Mayano Top Gun is a headache. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the URA Finals or trying to tackle the Aoharu Cup with her, you know exactly what I’m talking about. She’s flashy, she’s cute, and she’s one of the most frustratingly versatile units in the game. Most players pick her up because they love the "Top Gun" aesthetic, but they drop her three days later because her training feels like a chaotic mess.
Here is the thing: Mayano isn't bad. She’s just misunderstood. Most people treat her like a standard Runner (Escape) or a simple Betweener, but her kit is designed for someone who likes to gamble. If you want to master this Uma Musume Top Gun guide, you have to stop trying to force her into a box. She is a multi-strategy powerhouse that requires a very specific approach to Stamina and Guts management that most guides totally ignore.
Why Mayano Top Gun Keeps Failing Your Runs
It’s usually the Stamina. In Uma Musume Pretty Derby, Mayano has some of the most diverse track aptitudes in the game. She can do anything. But "can do anything" often translates to "fails at everything" if you don't pick a lane.
The biggest trap is her growth rates. She gets a 10% Stamina bonus and a 20% Guts bonus. On paper, that sounds great for long-distance races like the Arima Kinen or the Tenno Sho (Spring). In reality, that Guts bonus is often "dead weight" in the early meta unless you are specifically building for high-end PVP where Guts-stacking helps with the "Final Spurt" mechanics. If you’re just trying to get her through her Senior Year objectives, you’re likely over-investing in Guts and leaving her Speed and Power in the gutter.
You’ve probably seen her sink to the back of the pack during the Kikuka Sho. That’s not a lack of talent. It’s a lack of Power. Because Mayano can run as a Lead or a Betweener, she gets boxed in constantly. If her Power stat isn't at least a C+ by the time she hits the mid-game long-distance tracks, she’s done for.
The Strategy Split: Which "Tactics" Should You Actually Use?
Mayano is famous for having "A" aptitude in almost every running style.
- Runner (Escape): The safest bet for URA Finals. You just stack Speed.
- Leader: Great if you have high Power and "Oguri Cap" inheritance.
- Betweener/Outsider: High risk, but her unique skill actually triggers quite well here if the positioning is right.
For a consistent win, stick to Runner for training. It minimizes the RNG of getting blocked by other girls. However, if you are looking at the long-term PVP viability, her unique skill, "Brilliant Red Ace," actually prefers it when she’s not stuck in the very front from the start. It’s a bit of a contradiction, right? That’s just Mayano.
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Building the Perfect Support Deck for Mayano
Don't just slap your strongest SSRs on her. You need a balance that compensates for her lack of a Speed growth bonus.
Since she doesn't get an inherent bonus to Speed, you basically must run at least three Speed cards. Kitasan Black (SSR) is the obvious gold standard here because of the "Power" it provides through its training bonuses. But let's talk about the Stamina slot. You need a card that gives you "Maestro." Super Creek (SSR) is non-negotiable for Mayano’s long-distance objectives. Without Arc Maestro, Mayano will gas out at the 2500m mark and you'll be left wondering why she finished 14th.
The SR Gems You’re Ignoring
If you aren't a whale, you need to look at SR cards like Sweep Tosho. Her "One-Way Heart" event gives you "Early Bird," which is decent, but more importantly, her training training efficiency is through the roof.
Another sleeper hit is Eiwa Shinsei. It’s a Stamina card that helps bridge the gap if you don't have Super Creek. It’s not about the gold skills; it’s about the stat gains per turn. Mayano’s schedule is packed with high-difficulty races. You don't have time for "rest" turns. You need cards that trigger friendship training fast.
The Critical Turning Points in Mayano’s Training
The debut is easy. It’s what happens after that kills the run.
- Spring Stakes (Junior Year): You need at least 250 Speed. If you don't have it, her positioning will fail.
- Kikuka Sho (Classic Year): This is the 3000m wall. You need 350-400 Stamina and hopefully a recovery skill (Blue skill).
- Tenno Sho Spring (Senior Year): 3200m of pure pain. If you haven't hit 550 Stamina by now, use your tactical change to "Leader" instead of "Runner" to try and conserve energy, though it's a gamble.
Most people fail because they forget about her Fans. Mayano needs a high fan count to upgrade her unique skill in February, April, and December of her Senior year. If you aren't hitting the G1 races, your unique skill stays at Level 1, and you lose out on massive late-race speed boosts.
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Mastering the "Brilliant Red Ace" Unique Skill
Her unique skill is weird. It triggers in the final corner if you are in the front group.
Specifically, you need to be in the top 40% of the pack.
If you’re running her as a Betweener and you’re in 12th place? It won't fire.
If you’re running her as a Runner and you’re 5 lengths ahead of everyone? It might not fire if no one is "competing" with you.
This is why "Leader" (Between Runner and Betweener) is secretly her best competitive position. It keeps her close enough to the front to trigger the skill but far enough back to benefit from the draft.
Inheritance: The Secret Sauce
Stop using Speed parents.
I know, it sounds counter-intuitive. But because Mayano has zero Power growth and needs a ton of Stamina for her long-distance goals, you should actually look for 9-star Power inheritance.
By getting your Power from inheritance, you can focus your training turns on Speed and Stamina. This creates a "balanced" Mayano that can actually push through the final straight. If you can find a friend with a Rice Shower or Mejiro McQueen that has high Power stars, grab them. The "Long Distance" and "Corner" skills you’ll inherit are just the icing on the cake.
Common Misconceptions About Mayano Top Gun
"She's a better version of Gold Ship." No. Not even close. Gold Ship is a dedicated Chaser. Mayano is a jack-of-all-trades. If you try to build Mayano like a Chaser, you are fighting her base stats every step of the way.
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"You should always use her as a Runner." This is a mistake for PVP. In Room Matches, dedicated Runners like Mihono Bourbon will eat her for breakfast. For PVP, she’s a much more effective Leader. She has the base "Guts" to survive the bumping and grinding of the mid-pack, which is something thinner Runners can't handle.
Also, people think her "Mood" swings are worse than others. They aren't. It just feels that way because her training is so high-stakes. One "Failure" on a 15% Stamina training can literally end her career because she has to hit those 3000m+ targets so early.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Mayano Run
To wrap this up, if you want to actually see that "A" or "S" rank on your Mayano Top Gun, follow this workflow:
- Prioritize Power Inheritance: Get at least 6 to 9 stars in Power from your parents.
- Deck Composition: Run 3 Speed, 2 Stamina, and 1 Friend (like Tazuna or Kashiwamoto) or an extra Power card.
- Skill Check: Aim for Arc Maestro (Super Creek) or Pure Heart (from her own events if you get lucky). Blue recovery skills are more important than Gold speed skills for her.
- Tactical Flexibility: Train as a Runner for the URA Finals to ensure you actually win the races, but build your stats as if she were a Leader.
- Fan Hunting: Don't skip the Takarazuka Kinen. She needs the fans for those unique skill level-ups.
Mayano is a pilot. She’s high-flying, risky, and a bit all over the place. If you stop trying to micromanage every single stat and focus on the Speed/Stamina/Power triad while ignoring the Guts bait, you'll find she's one of the most rewarding characters to win with. Good luck at the track.
Next Steps for Mastery:
Focus on farming Power Factors from other training runs before you attempt a serious Mayano climb. Once you have a 9-star Power parent, her training becomes 50% easier because you can spend your "Power turns" on Stamina instead, effectively doubling your efficiency. Check your friend list for anyone running a Max Level Kitasan Black to fill that crucial Speed gap.