Mihono Bourbon isn’t just a cyborg in a tracksuit. She’s a wall. If you’ve spent any time in the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby meta, you know the feeling of seeing that "Master of Ground" trigger at the start of a race and realizing, with a sinking gut, that the race is already over. You aren't catching her. But here is the thing: building a truly competitive Mihono Bourbon—specifically the Valentine’s Day version, "Mixture Simulation"—is one of the most punishing experiences in the game. It’s not just about getting high stats. It’s about the surgical precision of skill triggers.
Most players slap some Speed and Stamina on her and wonder why she gets swallowed by the pack at the 400m mark. Honestly, it’s usually because they ignored the "Power" tax or messed up the skill sequencing.
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The Reality of the Mihono Bourbon Build
Let’s get real. Mihono Bourbon is a "Runner" (逃げ, Nige). In the current 2026 meta, Runners live and die by the lead. If Bourbon isn't in first place by the time the Middle Leg hits, her unique skill, G-00 1300110, might as well not exist. It requires her to maintain a lead without being overtaken, and it heals her while boosting speed. It’s a snowball effect.
To make this work, you need the "Gold" version of start-dash skills. We are talking about Groundwork (地固め) and its upgraded form, Master of Ground. Without a three-skill trigger at the start of the race—usually a combination of Concentration, a green passive like "Right Turns," and a "Runner's Guile"—Bourbon will lose the "Kakarai" battle to a Kitasan Black or a Twin Turbo.
You need to understand the "Stamina Cliff." For a 2400m race like the Tokyo Championship, you can’t just stop at 800 Stamina. With the way persistence modifiers work now, a Bourbon build needs at least 1000 Stamina plus two gold recovery skills if you’re facing heavy debuff teams. If you’re low on Stamina, your "Spurt" happens later. If you spurt late, the "Betweener" (Sashi) girls will eat you alive in the final straight.
The Support Card Problem
You can't go cheap here. You just can't. If you don't have a high-limit break SSR Maruzensky (Mizumaru), your Bourbon will lack "Top Runner." This is arguably the most important skill for any Runner build. It provides a massive speed boost during the middle leg that keeps you in that crucial P1 position.
- Speed Cards: You’re looking at SSR Jungle Pocket or SSR El Condor Pasa. These aren't just for the stats; they provide the "clutch" white skills that bridge the gap between the middle and final legs.
- Intelligence (Wisdom) Cards: This is where people fail. Bourbon needs high Intelligence to trigger skills. If her Int is below 1100, she’s going to "dumb out" and miss her heal. SSR Ramonu or the newer Mihono Bourbon Int cards are non-negotiable for the "Fixed Point" bonuses.
The Skill Path That Actually Works
Don't just click every gold skill that pops up. It’s bait.
Focus on the "Middle Leg." This is where Bourbon wins. Skills like Killer Tune and Escape Artistry are the foundation. But there's a secret sauce: Positioning Sense. It sounds like a filler skill, but for a Runner, it dictates how she handles the lane movement in the first 300 meters. If she gets pinned to the inside rail too early by a high-power rival, she loses momentum.
Then there’s the inheritance. You need "Red" factors for Distance. If you aren't hitting S-Rank Distance, you are losing a hidden 5% speed modifier in the final spurt. In high-level Room Matches, an A-Rank distance Bourbon is basically a participation trophy.
Why "Power" Is the Secret Metric
Everyone talks about Speed. Speed is the ceiling. But Power is the floor. For a Mihono Bourbon build, Power dictates how quickly she reaches her top speed after the gate opens and how well she resists being bumped.
If you’re training in the Grand Masters or the Project L'Arc scenarios, you should aim for 1200 Power. Yes, 1200. Anything less and you’ll find her struggling to maintain the "Lead Distance" (the gap between her and P2). The moment that gap shrinks below 1 body length, your opponent’s "Global" skills start to trigger, and Bourbon’s defensive advantage evaporates.
Handling the "Valentine" Variant vs. Original
The original Bourbon is a Stamina tank. She’s great for long distances like the Tenno Sho Spring. But the Valentine version (Chocolate Bourbon) is the queen of the Mile and Medium distances.
Her unique skill is much more reliable, but it’s "selfish." It doesn't help her teammates. When building her, you should pair her with a "Debuff" Nice Nature or a Grass Wonder. These teammates slow down the chasing pack, giving your Bourbon the "Blue Sky" she needs to finish.
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Common Mistakes in the Training Loop
Stop over-stacking Recovery skills. I see builds with three or four gold heals. It’s a waste of Skill Points (PT). Two gold heals are plenty for anything under 2500m. Use those leftover points on "Straight Line" speed or "Cornering" buffs.
Also, the "Green Skills." You need at least three. Why? Because Groundwork requires three passive/early activations to trigger at the 0-second mark. If you only have two, Groundwork triggers randomly later in the race, which is completely useless. It has to be at the start.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
- Prioritize Inheritance: Get a parent with 3-star Distance factors and a "Ura Scenario" or "Grand Masters" factor for the stat procs.
- The 3-Skill Rule: Ensure you have three cheap green/passive skills (like Core of the Oasis, Sunny Days, or Right Turn) to force the Groundwork trigger.
- The Int Threshold: Do not finish a run if her Intelligence is under 1000. It’s better to restart than to bring a "low-IQ" Bourbon to a Champions Meeting.
- Watch the Replays: If your Bourbon is getting caught, check the "Graph" at the end. If her speed drops before the finish line, you need more Stamina. If she never reached P1, you need more Power and better "Start" skills.
- Target the "S" Rank: Use your items in the final training turns to lock in that S-Rank for Medium or Long distance. That modifier is the difference between a win and a 4th-place finish.
Building the perfect cyborg takes patience. She’s a masterpiece of stats and skill synergy, not just a lucky roll. Focus on the start, dominate the middle, and let her unique skill handle the rest.