You've probably seen her. The twin-tails, the overwhelming "top student" energy, and that stubborn streak that makes her refuse to let anyone—and I mean anyone—get ahead of her. Daiwa Scarlet isn't just one of the poster girls for Uma Musume: Pretty Derby; she is arguably one of the most consistent units in the game if you know how to handle her ego. But if you don't? She’ll burn through her stamina in the first half of a race and leave you wondering why your "A-rank" horse girl just finished 12th.
Training her feels like a constant tug-of-war. On one hand, she’s naturally gifted at the Runner (Runner/逃げ) strategy. On the other, her internal stats and the way her unique skills trigger often favor a Leader (Betting/先行) style. It’s confusing. Most people just slap some Speed cards on her and hope for the best, but that’s how you get stuck in the mid-tiers of the Champions Meeting. This uma musume daiwa scarlet guide is going to break down why you're probably overcomplicating her training and how to fix it.
Why Scarlet Is Harder Than She Looks
Let's be real for a second. Scarlet is one of the three starters for a reason. Cygames wanted players to have a reliable miler/medium-distance runner who can win early on. However, her mission targets are brutal. You start off with a simple 1500m debut, but before you know it, the game throws the Arima Kinen at you. 2500 meters. Long distance. If you haven't prepped her stamina, she will hit a wall, and she will hit it hard.
The mistake is thinking she's a pure Speed demon. She's not. Scarlet’s growth bonuses are actually 10% to Speed and 20% to Guts (根性). In the current meta—especially since the Grand Masters and Project L'Arc scenarios—Guts has become way more relevant than it used to be. It helps with that "Last Spurt" and prevents her from getting bullied when another runner tries to overtake her. But you still need to balance that with enough Stamina to survive those 2500m runs in the late-game objectives.
The Runner vs. Leader Debate
Honestly? Run her as a Leader.
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Wait, don't close the tab yet. I know her unique skill, Red Flash (ブリリアント・レッド), looks like it’s made for the lead position. It triggers when you're in the front at the latter half of the race. If you're a Runner, you're almost always in the front. Simple, right? Except Scarlet has a tendency to get caught in "Deadly Competition" (競り合い) with other Runners. If she’s stuck fighting for the #1 spot against a dedicated Runner like Mihono Bourbon or Kitasan Black, she wastes energy.
As a Leader, she sits comfortably behind the lead pack, preserves her stamina, and then explodes in the final 400 meters. Her unique skill gives her a massive speed boost and a bit of acceleration when it procs while overtaking. It's a safer bet for consistency.
Building the Perfect Deck (No, You Don't Need All MLB SSRs)
Stop worrying about having a full deck of Max Limit Break (MLB) cards. While having a Level 50 Kitasan Black (Speed) is obviously great, Scarlet is flexible enough to thrive on SR cards if your positioning is smart.
For a solid Medium-distance build, you want to aim for a 3 Speed / 2 Intelligence / 1 Friend or 3 Speed / 1 Stamina / 2 Intelligence setup.
- Speed Cards: You want cards that give her "Leader" or "Medium Distance" specific hints. Marvelous Sunday is a surprisingly good SR for this because of the "Pace Up" skill. If you have Agnes Tachyon (the Speed SSR), use it. No questions asked.
- Intelligence (Wisdom) Cards: This is where you get your "Fine Motion" or "Nice Nature" SSRs involved. High Intelligence means she uses her skills smarter and stays in a better position without wasting stamina. If you're f2p, the SR Daiwa Scarlet card is actually decent, but obviously, you can't use it to train herself. Use Mayano Topgun or Mejiro Ardan instead.
- The Stamina Problem: If you're going for the Arima Kinen or Tenno Sho (Autumn), you need at least 600 Stamina and at least one "Gold" recovery skill. Arc Maestro (from Super Creek) is still the gold standard here.
A Quick Note on Inheritance
Blue potential (Blue Factor) should almost always go into Power or Stamina. Scarlet gets plenty of Speed from her growth bonus and training cards. What she lacks is the "oomph" to push past opponents (Power) and the lungs to finish long races (Stamina). Look for a friend who has a 9-star Power progenitor. It makes a world of difference when she hits the final slope of a race.
The Training Timeline: What to Watch For
The first year is a breeze. Just focus on building your bond with the support cards. You want to hit those Rainbow training sessions as early as possible. Don't worry too much about the specific stats until after the Debut race.
The Junior Year Goal: Get her Speed to around 300 and Stamina to 200.
Once you hit the Classic year, the pressure mounts. You have the Triple Tiara path or the Classic Triple Crown. Scarlet’s story usually pushes you toward the Oaks and the Shuka Sho. The Shuka Sho is 2000m, which is her sweet spot. But then comes the end of the year: the Arima Kinen.
I’ve seen so many trainers fail here because they ignored Stamina. If you are sitting under 450 Stamina by the end of December, Year 2, you better have a recovery skill ready to fire. Otherwise, Scarlet will do that sad, slow trot across the finish line while the crowd groans. It's heartbreaking.
Skill Selection: Don't Just Buy Everything
It’s tempting to click every shiny gold skill that pops up. Don’t do it. Scarlet needs synergy.
- Leading Pride (先行の誇り): Since we’re building her as a Leader, this is essential. It keeps her in a good spot during the middle leg.
- Circular Recovery / Arc Maestro: You need one of these. Period.
- Red Flash (Unique): This will level up naturally as long as you keep her fan count high and her bond with the trainer (you) solid.
- Position Sense: Helps her avoid getting boxed in. Scarlet hates being stuck in the middle of a pack; she’s a diva, she needs her space.
Common Pitfalls
A huge mistake in any uma musume daiwa scarlet guide is ignoring her "Condition." Scarlet is prone to the "Stubborn" (なまけ癖) status effect or getting "Anxious." If her mood drops below "Good," her training gains plummet. Don't be afraid to take her to the Shrine or out for a walk. A happy Scarlet is a winning Scarlet.
Also, watch out for her Rivalry events. When Vodka shows up, the stakes go up. These races give better rewards but are significantly harder. If your stats are borderline, maybe don't go for the "Extra" races unless you’re feeling lucky.
Stats to Aim For (The End Game)
If you're looking to take Scarlet into the Open or Grade leagues, these are the benchmarks for a "Finished" Medium-distance Leader build:
- Speed: 1200+ (Max it out if you can)
- Stamina: 700 - 800 (For 2400m races)
- Power: 800+
- Guts: 600+
- Intelligence: 800 - 1000
This looks like a lot, but with the modern training scenarios like Reach for the Stars or U.A.F. Ready? Go!, these numbers are very achievable. The trick is stacking your training. If you see four or five characters on a single Speed training tile, you take it, even if your Stamina is a bit low. You can always make up Stamina with a lucky recovery skill or inheritance.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
Ready to jump back in? Here is exactly what you should do:
- Step 1: Check your Inheritance. Find a friend with 9-star Power factors. If they also have Medium Distance (A or S) red factors, even better.
- Step 2: Balance the Deck. Bring at least one Stamina card if you aren't confident in your inheritance stars. Super Creek is your best friend.
- Step 3: Focus on Bonds. Don't worry about the "best" training type for the first 10-15 turns. Just follow the crowds to get those bond bars to orange.
- Step 4: The 400m Rule. During races, watch where Scarlet is at the 400m mark. If she’s consistently getting boxed in, you need more Power or the "Lane Move" skills.
- Step 5: Customize for the Track. If you're prepping for a specific Champions Meeting, check the track length. If it’s the Arima Kinen (2500m), over-invest in Stamina. If it's a Mile race, ignore Stamina almost entirely and pump Speed and Power.
Scarlet isn't just a "starter" character you move past. With her Guts bonus and the right Leader skills, she can out-grind some of the most expensive gacha pulls in the game. It just takes a bit of patience and making sure you don't let her run out of gas before the finish line.