MapleStory/Patches
Big Bang
The Big Bang is the first major game-changing update of MapleStory. It updates, alters and adds many maps, skills, and monsters. It was split into three patches. Part 1 updates nearly every map, monster and skill in the Maple World. Part 2 released the first of the Resistance: the Wild Hunter and Battle Mage. Part 3 brings the Mechanic.
Chaos/Renaissance
Chaos brought in part 1, adjustments to Aran, Evan and Dual Blade in which we also saw the return of the Dual Blade, including changes to stat enhancing items (potions, scrolls, etc.). Part 2 (The Technological Age/Age of Artisans) brings in 'Professions', it allows you to create items, potions and accessories and we also saw Black Mage's dream which took place in Henesys Ruins and Future Ereve and saw Empress Cygnus all grown up. Some items in the Profession system are exclusive to the Profession system. Part 3 (Super Fight) brings in PvP (Player vs. Player) and a whole load of new equips.
In GMS, this was separated into 5 parts, part one included the Future Ereve/Henesys. Part four saw Ice Knight, a PvP mode and part 5 saw Capture the Flag, a GMS exclusive PvP mode.
In JMS, the update was titled Renaissance. Part two brought the modified version of the Profession system. The UI for the Profession system is different and the fatigue is used up differently. Additionally, we saw the combination of the Smithing and Accessory Crafting profession and saw the Monster Tamer profession which ties in with another JMS exclusive update, Monster Familiars.
Jump/Ascension
Jump brought in with part 1, dubbed Counterattack of the Blade, included Warrior class adjustments and saw in Speigalmann's new quest, Monster Park! Part 2, dubbed The Spell of Awakening, added further adjustments to the Magician classes and update Monster Park and in KMS, saw MapleStory's 8th Birthday. Part 3, known as The Arrow of Speed, consisted of Archer class adjustments as well as new and revamped Party Quests.
In GMS, the patch was not split into 3 parts and was named Ascension, instead a single large patch took place. Here, we saw the Wedding Revamp which simplified the Amoria map and added incentives to stay married after a report that noted more than 50% of MapleStory marriages get divorced.
In MSEA, the patch was split into two patches. Part 1, named The Arising of the Origins (Origins are referring to the original classes), which updated Warrior, Magician and Archer classes. Part 2, named The Amazing Monster Park, added the Monster Park quest, in addition we saw the Party Quest update.
Legend(s)
This big update brought in 3 new classes. The first update saw the Cannon Shooter (Cannoneer in GMS), a Pirate that uses a new type of weapon at the time, Cannons to defeat his or her foes. With high damage and low mobility, the Cannon Shooter is a wonderful class for Warriors. The second update saw the legendary hero who was awoken after centuries, Mercedes. This elf queen has been sealed for a few hundred years and has awoken to defeat the Black Mage, she uses a new type of weapon, Dual Bowguns. She's quick and speedy with moderate damage and low health, she's great for anyone with experience in Bowmans. The second update also saw a Profession update which raised the amount of fatigue and made it easier to level up your Professions, this update also saw a 20% speed boost to everyone. The last update saw the Resistance warrior, Demon Slayer. He uses one handed maces and/or axes to defeat his foes. He used to be a Black Mage commander and like Mercedes, he wishes to defeat the Black Mage.
This update brought in a ton of new players into the Korean version of the game. In Korea, there was a time where there were about 700,000 people online, a record high whose record before the Legend update was around 400,000.
Advance of the Union
These updates were not announced as one big update and were separated into 2 parts. The first update, labeled Advance of the Union saw changes to Aran and Evan classes and this also brought in Akyrum, a commander for the Black Mage. The second update, Alliance Unbound saw revamps to the Resistance class, Aran and Evan classes and saw a revamped Mu Lung Dojo, Ellin Forest, and multiple party quests such as Ghost Ship and Nett's Pyramid. The last update of the trio saw Cygnus Knight revamps and saw the revamp of the popular Lion King Castle.
In GMS, these were in 3 parts. The first launched Aran and Evan changes and a revamped Silent Crusade with the new boss Akyrum. This update to Silent Crusade made a ton of changes to the currently existing system and some of which players were unhappy about. While also launching in this first update saw the return of Crimsonwood Keep PQ which was bugged for years after the Big Bang update.
The second part saw more Aran and Evan revamps but also added in Resistance revamps which boosted some classes quite well. Coming in with this update also revamped Mu Lung Dojo (which now is a completely competitive quest), Ellin Forest, Nett's Pyramid (this update was significantly changed from the previous version, assumed to deter botters), Ghost Ship and it has also brought the Destroyed version of NLC and Nebulites (which are similar to the Potential system).
The last update dubbed Alliance Eternal, brought in the first ever Cygnus Knight only revamps and saw the revamp of the popular Lion King Castle and turned it into a theme dungeon. Notably, the GMS version kept the "Party Play" system which in summary, allows players to gain extra EXP bonuses for each party member in party while in the maps due to player request. All the other versions had removed the Party Play bonus from the game.
In MapleSEA, these updates are merged into one patch known as Return of The Forces.
Justice/Renegades
Here, the first update brought the long awaited Thief and Pirate revamps, a Navigation system for helping beginner players get to where they need to go, a level-up guide so beginner players know what to do to quickly get to a higher level, minor changes to other classes, disabled PvP and made popular bosses such as Zakum, Horntail and Von Leon instanced. The second update brought Phantom, the Thief hero of the Maple World. The last update brought Aswan, an underground city that has been cursed by the Black Magician and allows you to defeat waves of monsters to help liberate the cursed souls. In CMS/TWMS, we saw Dragon Warrior, an exclusive Pirate class to these versions. This also caused the Pirate revamp to be moved from the first part of the update.
In GMS, this game update was dubbed Renegades. The first update brought in Jett, who is looking for Burke who assassinated and framed Jett for murdering the king of their home planet. Cerebus Rapid Action Force is now looking for Jett who crash landed into the Maple World and ended up in Nautilus Port. This update also brought in a few UI upgrades (level up guide, navigation system, etc.) and the long awaited Thief revamp. The second update launched the mysterious Phantom! The third update brings Aswan. The Pirate Revamp and Dual Blade Reorganization will be in the Mutiny patch.
Tempest
Tempest is a supposedly big update that was released in KMS in July 5th, it was then later revealed that it contains 6 parts. The first update dubbed Prelude to the Storm brings in lowered job advancement requirements and events. The second update is dubbed Choice of Light and Dark and brings in the new Luminous class. The third update which is dubbed Protector of the Dragons, Kaiser! launched the first class Kaiser in the new race Nova, a new area called the Pantheon was also released alongside this update which happened on July 26th. The fourth update which is the Idol Of The Battlefield on August 9th, launched the second Nova class which is a pirate named Angelic Burster. The fifth update, which is named Traitor Magnus, is released on August 16th, launched a new boss named Magnus as well as a new area. The sixth update will be Hyper Skills, in which all classes will get boost-up skills when they reach certain levels.
