoming obstacles.

Power becomes crucial when:

Racing on dirt tracks
Using betweener/closer strategies
Dealing with crowded race situations

Guts – The Underdog Stat

Lowers stamina consumption during last leg of the race. Not useful in large quantities but you will still want to get at least a small amount (300-400). While often overlooked, Guts can be the difference in photo finishes.

Wit (Intelligence) – The Consistency Maker

Affects the most things, notably; Chance to trigger skills during the race, Chance for a speed increase on downhill segments It’s also the only training that recovers energy!

Pro Tip: Use Wit training as a productive rest option when energy is below 50%.

Career Mode Training Strategy

A run of Career Mode begins by selecting a scenario to play, an Umamusume trainee, two Veteran Umamusume to receive Sparks of Inspiration from, and a deck of six support cards. Success starts before you even enter training!

Pre-Training Setup

1. Character Selection

For beginners, I highly recommend starting with Sakura Bakushin O. She’s widely considered to be the easiest character to train and gives you a lot of leeway while you’re figuring out what button does what.

Other Beginner-Friendly Options:

Oguri Cap (Sprint specialist)
Daiwa Scarlet (Medium distance)
Special Week (Versatile)

2. Legacy Selection (Sparks of Inspiration)

The Veteran Umamusume give bonus stats and unique skill hints at the very start, as well as the ability to increase the trainee’s aptitudes by up to 4 ranks at a time.

Legacy Priority:

Match distance/surface aptitudes
Look for 3★ blue factors (stat bonuses)
Consider compatibility (◎ > ○ > △)

3. Support Card Deck Building

The most critical decision! Here’s my recommended setup for different builds:

Balanced Build (Beginners):

3 Speed cards
1 Stamina card
1 Power card
1 Wit/Friend card

Speed-Focused Build (Short/Mile):

4 Speed cards
1 Stamina card (Super Creek ideal)
1 Wit card (Fine Motion preferred)

Key Support Cards to Target:

Fine Motion (SSR Wit): Increases stats gained from Friendship (Rainbow color portrait during Career/Training session) by 10% and all bonds/friendship with your Support Card starting a bit more with bar at 15
Super Creek (SSR Stamina): Essential recovery skills for medium/long distances
Kitasan Black (SSR Speed): The meta-defining card (arrives ~1 month after global launch)

The Training Loop – Turns 1-72

Career Mode spans approximately 72 turns across 3 years. Here’s how to optimize each phase:

Early Game (Year 1, Turns 1-24)

Primary Goal: Max out support card friendship gauges

Training with one (or several) of your support cards will grant you extra stats, depending on the “effects” of the given support. When the gauge hits the last bar (and turns orange), another bonus will unlock – a Friendship Bonus.

Turn Priority:

Train where 3+ support cards gather
Prioritize cards with hints (red !)
Use Wit training when energy < 40%
Do Recreation if mood drops below Great

Critical Tip: Training in the same facility as your support, the support will get +7 to their Friendship gauge (or +9 if your character has the Charming status effect). If the support has an exclamation mark (a hint), you get an extra +5 bonus.

Mid Game (Year 2, Turns 25-48)

Primary Goal: Rainbow training for massive stat gains

Once most supports reach orange friendship:

If the support is in their preferred facility (e.g., a Speed card in Speed training), their picture will glow rainbow and you’ll get bonus stats by training with them.
Stack multiple rainbow trainings for exponential gains
Start participating in G1 races for skill points

Summer Training Camp (July-August): The summer camp lasts four turns from the first half of July to the second half of August. Remember to get a full stamina gauge and best condition before the summer training camp starts

All facilities are Level 5 during camp
Rest gives guaranteed 35 energy + condition boost
Plan to enter with full energy!

Late Game (Year 3 & URA Finals, Turns 49-72)

Primary Goal: Hit target stats and prepare for URA Finals

Target Stats for A-Rank:

Speed: 1000-1200
Stamina: 600-800 (varies by distance)
Power: 800-1000
Guts: 400-500
Wit: 600-800

URA Finals Strategy:

Three consecutive races (turns 67, 69, 71)
Different distances each time
Save skill points for crucial skills before finals

Advanced Training Techniques

Rainbow Training Optimization

The difference between good and great trainers lies in rainbow training efficiency:

Rainbow Stacking Rules:

Same-type cards in their facility = Rainbow bonus
Multiple rainbows = Multiplicative gains
Friendship training can proc even without rainbow
Level 5 facilities amplify all bonuses

The Golden Rule: If there’s a rainbow training, just do it (as long as you have enough energy).

Energy Management Mastery

Never let energy dictate your runs:

Energy Thresholds:

70%+ : Safe for any training
50-69%: Avoid Guts/Power training
30-49%: Wit training or Rest only
<30%: Must rest (or use recovery event)

Pro Strategy: Plan rest turns around mandatory races to maximize efficiency.

Skill Point Optimization

Skills can literally win or lose races. Here’s how to maximize them:

Skill Priority by Strategy:

Escape/Front Runner: Pace skills, stamina recovery, speed maintenance
Leader/Pace Chaser: Mid-race acceleration, positioning skills
Betweener/Late Charger: Last spurt power, overtaking skills
Closer/End Runner: Final kick skills, late-race speed boosts

Must-Have Universal Skills:

Concentration (reduces stuttering)
Good positioning skills
Recovery skills for medium/long distance
Acceleration skills matching your strategy

Racing Strategy Guide

Understanding when and how to race separates average trainers from champions.

Race Categories & Rewards

Mandatory Races:

Required for progression
Usually character-specific goals
Cannot be skipped

Optional Races:

G3: Basic rewards, low energy cost
G2: Moderate skill points, decent fans
G1: Maximum skill points, prestige
Participating costs some energy, but gives several rewards, most importantly a lot of skill points.

The Four Running Strategies

There are four strategies in total – from left to right, called End Closer, Late Surger, Pace Chaser, and Front Runner.

Detailed Strategy Breakdown:

Escape/Front Runner (逃げ)
- Takes early lead, maintains throughout
- High Speed/Stamina requirements
- Best for: Short races, clear tracks
- Weakness: Vulnerable to being boxed in
Leader/Pace Chaser (先行)
- Stays near front, strikes mid-race
- Balanced stat requirements
- Best for: Versatile racing
- Most beginner-friendly strategy
Betweener/Late Surger (差し)
- Mid-pack positioning, late acceleration
- High Power requirements
- Best for: Crowded races
- Requires good timing skills
Closer/End Runner (追込)
- Back of pack, explosive finish
- Highest Power/Guts requirements
- Best for: Long distances
- High risk, high reward

Support Card Deep Dive

Let me share insider knowledge on maximizing support card value:

Understanding Card Rarities

R Cards: Don’t dismiss them! At max limit break, some R cards outperform 0LB SRs.

SR Cards: SR cards are strong and flexible at launch. Perfect for F2P players.

SSR Cards: Game-changers, but require investment (limit breaks) for full potential.

Support Card Types & Usage

Speed Cards:

Always form your deck’s core
Look for training bonus % and friendship bonus
Speed + Power bonuses are premium

Stamina Cards:

One is usually enough
Prioritize recovery skills
Super Creek remains meta for years

Power Cards:

Essential for betweener/closer builds
Look for acceleration skills
Can replace one Speed card in balanced builds

Guts Cards:

Niche but powerful in specific builds
Great for long-distance specialists
Often provide unique pace skills

Wit Cards:

Training efficiency kings
Fine Motion is irreplaceable early
Provides energy-free training option

Friend Cards:

Unique event chains
Special recreation options
Great for consistency

Dealing with RNG – When Things Go Wrong

Even perfect planning can’t overcome bad RNG. Here’s how to salvage difficult runs:

Common Problems & Solutions

Problem: Low energy, no good training options Solution: Chain Wit training → Recreation → Rest cycle

Problem: Failed training, acquired negative condition Solution: The Infirmary has a chance to heal your negative status effects. Yes, it’s a chance, it’s not 100%. Weigh the condition’s impact vs turn cost.

Problem: Behind on stats mid-Year 2 Solution: Focus on G1 races and rainbow training exclusively

Problem: Multiple supports stuck at low friendship Solution: Accept the loss, focus on 3-4 cards reaching orange

Game Modes Beyond Career

Training is just the beginning! Here’s how to use your Veterans:

Team Trials (PvP)

Every match consists of five races – sprint, mile, medium distance, long distance, and dirt. This means you need diverse teams!

Team Building Strategy:

3 Distance specialists (Short/Medium/Long)
1 Mile specialist (doubles for dirt)
1 Flex pick (your strongest overall)

PvP Stat Requirements (Higher than Career):

Add 20-30% to all stat targets
Recovery skills become mandatory
Multiple acceleration skills needed

Daily Races

You can participate in a Daily race three times every day.

Efficiency Tips:

Always do highest difficulty possible
Prioritize support point races early
Money races become important late-game

Legend Races

A Legend race will usually be available for three days in a row, and you’ll be able to challenge it three times a day

Strategy: Build specific counters to legend horses for guaranteed wins.

Troubleshooting Common Beginner Mistakes

Let me address the mistakes I see new trainers make constantly:

Mistake #1: Ignoring Friendship Gauges

One of the biggest mistakes new players do is ignoring the Friendship gauges of your support cards.

Fix: First 15-20 turns should focus purely on friendship building.

Mistake #2: Overtraining Single Stats

Balanced stats beat specialized builds in most content.

Fix: Follow the stat priority guides above for each distance.

Mistake #3: Skipping Optional Races

People often ignore racing outside of objectives, but doing an optional race is usually much, much better than training in an empty facility.

Mistake #4: Poor Energy Management

Training at low energy leads to failures and injuries.

Fix: Rest at 30%, Wit train at 50%, full training only at 70%+.

Mistake #5: Saving Skill Points

Skills are meant to be used! Hoarding points weakens your race performance.

Fix: Buy skills as soon as you unlock good ones.

Advanced Inheritance (Sparks) System

The inheritance system is your long-term progression:

Understanding Factors

Blue Factor: Status *Highest Priority Pink Factor: Strategy/ distance preference Green Factor: Fixed Skill White Factor: Race/ Skill

Building Strong Veterans:

Complete runs with 1100+ in primary stats
Win major G1 races for better factors
Focus on one exceptional stat over balanced builds
S-rank aptitudes greatly increase inheritance value

Meta Progression Timeline

Here’s what to expect as you develop your account:

Week 1-2:

Focus on completing runs, any rank
Build a roster of 5-10 Veterans
Learn basic training patterns

Month 1:

Achieve first A-rank Veteran
Complete Team Stadium placement
Start targeting specific support cards

Month 2-3:

Multiple A-rank Veterans
Competitive in Class 4-5 Team Stadium
Building specialized teams

Month 6+:

S-rank Veterans achievable
Class 6 Team Stadium
Tackling Legend Races consistently

Resource Management for F2P

Succeeding without spending requires discipline:

Carrots (Premium Currency) Priority

Support Card Banners (70% of resources)
Limited Character Banners (20%)
Daily Discounts (10%)

Never Spend On:

Regular character banners
Stamina refills (too generous already)
Cosmetics (until established)

Check out the complete reroll guide for maximizing your starting resources!

Scenario-Specific Strategies

Currently, Global launches with URA Finals, but more scenarios are coming:

URA Finals Optimization

Unique Mechanics:

Standard 72-turn structure
Three finals races (predetermined)
Balanced stat requirements

Strategy: Focus on consistency over specialization. Build for medium distance to handle all three finals.

Quick Reference Sheets

Stat Benchmarks by Distance

Distance	Speed	Stamina	Power	Guts	Wit
Short	1200	400	800	300	600
Mile	1100	500	900	400	700
Medium	1000	700	1000	500	800
Long	900	900+	1000	600	800

Training Decision Flowchart

Is there rainbow training? → YES → Do it!
Energy above 70%? → YES → Train best facility
Energy 40-70%? → YES → Wit training or Rest
Mood below Great? → YES → Recreation
G1 race available? → YES → Race!
Otherwise → Train with most supports

The Path to Mastery

Becoming a top trainer in Umamusume isn’t about perfect RNG or spending money – it’s about understanding the systems and making optimal decisions consistently. I’ve shared everything that took me months to learn through trial and error.

Remember these golden rules:

Friendship gauges before raw stats
Rainbow training is king
Energy management prevents disasters
Every stat matters, but Speed matters most
Support cards > Characters for gameplay

The global release in March 2026 brings fresh competition and opportunities. Whether you’re here for the waifus or the wins, this guide gives you the foundation to excel.

For stat optimization specifics, don’t miss my detailed stat priority guide!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a training run take?

One run can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes (or more, if you’re reading every piece of text). Speed readers can finish in 20 minutes, while thorough players might spend 45+.

What’s the difference between Global and Japanese versions?

Events and Scouts maintain their original durations in the English release. However, the gaps between content releases are significantly shorter. We’re getting accelerated content!

Can I play F2P successfully?

Absolutely! This game is remarkably F2P friendly. With a full bar, you can do three training runs, and one run can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes The generous stamina system means you’re limited by time, not premium currency.

Which support cards should I prioritize?

Focus on Speed and Wit SSRs first. Speed SSR [Fire at My Heels] Kitasan Black is by far the most iconic. Save for this card above all others!

How important is rerolling?

Very important for long-term success. Starting with 2-3 good SSR support cards saves months of progress. Check my reroll guide linked above for details.

What’s the best starter character?

Sakura Bakushin O. She’s widely considered to be the easiest character to train and gives you a lot of leeway while you’re figuring out what button does what.

When should I start PvP?

After building 5+ decent Veterans covering all distances. Usually 2-3 weeks for active players.

Are tier lists important?

For support cards? Absolutely. For characters? Less so – waifu > meta for characters, but support cards directly impact your success rate.

How do I know if my training run is going well?

By Year 2’s end, you should have 600+ in your main stats. If you’re significantly below, consider abandoning the run.

What’s the most common beginner mistake?

One of the biggest mistakes new players do is ignoring the Friendship gauges of your support cards. This single mistake ruins more runs than any other factor!

Happy training, and may your horse girls always find their stride in the final stretch! Welcome to the wonderful world of Umamusume: Pretty Derby!