Maruzensky is a legend. Honestly, if you've spent any time in the trenches of the Japanese or Global servers of Uma Musume Pretty Derby, you know she’s that flashy, "onee-san" energy speedster who refuses to be irrelevant. But here is the thing: building a winning Maruzensky build in Uma Musume Pretty Derby is not just about stacking Speed and hoping for the best.
People fail. They fail because they treat her like a generic runner. They ignore the nuance of her unique skill, "Red-line Gear On!," and how it interacts with specific track slopes. It's frustrating to watch a well-funded Maruzensky get swallowed by the pack at the 200m mark just because the player didn't understand how her stats need to breathe.
The Core Logic of the Maruzensky Build
Basically, she’s a Runner (Nige). That’s her bread and butter. While you can technically force her into a Leader role if you have the inheritance factors to fix her Aptitude, you're usually shooting yourself in the foot. Her base stats lean heavily into Speed and Intelligence.
But let’s get real about the "Supercar" of the 80s. In the current meta, whether you are running the base 1-star version or the swimsuit "Mizumaru" variant, your primary bottleneck is almost always Stamina.
It’s a trap.
You see that high Speed growth and you want to hammer the Speed training button. Don't. If you’re aiming for a Medium distance build—say, for a specific Champions Meeting—you need to hit at least 700-800 Stamina plus at least two gold recovery skills like "Maestro of the Depths" (Enko no Maestro). Without that, she gasses out. She’s a Ferrari with a lawnmower's fuel tank if you aren't careful.
The variation in her builds usually comes down to the distance. For Miles, you can get away with murder. You can practically ignore Stamina and just go full "Speed/Power/Int." But the moment you step into 2000m or 2400m territory, the math changes completely.
Inheriting the Right Traits
Don't just grab a friend's support representative because they have a 3-star Speed factor. That’s rookie behavior. For a high-tier Maruzensky build, you are looking for Power inheritance. Why? Because as a Runner, she needs to blast out of the gate and maintain that lead. If her Power is low, other Runners with better acceleration skills will just shove her aside.
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You also need to look at "Angling x Scheming" (Seiun Sky’s unique). If you aren't inheriting that for a Runner build, you aren't playing to win. It is the single most important acceleration skill for any Nige in the game. You want to trigger that right at the start of the final leg.
Training Scenarios Matter
Which scenario are you even running? If you're still stuck in URA, you're playing a different game than someone in Grand Masters or the latest Project L'Arc.
In the newer scenarios, the stat caps are higher. This means you aren't just aiming for 1200 Speed anymore; you're pushing for 1500+. To hit those numbers, your support card deck has to be optimized for "Training Efficiency."
- Speed: Kitausan Black (SSR) is still a staple for a reason.
- Intelligence: Fine Motion or Mihono Bourbon (especially the Intelligence version for Runners).
- Power: El Condor Pasa (SSR) can provide that "Killer Tune" skill which is vital for mid-leg dominance.
I’ve seen players try to build her using only SR cards. It’s possible, sure. You can get an A+ or maybe an S rank. But if you want to see that UG or UF rank, you need the gold skills locked behind the SSR walls. Specifically, "Groundwork" (Jigatame). If you don't have Groundwork and at least three triggers for it at the start of the race, your Maruzensky is going to lose the "Nige-Kiri" (front-running) battle every single time.
The Intelligence Meta is Real
A lot of people undervalue Intelligence (Kashikosa). In Uma Musume, Intelligence dictates how often your girl uses her skills and how well she follows the "race line."
For Maruzensky, high Intelligence is non-negotiable.
If she has 1200 Speed but only 400 Intelligence, she’s going to "kakari" (lose her cool) and burn her stamina early. Or worse, she’ll just sit there and not activate her heals. You want that Intelligence at 1000 minimum for any competitive build. This allows her to stay at the front of the pack without wasting energy. It also helps her "position keep," which is a hidden mechanic that prevents runners from being overtaken too easily in the middle of the race.
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Dealing with Distance Aptitude
Maruzensky starts with an A in Mile and Short. She has a B in Medium.
If you are trying to win a Long-distance race with her, you are a masochist. It’s doable with enough DNA from parents, but her base stamina growth just isn't there. Focus on making her the queen of Miles.
The "Swimsuit" version (Mizugi Maruzensky) is widely considered one of the best units in the history of the game because her unique skill is much easier to trigger and provides a massive boost. If you're building the Summer version, your focus shifts slightly toward "Mid-leg" skills. You want her to create such a massive gap in the middle of the race that even the best "Betweeners" (Sashi) can't catch her.
Skill Selection: The Make or Break
Don't just click every "hint" you get. You need a cohesive strategy.
- The Start: You need "Groundwork" and "Concentration" (or at least "Early Bird"). If she misses the start, she has to fight through traffic, and Maruzensky is terrible at fighting through traffic.
- The Middle: This is where you stack "Runner Straight" and "Mile Straight." Also, "Escape Artist" is a massive help.
- The Finish: "Angling x Scheming" is the priority. Follow it up with "Flashy Forward" if you have it.
Most people forget about "Positioning" skills. "Spread Footing" or "Back-to-Back" can keep her from being boxed in. Even as a Runner, if there are four other Runners in the race, it gets crowded.
Practical Steps for Your Next Run
Stop auto-levelling.
First, look at your Parent Uma Musume. Do they have the "Blue Factors" in Power or Stamina? If you're going for a Mile build, go 9 stars into Power. If you're going for Medium, split it 50/50 between Power and Stamina.
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Second, check your Support Deck. You need at least two Speed cards and two Intelligence cards. Fill the last two slots with either a Friend card (like Mei or Hello, depending on the scenario) and a Power or Stamina card based on your needs.
Third, during the training, focus on getting those "Bond" bars up early. You need Rainbow training as soon as possible. If Maruzensky isn't hitting Rainbows by the end of the first year, your stats will lag behind the curve.
Fourth, pay attention to the race schedule. Maruzensky needs fans to level up her Unique skill. Don't skip the big G1 races like the Hopeful Stakes or the Arima Kinen (if you can survive it) just to train. That level 5 or level 6 Unique skill makes a huge difference in the final stretch.
Finally, keep an eye on her mood. An "Unlucky" or "Low" mood hit can ruin a training session that would have given you +80 stats. Keep those sweets ready.
A perfect Maruzensky build is a balance of raw speed and tactical intelligence. She’s meant to dominate from the first second to the last. If you give her the right tools—specifically the acceleration skills and a decent stamina pool—she’s almost impossible to catch. Just stop ignoring her Power stat; she needs that muscle to stay in front.
Next Steps for Your Training:
- Audit your current Inheritance factors and prioritize 3-star Power traits to overcome her natural growth gaps.
- Swap out one "pure speed" support card for a high-utility Intelligence card like Mihono Bourbon to secure the "Groundwork" skill.
- Run a practice race in the "Room Match" feature to see exactly where your Maruzensky loses her lead—it's usually the transition from the middle leg to the final sprint.