Introduction
Everyone knows Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is one of the highest-grossing mobile games in Japan. The graphics are top-tier, the live concerts are amazing, and the stories are tear-jerkers.
But there is one question that scares every new player: “Is this game Pay-to-Win (P2W)? Or can I enjoy it as a Free-to-Play (F2P) player?”
Cygames (the developer) is famous for high quality, but also for… brutal gacha mechanics. To give you the real answer, I didn’t just look at the official odds. I investigated what real Japanese players are saying on Twitter (X) and strategy wikis.
Here is the honest truth about the Uma Musume gacha experience in Japan.
The “3% Reality”: What Japanese Fans Are Screaming
First, let’s look at the numbers. The SSR drop rate is 3%. This sounds standard, but Japanese Twitter is full of two types of screams: “Joy” and “Despair”.
😱 Voice of Despair: “Bakushi” (Explosive Death)
In Japan, when you spend all your jewels and get nothing, we call it “Bakushi” (爆死).
“I saved up 30,000 jewels for months… and got zero featured SSRs. I’m crying.” — (Anonymous Player on Twitter)
“The desire sensor is real. I wanted Kitasan Black, but the game gave me 5 Gold Ships instead.” — (Comment from GameWith)
Poco’s Analysis: Yes, the gacha can be harsh. The “Pick-up” rate is low, so “spooking” (getting a different character) happens often. If you are aiming for a specific meta card, you need to be prepared.
😍 Voice of Joy: “Kami-Hiki” (God Pull)
On the other hand, miracles happen.
“I used my single free daily pull… and got the new 3-star Horse Girl! Cygames, thank you!” — (Twitter User with screenshot)
“I haven’t spent a single yen, but I reached UG rank just by using welfare (free) cards and borrowing friends’ cards.” — (Wiki Strategy Board)
Poco’s Analysis: This is the important part. You CAN create strong horses without spending money. The game gives out many free “Welfare SSR Cards” during events, and some of them are actually very strong.
The Real Trap: “Support Cards” > “Characters”
If you are starting the game, you need to understand one thing that Japanese veterans always say:
“Characters are for Love. Support Cards are for Strength.”
- Characters (Horse Girls): You only need one copy to unlock them.
- Support Cards: You need 5 copies (4 limit breaks) to make them fully powerful.
Most “Whales” (heavy spenders) spend money on Support Cards. If you just want to see the story and win normal races, F2P is completely fine. But if you want to win against other players in the “Champions Meeting” (PvP), you will face the wall of strong Support Cards.
Japanese Slang You Need to Know
To understand the community, learn these terms:
- Tenjo (天井 – Ceiling): If you pull 200 times (30,000 Jewels), you can pick any featured character/card for free. Japanese players often say: “Don’t pull unless you have a Tenjo saved up.”
- Risemara (リセマラ – Reroll): Resetting the game until you get a good start. In Uma Musume, this is essential.
- Jinken (人権 – Human Rights): A card so strong that if you don’t have it, you “don’t have human rights” in the game. (It’s a dark joke, but shows how important meta cards are).
Poco’s Verdict: Should You Play?
YES. Even if you never spend a cent, the production quality (Music, 3D Models, Voice Acting) is worth playing. It is essentially a free high-quality anime that you can interact with.
However, if you fall in love with a character (and trust me, you will), you might want to spend a little to get her outfit.
How to Prepare (The Smart Way)
- Start with a Reroll: Don’t settle for a bad start. Use a fast VPN to delete your account data and retry until you get top-tier cards like Speed El Condor Pasa or Intelligence Mejiro Ramonu.
- Recommended VPN for Rerolling: Surfshark VPN
- Be Ready to Buy Jewels: If you decide to spend, remember: Your foreign credit card will likely be rejected. You need to buy Japanese iTunes or Google Play Gift Cards.>> Check my guide: How to Buy Japanese Gift Cards Instantly
Conclusion
Uma Musume is “F2P Friendly” for casual players, but “Hell” for competitive players. Which one will you be?
Download the game, use your free pulls, and see if the Goddess of Luck smiles on you!
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