ENES

Champions Meeting · Guide

Aries Cup

~Jan 2, 2027 → ~Jan 8, 2027Kyoto · 3200 m · Long · Turf · Right-handed

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Summary

  • Go back-heavy. End Closer won the most relative to its use (36 of 100 room-match wins on 30% use; 54% of the wins in a second room-match series, test Umas excluded). Late Surger is the volume core (40% use, 36 wins). Pace Chaser only works with an ace; Front Runner won under 10%.
  • The last spurt starts at ~2133 m on the uphill back straight, and the final corner comes ~400 m later. Bring the acceleration that fires at the start of the last spurt for your style: Encroaching Shadow (End Closer), Claw Forward (Late Surger), Beast Mode (Pace Chaser), Victory Cheer! / Break It Down! (Front Runner). Final-corner accelerations are wasted here.
  • Stamina about 1200 with one gold recovery plus a white, or 1000-1100 with two golds. Power about 1200 for the uphill last spurt. Long S strongly preferred.
  • With today's Global roster: End Closer Narita Taishin [Nevertheless] or Inari One [Golden Dream] (both carry Encroaching Shadow), Late Surger Mejiro Bright [Brunissage Line] or Manhattan Cafe [Creeping Shadow], Pace Chaser Mejiro McQueen [Fair Lady of the Waves]. If the JP aces arrive first (Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] and Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf], estimated for October; Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss], estimated for 2026-12-01), they are the top picks.
  • Expect about 1 Front Runner per room (0 to 3). A Front Runner needs a second Front Runner or a Runaway to work, and still rarely wins.
  • Debuffers are optional. Three aces was the usual advice; Nice Nature [Poinsettia Ribbon] was the most common debuffer.

Guides: Three aces with End; Front requires a Runaway and high build quality.

Running styles

Styles the guides favor: End CloserLate SurgerPace Chaser

Use is the share of rival Umas that ran each style in Japan: how popular it was, not how often it won.

Result: wins or first places in room matches set up in Japan with this CM's conditions. Small samples, not Global and not a win rate in the real event.

StyleVerdictUse in JapanResult in JP roomsNote
End CloserBest29.7 %36 %of room winsMeasured 36 = Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss] 24 + Narita Taishin [Nevertheless] 8 + Inari One [Golden Dream] 4 (the room data assigns 98 of the 100 wins; up to 2 more could be End Closer). Best wins-to-use ratio of the four styles. In an early 50-race room series, End Closer took 21 of 39 non-test wins (54%). Use in the real CM: 23.5% (Graded League Round 1) and 30.2% (Graded League Round 2), rising as the event went on. One JP wiki found End Closer the most stable because Encroaching Shadow has no position condition. A JP tier-list writer ranked it his best style. Sample: 100 winners of room matches with the Graded League Finals conditions (2023-04-05); use = share of all runners. Cross-check: 39 non-test winners of 50 room races
Late SurgerStrong39.7 %36 %of room winsMeasured 36 = Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] 30 + Manhattan Cafe [Creeping Shadow] 4 + Mejiro Bright [Brunissage Line] 2. The most used style, but it wins slightly below its use, because about a third of Late Surgers were debuffers and Claw Forward needs 4th-9th place (one JP wiki). Use in the real CM: 31.6% (Graded League Round 1), 34.7% (Graded League Round 2). In the 50-race room series: 8 of 39 non-test wins. By the end, one JP wiki rated Sakura Laurel [Saisir le rêve] above Satono Diamond. Sample: 100 winners of room matches with the Graded League Finals conditions (2023-04-05)
Pace ChaserViable19 %18 %of room winsMeasured 18 = Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf] 16 + Mejiro McQueen [Fair Lady of the Waves] 2: Pace Chaser was almost entirely one Uma that Global does not have yet. Without her, Pace Chaser is weak (inference). Use in the real CM: 28.6% (Graded League Round 1), 23.5% (Graded League Round 2). In the 50-race room series: 8 of 39 non-test wins. Sample: 100 winners of room matches with the Graded League Finals conditions (2023-04-05)
Front RunnerWeak11.7 %8 %of room winsMeasured All 8 Front Runner wins were Kitasan Black [Gilded Shrine to Glory]. In the 50-race room series: 2 of 39 non-test wins. Use in the real CM: 16.2% (Graded League Round 1), 11.6% (Graded League Round 2). JP guides agree that a lone Front Runner loses: it needs a second Front Runner or a Runaway, and one JP wiki called two Front Runners viable but low-payoff. JP data counted Runaways as Front Runners. Sample: 100 winners of room matches with the Graded League Finals conditions (2023-04-05)
RunawayAvoidnot counted—From guides Only useful as a pacemaker for your own Front Runner (a JP tier-list writer: Mejiro Palmer or Silence Suzuka with Kitasan Black or Seiun Sky). Mejiro Palmer, the usual Runaway, took 0 of 100 room wins and 6% of Front Runner use in the room data. A Runaway with two Front Runners failed in one finalist's Round 1 and Round 2 (anecdote). Sample: no data separates Runaways from Front Runners

Expected room

Front Runners per room (Runaways included): 1 on average, from 0 to 3. Runaways per room: 0.2 on average, from 0 to 1. Measured

Includes Runaways, which JP data counted as Front Runners. Other rounds: Graded League Round 1 1.46 (0-3), Open League Round 2 1.37. Among the 6 rivals there was no Front Runner at all in 51% of Graded League Round 2 rooms (35% in Round 1), and 4+ Front Runners in under 1%. The Runaway figure is not measured: Mejiro Palmer and Silence Suzuka do not appear in the Graded League Round 2 usage list (each under 1.4%), Mejiro Palmer was 0.7% of runners in one room-match sample and Silence Suzuka 2.8% in another, so 0.2 is a ceiling, not an average.

Umas

What Japan used and what the guides recommend, one card per outfit. A recommendation is a guide author's priority, not a chance of winning.

  • Mr. C.B.Clear BlissEnd CloserAceNot in Global yet

    In Japan: 24 of 100 room wins and 46% of End Closer use in the room matches; 11 of 50 wins in the 50-race room series, the most; 9.5-10.5% of Graded League rivals in the real CM. Not in Global yet: her Global banner is estimated around 2026-12-01. Measured

  • Narita TaishinNeverthelessEnd CloserAceMain pick

    In Japan: 8 of 100 room wins and 28% of End Closer use in the room matches; 8 wins in the 50-race series; 5.9-8.8% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; rated SS in one JP guide. Learns Encroaching Shadow. The best End Closer you can field in Global today. Sources name plain Narita Taishin; the room data tags her alt outfit separately. Measured

    Guides:End Closer: Straight and finishing power

    • Own acceleration and enough speed
    • Validate availability and version in Global

    umamusumelabo.com

  • Inari OneGolden DreamEnd CloserAlternative

    In Japan: 4 of 100 room wins and 8% of End Closer use in the room matches; 7 wins in the 50-race series, but 6 by that series' own test Uma; one JP wiki saw her far less than Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss] or Narita Taishin [Nevertheless]. Learns Encroaching Shadow. Measured

  • Satono DiamondJade's ProsperityLate SurgerAceNot in Global yet

    In Japan: 30 of 100 room wins and 57% of Late Surger use in the room matches; the most used Uma in the real CM (11.4-11.9% of Graded League rivals); 21.3% use and 37.5% of wins in a ~40-race room sample. Learns Claw Forward. Not in Global yet: her Global banner is estimated around 2026-10-22. Measured

  • Sakura LaurelSaisir le rêveLate SurgerCoreNot in Global yet

    In Japan: One JP wiki's final review rated her the strongest Late Surger (own gold recovery, unique and an evolved skill with no position condition); 3.7% of Graded League Round 2 rivals, up from ~2% in Round 1. Not in Global: her Global banner is estimated around 2027-01-02, the CM's first day, and her evolved skill would not exist in Global anyway. From guides

  • Mejiro BrightBrunissage LineLate SurgerAlternative

    In Japan: 2 of 100 room wins and 7% of Late Surger use in the room matches; 2.7-3.3% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; rated S in one JP guide and recommended as Late Surger by a JP tier-list writer. Learns Of Calm Mind, a gold recovery for Long. Measured

  • Manhattan CafeCreeping ShadowLate SurgerAlternative

    In Japan: 4 of 100 room wins and 9% of Late Surger use in the room matches; 2.0% of Graded League Round 2 rivals in the real CM; rated A in one JP guide. Learns Highlander and Stamina Siphon. Measured

  • Narita BrianRavenous WolfPace ChaserAceNot in Global yet

    In Japan: 16 of 100 room wins and 25% of Pace Chaser use in the room matches: almost every Pace Chaser win. 5.4% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; 9.3% use and 12.5% of wins in a ~40-race room sample. Learns Beast Mode. Not in Global yet: her Global banner is estimated around 2026-10-16. Measured

  • Mejiro McQueenFair Lady of the WavesPace ChaserAlternative

    In Japan: 2 of 100 room wins and 16% of Pace Chaser use in the room matches; 3.4-4.4% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; 3 wins in the 50-race series; one JP wiki's second Pace Chaser after Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf]. Measured

  • Oguri CapAshen MiraclePace ChaserAlternative

    In Japan: Run as Pace Chaser in this CM: 0 of 100 room wins, 3% of Pace Chaser use in the room matches; 2.4-2.7% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; 1 win in the 50-race series. A JP tier-list writer found her stronger than expected as Pace Chaser. The planner lists her as Late Surger by default. From guides

  • Kitasan BlackGilded Shrine to GloryFront RunnerCore

    In Japan: All 8 Front Runner wins of the 100 room matches, on only 14% of Front Runner use; 5.4-6.1% of Graded League rivals in the real CM, always as Front Runner. Her own unique, Victory Cheer!, fires at the start of the last spurt here. Pair her with a second Front Runner or a Runaway (one JP guide). Measured

  • Nice NaturePoinsettia RibbonLate SurgerDebuffer

    In Japan: The most common debuffer (about a third of Late Surgers in the room matches were debuffers); 2.8-3.1% of Graded League rivals in the real CM; no wins. Rated ★3 in one JP guide; needs Gold Ship [RUN! RUIN! LAUNCHER!]'s inherited unique. Which outfit was used is not stated; the untagged name in the room data points to this one. Measured

  • Mr. C.B.originalEnd CloserMain pick

    Guides:End Closer: Acceleration and finishing speed

    • Evolution version and Long S
    • Validate availability and version in Global

    This character is not in the game data yet.

    umamusumelabo.com

  • Satono Diamond正月Late SurgerAlternative

    Guides:Late Surger: Accessible and competitive Late

    • Complete acceleration and finish
    • Validate availability and version in Global

    This outfit is not in the game data yet.

    umamusumelabo.com

  • Narita Brian餓狼Pace ChaserAlternative

    Guides:Pace Chaser: Monster and own speed

    • Don't lose touch with the leader
    • Validate availability and version in Global

    This outfit is not in the game data yet.

    umamusumelabo.com

Stats and aptitudes

Speed Stamina Power Guts Wit
Recommended1450120012008001150
Minimum1400110011006001000

Stamina with a gold recovery skill: 1200.

Aptitudes: Long S strongly preferred over Turf S (JP guides agree): all 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race room series had Long S. Turf A or better.

From guides Recommended = rounded averages of JP winners and room-match builds. Winners of the 50-race room series: End Closer 1427/1088/1202/854/1150, Pace Chaser 1426/1071/1167/798/1126, Late Surger 1442/1114/1233/752/1165. Averages in a ~40-race room sample: Speed 1427-1435, Stamina 1080-1140, Power 1152-1224, Guts 773-863, Wit 1077-1187. Stamina: 1200 with 1 gold recovery (+1 white) per one JP guide and a JP wiki's simulation (a Late Surger with 1200 gets a full last spurt ~100% of the time, with 1100 ~60%); 1000-1100 with 2 golds per another JP guide (Pace Chaser 1110). Stamina of the 100 room winners: 6% in the 900s, 30% 1000s, 26% 1100s, 32% 1200s, 6% 1300+. Power ~1200 because the last spurt starts uphill, where acceleration drops. Minimum Guts 600 per one JP guide and a JP tier-list writer; another JP guide asks for 800. JP builds used Divine Speed (not in Global), which also heals a little: without it, keep Stamina at the top of the range (inference). One gold recovery is worth ~200-220 Stamina per one JP guide, ~260-280 per a JP tier-list writer.

Check your own build in the HP Calculator before training: these targets come from Japanese guides.

Skills

Inherited uniques 4

  • Victory Cheer!Front RunnerKitasan Black [Gilded Shrine to Glory]'s unique; fires at the start of the last spurt for a Front Runner here (JP guides agree). Mandatory for Front Runner.
  • Break It Down!Front RunnerSeiun Sky [Soirée des Chatons]'s unique; the other Front Runner acceleration that fires at the start of the last spurt (JP guides agree). Angling and Scheming does not fit this layout.
  • Superior HealLate SurgerEnd CloserGrass Wonder [Saintly Jade Cleric]'s unique. 19 of 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race room series carried it, and it was the advised inherit for Late Surger and End Closer.
  • Pure HeartPace ChaserSuper Creek [Murmuring Stream]'s unique; one JP article advised it as the Pace Chaser recovery inherit.

Gold skills 8

  • Beast ModePace ChaserPace Chaser acceleration at the start of the last spurt (JP guides agree). In Global only Mejiro McQueen [Frontline Elegance] learns it until Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf] arrives; the support cards that give it are estimated for 2027 or later.
  • Claw ForwardLate SurgerLate Surger acceleration at the start of the last spurt; needs 4th-9th place (one JP wiki). Its owners, Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] and Symboli Kris S [Onyx Soldier], are not in Global; the Symboli Kris S SSR support card that gives it (event chain) has been in Global since 2026-09-01.
  • Encroaching ShadowEnd CloserEnd Closer acceleration at the start of the last spurt with no position condition: the reason End Closer was the most stable style (one JP wiki). In Global, Narita Taishin [Nevertheless] and Inari One [Golden Dream] learn it.
  • Swinging MaestroFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCorner gold recovery; 17 of 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race series had it. Typical builds ran one gold plus two whites (one JP wiki).
  • CooldownFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserLong-only mid-race gold recovery, listed by JP guides for every style here.
  • Of Calm MindLate SurgerEnd CloserBig Long recovery when midpack early in mid-race; Mejiro Bright [Brunissage Line]'s own gold. Listed for Late Surger by JP guides and a JP tier-list writer.
  • Professor of CurvatureFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCorner speed; 20 of 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race series had it.
  • Divine SpeedFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserNot in Global yetOn all 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race room series and part of the usual JP build (speed burst plus a small heal in the second half). Not in Global; the first support card that gives it is estimated for 2026-12-18.

White skills 4

  • My True StrengthPace ChaserWhite version of Beast Mode; one JP guide lists it as the fallback.
  • ScrambleLate SurgerWhite version of Claw Forward.
  • Straightaway SpurtEnd CloserWhite version of Encroaching Shadow. One finalist won a Graded League Finals Group A race with Mayano Top Gun [Scramble☆Zone] as End Closer on it (anecdote).
  • HighlanderFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserThe last spurt starts uphill, so JP guides want it, but one JP wiki measured a useful trigger only ~30% of the time. Take it if it is cheap.

Green skills 7

  • Firm Course MenaceFront RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserGold version of Firm Conditions ○ (Speed and Power on Firm ground); 23 of 27 End Closer winners in the 50-race series had it.
  • Firm Conditions ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green; prerequisite for Firm Course Menace.
  • Kyoto Racecourse ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green, listed by JP guides and articles.
  • Right-Handed ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green, listed by every JP guide.
  • Spring Runner ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green, listed by every JP guide.
  • Sunny Days ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green, listed by JP guides and articles.
  • Standard Distance ○Front RunnerPace ChaserLate SurgerEnd CloserCup green (3200 m is a standard distance), listed by JP guides and a JP wiki.

Debuffs 1

  • Stamina SiphonLate SurgerEnd CloserSteals Stamina from runners ahead from 5th-9th; it hurt front styles (one JP wiki, and a player with 200+ room matches). Manhattan Cafe [Creeping Shadow] learns it.

Team compositions

  • Pace Chaser + Late Surger + End Closer (JP: Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf] + Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] + Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss]; Global now: Mejiro McQueen [Fair Lady of the Waves] + Mejiro Bright [Brunissage Line] + Narita Taishin [Nevertheless])

    Measured The most common team in Graded League Round 2 (21.1% of rival teams). Covers the three styles that took ~90% of room wins. Usage figure, not a win rate per trio.

  • Late Surger + End Closer + End Closer (Global now: Mejiro Bright [Brunissage Line] or Manhattan Cafe [Creeping Shadow] + Narita Taishin [Nevertheless] + Inari One [Golden Dream])

    From guides Second most common in Graded League Round 2 (11.6%). A JP tier-list writer recommended End Closer first and three aces, and End Closer won the most relative to its use. Probably the best fit for today's Global roster (inference).

  • Front Runner + Late Surger + End Closer (Kitasan Black [Gilded Shrine to Glory] + Late Surger + End Closer)

    From guides 10.5% of Graded League Round 2 teams. Kitasan Black took every Front Runner win in the 100 room matches, but one JP guide finds she works best next to another Front Runner or a Runaway, and a lone Front Runner has no pace support in half the rooms.

  • Avoid: two Front Runners + Runaway

    Anecdote One finalist's Runaway + two Front Runners failed in Round 1 and Round 2, and two Front Runners + Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] reached the Group A final but lost (anecdote). One JP wiki: two Front Runners can work but pay little.

  • 1 × Pace Chaser + 1 × Late Surger + 1 × End Closer

    Measured The most common team in Graded League Round 2 (21.1% of rival teams). Covers the three styles that took ~90% of room wins. Usage figure, not a win rate per trio.

  • 1 × Late Surger + 2 × End Closer

    From guides Second most common in Graded League Round 2 (11.6%). A JP tier-list writer recommended End Closer first and three aces, and End Closer won the most relative to its use. Probably the best fit for today's Global roster (inference).

  • 1 × Front Runner + 1 × Late Surger + 1 × End Closer

    From guides 10.5% of Graded League Round 2 teams. Kitasan Black took every Front Runner win in the 100 room matches, but one JP guide finds she works best next to another Front Runner or a Runaway, and a lone Front Runner has no pace support in half the rooms.

Debuffers

Depends on the room About a third of Late Surgers in the 100 room matches were debuffers (Nice Nature [Poinsettia Ribbon] most of all, also Mayano Top Gun [Sunlight Bouquet], Super Creek [Chiffon-Wrapped Mummy] and Grass Wonder), yet none appears among the 100 winners. One JP wiki found them rarer than expected in the real CM; a JP tier-list writer advised three aces instead. Stamina Siphon on a Late Surger or End Closer is the useful debuff here because front styles suffer from it. If you bring one, one JP guide notes it needs Gold Ship [RUN! RUIN! LAUNCHER!]'s inherited unique.

Support decks

Decks published by guides for this CM in Japan. Some cards may not be in Global yet; the planner checks which ones you can use.

Deck shapes

  • 2 Speed / 2 Stamina / 1 Wit / 1 Group · Late Surger · JP · Grand Masters (with the Three Goddesses) · umamusumelabo.com
  • 2 Speed / 1 Stamina / 2 Wit / 1 Group · Front Runner, Pace Chaser, Late Surger · KR/JP historical · Grand Masters (with the Three Goddesses) · inven.co.kr

Guides in other languages

  • Korean · author guide · uma.inven.co.kr

    • Narita Brian (ravenous_wolf) · Pace Chaser · Strong
    • Satono Diamond (new_year) · Late Surger · Practical
    • Mr. C.B. (original) · End Closer · Strong

    Historical guide; no population census; patch and Global availability pending.

What may differ in Global

  • Roster: the JP aces are not in Global's 2026-10-02 master. Estimated Global banners: Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf] 2026-10-16, Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity] 2026-10-22, Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss] 2026-12-01, Symboli Kris S [Onyx Soldier] 2026-12-18, Sakura Laurel [Saisir le rêve] 2027-01-02 (the CM's first day). These are estimates.
  • No skill evolutions in Global (0 of 1072 evolved skills are in the game). JP's best Late Surger, Sakura Laurel [Saisir le rêve], leaned on one; Satono Diamond [Jade's Prosperity], Narita Brian [Ravenous Wolf] and Mr. C.B. [Clear Bliss] also had evolutions.
  • Scenario: JP trained in Grandmasters (Speed cap 1500, Three Goddesses card, Divine Speed). A Global CM schedule places this CM in the Grandmasters era, and the scenario is estimated to reach Global on 2026-12-01; if it slips, the builds and Divine Speed will not be available.
  • Not in Global: Divine Speed, Wisdom of the Sun, Wisdom of the Land, Ahead of the Game and Seamless (all in JP guides for this cup), and In One Fell Swoop (202591), the base of Sakura Laurel's evolved acceleration, which is not even in our skill names.
  • Accelerations in Global today: Encroaching Shadow via Narita Taishin [Nevertheless] or Inari One [Golden Dream]; Beast Mode only via Mejiro McQueen [Frontline Elegance] (its support cards are estimated for 2027 or later); Claw Forward via the Symboli Kris S SSR support card (in Global since 2026-09-01).
  • Global's dates for this cup are estimated. The earlier Global Kyoto 3200 cup (Gemini Cup, Sept 2025) belongs to a much older meta.

Gaps in the data

  • No data separates Runaways from Front Runners: runaways_per_room is an upper bound inferred from Mejiro Palmer and Silence Suzuka usage, not a measurement.
  • The real-CM data gives usage only, not wins; win shares come from room matches with the Graded League Finals conditions, not from the real league or its Finals.
  • The second half of the room-match survey was not found (the web-archive search was rate-limited); its first half (the 50-race series) includes 3 test Umas from that series, removed by hand.
  • The course and main Aries Cup pages of the 100-room-match source returned 403; only its tier page with the 4/5 data loaded.
  • No Global guide for this CM yet (its expected guide page returned 404); only the era tag on a Global CM schedule.
  • stamina_without_gold is null: every source assumes at least one gold recovery.
  • Sources disagree on Highlander (wanted by JP guides, ~30% useful per one JP wiki) and on a gold recovery's value (200-220 vs 260-280 Stamina).
  • Outfits for Narita Taishin and Nice Nature are inferred from the room data's naming (untagged = original outfit).
  • Global release dates and the scenario date are estimates.
  • Balance changes in JP after April 2023 were not checked.

Sources and credits

This guide is our own summary, in our words, of the research below; the findings belong to their authors. Follow the links to read them in full.

Guides cited