Special Week is the face of the franchise for a reason. She’s the protagonist. She’s got that "never give up" energy that makes you want to see her cross the finish line at the Japan Cup and finally make her two mothers proud. But honestly? Building her in Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a total nightmare if you don’t know how to balance her stamina requirements with the current speed meta. You’ve probably seen your "Spe-chan" tank in the final stretch more times than you’d like to admit. It’s frustrating.
The reality is that a special week build uma musume thrives on complexity. She isn't a "set it and forget it" character like Sakura Bakushin O. She’s a classic Mid-to-Long distance runner with a heavy emphasis on Stamina and Power, but if you neglect her Intelligence (Wisdom), she’ll just get stuck in the pack and never find the opening she needs to trigger "Shooting Star."
The Stamina Trap in Mid-Distance Racing
Most players think that because Special Week has a 20% Stamina training growth bonus, they can just coast. That’s a mistake. While that bonus is huge, her base stats are spread thin. You're trying to prep her for the Arima Kinen and the Japan Cup, which means you need enough "tank" to survive 2400m to 2500m, but enough "engine" to actually pass people.
If you’re running the MRE (Make New Track) or Grand Live scenarios, you need to aim for at least 800 Stamina for her to be even remotely competitive in Grade A finals. I’ve seen people try to get away with 600 Stamina by stacking gold recovery skills like "Maestro of the Depths" (from the Super Creek SSR). It works—sometimes. But if the "Maestro" doesn't proc? Your race is over. You’re done. Spe-chan will do that heartbreaking "out of breath" animation, and you’ll watch a 1-star Urara pass her.
Why Speed Still Rules Everything
Speed is the ceiling. It doesn't matter how much Stamina you have if your top speed is lower than the rest of the field. For a high-tier special week build uma musume, you are looking at a mandatory 1200 Speed (or 1600 if you’re playing the newer, higher-cap scenarios).
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The trick is using her 10% Intelligence growth bonus to your advantage. Since she gets a boost there, you can afford to run fewer Wisdom cards and more Speed/Stamina cards. A common high-level deck composition usually looks like 3 Speed cards, 2 Stamina cards, and a Friend card (like Kitasan Black or the scenario-specific link card).
Strategy Selection: Between "Between" and "Long"
Special Week is natively an "A" in both Leader (先行, Senko) and Betweener (差し, Sashi).
Which one should you pick?
Most experts will tell you that Sashi is her "canon" style, and her unique skill "Shooting Star" (道あふれる想い) actually triggers more reliably when she’s coming from behind in the final corner. When she's in the Betweener position, she builds up more lane-changing momentum. If you go Leader, you run the risk of her getting blocked by a wall of other girls. There is nothing worse than seeing "Blocked" pop up on your screen when you’re 200m from the finish line.
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However, playing her as a Betweener requires significantly more Power. You need at least 900+ Power to ensure she has the "acceleration" to burst out of the pack. Without Power, she’s just a fast horse with no way to get around the traffic.
The Skill Point Economy
Don't buy skills just because they’re cheap. This is a common pitfall. You see a bunch of "〇" skills and think, "Hey, I can get five of these for the price of one gold skill!"
Stop.
Quality over quantity is the mantra for any special week build uma musume. You need "Non-Stop Girl" or "Rising Dragon" if you're going for a Sashi build. If you are lucky enough to have the SSR Yaeno Muteki, "Agitator" is a godsend. Also, pay attention to the track conditions. If you're building her specifically for a Champions Meeting, check if it's "Rainy" or "Heavy" track. Those green skills provide raw stat boosts that bypass the caps. They are literally free stats.
Genetic Factors: Inheritance Matters
You can't just slap any parents on Special Week and expect a miracle.
- Stamina Blue Factors: If you aren't using 3-star Stamina factors, you're making your life twice as hard.
- Distance Red Factors: You want to get her Long Distance (長距離) to an "S" rank. The "S" rank in distance provides a hidden modifier to your Speed stat during the race. It’s the difference between winning by a neck and losing by a nose.
- Unique Skill Inheritance: Borrowing "Victory Shot!" from Taiki Shuttle or "Let's Anabolic!" from Mejiro Ryan can give Spe-chan that extra kick she needs.
Common Misconceptions About Spe-chan
People think she’s a "beginner" character because she’s given to you early. She’s actually one of the hardest to optimize. Her growth rates are "good," but they aren't "specialized." A specialized girl like Mihono Bourbon is easier to build because you know exactly where the points are going. Special Week is a jack-of-all-trades, which means if you don't have a plan, she'll end up a master of none.
Another weird myth is that you need "Guts" (根性) for her. In the early days of the game, Guts was a garbage stat. Now, it's actually vital for the "Last Spurt" mechanic. But don't overdo it. For Special Week, 600 Guts is the "sweet spot" where you get the benefit of the end-game speed boost without sacrificing the points you need for Speed and Stamina.
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The "Hidden" Narrative Buffs
One thing that people forget is the training events. Special Week has several events that can give you "Cornering Specialist" or "Non-stop Girl" if you choose the right dialogue options. Pay attention to her mood. If she drops out of "Perfect" mood, her training gains tank by 20%. Use those "Outing" turns. It feels like a waste of a turn, but a Spe-chan with a "Small Luck" debuff is a Spe-chan that won't win the Arima Kinen.
Step-by-Step Optimization for Your Next Run
To actually land a high-rank special week build uma musume, follow this specific flow in your next training session:
- Prioritize Support Bonds Early: You must hit "Rainbow" training by the end of the first year (Junior Season). If you aren't seeing rainbows by the Hopeful Stakes, consider restarting.
- The 400/400 Rule: Aim for 400 Speed and 400 Stamina before the start of the Classic Year (the year of the Satsuki Sho and Tokyo Derby).
- The Gold Recovery Check: Ensure you have at least one Gold recovery skill (like "Arc Maestro" or "Cool Down") before the Kikuka Sho. 3000m is a long way to run without a snack.
- Final Stat Targets (Grade A/S):
- Speed: 1100+
- Stamina: 850+ (with 1 Gold Recovery)
- Power: 900+
- Guts: 600
- Wisdom: 700+
- Distance "S" Fishing: During the inheritance events in April of Year 2 and Year 3, pray to the RNG gods for that Long Distance or Mid Distance "S" rank. It is the single biggest factor in high-level PvP.
Stop trying to balance everything perfectly and start leaning into her strengths as a powerhouse finisher. Focus on the Power/Speed synergy and give her the Stamina to actually make it to the final straight. That's how you get her to the top of the podium.