It happened. If you were playing Uma Musume: Pretty Derby during the first anniversary or the initial release of the Kitasan Black Support Card, you remember the chaos. People weren't just pulling; they were depleting entire savings accounts of Jewels.
The Uma Musume Kitasan Black banner isn't just a moment in gacha history. It’s a permanent scar on the meta. Even as we move into 2026, the ripples of that specific release determine how players approach deck building and resource management. You can't talk about speed training without talking about Kita-san.
The Speed King That Refused to Budge
When Cygames first dropped the Kitasan Black SSR (Speed), the community knew it was good. They didn't realize it would be "required" for the next two years of competitive play.
Most support cards have a shelf life. They get powercrept by a new shiny mechanic or a specific scenario bonus that makes the old cards look like trash. Not Kitasan. Her training bonuses—specifically the massive +20 to Power and the high starting bond—made her a monster.
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Think about it.
You start a run. Within the first few turns, Kitasan's bond is already orange. You're hitting Rainbow Training before the first summer camp. That kind of momentum is hard to beat. Honestly, the "Proffered Fate" gold skill (Arc-en-Ciel/Great Longing) was just the cherry on top. It’s a long-distance mastery skill that actually triggers reliably.
What the Uma Musume Kitasan Black Banner Changed Forever
Before this banner, people were playing a bit more casually with their Jewels. Maybe you’d throw a ten-pull at a cute horse girl. After Kitasan? The "Save for Spark" mentality became the law of the land.
You needed five copies.
Max Limit Break (MLB) or bust. A Level 30 Kitasan Black is fine, sure. But a Level 50 Kitasan Black? That’s where the Hint Level 4 and the massive 80% Specialty Rate Live. If you weren't hitting that Specialty Rate, she wasn't showing up on the Speed training tab. And if she wasn't on the Speed tab, your run was basically dead in the water for high-tier PVP like Champions Meeting.
The banner also introduced a harsh reality: the gap between F2P and Whales. If you missed this banner, you were stuck borrowing a friend's Kitasan for every single run. That meant you couldn't borrow the scenario-specific friend card or a powerful Stamina card. You were handicapped.
Why the Hype Never Truly Died
Even when cards like Narita Top Road or Jungle Pocket arrived, Kitasan stayed in the conversation. Why? Because of her versatility.
She isn't picky.
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Whether you’re training a Runner, a Leader, or even a Betweener in a pinch, those raw speed stats are universal. Most cards are tied to a specific strategy. Kitasan Black just wants you to go fast. It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s why people still look for her in the exchange shops or the Anniversary Select Gachas.
The Psychology of the Pull
Gacha games thrive on FOMO. But the Uma Musume Kitasan Black banner was different because it wasn't just fear of missing out; it was the fear of being unable to play the game at a high level.
I've seen players reroll accounts for three days straight just to start with a couple of copies of this card. It sounds insane. To some, it probably is. But in the context of the URA Scenario or even the later Grand Live meta, having that Speed anchor changed the math of every training turn.
Stop Making These Mistakes With Your Speed Deck
A lot of players think they can just slap any high-tier Speed card in and call it a day.
Wrong.
The synergy between Kitasan and cards like El Condor Pasa or the newer Mayano Topgun variants is specific. You’re looking for "Training Value" over just "Skill Points." If you pulled on the Kitasan Black banner and only got one copy, don't waste your Rainbow Crystals immediately.
Wait.
Assess the current scenario. In the newer training modes, Specialty Rate is still king, but "Training Efficacy" (the raw percentage boost to stats) is starting to take over. Kitasan holds her own because she has both, but she isn't invincible anymore.
Looking Back at the "Kitasan Apocalypse"
There was a week where every single friend list was just a wall of Black and Gold. It was hilarious and depressing at the same time. If you didn't have her set as your representative, nobody would follow you.
The developers clearly learned from this. They started spreading out the "must-have" skills across different types of cards. They tried to nerf the Speed meta by making Stamina more relevant in longer tracks. They added the "Guts" meta. None of it truly erased her.
Is it Still Worth Pulling?
If the Uma Musume Kitasan Black banner returns in a "Throwback" or "Selection" format, you have to ask yourself one question: Do I have a modern Speed alternative at Level 50?
If you have a Max Limit Break Jungle Pocket or a MLB Duramente, Kitasan might finally be a luxury rather than a necessity. But for a new player? She is still the golden standard for consistency. She doesn't have "low rolls." Her events are mostly positive. She gives you plenty of Stamina recovery options.
The Lesson Learned
The biggest takeaway from the Kitasan era is that raw stats usually outlast niche skills.
A skill can be nerfed or the track conditions can change so it never triggers. But 1200+ Speed (or 1600 in the new caps)? That is always relevant. Kitasan Black provided the most efficient path to that cap for a long, long time.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Training
- Audit your Support Folder: Check if you have at least two Speed cards with a Specialty Rate over 50. If not, your deck is inconsistent.
- Prioritize Rainbow Crystals: If you have Kitasan at 3 stars (Level 40), she is a prime candidate for your next breakthrough. The jump from 40 to 45 is where she gains significant power.
- Focus on the Bond: In your actual training runs, if you are using Kitasan, you must tail her. Use your first five turns to trigger her events. The early-game "High-Tension" buff she provides can snowball a mediocre run into a legendary one.
- Stop chasing every banner: The Kitasan Black banner taught us that one Tier 0 card is worth more than ten Tier 2 cards. Save your Jewels for the "Scenario Links" or the absolute meta-shifters.
The era of Kitasan Black proved that in Uma Musume, speed isn't just a stat—it's the foundation. If you missed the original banner, don't beat yourself up, but make sure you're ready for the next time a card with that much raw gravity enters the pool.