Quick answer
Start with a Trial Deck like the Umamusume Pretty Derby Race 1 Trial Deck, then strengthen it by swapping in better cards from booster packs. This guide walks you through the exact steps for your first deck build.
Why start with a Trial Deck?
A Trial Deck gives you a ready-to-play 50-card deck with exclusive cards you can't get in boosters. For beginners, this removes the pressure of building from scratch. The Umamusume Pretty Derby Race 1 Trial Deck is a great example — it includes cards designed to work together, so you can focus on learning the game first.
Trade-offs of upgrading a Trial Deck
Trial Decks are balanced for casual play but lack the power cards found in booster packs. You'll eventually want to replace weaker level 0 and level 1 cards with stronger options from the same series. The trade-off is cost — buying singles or boosters adds expense, but it's the only way to make your deck more consistent and competitive.
Steps to build your first Weiss Schwarz deck from a Trial Deck
- 1. Play several games with the Trial Deck as-is: Use the deck out of the box to learn the flow of Weiss Schwarz. Focus on understanding the level system, climax combos, and timing. A common mistake is trying to upgrade before you know what the deck needs. Play at least 5 games before changing any cards.
- 2. Identify weak cards in your starting deck: After a few games, note which cards you never want to see in your hand or that feel underpowered. These are usually the level 0 cards with low power or abilities that don't trigger often. For example, a card that only gains +500 power when a specific character is on stage may be too situational. Make a list of 5-10 cards you'd replace first.
- 3. Buy booster packs or singles from the same series: Purchase Weiss Schwarz booster packs or individual cards from the same series as your Trial Deck. For Umamusume, look for booster packs that contain stronger versions of your characters. Focus on replacing the weak cards you identified in step 2. Start with 3-5 booster packs or buy singles online.
- 4. Swap in stronger cards and test the new build: Replace the weak cards one-for-one with new cards from boosters. Keep the deck at exactly 50 cards. Play a few games to see if the changes help. If a new card still feels weak, swap it back. A common checkpoint is to ensure your climax combos still work after changes. Test each change with at least 3 games.
- 5. Refine your deck's consistency: Aim to have 3-4 copies of your most important cards so you draw them more often. This is called 'maxing out' a card. If you have only one copy of a great card, consider buying more. A common mistake is keeping too many one-of cards, which makes your deck unpredictable. Check that your key cards appear in multiples.
Product spotlight
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Umamusume Pretty Derby Race 1 Trial Deck: The Umamusume Pretty Derby Race 1 Trial Deck comes with 50 cards ready to play, including exclusive cards not found in boosters. No deckbuilding required — just shuffle and race. This means you can play your first game immediately, but you'll need to add booster pack cards later to make the deck more powerful.
Umamusume Pretty Derby Race 1 Trial Deck
