Key Takeaways
- Unique skills are powerful tools that can be leveled permanently and temporarily.
- Fan accumulation during career mode directly affects skill level-ups.
- Lower-star Umamusume offer permanent upgrade options, while 3-star characters rely on gameplay-based improvements.
Unique skills are key to a successful racing career in Umamusume: Pretty Derby. These powerful abilities, which are specific to each horsegirl, can greatly enhance performance in races when properly leveled. However, upgrading them isn’t as straightforward as leveling regular skills—there’s a blend of progression mechanics, fan counts, and permanent upgrades to manage.
Here’s everything you need to know about leveling up unique skills and boosting your Uma’s chances at dominating the racetrack.
What Are Unique Skills in Umamusume?
In Umamusume: Pretty Derby, every scouted horsegirl comes with a unique skill—indicated by a rainbow-colored icon in the skill list. These are unlocked automatically when starting a new career playthrough and can significantly impact race outcomes.
To view your Uma’s unique skill, go to the Enhance menu, then choose Trainee. Selecting the horse will show her skill list, where her unique ability stands out clearly among others.
Also read: How to Get Ophidian Iris in Diablo 4 Season 9 – Hydra Sorcerer’s Best Unique
How to Permanently Raise Unique Skill Levels
Most unique skills begin at level 1 and can be permanently raised to level 2, but only under certain conditions:
- One- and Two-Star Umamusume: You can use Star Pieces to increase their star level, which in turn raises their unique skill to level 2 permanently.
- Three-Star Umamusume: These cannot be upgraded permanently via star level. Instead, players must rely on temporary upgrades during each playthrough.
Level 2 is the highest a unique skill can be permanently raised to, so prioritizing early-star-level upgrades is vital for long-term performance.
Raising Unique Skill Levels in Career Mode
During career mode, unique skills can also be temporarily leveled up by gaining enough fans before certain checkpoint stages. Each playthrough offers specific opportunities to boost your skill’s power if fan thresholds are met.
Key points to remember:
- The more fans your Uma gains, the better the odds of triggering skill upgrades.
- Fan requirements vary depending on your Uma’s track aptitude. For example, horses with A-rank dirt aptitude need fewer fans.
- Currently, Haru Urara is the only character who benefits from this dirt aptitude shortcut, but more are expected in future updates.
Charts available in-game and online break down the required fan numbers per checkpoint, so plan your races strategically to meet them.
Final Tips for Optimizing Unique Skills
To maximize your Uma’s unique skill potential:
- Use support cards and training plans that boost fan growth early.
- Target key races that offer high fan gains.
- Prioritize training for star-level upgrades on lower-rarity Umamusume for long-term advantages.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of GameDegen.com. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. GameDegen.com is not responsible for any financial losses.
