Building a winning horse in Umamusume: Pretty Derby is usually a headache, but trying to optimize a Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build is a whole different level of chaos. You've got this girl who can literally run in any strategy. Lead? Sure. Between? Why not. Chaser? If you’re feeling spicy. But that flexibility is a trap. If you don't commit to a specific direction with your support cards, you end up with a mid-tier racer that gets bullied in the final stretch of a Grade League Champions Meeting. Honestly, Mayano is one of the most rewarding characters to get right because her base stats are decent, but her versatility means you need to be surgical with your deck building.
Most players just slap the highest-tier SSR cards they own onto her and pray for the best. That’s a mistake. Because Mayano has a 10% Stamina and 20% Guts growth rate (in her original form), she’s naturally tanky but lacks the built-in Speed or Power boosts that make top-tier meta threats like Narita Brian so terrifying. You have to compensate for that through your support deck. If you're building her for a long-distance track like the Tenno Sho Spring, your card selection is going to look radically different than a generic Miler build. It’s all about filling the gaps in her DNA.
The Problem With "Jack of All Trades" Builds
The biggest trap is trying to make her good at everything. You see it all the time in the arena. A Mayano with 1000 Speed, 1000 Stamina, and 800 Power. On paper, it looks balanced. In reality, she gets gapped. Why? Because she lacks the "burst" skills or the specific acceleration triggers that a dedicated Runner or Leader needs. When you're looking at a Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build, you have to pick a lane.
If you're going for a Leader (先行) build, which is arguably her most consistent role, you’re looking for cards that provide "Speedster" or "Non-Stop Girl." If you're crazy enough to run her as a Chaser, you better have the support cards that provide "Straight Line Mastery." You can't just wing it. The game’s mechanics favor specialization. A specialist with one "S" rank stat and a gold skill that triggers at the 75% mark will almost always beat a balanced "A" rank horse.
The Speed Meta and Why It Matters
Speed is king. We all know this. But for Mayano, Speed is also a struggle because she has 0% growth in it. You're basically fighting the game's math from day one. To hit that 1200+ Speed cap (or higher in newer scenarios like Project L'Arc or U.A.F.), you almost certainly need three Speed support cards unless your inheritance is absolutely cracked.
Kitasan Black (SSR) remains a staple here. Even years into the game's life cycle, the raw power and events Kitasan brings are hard to pass up. But don't overlook cards like Jungle Pocket or Maruzensky (Swimsuit). Maruzensky is particularly vital if you're building Mayano as a Runner (逃げ) because she provides "Top Runner," a gold skill that is basically non-negotiable for staying at the front of the pack. If you don't have these, you're looking at a serious uphill battle.
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Mastering the Stamina Threshold
Since Mayano has a 10% Stamina growth, you might think you can skimp on Stamina cards. You can't. Especially not if you’re aiming for 2400m+ races. The Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build needs a solid anchor. Super Creek (SSR) is the classic choice because "Maestro of the Depths" is the most reliable recovery skill in the game. It doesn't whiff. It doesn't trigger at the wrong time. It just works.
However, the meta has shifted toward cards that offer more than just raw stats. Mejiro Ramonu (Intelligence) or even specific Guts cards like Ikuno Dictus have started creeping into builds because they offer "white skills" (the cheaper, silver ones) that synergize with Mayano's kit. But if you’re a beginner or even a mid-level player, just stick to Super Creek for Stamina. It's safer. You don't want to lose a race because your horse ran out of breath at the 2000m mark while the rest of the pack zoomed past.
The Guts vs. Power Debate
This is where things get controversial. Because Mayano has a 20% Guts growth, some players try to force a "Guts Build." They load up on cards like Twin Turbo or Admire Vega. Is it viable? Kinda. It makes her incredibly hard to pass in the final straight because Guts influences your "Last Spurt" speed and the "smash" mechanic when horses are shoulder-to-shoulder.
But here's the kicker: if your Power is low, your acceleration sucks. You can have all the Guts in the world, but if Mayano can't get up to speed after a turn, she’s toast. For a reliable Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build, I usually recommend prioritizing Power through inheritance and using the support slots for Speed and Intelligence. Intelligence (Wisdom) is arguably more important than Guts because it dictates skill activation rates. A Mayano that doesn't fire her gold skills is just a very fast horse that loses.
Critical Skills for Mayano Top Gun
Let's talk specifics. You need "Brilliant Red Ace" (or its base form) if you're running her as a Runner. But her unique skill, "I'm Gonna Fly!!", is actually quite flexible. It triggers when you're in the top 3 and someone tries to pass you, or when you're fighting for position in the final leg. This is why she excels as a Leader.
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- Non-Stop Girl: Absolute must-have. You get this from the Yukino Bijin (SSR) Intelligence card. It helps Mayano weave through the pack when the final corner gets crowded.
- Arc Maestro: From Super Creek. Like I said, don't leave home without it for long distance.
- Speedster: High-value for Leaders. It triggers on the final corner and can be the difference between a podium finish and 5th place.
You’ve gotta be careful with "temptation" skills—the ones that look good but have low trigger rates. Focus on "Passive" skills that boost your stats based on the track condition or season. "Right Turn" or "Spring Umamusume" are basically free stat points if you know which race you’re prepping for.
Intelligence Cards: The Secret Sauce
In the current state of the game, you cannot ignore Intelligence support cards. They are the only way to train while recovering stamina, which keeps your training streaks alive. For a Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build, Fine Motion (SSR) is still the queen. She provides "Speedster" and has some of the best training bonuses in the game.
If you don't have Fine Motion, Mejiro Ramonu is a powerhouse. She rewards you for taking a variety of skill types, which fits Mayano’s "balanced" nature perfectly. Having at least two Intelligence cards in your deck ensures you hit that 1000-1200 Intelligence range, which significantly reduces the chance of your horse "forgetting" to use her skills during a high-stakes race.
Why You Should Avoid "Auto-Build"
The game's "Auto-Build" feature is garbage for Mayano. It usually just looks at the raw rarity of the cards and ignores synergy. It might give you three different gold skills that only work for three different strategies. Imagine having a gold skill for a Runner, a gold skill for a Chaser, and a gold skill for a Miler all on the same horse. It’s a waste of Skill Points (SP). You’re better off manual-selecting cards that focus on a single strategy, even if those cards are SR rank instead of SSR. An SR Sweep Tosho with Max Limit Break is often better than a 0-star SSR that doesn't match your build.
Inheritance and Compatibility
Before you even touch your support cards, look at your parents. Mayano has great compatibility with many of the "Triple Crown" horses. You want to look for Blue Potentials that focus on Power. Since we're using our support slots for Speed and Intelligence, getting 12-18 stars of Power from inheritance is the "pro move."
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Also, look for Red Potentials that improve her distance aptitude to "S." An "S" in Distance gives a hidden multiplier to your Speed during the race. It’s often the "invisible" reason why one Mayano wins while another with identical stats loses. It’s not RNG; it’s the aptitude multiplier.
The Realistic F2P Approach
If you aren't a whale, building Mayano is tougher but doable. You’ll want to rely on high-limit-break SR cards.
- Speed: Shinko Windy (SR) or Agnes Tachyon (SR) are surprisingly good.
- Stamina: Zenno Rob Roy (SR) offers decent bonuses if you lack Super Creek.
- Intelligence: Marvelous Sunday (SR) is a literal godsend for F2P players because of her high hint rate and useful skills.
You won't hit those 1500 stat caps, but you can easily build a solid A+ or S-rank Mayano that can hold her own in the Open League.
Tactical Next Steps
To actually get results with your Umamusume Mayano Top Gun support build, start by deciding the exact race she will run in. If it’s a 2000m Medium track, drop the Stamina cards in favor of an extra Power or Intelligence card. If it’s 3000m, you must run at least one gold recovery skill.
Next, check your support friend list. Don't be afraid to refresh until you find a Max Limit Break (MLB) Kitasan Black or a Mejiro Ramonu. Borrowing one "God-tier" card is better than using six mediocre ones of your own.
Finally, focus on your training rotations. In the first year (Junior Season), prioritize building "Bond" levels above all else. You need those Rainbow Training sparks to trigger as early as possible in the second year. If you don't have at least 3-4 supports at orange bond by the start of the Classic year, your stats will likely fall behind the curve.
Focus on stacking the same training types. If you see three supports in the Speed category, click it, even if the "stat gain" looks lower than a solo Power training. The long-term payoff of high bond levels is how you reach those "S" rank builds. Success with Mayano isn't about luck; it's about managing her growth rates with the right deck and a very specific plan for the final straight.