Support Cards are the backbone of effective training in Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Whether you’re aiming for a top-ranked Veteran or simply clearing a trainee’s career efficiently, the right deck of Support Cards makes a dramatic difference. This 2025 Support Card Tier List breaks down the best cards by type and running style, so you can build your team for optimal performance.
What Are Support Cards in Umamusume?
Support Cards act as coaches that influence your trainee’s stats, training outcomes, and available skills. Each card belongs to one of six types:
- Speed
- Stamina
- Power
- Guts
- Wit (Intelligence)
- Pal (Friend)
These cards provide bonuses through features like Friendship Training (rainbow boost), Specialty Type Priority, and skill hint discounts during career runs.
See also: Umamusume Trophy List Guide: All 141 Race Wins, Tips & Rewards Explained
Note: Pal-type cards like Tazuna Hayakawa don’t provide skill hints but offer valuable training consistency and bonus stats like Recovery Boost and Initial Bond.
Support Card Tier Ratings: How They Work
Each Support Card is graded from S to D, based on:
- Friendship Bonus (rainbow training chance)
- Training Presence (how often it shows up for its training type)
- Skill Hint Value (how effective its skills are for winning races)
Specialty Priority determines how likely the card is to appear in its matching training type, making stat growth more focused and consistent.
Event skill availability, Fan Count bonus, and Race Bonus are additional factors that impact how fast trainees can unlock G1 races and meet progression thresholds.
See also: How to Get More Carats in Umamusume Pretty Derby (Fast & Free Methods)
Even a C-rank card can outperform its tier when uncapped, but this list highlights the best options for building high-performance teams—especially for Team Trials or PvP content.
While this list omits most R cards for clarity, remember that MLB (Max Limit Break) SR cards often outperform non-limited SSRs, especially in early and mid-game.
Best Support Cards by Type
Speed Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | Kitasan Black (SSR) |
| A | Sakura Bakushin O (SSR), Silence Suzuka (SSR), Tokai Teio (SSR), Special Week (SSR – Rising Stars), King Halo (SR) |
| B | Biko Pegasus, Nishino Flower, Twin Turbo, Eishin Flash (SR/SSR), Sweep Tosho (SR) |
| C/D | Mostly R cards with limited stat growth; useful only early-game |
Stamina Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | Super Creek (SSR), Satono Diamond (SSR) |
| A | Gold Ship, Mejiro McQueen, Seiun Sky, Tamamo Cross (SSR), Mayano Top Gun (SR) |
| B/C | Manhattan Cafe, Rice Shower (varied tiers) |
| D | TM Opera O (R), low-impact cards |
Power Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | El Condor Pasa, Vodka, Oguri Cap (SSR) |
| A | Smart Falcon, Hishi Amazon, Mihono Bourbon (SR) |
| B/C | Mejiro Ryan, Agnes Digital |
| D | Mostly R variants of above cards |
Guts Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | Grass Wonder, Ines Fujin, Mejiro Palmer, Matikanetannhauser (SSR) |
| A | Winning Ticket, Haru Urara |
| B/C/D | Mostly SR/R cards with situational utility |
Wit Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | Fine Motion, Yukino Bijin (SSR) |
| A | Daiwa Scarlet, Marvelous Sunday, Agnes Tachyon (SR) |
| B/C/D | Cards with niche value or lower synergy |
Pal Support Cards
| Tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| S | Tazuna Hayakawa (SSR) |
| A | Aoi Kiryuin (SR) |
| B | R versions—limited utility outside early game |
Best Support Cards by Running Style
Choosing the right card based on your trainee’s running style is just as important as card type. Here’s a quick look at top performers per category.
See also: Umamusume Triple Crown Races Guide: All Epithets & Rewards
Front Runners (Lead Early)
Front Runners aim to lead the race from the start and need strong straightaway/corner skills to maintain position. Recovery isn’t as vital here as raw speed and stamina.
- Silence Suzuka – Top pick for speed-focused escapes
- Twin Turbo – Provides Moxie and strong leader synergy
- Seiun Sky – Excellent debuffing against chasers
Pace Chasers (Midfield)
Pace Chasers thrive in the mid-pack and balance acceleration, stamina recovery, and navigation skills to avoid crowding. Their skills tend to trigger during turns or middle legs of a race.
- Special Week (Rising Stars) – Recovery and acceleration balance
- Fine Motion – Strong corner acceleration and event chains
- El Condor Pasa – Great for medium-distance chasers
- Tokai Teio – Packed with straightaway buffs and Pace Chaser synergy
Late Surgers (Back-to-Front Overtake)
Late Surgers benefit from skills that trigger toward the rear of the field and enable explosive surges in the final leg. Speed and navigation are key here.
- Eishin Flash – Timed burst at final phase
- Vodka – Excels at aggressive late-game momentum
- Agnes Tachyon – Ideal for unique pass-based builds
End Closers (Extreme Back-to-Front)
End Closers settle behind even Late Surgers. They require precise navigation to cut through the pack and rely on burst acceleration from back positions.
- Gold Ship – Strong long-distance skills and race pacing tools
- Hishi Amazon – Well-rounded closer kit
- Narita Taishin – Great in Career mode with Lone Wolf synergy
See also: Umamusume Acupuncturist Event Guide: Best Chakra Choices & Outcomes
Debuffers (Crowd Control)
Debuffers don’t enhance your runner directly but weaken opponents using condition-triggered skills—especially useful in PvP Team Trials.
- Marvelous Sunday – Targets Front and Mid runners
- Nice Nature – Hurts Late Surgers and supports ally acceleration
- Rice Shower – Shuts down Pace Chasers and includes a self-heal
Top Overall SSR Picks (S-Tier Power Cards in 2025)
These Support Cards have remained consistently dominant across all strategies:
- Kitasan Black (Speed) – Highest usage in competitive runs. It’s considered meta due to its high Friendship Bonus, strong Specialty Priority, and access to top-tier skills like Speed Star and Corner Recovery ◯. In a recent in-game poll, Kitasan Black led with 244 votes, reinforcing its popularity across player strategies.
- Super Creek (Stamina) – A recovery powerhouse that ensures stamina sustainability in long races and boosts success in late surges.
- El Condor Pasa (Power) – Offers versatile yellow skills and excels in medium-distance and pace-chasing builds.
- Fine Motion (Wit) – Excellent synergy with most running styles; known for event chains, Practice Perfect ◯, and corner skill boosts.
- Marvelous Sunday (Debuff/Wit) – A disruptive tool in PvP modes with debuff skills targeting common styles like Front Runners and Pace Chasers.
See also: Umamusume Unlock Signature Racewear & Outfits Guide (2025)
Tips for Using Support Cards Efficiently
- Limit Break Priority – MLB SRs can often outperform non-MLB SSRs, especially in early-to-mid game builds.
- Mix Types Smartly – Avoid stacking one type. Instead, balance your deck based on your trainee’s training focus (Speed, Stamina, etc.).
- Check Aptitudes – Some Support Cards only shine when matched with compatible characters or racing styles.
- Borrow Wisely – To borrow high-tier SSRs, finish a trainee’s career and follow the trainer who appears. You can also use the Friends menu to search for users who have MLB Kitasan Black, Super Creek, or Fine Motion available.
Many SSR and SR cards feature unique story-based events that unlock exclusive skills. Some even include “chain events” that grant stat boosts, practice bonuses, or guaranteed skill activations (like Fine Motion’s Practice Perfect ◯).
Support Card usefulness can shift depending on the mode: Career (single-run development) or Team Trials (PvP competitive play). Cards with Fan Bonus and Race Bonus are better suited for fast fan accumulation in Team Trials.
Related Guide You Might Like:
- Umamusume Trophy List Guide: All 141 Race Wins, Tips & Rewards Explained
- Umamusume Vodka Build Guide: Best Stats, Skills, and Card Setup Explained
- Umamusume Pretty Derby Pity System Guide: Rates, Cost & How It Works
- How to Get More Carats in Umamusume Pretty Derby (Fast & Free Methods)
- Umamusume Triple Crown Races Guide: All Epithets & Rewards
Mastering Support Card synergy in Umamusume: Pretty Derby is the key to racing success. While this tier list gives you a solid foundation, always adjust based on your available cards, trainee style, and race objectives. Whether you’re building for Career clears or dominating Team Trials, the right Support Card setup can push your team to new heights.
