Special Week stands as one of the most iconic and versatile racers in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby. Achieving victory with her requires a strategic balance between high Speed for the final stretch and sufficient Stamina to endure grueling long-distance tracks. While she can technically perform in multiple styles, her optimal performance consistently emerges when built as a Leader (Pace) for Medium and Long-distance events.

To succeed with Special Week, focus on reaching a Speed stat of at least 900 and a Stamina stat of 800 or higher for late-game career races. Prioritizing Stamina recovery skills is the deciding factor in whether she dominates the homestretch or fades before the finish line.

Stat Thresholds for Special Week Training

Training Special Week requires a nuanced understanding of how stats interact with race distance. Unlike sprinters who can focus purely on Speed, Special Week must navigate the complexity of mid-to-late race energy management.

Speed as the Primary Winning Factor

Speed determines the maximum velocity your Uma Musume can reach on the final straight. For a reliable Special Week build, Speed is the non-negotiable primary stat. In the current game environment, aiming for a Speed rating between 800 and 1000 is necessary to clear the URA Finals or high-tier PVP matches. If Speed falls below 750, Special Week will struggle to capitalize on her unique skill, "Shooting Star," which triggers specifically when overtaking rivals near the end of the race.

Stamina Requirements for Long Distance

Special Week possesses a 20% growth bonus in Stamina, making it significantly easier to hit high thresholds compared to other racers. For Medium distance races (2000m - 2400m), a Stamina stat of 600 to 700 is usually adequate. However, for Long distance races (2500m+), such as the infamous Arima Kinen or Tenno Sho (Spring), you must push this to 800–1000. In my testing, even with gold recovery skills, Special Week risks "hitting the wall" in the final 200m if her raw Stamina is neglected.

The Role of Power and Wisdom

Power is often the "hidden" winner in a Leader build. It governs acceleration and the ability to fight for position within the pack. A Power stat of 600 or higher ensures that Special Week can break away from the mid-pack effectively. Wisdom, while secondary, should not be ignored. A Wisdom stat of 300 to 400 is the sweet spot for ensuring skills activate consistently and for reducing the stamina penalty incurred during positioning battles.

Support Card Deck Configurations

The deck you choose dictates the training efficiency and the gold skills you can inherit. Special Week thrives with a deck that leans heavily into Speed and Stamina friendship bonuses.

The Balanced Standard Build

This configuration is ideal for players aiming for a versatile Special Week that can handle both Medium and Long distances.

  • 3 Speed Cards: Focus on cards like Kitasan Black (SSR) for high training efficiency and useful hints.
  • 1 Stamina Card: Super Creek (SSR) is the absolute priority here. Her gold skill, "Swinging Maestro," is the gold standard for Stamina recovery.
  • 1 Power Card: Oguri Cap (SSR) or El Condor Pasa (SSR) can provide the necessary acceleration skills.
  • 1 Friend/Intelligence Card: Using a card like Tazuna can help with motivation management and energy conservation.

The Long Distance Specialist Build

If your goal is to win specifically in 3000m+ races, shift the focus toward endurance.

  • 2 Speed Cards: Kitasan Black (SSR) and Tokai Teio (SSR).
  • 2 Stamina Cards: Super Creek (SSR) and Seiun Sky (SSR) or Rice Shower (SSR).
  • 1 Power Card: To ensure she doesn't get boxed in.
  • 1 Wisdom Card: Fine Motion (SSR) for better skill trigger rates.

Essential Skill Selection for Special Week

Skills act as multipliers for Special Week's raw stats. Choosing the wrong skills can lead to a high-stat racer who fails to win close races.

Unique Skill: Shooting Star

"Shooting Star" is Special Week's signature move. It activates late in the race when she passes another runner while in the front half of the pack. To maximize this skill, you must ensure Special Week has enough Power to initiate the overtake and enough Speed to maintain the lead once she passes. It provides a massive velocity boost that is often the difference between first and second place.

The Necessity of Recovery Skills

Because Special Week targets longer races, recovery skills are mandatory.

  • Swinging Maestro: A gold-tier recovery skill that activates on corners. It is arguably the most efficient recovery skill in the game.
  • Gourmand: Specifically tailored for Special Week, this skill provides a significant stamina boost mid-race. In our testing, having both "Swinging Maestro" and "Gourmand" allows you to run Long distance races with approximately 100-150 less raw Stamina than otherwise required.
  • Runner's High: Provides a steady pace boost to keep her at the front of the "Leader" pack without over-exerting.

Acceleration and Positioning Skills

  • Homestretch Haste: Increases speed in the final moments of the race.
  • Straightaway Acceleration: Crucial for the transition from the final corner to the straight.
  • Leader's Pride: Helps maintain the "Leader" position when other racers try to overtake mid-race.

Training Phases and Strategy Walkthrough

The training process for Special Week spans three years: Junior, Classic, and Senior. Each phase requires a different focus to ensure she hits her stat targets before the major Grade 1 (G1) races.

Junior Year: Building the Foundation

In the early months, training should focus on "Bond Building." Instead of picking the highest stat boost, choose training tiles where the most support cards are present. Your goal is to reach high friendship levels (indicated by the orange bar) as quickly as possible to trigger "Rainbow Training" by the start of the Classic year.

  • Key Milestone: Win the debut race and maintain a "Great" mood at all times. Use the "Rest" or "Wisdom" command if her energy is low.

Classic Year: The Stamina Test

During the Classic year, Special Week faces several Medium distance races. This is when you must start scaling her Stamina.

  • The Japanese Derby: Ensure Speed is around 350 and Stamina is at least 300.
  • Summer Training: In July and August, focus exclusively on whichever stat is lagging. This is the best time to utilize multiple Rainbow triggers.
  • Kikka Sho: This is a 3000m race. If your Stamina is below 450, you will likely lose without a recovery skill. Prioritize unlocking "Swinging Maestro" or "Gourmand" before this event.

Senior Year: The Championship Run

The final year focuses on maximizing Speed while maintaining enough Stamina for the Tenno Sho (Spring) and Arima Kinen.

  • Tenno Sho (Spring): This 3200m race is the hardest hurdle in Special Week's career. You need 600+ Stamina and at least one Gold recovery skill.
  • Final Polish: After the Spring races, dump all remaining points into Speed and Power. Aim to enter the URA Finals with at least 800 Speed.

Inheritance and Parent Selection

The inheritance system allows Special Week to gain stats and skill hints at specific intervals (April of Classic and Senior years).

Optimal Parent Traits

When selecting parents for Special Week, prioritize those with "Speed" or "Stamina" blue factors (indicated by 3 stars).

  • Leader Aptitude: Look for parents that can boost Special Week's Leader aptitude from A to S. An S-rank aptitude provides a hidden modifier to her performance during the race.
  • Compatibility: Characters like TM Opera O, Rice Shower, and Mejiro Ryan have high compatibility with Special Week. High compatibility increases the number of white factors (skills) inherited during the event.

Factoring in the Track

If you are building Special Week for a specific PVP event, check the track surface and distance. Inheriting "Core" skills or "Green" skills (like "Right-Handed" or "Sunny Weather") can provide cheap, effective stat boosts that don't depend on random triggers.

Why Your Special Week Build Might Be Failing

Even with high stats, some players find their Special Week losing consistently. Here are common reasons why:

  1. Low Wisdom: If Wisdom is below 250, your skills (including recovery skills) may simply fail to activate, leading to a Stamina collapse.
  2. Poor Positioning: Running her as a "Front-runner" (Runner) or "Betweener" without the proper aptitude can lead to severe penalties. Stick to the "Leader" style for the most consistent results.
  3. Mood Swings: Training with "Normal" or "Low" mood significantly reduces stat gains and increases the chance of failure. Always use "Recreation" to stay at "Great."
  4. Inconsistent Training: Don't try to make her a "Jack of all trades." If you are building for Long distance, don't waste turns on Guts training.

Summary of Special Week Build Strategy

To build a champion Special Week, you must respect the demands of long-distance racing. Prioritize Speed and Stamina in a 3:2 ratio during training, ensure you have the "Swinging Maestro" skill via Super Creek, and maintain her "Leader" positioning through high Power and Wisdom. By following a structured training timeline and choosing compatible parents, Special Week will transition from a promising rookie to the "Top Racer in Japan."

FAQ

What is the minimum Stamina needed for Special Week's long races?

For 3000m+ races like the Tenno Sho (Spring), you should aim for a minimum of 650 Stamina if you have two Gold recovery skills, or 800+ Stamina if you only have one.

Can Special Week run in Mile races?

While her natural aptitude for Mile races is C, it can be raised to A or B through inheritance. However, her growth bonuses and unique skill are better suited for Medium and Long distances.

Is Guts important for Special Week?

In most standard builds, Guts is a low-priority stat. It helps with endurance in the final spurt, but raw Stamina and Speed are much more effective for winning. Only focus on Guts if you are running a specific "Guts-Meta" deck which requires very high-tier support cards.

Which support card is the most important for Special Week?

Super Creek (SSR) is the most critical support card due to the "Swinging Maestro" skill, which solves most of Special Week's stamina issues.