Vodka (ウォッカ) isn’t just another fan-favorite from Uma Musume: Pretty Derby , she’s one of the most versatile and rewarding characters you can train.
Inspired by the legendary real-world racehorse that made history in the Japanese Derby, Vodka carries that same headstrong, rebellious energy into the game. She’s bold, confident, and determined to prove herself as “the coolest,” and her gameplay reflects that spirit.
What makes Vodka stand out in the Uma Musume roster is her rare mix of flexibility and raw power.
Unlike many characters who are locked into one race type or style, Vodka comes with A-rank aptitudes in both Mile and Medium distances and excels naturally as a Late Surger (差し, Sashi). That means she can adapt to a variety of strategies while still dominating her core races.
For players, this flexibility translates into a character who can handle career progression smoothly while also shining in PvP leagues. Whether you’re a beginner still learning training mechanics or a veteran pushing for high-ranking builds, Vodka rewards smart planning with reliable results.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- Her core strengths and weaknesses
- The best builds (Late Surger and Pace Chaser)
- Recommended stat goals, skills, and support cards
- Advanced tips for handling tough races like the Japan Derby
By the end, you’ll have a complete blueprint for turning Vodka into a true powerhouse.
UNCORKING VICTORY
The Definitive Guide to Training Vodka
This guide will help you build the perfect horse girl, optimizing her stats, Support Cards, and abilities to unlock her full potential on the track.
Main Focus
Speed
The core of her strategy, essential for her Closer running style.
Secondary Focus
Power
Crucial for acceleration and maintaining speed on hills or in a packed field.
Ideal Aptitude
Mile (A)
This is her specialty. Prioritize Mile races to maximize her potential.
Ideal Stats for Rank A
To create a winning Vodka, you need to aim for these specific values by the end of the URA Finals. Prioritize **Speed** and **Power**, but do not neglect the others for a complete and balanced athlete.
The Training Strategy
Early Phase (Debut ~ Classic Period)
Focus on increasing Support Card friendship levels. Prioritize sessions with multiple high-rarity cards present. Speed and Wisdom training are ideal for her early races and to gain skill points.
Mid Phase (Classic Period ~ Winter)
Begin to focus on Speed and Power. Stamina or Guts training is only recommended if energy is low and there are no better alternatives. Aim to activate “rainbow” training sessions as much as possible.
Late Phase (Third Year)
Maximize Speed and Power. Your goal is to get Speed to at least 1000. Use any remaining turns to boost Guts for the final sprint or Wisdom to improve skill activation.
Ideal Support Card Composition
A balanced deck is essential to reaching the desired stats. This composition heavily focuses on Speed, with solid Power support and a versatile friend card.
The 4 Speed / 2 Power composition offers the best balance for Vodka’s needs. SSR Kitasan Black is one of the top choices for the Speed slots. For Power, SSR Rice Shower offers great skills and stats. If you don’t have the recommended SSR cards, you can substitute them with the highest rarity SR cards of the same type.
Essential Skills to Acquire
Top Priority Skills
- ⭐Arc Maestro (円弧のマエストロ): A gold skill to recover stamina, almost indispensable for finishing Mid-distance races without running out of steam.
- ⭐Straight Line Skill (直線巧者): A simple yet effective Speed boost on straightaways. Cost-effective and reliable.
- ⭐Mile Cornerstone (マイルコーナー◯): Increases speed in corners, especially in Mile races, taking full advantage of her aptitude.
Situational & High-Impact Skills
- ⭐Decisive Angle (決意の直滑降): Vodka’s unique skill. It provides a significant Speed boost in the final straightaway, perfect for her Closer strategy. Make sure her Intelligence is high enough for consistent activation.
- ⭐Head-to-Head (真っ向勝負): Increases Speed if another horse girl is nearby in the final stretch. Excellent for breaking out of a tight pack.
- ⭐Closer Skills: Any skill that activates in the final phase, such as ‘Legs All The Way (末脚)’ or ‘Outside Dash (外差し準備)’, will greatly enhance her final burst.
Vodka’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Vodka is built for versatility. She shines in both Mile and Medium distances but comes with a few hurdles you’ll need to manage. Here’s a quick breakdown:
💪 Strengths
| Strength | Why It Matters |
| A-Rank in Mile & Medium | Covers most of her career races and keeps her useful in PvP. |
| Late Surger Style (A-Rank) | Naturally excels at holding back, then bursting forward in the last stretch. |
| +20% Power Growth Bonus | Reaches high Power stats efficiently → lets you focus more on Speed. |
| Unique Skill – Cut and Drive! | Triggers in the final 200m when near the lead, giving her a decisive finishing kick. |
⚠️ Weaknesses
| Weakness | Why It’s a Problem |
| High Stamina Demands | Medium-distance races and the Japan Derby (2400m) drain her stamina fast. |
| Risk of Getting Boxed In | As a Late Surger, she can get stuck behind rivals without enough Power or positioning skills. |
| Conditional Unique Skill | Cut and Drive! won’t trigger if she isn’t already near the front — poor positioning kills her momentum. |
👉 Quick Takeaway: Vodka is a powerhouse with flexibility + natural Power scaling, but she needs Stamina support and reliable positioning to consistently win.
Recommended Builds for Vodka
Vodka’s versatility lets her shine in two main builds: the Classic Late Surger (her strongest and most reliable style) and the Tactical Pace Chaser (an alternative for players who want to experiment).
🥇 Build A: Classic Late Surger (Best Overall)
Playstyle: Stay mid-pack, conserve stamina, then unleash a chain of acceleration skills in the final stretch.
Her unique skill Cut and Drive! activates when near the lead in the last 200m, making this the most consistent and meta-friendly build.
Stat Goals
| Stat | Target | Notes |
| Speed | 900–1000 | Core win condition — train heavily here. |
| Power | 500–600+ (up to 800 late-game) | Boosts acceleration + overtaking; benefits from +20% growth bonus. |
| Stamina | 400–500 (550 for Medium races) | Critical for surviving Japan Derby & Medium events. |
| Guts | 300–400 | Helps late-race resilience and reduces stamina drain. |
| Wit (Intelligence) | 300–400 | Ensures skill activation + positioning. |
Essential Skills
| Skill | Type | Why It Matters |
| Swinging Maestro | Gold | Best recovery skill → solves most Stamina issues. |
| Furious Feat | Gold | Vodka’s awakening skill, gives huge final sprint acceleration. |
| Good Respite | Gold | Extra recovery, stacks with Maestro. |
| Position Pilfer | White | Helps break free from traffic, avoids being boxed in. |
| Straightaway Surger | White | Cheap, reliable Speed boost on straights. |
Support Deck Setup: Optimal Deck (3-2-1):
- 3× Speed (e.g. SSR Kitasan Black, SR Eishin Flash)
- 2× Power (e.g. SSR/ SR Agnes Digital)
- 1× Flex (Stamina SSR Super Creek recommended)
🥈 Build B: Tactical Pace Chaser (Alternative)
Playstyle: Runs near the front for most of the race, conserving just enough stamina to finish strong. Relies less on last-second bursts and more on steady positioning + skill triggers.
Stat Goals
| Stat | Target | Notes |
| Speed | 900–1000 | Must keep pace in the front group. |
| Stamina | 500+ | Higher than Late Surger → essential for front-running. |
| Power | 500–600 | Still important, but less burst-reliant. |
| Wit (Intelligence) | 350–400 | Helps with efficient positioning and stamina conservation. |
Key Skills
| Skill | Type | Why It Matters |
| Corner Adept | White | Boosts performance on corners, where most battles are decided. |
| Pace Chaser Straightaways | White | Sustains Speed during long stretches. |
| Recovery Skills | Mixed | Needed to offset high stamina usage at the front. |
Support Deck Setup: Suggested Deck (3-2-1):
- 3× Speed
- 2× Stamina (SSR Super Creek ideal)
- 1× Wit or Flex
Training & Optimization Tips
Building Vodka isn’t just about stats and support cards — how you manage training, inheritance, and key career hurdles will make or break your run.
Inheritance System (Lineage Boosts)
The inheritance system is the fastest way to patch Vodka’s weaknesses.
| Inheritance Boost | Why It Helps |
| Stamina Sparks | Essential for Medium-distance races, especially the Japan Derby. |
| Pace Chaser Upgrade (B → A) | Expands her flexibility if you want to run her as a front-runner. |
| Blue Stat Sparks | +21 to a stat per 3★ spark → a strong lineage can give her a huge head start in Speed/Power. |
👉 Pro tip: Borrow high-quality legacy characters from friends. Even beginners can benefit from maxed-out lineages this way.
Navigating the Japan Derby (2400m)
This is Vodka’s biggest hurdle in career mode. Many players fail here because they under-train stamina.
Checklist for Winning:
- Stamina: 450–550+
- Recovery Skill: At least 1 gold recovery (Swinging Maestro strongly recommended)
- Support Card Help: Borrow SSR Super Creek if you don’t own her
Without this setup, Vodka often crashes in the final 400m.
Advanced Training Tips
- Mood Management: Keep Vodka in Great Mood for +20% stat gains and better race results. Don’t waste runs on Neutral/Poor.
- Energy Efficiency: Avoid resting if possible, use training events and recovery items instead.
- Summer Training Camps (July/August): Facilities jump to level 5 → start these months with max energy to maximize stat gains.
- Friendship Training: Prioritize raising support card bonds early → rainbow drills snowball your stat growth.
❌ Common Pitfalls to Avoid
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
| Neglecting Stamina | Failing Derby & Medium races | Use Super Creek or stamina inheritance |
| Too much balance, not enough focus | Ends with average stats, weak in PvP | Prioritize Speed first, Power second |
| Ignoring positioning skills | Vodka gets boxed in | Add Position Pilfer or similar skills |
| Over-resting | Wastes turns | Use events/items instead |
👉 Quick Takeaway:
A successful Vodka run = Speed focus + Power scaling, backed by Stamina inheritance and recovery skills. Solve those two issues, and she becomes a consistent winner.
Advanced Tips for Veterans
Once you’ve nailed Vodka’s basics, these optimizations will help you turn good runs into championship-level builds.
Micro-Optimizations
✅ Plan Training Rotations: Don’t just pick the biggest number. Prioritize bond progress to unlock rainbow drills earlier.
✅ Stack Skill Chains: Example: Position Pilfer → Furious Feat → Cut and Drive! → ensures a devastating final sprint.
✅ Race Smart: Enter G1 races for big gains; skip filler races that waste stamina and training turns.
Camp & Event Mastery
| Key Moment | What to Do |
| Summer Camps (July/August) | Enter with full energy → facilities are Lv.5 → biggest stat boosts of the year. |
| Support Card Events | Certain SSR/SR cards unlock stamina restores or unique skills. Prioritize cards with strong event chains. |
Skill Reliability
- Wit (Intelligence): Keep at 350–400 to boost skill activation rates.
- Recovery vs Burst: Don’t overstack recovery. One gold stamina skill + 1–2 burst skills is usually optimal.
Veteran Traps to Avoid
| Trap | Why It’s Bad | Fix |
| Over-investing in Power | Vodka’s +20% growth already pushes Power up | Spend extra turns on Speed/Stamina |
| Zero Guts Investment | Causes stamina collapse in last 200m | Keep Guts at 300+ |
| Too Many Random Skills | Dilutes activation chance | Focus on 4–5 synergistic skills |
👉 Pro Insight: Vodka is about efficiency, not brute force. Plan your run like a chess game: time your drills, manage your mood, and aim for skill synergy.
Conclusion & Final Recommendations
Vodka (ウォッカ) is one of the most flexible and rewarding characters in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.
With her A-rank Mile/Medium aptitudes, strong Power growth, and versatile race styles, she’s built to carry you through career mode and into PvP leagues.
- Her best build is the Classic Late Surger:
- Stat focus: Speed → Power → Stamina
- Key skills: Swinging Maestro, Furious Feat, Cut and Drive!
- Support deck: Speed-heavy with SSR Kitasan Black, SSR Super Creek, and SSR Fine Motion.
- For advanced players, the Pace Chaser build adds variety but requires more stamina investment and tighter planning.
👉 Quick Rule: Solve her stamina needs and secure reliable positioning, and Vodka becomes one of the most consistent performers in the game.
✅ Final takeaway: Vodka rewards smart trainers who balance Speed and Stamina with skill synergy. Build her right, and she’ll prove why she’s one of Uma Musume’s most iconic champions.
