Starting out in Umamusume Pretty Derby as a free-to-play player means making every gacha decision count—and the Kitasan Black banner might be the most important one you’ll face early on. With limited resources and so many powerful support cards available, knowing where to invest is key.
The question is: should you spend your gems on this banner, or save them for future updates? In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Kitasan Black banner, including why it’s considered a game-changer and whether it’s truly worth pulling for if you’re playing without spending money.
Why You Should Pull for Kitasan Black Now
When you pull on the Kitasan Black banner, you’re not just chasing a single SSR card — you’re actually investing in an entire powerful deck. Here’s what makes this banner special:
- Multiple Valuable SR Cards Included: On average, you get about 1.8 SR cards per 10 pulls, which quickly adds up to a strong supporting cast.
- Key SRs in the Banner: Cards like Sweep Tosho, Asian Flash, Narita Taiishi, Marvelous Sunday, and Fuadu are some of the strongest SRs in the game. These cards can carry your deck and greatly improve your speed stats.
- Building a Strong Deck Early: Even if you don’t get Kitasan Black immediately, you’ll end up with many max-level SR cards that let you build a competitive team and improve your gameplay drastically.
Many players overlook SR cards, but in reality, some SRs are powerful enough to fend off multiple max-level SSRs. For example, Sweep Tosho, when maxed out, can counter five fully upgraded SSRs, which is incredible for a support card. Since SRs are easier to max than SSRs, focusing on this banner lets you quickly max out your SR pool and strengthen your deck, making your matches smoother and more consistent.
What If You Don’t Max Kitasan Black Immediately?
Even if you don’t pull enough Kitasan Black copies right away, don’t worry. The game provides several ways to boost your card:
- Half Anniversary Rewards: You’ll get free rainbow limit break shards and SSR select tickets from event missions.
- Value Packs: There are gem packs that provide SSR select tickets, allowing you to choose and max your cards.
With just two copies of Kitasan Black and these rewards, you can max her in about five months without needing to whale on the banner.
My Personal F2P Experience with Kitasan Black
Back when I started, veteran players and content creators recommended rerolling for Kitasan Black if possible. I followed this advice, got two copies from the start, and invested heavily—around 200 pulls—into the banner. Even though I didn’t reach max level 50 on Kitasan Black, I maintained her at level 45, which was enough to max speed every race consistently.
Alongside her, I maxed out Sweep Tosho and Asian Flash from the SR pool. This combination made me competitive in PvP, allowed me to reach top tiers in Champions meetings, and gave me the freedom to borrow other max SSR support cards like Super Creek and Fine Motion.
Why This Banner is a Must-Pull for F2P Players
- Two SSRs in One: Pulling Kitasan Black gives you a powerful SSR and a suite of SRs that are equally important.
- Long-Term Value: After this banner, you can focus on other cards, but right now, Kitasan Black offers the best overall deck-building opportunity.
- Meta Relevance: Speed SSRs like Kitasan Black are used every game, unlike stamina SSRs that aren’t always necessary.
If you can afford to do about 200 pulls on this banner, you should. At minimum, secure two copies to guarantee maxing her over time.
Global players have a rare opportunity right now—the Kitasan Black banner won’t come around like this again soon. Don’t waste your friend slots borrowing Kitasan Black from others when you can build your own strong deck. If you haven’t pulled yet or are thinking of rerolling, do it now. This is the best chance to build a solid foundation for your Uma Musume journey.