Umamusume: Pretty Derby is quite an F2P-friendly gacha simply because you can easily defeat your opponents without spending a dime by just getting a good career runs on your characters. The game also allows you to increase the rarities of your units after you get enough copies, which levels the playing field.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Pity System, Explained
While it might be difficult to hold back when you have Carats in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, you might have a better time trying to save them.
For example, Vodka is a two-star character in the game, but you can easily get her to five stars at a certain point. However, if you want to beat the endgame modes involving PvP with her, you’ll have to pay a lot of attention to her build.
Updated November 3, 2025, by Zoë J. Osik: We’ve updated our guide to include more details about Vodka’s career, as well as additional support cards and skills you can use to improve her results towards the end of her campaign!
How To Play Vodka
|
Distance |
Sprint (F) |
Mile (A) |
Medium (A) |
Long (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Style |
Front (C) |
Pace (B) |
Late (A) |
End (F) |
The characters of Umamusume: Pretty Derby might look the same, but they’re mainly divided into different types based on their preferred distance, style, and unique skill. While some characters might show flexibility with their ratings for each distance and style, they’re usually better for a certain build due to their unique skill.
However, Vodka is truly a flexible unit since she boasts an A rating in Mile, Medium, and Late while having a B in Pace, which can easily be converted to an A as well. Her unique skill gives her more Guts and Speed when she’s in the front in the final 200 meters of the race, which can work well with both of these styles.
This opens up the way for a bunch of builds for Vodka, though you also have to keep her career in mind. All the races where she needs to place high are Mile and Medium, but you might have a difficult time with the latter if you build her for the former. So, if you want to build Vodka as a Mile character, you’ll have to get some extra skills just to beat your career.
Vodka’s best build is easily the Late Surger on a Mile track since this not only helps her beat every race in her career, but also prevents the need to have too many excess skills that you won’t use in PvP.
Vodka Best Stats
|
Stats |
Priority Ratio |
Optimal Number |
|---|---|---|
|
Speed |
9 |
900-1000 |
|
Stamina |
3 |
400-500 |
|
Power |
4 |
500-600 |
|
Guts |
2 |
300-400 |
|
Wits |
2 |
300-400 |
The recommended stats mentioned above are the numbers you can reach after a good run if you’re building Vodka as a Medium Late Surger, but a few things will change if you also change your target build. Here’s exactly what you should aim for in each type of build:
- A Medium Pace Chaser Vodka will require a bit more Stamina to stay in the right position, but can make up for it by prioritizing her Guts a bit less.
- If you’re running her as a Mile Pace Chaser, you can keep your Stamina at the above level while also lowering your Guts, which lets you get higher numbers on her Speed and Power.
- Finally, for a Mile Late Surger, your priority of stats will be Speed, Power, and Guts. However, since building this one is quite easy, it’s also recommended to have over 500 Wit to keep her competitive.
If your end goal is to run her in a Mile distance, you can just get a few Stamina skills to beat your career on Medium.
It’s easier to build Vodka as a Late Surger for the Mile since this play style doesn’t need too much Stamina even for Medium.
Her base stats have a very high Power, but quite a low roll on Stamina, pushing you to build her as a Late Surger even more. Of course, with the right Legacy and Support Cards, you can still build her for Medium.
Vodka Legacy Recommendations
Before you start your career with Vodka, you’ll get to choose two Legacies that can give her a bunch of boosts at the start and two other times during the run. These boosts can include both stats and skill hints. For Vodka, your priority for stats in these Legacies will be Speed, Power, and Guts.
You can get some Stamina if you’re planning to build her as a Medium, but you can then skip out on the Guts since it’s better to build her as a Pace Chaser on Medium. It’s also important to get your Pace Chaser to an A rating at the start of the career with your Legacies for this build.
Vodka Best Skills
Another thing making Vodka’s Late Surger Mile build good is that there are a ton of skills you can easily get for this distance and style. Here are some of the best skills to look out for:
|
Skill |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Late Surger Savvy |
This skill increases your chances of getting in a good position, which essentially means that it boosts your Guts as a Late Surger, which can be highly important. |
|
A Small Breather |
Talking about skills that can help you beat the career even if you want to use her as a Mile character, this one recovers her Stamina in the late race, as long as you have the Late Surger style. |
|
Relax |
This skill is the better version of the one above, being very valuable if you can manage to get it. |
|
Position Pilfer |
A Late Surger like Vodka truly shines from the mid to late-race, and this ability increases her Speed during the former. |
|
Straightaway Skills |
Throughout your career, you can get skills to increase your Speed on a straight. Some of these apply to every situation, while others can be specific to Late Surger or Mile distance. These abilities are top-tier for Vodka, as long as you pick the right one. |
|
Updrafters |
This is a Mile-specific skill that increases your Guts when you’re in the back during late-race. This skill can lead into Vodka’s unique, making perfect synergy. |
|
Swinging Maestro |
This skill will help Vodka regain endurance on corners, allowing her to breathe for a moment and regain some ground later in the race. |
Vodka Best Support Cards
The main gacha of Umamusume: Pretty Derby is in the Support Card banner since they’re far more important than getting a specific character. These cards are selected at the start of the career, and they not only help you with training, but also provide you with most of the skills you’ll upgrade throughout the run.
However, the hints you get for these skills are random, so it’s important to use the cards that suit Vodka the most. In general, you’d want to use three Speed, one Power, and two Guts cards with her. Though you can replace one Guts card with a Wit if you have Fine Motion, and here are your other choices:
|
Support Card |
Type |
Synergy With Vodka |
|---|---|---|
|
Winning Ticket (BNWinner!) |
Guts |
Apart from having a decent chance of appearing on the Guts training, this card also has a bunch of golden Late Surger skills with no skills that are completely useless for Vodka. |
|
Grass Wonder (Fairest Fleur) |
Guts |
Once again, this card has some great stats while having a ton of Late Surger skills. Moreover, it can also give you some debuff skills to nerf Pace Chasers. |
|
Special Week (The Setting Sun and Rising Star) |
Speed |
While this card doesn’t have a lot of great Late Surger skills, it can give you some great Stamina abilities to help you with the career, and it can also be good for the Medium Pace Chaser build. |
|
Gold City (Run My Way) |
Speed |
If you have this card, it can be very useful for the Late Surger Mile build, though it doesn’t have the greatest general effects. |
|
Kitasan Black (Fire At My Heels) |
Speed |
This card is a great addition to any Uma’s deck, as it grants plenty of speed boosts with Specialty Priority. |
|
Super Creek (Piece of Mind) |
Stamina |
This card is great for getting the Swinging Maestro skill on almost every run, sometimes as early as your first major race post-debut! |
Vodka Career And Events
Vodka is a powerful racer, and her career is one that takes a bit of practice to master. With a bit of luck on your side, and all the right support cards in your deck, you increase the odds of creating a nigh-unbeatable racer after completing her career–but it all starts with the URA Finale.
Below is a breakdown of Vodka’s career, along with her goals and events so you can plan ahead. It’s important to be prepared for even the worst of things so you can salvage any run and avoid wasting energy.
Vodka Career Objectives
|
Turn Number |
Month |
Objective |
|---|---|---|
|
Turn 12 |
Junior Year, Late June |
Participate in the Junior Make Debut 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 23 |
Junior Year, Early December |
Place in the top 5 in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 29 |
Junior Year, Early March |
Place in the top 5 in the Tulip Sho 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 31 |
Classic Year, Early April |
Place in the top 5 in the Oka Sho 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 34 |
Classic Year, Late May |
Place in the top 5 in the Tokya Yushun (Japanese Derby) 2,400m Turf – Medium |
|
Turn 44 |
Classic Year, Late October |
Place in the top 3 in the Shuka Sho 2,000m Turf – Medium |
|
Turn 48 |
Classic Year, Late December |
Participate in the Arima Kinen 2,500m Turf – Long |
|
Turn 57 |
Senior Year, Early May |
Place in the top 3 in the Victoria Mile 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 59 |
Senior Year, Early June |
Place in the top 2 in the Yasuda Kinen 1,600m Turf – Mile |
|
Turn 68 |
Senior Year, Late October |
Place 1st in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) 2,000m Turf – Medium |
Vodka Career Events
|
Event Category |
Event Name |
Choices |
|---|---|---|
|
Costume |
Vintage Style |
Top: +20 Power Bottom: +20 Stamina |
|
Costume |
Makings of a Friend |
Top: +20 Speed, random chance to get the Practice Perfect status Bottom: +20 Guts |
|
Costume |
Hot and Cool |
Top: +20 Speed, random chance to get the Practice Perfect status Bottom: +10 Speed, +10 Power, random chance to get the Practice Perfect status |
|
Choices |
Like A Kid |
Top: +10 Speed Bottom: +10 Power |
|
Choices |
Challenging Fate |
Top: +10 Stamina Bottom: +10 Speed |
|
Choices |
Showdown by the River! |
Top: +10 Wit, +15 Skill Points Bottom: +1 Shifting Gears hint |
|
Choices |
Awkward Honesty |
Top: +10 Energy, +5 Skill Points OR +30 Energy, +10 Skill Points Bottom: +30 Energy, +10 Skill Points, +5 Power, -5 Speed, Slow Metabolism status |
|
Date |
The Standards of Coolness |
Top: +10 Wit Bottom: +10 Guts |
|
Date |
Ring Out, Passionate Round! |
Top: +10 Speed Bottom: +10 Stamina |
|
Date |
The Way of Cool |
Top: +10 Power Middle: +10 Speed Bottom: +5 Stamina, +5 Guts |
|
Date |
Let’s Take A Little Detour |
Top: +10 Speed Bottom: +5 Energy, +1 Mood |
|
Date |
Sugar and Spice |
Top: +5/+10 Energy Bottom: +10 Power |
|
Secret |
After the Yasuda Kinen: Pedal to the Metal! Win the Yasuda Kinen in Year 3 |
Standard race rewards, and +1 Nimble Navigator hint |
|
Secret |
After the Yasuda Kinen: Consecutive Celebration Win the Yasuda Kinen twice |
+3 to all stats, +45 Skill Points, +1 Nimble Navigator hint, +4 Yayoi Akikawa bond, Practice Perfect status |
|
Special |
Bonus at the start |
+120 Skill Points |
|
Special |
Failed Training (Get Well Soon!) |
Top: -1 Mood, -5 to the last trained stat, Practice Poor status (random) Bottom: Either -1 Mood, -10 to the last trained stat, Practice Poor status (random) OR Practice Perfect. |
|
Special |
Failed Training (Don’t Overdo It!) |
Top: +10 Energy, -2 Mood, -10 to the last trained stat, -10 to 2 random stats, Practice Poor status (random) Bottom: Either -3 Mood, -10 to the last trained stat, -10 to 2 random stats, Practice Poor Status OR +10 Energy and Practice Perfect status. |
|
Special |
Extra Training |
Top: +5 to the last trained stat, -5 Energy, heal a negative status effect (random), Yayoi Akikawa bond +5 Bottom: +5 Energy |
|
Special |
At Summer Camp (Year 2) |
Top: +10 Power Bottom: +10 Guts |
|
Special |
Fan Letter |
+1 Mood and +30 Skill Points |
|
Special |
Dance Lesson |
Top: +10 Power Bottom: +10 Guts |
|
Special |
New Year’s Resolutions |
Top: +10 Stamina Middle: +20 Energy Bottom: +20 Skill Points |
|
Special |
New Year’s Shrine Visit |
Top: +20 Wit Middle: All stats +5 Bottom: +30 Skill Points |
|
Special |
Acupuncture (Just an Acupuncturist, No Worries!) |
Option 1: 30 percent chance to get +20 to all stats OR 70 percent chance for -2 Mood, -15 to all stats, and Night Owl Status. Option 2: 45 percent chance to get Corner Recovery and Straightaway Recovery skill hints OR 55 percent chance for -20 Energy and -2 Mood. Option 3: 70 percent chance to get +12 to Max Energy, +40 Energy, and heal all negative status effects OR 30 percent chance to -20 Energy, -2 Mood, and get Practice Poor Status. Option 4: 85 percent chance to get +20 Energy, +1 Mood, and Charming status OR 15 percent chance to get -10 or -20 Energy, -1 Mood, and Practice Poor status (random). Bottom: +10 Energy |
|
Post Race |
Victory! (G1) |
Top: -15 Energy, +10 to a random stat, +45 Skill Points Bottom: -5 or -20 Energy, +10 to a random stat, +45 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Victory! (G2 and G3) |
Top: -15 Energy, +8 to a random stat, +35 Skill Points Bottom: -5 or -20 Energy, +8 to a random stat, +35 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Victory! (Pre Op and Op) |
Top: -15 Energy, +5 to a random stat, +30 Skill Points Bottom: -5 or -20 Energy, +5 to a random stat, +30 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Solid Showing (G1) |
Top: -20 Energy, +8 to a random stat, +45 Skill Points Bottom: -10 or -30 Energy, +8 to a random stat, +45 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Solid Showing (G2 and G3) |
Top: -20 Energy, +5 to a random stat, +35 Skill Points Bottom: -10 or -30 Energy, +5 to a random stat, +35 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Solid Showing (Pre Op and Op) |
Top: -20 Energy, +3 to a random stat, +30 Skill Points Bottom: -10 or -30 Energy, +3 to a random stat, +30 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Defeat (G1) |
Top: -25 Energy, +4 to a random stat, +25 Skill Points Bottom: -15 or -35 Energy, +4 to a random stat, +25 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Defeat (G2 and G3) |
Top: -25 Energy, +3 to a random stat, +20 Skill Points Bottom: -15 or -35 Energy, +3 to a random stat, +20 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Defeat (Pre Op and Op) |
Top: -25 Energy, +10 Skill Points Bottom: -15 or -35 Energy, +10 Skill Points |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Elated Coverage (G1) |
+15 energy, +1 Mood, +10 to a random stat, +45 Skill Points, +500 Fans, and Etsuko Otonashi bond +15 |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Elated Coverage (G2 and G3) |
+15 energy, +1 Mood, +8 to a random stat, +35 Skill Points, +500 Fans, and Etsuko Otonashi bond +15 |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Elated Coverage (Pre Op and Op) |
+15 energy, +1 Mood, +5 to a random stat, +30 Skill Points, +500 Fans, and Etsuko Otonashi bond +15 |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Exhaustive Coverage (G1) |
Top: Either -25 Energy, -1 Mood, +4 to a random stat, +25 Skill Points, and +10 to Etsuko Otonashi bond OR +15 Energy, +1 Mood, +4 to a random stat, +25 Skill Points, and +15 to Etsuko Otonashi Bottom: -20 Energy, +4 to a random stat, +25 Skill Points, +10 Etsuko Otonashi bond. |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Exhaustive Coverage (G2 and G3) |
Top: Either -25 Energy, -1 Mood, +3 to a random stat, +20 Skill Points, and +10 to Etsuko Otonashi bond OR +15 Energy, +1 Mood, +3 to a random stat, +20 Skill Points, and +15 to Etsuko Otonashi Bottom: -20 Energy, +3 to a random stat, +20 Skill Points, +10 Etsuko Otonashi bond. |
|
Post Race |
Etsuko’s Exhaustive Coverage (Pre Op and Op) |
Top: Either -25 Energy, -1 Mood, +10 Skill Points, and +10 to Etsuko Otonashi bond OR +15 Energy, +1 Mood, +10 Skill Points, and +15 to Etsuko Otonashi Bottom: -20 Energy, +10 Skill Points, +10 Etsuko Otonashi bond. |
Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Character Tier List
Which trainees should you invest in for the most optimal career and Legacy options? Let’s find out.
