Cygames is rolling out the most sweeping overhaul yet to Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s support card system. Starting October 7, 2025, the Japanese version will completely remove card levels, changing how players build and strengthen their decks.
Leveling System Gets Axed
In the current setup, players spend Support Points (SP) and money to level up support cards and unlock bonuses. That will disappear. Instead, bonuses will now unlock the moment you uncap a card by pulling or receiving a duplicate.
The developer illustrated the change with the SSR Speed Kitasan Black card. Right now, its “Specialty Rate Up 40” effect only activates once the card hits Level 45, which requires three limit breaks and additional SP investment. Under the new system, the effect will be unlocked as soon as the card hits 3LB, regardless of level, since levels won’t exist anymore.
For many players, this means no more grinding SP just to activate bonuses already tied to their dupes.
SP to Be Converted Into Money
Since SP won’t serve any purpose after October 7, Cygames confirmed it will phase the resource out entirely.
All SP currently sitting in accounts will automatically convert into money. On top of that, players will be reimbursed for every SP and coin already used to level support cards in the old system. The refunds will come directly in money, giving everyone a financial reset.
That change also affects the Jupiter Cup daily race, which right now provides SP. After the update, it will instead award strengthening items.
Enhancements Will Depend on Rarity and Uncap
Team Trial bonuses are also changing. Right now, they scale with card level. After the patch, they will scale with card rarity and uncap level. In other words, the more copies of a card you have, the stronger its trial bonuses will be—without the need for grinding SP.
Cygames is also refreshing the Enhance screen. Menus that once dealt with leveling and SP spending will disappear. The interface will highlight rarity, uncap status, and the bonuses tied to those conditions.
What This Means for Players
On paper, the update makes the system much simpler. Instead of managing SP and slowly climbing levels, you’ll only need to keep track of how many copies of a card you own and what rarity it is.
It also means:
SP farming becomes irrelevant, since all players’ stockpiles will turn into money.
Support bonuses will be predictable and easier to read at a glance.
Duplicate pulls will feel more impactful, since they instantly unlock passive effects.
That said, some fans may worry about balance shifts in Team Trials or how strengthening items from the new Jupiter Cup rewards will compare to the old SP grind.
Only for Japan—for Now
Cygames clarified the update is exclusive to the Japanese server of Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Other versions of the game remain unaffected for now, though it’s not unusual for large-scale changes to hit Japan first before eventually rolling out overseas.
The mobile and PC versions of Umamusume will both reflect the overhaul on October 7. Players logging in after the patch will see their SP converted automatically, their refunds issued, and their support card screens redesigned.
For a game that thrives on collection and progression, this change is massive—arguably the biggest shake-up since launch. Whether players embrace the streamlined system or miss the grind of leveling remains to be seen.
