So, you finally pulled her. Or maybe you've had her sitting in your roster for months, gathering digital dust because every time you take her into a Champions Meeting, she gets eaten alive in the final stretch. Mihono Bourbon isn't just another runner; she’s a literal "Cyborg" in the lore of Uma Musume Pretty Derby, but playing her feels a lot less like being an invincible machine and more like trying to calibrate a very expensive, very temperamental piece of hardware. Honestly, if you aren't careful with her stamina management, she’ll break your heart faster than a bad gacha pull.
Why Mihono Bourbon is Different
Most people look at a Mihono Bourbon guide and expect a simple "press button, win race" strategy. She’s a Runner (逃げ - Nige). It should be easy, right? Just get to the front and stay there. But Bourbon is a unique beast because of how her stats are weighted and how her unique skill, G-00 1300, triggers. It’s not just about being first; it’s about being first without making a single mistake.
In the real-world racing history that inspires the game, Mihono Bourbon was known for her grueling training regime. Her trainer, Akio Toyama, basically turned her into a powerhouse through sheer repetition on the hill course. The game reflects this. She has a natural aptitude for Ops (Middle Distance) but can be pushed into Long Distance if you have the right inheritance factors. But here is the kicker: her base growth rates are focused on Stamina and Power. This is a blessing and a curse. You need that power to kick off the start line, but without enough Speed, you’re just a very fast tank that gets overtaken by a Mihono Bourbon (Valentine's version) or a Kitasan Black.
The Stats That Actually Matter
Let’s talk numbers. Don't just aim for "all S ranks." That's a trap.
For a standard 2000m to 2400m build, you’re looking at a hierarchy. Speed is king. Always. If you aren't hitting at least 1200 Speed (or whatever the current cap is in your specific scenario/server version), you aren't even in the conversation. But Bourbon’s unique skill requires her to not lose her position and not have any "late" starts. This means Intelligence (Kashikosa) is actually your secret weapon. If her Intelligence is low, she won’t trigger her skills effectively, and she’ll waste stamina by fighting her jockey—well, her "Trainer."
You want her Power to be high enough to blast out of the gates. Think 900+. Stamina is the tricky part. For Middle Distance, 700-800 with at least one gold recovery skill is usually the sweet spot. If you're crazy enough to run her in the Arima Kinen or other Long Distance tracks, you’re going to need to push that past 1000 or stack multiple recovery triggers like Corner Recovery or Arc Maestro.
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Skills: The "Must-Haves" vs. The Fluff
Forget the generic skills. If you want to win, you need specific triggers.
- Groundwork (Jigatame): This is non-negotiable for Runners. If you don't have this, your Bourbon will get buried in the pack within the first three seconds.
- Concentration: Or better yet, Sniper. Since Bourbon's unique skill relies on not having a late start, you need to minimize that "Late Start" RNG as much as humanly possible.
- Escape Technique: This helps her keep the lead during the middle leg.
A lot of players get baited by flashy "Final Leg" skills. For Bourbon, the race is won or lost in the first 60% of the track. If you aren't dominant by the third corner, it's over. You're building a front-runner, not a chaser. Keep that in mind when picking your support cards.
Picking the Right Support Cards
Don't just throw your highest rarity cards at her. You need synergy.
If you have the SSR Mizuno Tokai Teio or the classic Kitasan Black (SSR), use them. Kitasan is still a staple for Runners because of the sheer amount of Speed and the Arcana of the North Star or Corner Master hints. But specifically for Bourbon, look for cards that give "Runner" specific buffs.
The Valentine's version of Bourbon (the "ChocoBourbon") is generally considered "meta-defining" because of her built-in recovery and start-up skills. If you are using the original Blue/Normal Bourbon, you have to work twice as hard. You'll likely want to bring an Intelligence card like SSR Fine Motion or SSR Nice Nature just to ensure you're getting those skill procs. Honestly, a Bourbon that doesn't trigger her skills is just a girl in a fancy suit running in a straight line.
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Inheritance: Fixing the Flaws
Inheritance is where you fix Bourbon's distance issues. She starts with a B in Long Distance. If you want her to be a versatile queen, you must get that to an A through your parent selection. Look for parents that offer "Blue" stats in Power or Stamina.
But the "Red" factors are where the magic happens. Getting a 3-star Turf or 3-star Middle Distance factor can bump her performance significantly. Also, look for "Green" unique skills from other girls. Silent Suzuka’s unique can be a decent inherit if you want that extra push, though Bourbon’s own unique is usually sufficient if it triggers.
Training Scenarios: Where to Run?
Whether you're in URA, MRA, or the newer scenarios like Project L'Arc, the goal remains the same: balance.
In the early game (Junior Year), focus almost entirely on building your "bond" with support cards. Don't worry about the races too much, but make sure you hit the fans requirement for her upgrades. By the time you hit the Summer Training camp, you should have a clear path. If your Stamina is lagging, spend the entire camp on the power/stamina tiles.
Bourbon’s training events often give you a choice between more stats or more recovery. Early on, take the stats. Towards the end of Senior year, take the recovery or the "hints." You'll thank yourself when you hit that final 2500m race and she doesn't turn into a walking corpse at the 200m mark.
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Common Mistakes That Kill Your Run
- Ignoring Intelligence: I’ve seen so many 1200 Speed / 1000 Power Bourbons lose to "weaker" builds because they simply didn't trigger their skills. 400 Intelligence is not enough. Aim for 600 minimum.
- Over-stacking Stamina: Unless you're running the Tenno Sho (Spring), you don't need 1200 Stamina. That's overkill. Those points are better spent on Speed or Intelligence.
- The "Late Start" Curse: If you see "Late Start" pop up at the beginning of the race, just put the phone down. Okay, don't actually do that, but recognize that Bourbon's unique skill is basically disabled if she fumbles the start. This is why Concentration is vital.
The Strategy for Champions Meeting
In a competitive environment, Mihono Bourbon acts as a "Pacer." She forces other Runners to burn their stamina early just to keep up with her. If you run her alongside another Runner (like a Smart Falcon), they can actually bounce off each other's positioning skills to create a massive gap between the lead pack and the rest of the field. This is the "Double Runner" meta, and Bourbon is the lynchpin of it.
You have to be careful of "Debuffers." Girls like Nice Nature or Grass Wonder can ruin Bourbon's day with Stamina Greed or Red skills. This is another reason why having a "cushion" of stamina is better than having just enough.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Training Run
To turn your Mihono Bourbon into a consistent winner, follow these specific adjustments in your next session:
- Prioritize "Groundwork" Inheritance: Scour your friend list for a parent that has the Groundwork (Jigatame) factor. It is the single most important skill for her to secure the lead instantly.
- Balance the 1200/800/900/600/600 Split: Aim for these raw stats as a baseline for Middle Distance. That’s Speed, Stamina, Power, Guts, and Intelligence respectively.
- Skill Check: Ensure you have at least two "Gold" skills—one for speed/acceleration and one for recovery. Maestro and Top Runner are the gold standards.
- Scenario Choice: If you are struggling with stats, run the Grand Masters or Project L'Arc scenarios. They provide much higher stat ceilings compared to the older URA trials.
- Watch the Replays: Don't just skip the races. Look at where she gets overtaken. If she’s losing in the middle, you need more Intelligence. If she’s losing at the very end, you need more Stamina or a better "Spurt" skill.
Bourbon is a machine, but she needs a precise engineer. If you give her the right tools and don't neglect her "brain" (Intelligence), she will dominate the track with the kind of cold, calculated efficiency that her character is known for. Stop building her like a generic runner and start building her like the specialized precision instrument she is.