About this video

• Video Title: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA. FULL HALF ANNI BALANCE PATCH META EVALUATION W/ REDNU
• Channel: Victoria Frontier - Uma Musume
• Speakers: Victoria Frontier, Rednu
• Duration: 01:41:33

Overview

This video provides a comprehensive evaluation of the balance patch for Uma Musume's half-anniversary update, focusing on the impact of new mechanics and skill changes on the game's meta. The speakers discuss how these updates affect various racing strategies, Uma builds, and the overall gameplay experience.

Key takeaways

• Uma Stan Buff: The skill "Uma Stan" has been significantly buffed, making it a must-buy for many strategies due to its improved activation conditions and effectiveness as a speed skill that deactivates pace down mode early in the race.
• Navigation Skill Changes: Navigation skills now also improve passing ability, and the mechanics of skills like "Lane Movement" have been clarified, offering new strategic possibilities, especially for front-runners and certain Uma like Agnes Digital.
• Guts Stat Importance: The introduction of new mechanics like "Spot Struggle" and the "Dueling System" increases the relevance of the Guts stat, particularly for front-runners, influencing race outcomes.
• Hills and Course Changes: Modifications to courses, such as the introduction of a downhill on the Hanshin racecourse, have made skills like "Pace Chaser" viable and impact future meta discussions.
• New Meta Emergence: The half-anniversary update has fundamentally shifted the meta, making many previously underperforming Umas viable and opening up diverse strategic options beyond just front-runners.

The activation condition for "Uma Stan" has changed from needing four people nearby to only needing three people nearby, making it much more achievable for late and end players. Its new primary function is to act as a powerful 3-second speed skill in the early game. By deactivating "pace down mode," it allows the user to advance forward while other racers are slowed, creating a significant speed advantage for a duration that scales with the race distance.

For front runners, several key changes have been implemented:

• Lane Movement Skill Buff: Skills that improve navigation now also improve passing ability during their duration. This makes "Lane Movement" more valuable, requiring front runners to potentially use it to maintain their position or make progress.
• "Non-Stop Girl" Skill Buff: The "Non-Stop Girl" skill now activates if the Uma is in front and near other horses for at least 1 second. Previously, it required being hard-blocked in front of others. This change makes it much easier to activate, allowing Umas to brush past opponents and gain speed.
• Guts Stat Integration: A new front runner mechanic called "Lead Contest" has been introduced. This mechanic activates when two or more front runners are close to each other within 150 meters after the race starts. The strength and duration of the buff provided by this mechanic are dependent on the Guts stat, making higher Guts more beneficial for front runners.
• Downhill Course Impact: The addition of downhill sections on courses like Hanshin can now make skills like "Straight Descent" (e.g., from Chocako) and "Pace Chaser" viable. This is because there's now terrain that facilitates their activation and effectiveness, which was not the case before.
• "Adjusted Racer Positioning": The game now features adjusted racer positioning at the final corner, allowing them to line up more easily. This change reduces the chance of Umas being blocked, making it easier for them to execute their skills and strategies without interference. This also makes certain skills that rely on specific positioning or movement, like "Danger Aversion," more consistent when paired with return skills.