MapleStory

Intro > How to Play

Step 1: Download Game Client

To play the game, you'll need a program that executes it, and the set-up program is called client.

Note: Download might take some time.

Step 2: Install Game

Double-click on “MSSETUP.EXE” to install MapleStory, after the client is downloaded.

Click here for installation guide

Step 3: Sign Up a MapleStory Account

You'll need to sign up an account to enjoy MapleStory, along with its guilds, communities, and various other services.

Step 4: Run MapleStory

Once installation is completed, you'll see a mushroom-looking MapleStory icon on your desktop.

Double-click on it to start the game.

Note: Before starting the game, please make sure you have DirectX on your computer. Download DirectX if it isn’t installed.

Step 5: Login to start Game

World
After login, the screen will scroll up to show available worlds. There are currently 2 worlds available at MapleStory, with 20 channels per world.

Note: Your account has access to all the worlds available, but your character isn't. Wherever the world the character is created, the character only belongs in that world. Within the world, however, the character can be at whichever channels it wants to be.

Character
After selection of the world and channel to play in, you'll be sent to the Character page. You are able to “Select", "Create" or "Delete" a character.

"Select a Character"
Allows you to choose the character you wish to represent, train and groom within MapleStory.
If you already have a character, double-click on it to start the game. Create a character if you have not created one.
"Create a Character"
Allows you to create a new character. You may create 3 characters per account.

> Character’s Name
Enter the character name of your choice, and click on “CHECK” to see if the name is available or not.

> Character’s Appearance
Choose face, hairstyle, top, bottom, shoes, and weapons from the list.

> Character’s Stats
Roll the dice to choose the appropriate stats for STR, DEX, INT and LUK. You are advise to decide on the job that the character wish to take before deciding in the stats.

Click on "Check" to check your character name before click on “OK” when confirmed to create the character.
"Delete a Character"
Allows you to delete a character. For security purpose, you are required to enter your 13-digit AisaSoft Passport ID.

Interface
Once you have chosen your character and entered the game, you'll see the game screen, with the character in the middle. You will also notice a long window at the bottom of the screen. That long window is called interface.

Through the interface, you can check your name, HP and MP. You can see the chat window within the game. On the right, you'll see the quick slots of the skills in favor Press ESC during the game to access menus such as system option and game option. You can also choose to quit the game.

Controlling the Character
Once you start playing the game, you'll see your character as the beginner. To move your character, press one of the arrow keys on the keyboard. To jump and attack, press Alt and Ctrl on the keyboard.

Hunting
After killing a monster, you'll see a message on the bottom-right corner of the screen flashing '***'s EXP went up. That's the amount of EXP gained by hunting down a monster. Once you reach a certain amount of EXP, you'll be able to level up.

(Press S to see your stats or look at the EXP meter next to MP at the bottom of the screen to see how much more EXP you need to level up.)

When you level up, you'll be awarded with 5 Ability Points. Press S, and designate your Ability Points to wherever they are needed, be it STR, DEX, INT, LUK, or MaxMP & MaxHP. Once you have leveled up, your HP and MP will be full again. If you hunt a monster, it'll usually drop off a leftover and some Mesos. They can be picked up through the button Z.

You can make the job advancement, job adv. for short, once you reach level 10 (8 to be a magician.). To advance, head over to the job adv. guild at one of the occupational towns.

1st job adv.
You are required to fulfill the requirements listed as follows:

Warrior
Perion, Victoria Island
Shrine of Warriors
Level 10+
Str 35+
Magician
Ellinia, Victoria Island
Magic Library
Level 8+
Int 20+
Bowman
Henesys, Victoria Island
Bowman Instructional School
Level 10+
Dex 25+
Thief
Kerning City, Victoria Island
Level 10+
Dex 25+

Once you have advanced, your character's maximum HP or MP will increase, along with receiving 1 Skill Point, SP for short. From then on out, every level up will bring 3 Skill Points, and you'll be able to acquire new skills.

2nd job adv.
Head over to the job adv. guild and you'll go through a test according to your job. Once you pass the test, you'll be choosing one of the jobs available under the job you currently own. The requirements will be LEV 30, SP 0 no matter which job.

Note: Once you have chosen your path, you can't choose a different path and advance with another job later on.

Items are classified in five big groups, (Meso, equipment, use, etc., pet) along with cash items. Items can be picked up through the button Z.

Meso
The currency used in MapleStory. It can be acquired through hunting down the monsters or selling the leftovers from the monsters at various stores.

Equipment items
Items that the character puts on. Items that fall under equipment are hats, weapons, accessories, earrings, top, bottom, gloves, shoes, and etc. The standard to equip the items are based on the job, skill points and level required.

Use items
Items which are needed to recover HP or MP in the game. Town Scrolls that allow the character to return to the corresponding town are also classified as "use' items.

Etc. items
Items which are the leftovers from the hunted monsters. They can be sold at stores for Mesos. Some of which are required items for quests. Minerals and jewels also are considered as Etc. items

Cash items
Avatar item that helps decorate the character. Click on the Cash Shop button at the bottom-left corner to enter, and the items are NOT FREE. Cash item is usually an equipment item that the character put on, but there are also items that allow the character to change hairstyle, skin color, or hair color.

The general summary of Skill System
Excluding the beginners, the other four jobs (warriors, magicians, bowmen, and thieves) have their own, unique skills. As the character makes advancements, numerous skill slots will be available. The skills won't be available for use just by obtaining the skill book, but rather, the skills will be obtained through using SP's earned after every level up.

Types of Skill
Skills are divided into two different categories, active and passive.

Passive Skill: Works without really doing anything special
Active: Uses up MP and others to start up the skill; works for a set period of time.

Doing Quests
Lots of different quests await you in MapleStory. To do a quest, you need to first look for an NPC that provides one. The requirements for a quest can vary, but usually involves level, fame, job, and/or items. Through the quest, the character can gain items, EXP and others that directly affect your character.

There are two types of quests, one-time quest and repeatable quests. A one-time quest can only be completed once, and then it's over. Repeatable quests can be done again even after completing it the first time. You can access quest names, quest in progress, ended quest, and quest info's on the See Quest Info window at menu (HotKey: ESC).

NPC: Short for Non-Player Character. Not controlled by a user, but by the computer program instead.

Quest: A specific task given by an NPC. If it is met, the character is rewarded for the hard work. The character can gain items, EXP and others that directly affect your character. If the character quits midway through, no reward will be given.

Item: It's everything in the game other than the characters, NPC, and the monsters.

Town: A peaceful place where no monster resides. Characters can make different job adv. in different town. Weapon stores and potion stores are available for upgrades of equipments items, top up of used items and sales of items. The towns are accompanied by various NPC's to greet the characters, too.

Field: Describes all area of land that is a hunting ground. Since it doesn't designate a particular area, it is usually labeled as a *** field, named to the nearest town.

Dungeon: A special hunting place without the field. Usually dungeons present more powerful monsters than the ones on the field, and so it's a hunting place more suitable for the higher-leveled characters.

Skill: A special act that a character can pull off while hunting. Skills can be acquired through job advancements. In order to use the skills, you are required to use Skill Point to acquire different skills. More sets of skills are available on each job advancement.

Meso: An official currency in MapleStory. Can be used at stores and/or trades for business.

GM: Short for game-master, it helps to safeguard MapleStory which users enjoy the game with ease.

SP: In short for Skill Point. Acquired after each level up, and with it, the character can acquire a skill or raise the skill level.

AP: In short for Ability Point. Acquired after each level up, and with it the character can raise the ability of their choice. (STR, DEX, INT, LUK)