You’re staring at the screen, your stamina is low, and your horse girl is tired. But then it happens. The crane game trigger. Most players just want to clear the mission and move on, but if you’re trying to figure out how to obtain 3 or more plushies Uma Musume style, you know it’s not just about luck. It’s a mini-game that feels weighted against you. Honestly, it’s frustrating. You see those little round Special Week or Gold Ship plushies sitting there, and the claw just... slips. It’s a classic arcade heartbreaker.
Getting three in one go is the "Great White Whale" for many trainers in Uma Musume Pretty Derby. It isn’t just for bragging rights, either; it’s often tied to specific character missions or that sweet, sweet motivation boost that can save a training run from disaster.
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Why the Crane Game is the Ultimate RNG Boss
The crane game (UFO Catcher) doesn't just appear whenever you want. That’s the first hurdle. It’s a random event that usually triggers when you take your Uma Musume to the "Odekake" (Outing) spot during the training scenario. You might go ten runs without seeing it. Then, suddenly, during a crucial senior year stretch, there it is.
If you want to obtain 3 or more plushies Uma Musume requires, you have to understand the physics—or the lack thereof. This isn't a real-life crane game where you can use the side-view mirror. You get one perspective. You have to time the horizontal movement and then the vertical drop perfectly. But even a "perfect" drop doesn't guarantee a catch. The game calculates a "grab" probability based on where the claw hits the plushie's center of gravity.
I’ve seen trainers get one plushie and think they’re done. Wrong. To get three, you basically need to trigger a "Big Catch" or a "Chain Catch." This usually happens when the plushies are clumped together. If you aim for one that’s leaning against two others, the claw’s closing motion can sometimes sweep the neighbors into the bin. It’s chaotic. It’s beautiful when it works. It’s devastating when the claw just tickles the ear of a Mejiro McQueen plush and returns empty-handed.
The Strategy to Obtain 3 or More Plushies Uma Musume Players Swear By
Let's talk tactics because button-mashing won't help you here. First, look at the layout. If the plushies are scattered, your chances of hitting three are basically zero. You want a stack. Look for the "Gold" or "Special" plushies, too. While they don't necessarily make it easier to grab three, they provide better buffs.
The secret sauce? The "Double Tap" Myth vs. Reality. Some players swear that tapping the button again as the claw descends helps it grip tighter. Cygames hasn’t confirmed this, and honestly, it’s probably placebo. What actually matters is the Horizontal Alignment. You want the center of the claw to be slightly behind the center of the plushie group. Why? Because the claw moves slightly forward as it closes. If you’re dead center, you’ll often just knock them over.
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- Wait for the "High Motivation" periods. There’s some anecdotal evidence among the Japanese player base on sites like Gamewith that suggests "Odekake" events during high-motivation streaks have a slightly better chance of triggering the crane game.
- Focus on the "Small" Plushies. They are lighter. If you’re aiming to obtain 3 or more plushies Uma Musume missions demand, ignore the big ones. The small ones are much more likely to tumble into the bin in a group.
- The "Sweep" Technique. Position the claw so one prong goes between two plushies. As the prongs close, they act like a pair of arms hugging a bundle of laundry. This is how you get those triple or quadruple hauls that look like glitches but are actually just lucky physics.
Beyond the Mission: What Those Plushies Actually Do
Why do we care? Well, besides the dopamine hit, the rewards are actually legit. Getting a "Great Success" (which is what grabbing 3+ usually triggers) gives a massive boost. We're talking +20 to multiple stats, a huge motivation jump to "Top Form," and sometimes even the "Straight Line" or "Corner" skills depending on the girl you're training.
If you’re training a high-tier racer for the Champions Meeting, an early-game crane success can be the difference between a mediocre B-rank and a powerhouse S-rank. It sets the momentum. You save turns on resting because your motivation is topped off. You can focus on those high-intensity rainbow training sessions. It’s a snowball effect.
But let’s be real: sometimes the game just says "no." You can have the best timing in the world, and the claw will just limp out. That’s the Gacha life. You have to be okay with failing. The legendary "Akebono" catch—where you get 5+—is something most people only see on Twitter or Reddit.
Troubleshooting the "No Crane Game" Curse
"I've gone to the shrine ten times and no game!" I hear this all the time. The crane game is a sub-event of the "Outing" action. Specifically, it has a higher proc rate during the second half of the Junior year and throughout the Classic year. If you’re already in the Senior year, the chances seem to drop off as other character-specific events take priority in the RNG pool.
If you are specifically hunting the trophy or mission to obtain 3 or more plushies Uma Musume style, try this: use a support card that increases "Event Occurrence Rate." While there isn't a card specifically for the crane game, keeping your friendship bars high triggers more events in general, which clears the "queue" for the random Odekake sub-events.
Also, don't ignore the "Haru Urara" training runs if you just want the plushies. Because her training requirements are lower, you can afford to waste turns on Outings just to fish for the crane game without ruining a "serious" build. It’s a low-stress way to farm the achievement.
The Mental Game of the UFO Catcher
Don't let the cute music fool you. This mini-game is designed to test your patience. When the claw starts to descend, stop breathing. Watch the shadow on the floor of the machine. That shadow is your only true guide to depth. If the shadow is hovering over a cluster of three small plushies, hit it.
I’ve found that the best way to obtain 3 or more plushies Uma Musume offers is to aim for the "back" of the pile. Most players aim for the one closest to the bin. That’s a mistake. If you grab one from the back, it often knocks others forward toward the hole. You’re using gravity as your teammate.
Honestly, the animation where the horse girl jumps for joy after a triple catch is one of the most satisfying things in the game. It’s right up there with seeing your girl cross the finish line at the Arima Kinen.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Training Run
If you're ready to tackle this right now, follow this specific flow to maximize your chances:
- Pick a "Burner" Run: Use a girl you aren't trying to optimize for PVP. This removes the stress of "wasting" turns.
- Spam Odekake in Classic Year: Focus your Outings during the Classic Year (the second year of training). This is the sweet spot for the event trigger.
- Target the "Leaners": Look for plushies that are leaning against each other. Aim for the "v" shape where their heads meet.
- Master the Shadow: Ignore the claw itself. Look only at the circular shadow on the bottom of the crane machine to judge your x and y axes.
- Check the Mission Log: Ensure you haven't already cleared the "obtain 3 or more" requirement; sometimes the game gives it to you during a "Great Success" even if it looked like you only grabbed two (due to a hidden bonus).
Stop overthinking the timing. The game’s physics engine is more about the "hitbox" of the claw than the actual visual grip. Aim slightly off-center to catch the edges of multiple items. This increases the "tangle" factor, which is the most reliable way to drag a cluster into the prize chute.