Top 5 Unreleased Characters To Save For in Umamusume Global

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby's global version, launched in mid-2025, lags behind the Japanese server, giving players foresight to save gems for upcoming meta-defining characters. Based on JP insights, here are the top 5 unreleased Uma Musume to save for.

1. Oguri Cap (Christmas)

Oguri Cap's Christmas variant is widely regarded as one of the most overpowered unreleased characters, dominating mile, medium, long, and dirt races with her unique skill "Christmas Eve Miracle Run." This activates after three stamina recoveries, boosting speed, acceleration, and further endurance in the race's second half—making her nearly unbeatable in extended scenarios. Her growth rates (e.g., 10% in speed and stamina) and innate skills like "Gourmand" for recovery make her easy to train and a meta staple for over a year in JP. As an upgrade over the base Oguri Cap, she's essential for competitive players building dirt or long-distance teams.

Estimated Release: Late January 2026 (paired with Biwa Hayahide Christmas).
Why Save? Her versatility across tracks and positions (lead, chase, or surge) ensures long-term value; F2P players should aim for at least one copy for inheritance.

2. Maruzensky (Swimsuit)

The Swimsuit Maruzensky redefines mile runners with her unique skill "Heartfelt Smooch," which recovers stamina while surging speed in the front during the race's latter half—perfect for controlled bursts via inheritance skills. With A-rank mile proficiency, B in short/medium, and bonuses in speed (15%) and intelligence, she's a meta queen for sprint-to-medium distances, often paired with Seiun Sky for acceleration inheritance. In JP, she remains a top pick for PvP due to her reliability and skill synergy.

Estimated Release: Late October 2025 (shared banner with Special Week Swimsuit).
Why Save? Ideal for mile-focused teams; skippable for strict F2P if you have base Maruzensky, but her upgrades make her a must for optimizing short/medium races.

3. Mihono Bourbon (Valentine)

This Valentine alt revolutionizes front runners with skills like "Focus," "Fast-Paced," and "Concentration" to minimize slow starts, plus a unique mid-corner boost to speed and stamina recovery. Her 10% growth in speed, stamina, and power makes her beginner-friendly and dominant in long races, often outshining earlier fronts like Swimsuit Maruzensky. JP veterans praise her for redefining the role and providing excellent inheritance for future builds.

Estimated Release: Early March 2026 (alongside Eishin Flash Valentine).
Why Save? Essential for front-runner strategies; her ease of training and meta-shifting power make her a high-priority pull for PvP longevity.

4. Kitasan Black

The character version of Kitasan Black (distinct from her meta support card) excels in long-distance front running with a two-part unique skill: speed boosts at the third corner and acceleration near the end. Skills like "Focus" and "Long Straightaway" enhance her stamina-heavy builds, making her ideal for 2000-2200m tracks. While not as mandatory as her support counterpart, she's a game-changer for long-race teams in JP's advanced meta.

Estimated Release: Late March 2026 (banner with Admire Vega and Matikane Tannhauser).
Why Save? Redefines long-distance fronts; pair with stamina supports for peak performance, especially if you're planning for future scenarios.

5. Mejiro Dober

As the premier late surger and end closer parent, Mejiro Dober's unique skill "Beyond the Other Side" ramps up acceleration in mid/final corners, while "Allseeing Eyes" drains enemy stamina across the field. Her balanced proficiencies (A in turf, strong in mile/medium) and inheritance value make her a staple for chase strategies in JP.

Estimated Release: Early January 2026 (banner with Tosen Jordan).
Why Save? Crucial for surger builds and skill passing; her crowd-control debuff gives an edge in competitive modes.

Remember, global's pace may shift, so check official announcements. Prioritize based on your team needs—dirt specialists like Smart Falcon (recently released) can fill gaps, but these five offer the biggest meta impacts. Happy training!