This article attempts to simplify the gameplay of MapleStory into various objectives and tips. It primarily outlines the training areas that, since the latest patches, are accessible to just about every class at their minimum required levels (these minimums exist because lower level characters may not be able to hit the enemies, or do enough damage to make training on them efficient). The goal here is to allow new players to avoid confusion and for regular players to have an easy reference of where to train and at what levels. For details on individual areas, quests, party quests, etc., see their respective pages in the Table of Contents. For additional details on your particular class, see their page, which is linked in the header above this paragraph.
This walkthrough is split up by job advancement (not by class). Before first job, the info provided blow outlines the basics of how to proceed through the game from character creation to questing.
- Create character.
- Put all AP into the primary stat for that character. Since the Tempest updates, secondary stats are no longer required, and since they give a fraction of the bonus of primary stats, characters with AP in secondary stats should be reset (using a cash shop coupon or a coupon given during an event), if possible. Note that although classes may not derive from adventurers/explorers (the main five), all classes fall into one of these five types. Some types use different primary stats (e.g. some pirates use STR and some use DEX). Thus, below all classes are laid out to avoid confusion:
- Adventurers/Explorers
- Beginner: avoid spending AP when using this class until you become one of the next five. In current versions of GMS, it may not be possible to spend AP during this class.
- Adventurers/Explorers
| Adventurers/Explorers | Cygnus Knights | Resistance | Nova | Hero | Exclusive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman | Blaze Wizard | Battle Mage | Angelic Buster | Aran | Dragon Warrior |
| Cannoneer | Dawn Warrior | Mechanic | Kaiser | Evan | Hayato |
| Magician | Night Walker | Wild Hunter | Luminous | Jett | |
| Pirate (Brawlers/Infighters) | Thunder Breaker | Mercedes | Kanna | ||
| Pirate (Gunslingers) | Wind Archer | Phantom | |||
| Thief/Dual Blade | |||||
| Dragon Warrior/Zen |
- Follow a recommend Skill Points (SP) build to avoid wasting SP. Beginner skills are usually negligible, although you should also get the mobility skill (increased walking speed or stealth, for Resistance characters) as these can be useful in some situations at later levels.
- Begin questing and leveling.
- Each tutorial area, the starting area for each class, will have the quests necessary to level up quickly.
- Complete the first job advancement at level 10 (level 8 for Beginners who want to become a Magician). This depends on what class you are. Explorers get to choose what they become, so if you reach the minimum level to advance, go seek out the trainer in the city for that class (Ellinia for Magicians, Henesys for Bowmen, Kerning City for Thieves, Nautilus for Pirates, and Perion for Warriors). If you are a linear class (i.e. not an Explorer class), then your job advancements will be straight forward because you have no choice of where to go. A bubble will appear and will direct you to the area and NPC you must speak to. For more info, see your class's page (linked at the top of this page and in the Table of Contents).
First job
Most newer jobs can skip through pre-first job with the click of a button (MapleAdmin usually asks a question like "Do you want to skip the tutorial?"). At first job, newer jobs have a quest line that, in some cases, can lead them to second job without needing to grind on monsters or acquiring other quests in the area. It is recommended that you follow these quest lines, although in some cases a group of people can power level more quickly by grinding monsters (see below for recommended areas).
Note: Cygnus Knights and Resistance Characters will not be on Victoria Island at the start, so train where you are. At this point, your skills rarely enable you to grind efficiently anyway. It would be a waste of time, unless experimenting, to seek out these areas without prior knowledge of how they compare.
Also: each major town on Victoria Island has its own quest line that helps characters level from First to Second job. The Henesys quest line is a good way to get up to 30, although if you are not funded (that is, if you don't have a higher level character to pay for equipment) you should stick to the town for your class type so you receive equipment that you can wear.
- Training areas
- Level 10-20: Blue Ribbon Pig (Nautilus Harbor area)
- Level 20-30: Cool Jellyfish (Nautilus Harbor area), or Ligators in the swamp outside of Kerning City.
Second job
- Training areas
- Level 30-35: Mushroom Kingdom
- Level 35-45: Kerning Square Shopping Center
- Level 45-55: Ant Tunnel, Orbis, or Aswan
- Level 55-60: Floating Island of Chryse, Orbis, Ludibrium, or Aswan
Third job
- Training Areas
- Level 60-70: Floating Island of Chryse, Ludibrium, Herb Town, Omega Sector (Zeta Grey or Ultra Grey) or Aswan
- Level 70-80: Roids in Magatia, or any suitable Party Quest (Orbis or Romeo and Juliet are recommended)
- Level 80-90: Any suitable Party Quest (Orbis or Romeo and Juliet are recommended)
- Level 90-100: Aliens in New Leaf City (NLC) or any suitable Party Quest (Orbis or Romeo and Juliet are recommended)
Fourth job
- Level 100-110: Aliens outside of New Leaf City (NLC) or any suitable Party Quest (Orbis or Romeo and Juliet are recommended)
- Level 110-120: Lion King's Castle or any suitable Party Quest (Orbis or Romeo and Juliet are recommended)
- Level 120-130: Any suitable Party Quest (Escape, Hoblin King, Dragon Rider are recommended)
- Level 130-140: ??
- Level 140-150: ??
- Level 150-160: ??
- Level 160-170: Stronghold
- Level 170-180: ??
- Level 180-190: ??
- Level 190-200: ??