MapleStory Universe has been named the "Most Anticipated Game of 2024" at GAM3S.GG's GAM3 Awards, and the excitement continues to build. With ongoing playtests offering a glimpse into its unique gameplay, there’s no better time to jump in. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started and be a hero of the MapleStory Universe.

Before diving into the guide, let’s explore what MapleStory Universe (MSU) is all about. MSU is an evolution of the beloved MapleStory franchise, known for its charming 2D side-scrolling MMORPG gameplay that has captivated players for decades. This new ecosystem integrates web3 elements, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets, currency, and even character names as NFTs. At its core is NEXPACE, a blockchain infrastructure designed to ensure smooth and secure interactions. Leading the charge is MapleStory N, the flagship game that combines the franchise's signature gameplay with these modern enhancements. 

Getting Started

To get started in MapleStory Universe (MSU), the first step is to create an account on the MSU website. To do this, you’ll need either a MetaMask wallet or a Face Wallet. If you’re new to using wallets or unsure how they work, don’t worry! You can refer to this detailed guide to learn everything you need to know about setting up and managing a wallet safely and securely.  

Next, log in using your preferred wallet. After logging in, you’ll be prompted to create an account profile, which you can customize. Keep in mind, this profile is separate from your in-game character. To begin playing, click the "Play Now" button located at the top-right corner of the MSU website. This will guide you to download the NEXPACE Game Manager, the launcher needed to install MapleStory N. Once the installation is complete, simply click "Open NEXPACE Game Manager" to launch the game and step into the MapleStory N adventure. Take note that MSN is currently playable on PCs.

Once you open the game, you can select a server to play on, which will lead you to a prompt for creating a character class. MSN features a new class called Explorers, allowing players to choose a job path during their first job advancement.

Welcome to MapleStory N

The game introduces players to its fundamentals, starting with a tutorial on basic controls before diving straight into its rich and immersive story. The narrative unfolds across the diverse continents, regions, and countless NPCs within the Maple World. As a 2D MMORPG, MapleStory N brings all the classic MMORPG features fans love, including character classes and jobs, monster loot drops, job advancements, challenging boss fights, guild systems, and so much more. While this might seem overwhelming for beginners, don’t worry—we’ll break it all down step by step to help you get started on the right foot.

Controls

The default character movement controls are the Arrow Keys. You can jump with the Alt Key, and the basic attack is mapped to Ctrl. You can perform a double jump by pressing the jump button alongside the Up Arrow while mid-air. As you combat enemies, they will drop loot (visible item drops), which you can gather by pressing Z. Once you reach a certain level, the game will give you a pet that follows you around and automatically gathers loot. However, note that the pet must be near the loot drops to collect them. You can check most of the key bindings in the Key Bindings tab.

Another crucial part of the controls is the Quickslots, which allow you to place active items and skills on easily accessible keys, such as QWER and the number keys. To set them up, simply drag the active items or skills into your chosen quickslot on the Quickslots tab (found at the lower-right corner of the game screen).

World Exploration and NPC Quests

Exploration and quests are the bread and butter of MapleStory N, pulling you straight into the action and bringing the colorful Maple World to life. Every region is packed with NPCs ready to hand out missions that challenge your skills, keep you busy, and reward you with sweet loot.

NPCs and Their Quests: NPCs are more than just quest-givers, they’re your guides, storytellers, and sometimes even lifesavers. Open the Quests tab by pressing the J Key, where you can view available and accepted quests. These missions fall into a few main categories:

• Main Story Quests: Drive the narrative forward, unlock new areas, and access exciting features.
• Side Quests: Perfect for grinding NESOLET, gear, or crafting materials. While optional, these quests offer great rewards for leveling up faster or obtaining valuable items.

Exploring the Maple World: Maple World is massive, with each region or continent offering unique vibes, monsters, and challenges. From lush forests to icy mountains, there’s always something new to discover. Here’s why exploring is worth it:

• Unique Monsters and Drops: Every area has its own monster lineup, dropping specific loot you won’t find anywhere else.
• Elite Monsters: If you’re up for a challenge, hunt down elite monsters in the tougher regions. They drop better gear and more NESOLET, making the grind worth it.
• Fast Travel: As you progress, you’ll unlock ways to fast-travel between regions, so you can revisit favorite grinding spots or complete unfinished quests without wasting time.
• Level Up Your Resources: Higher-level regions mean better rewards—better loot, better materials, better everything.

Loot and Rewards

The endless grind for Loot is the lifeblood of MapleStory N, fueling your character’s progression and crafting efforts. Additionally, multikill XP combos provide bonus experience when you defeat several enemies in quick succession, so focus on efficient farming strategies to maximize both loot and XP.Every monster defeated, dungeon cleared, or mission completed can drop a variety of items, such as:

• Equipment: Weapons, armor, and accessories to enhance your stats.
• Consumables: Potions for healing and buffs to improve your performance in battles.
• Rare Drops: High-value items (such as rare weapons, skins, armor sets) that can be minted into NFTs and traded. This include the in-game currency itself NESOLET which we will discuss on the next section. 

The Rewards Dashboard tracks your loot, highlighting rewards from elite monsters, dungeons, and missions. Take note that some content in the game does not instantly give out rewards but instead uses a "raffle" system, which you can check in the Raffle Dashboard.

Minting and Inventory Management

Items in the player's inventory can be categorized into three types. The first type is non-mintable items, which often include generic consumable items such as HP and mana potions, quest items, and non-mintable weapon/armor sets. Non-mintable items are marked with a letter "L" next to their icons in the inventory.

Next are mintable items, which range from equipment and skins to other types of loot. You can mint these items into their NFT versions, allowing you to trade them on the MSU marketplace. Mintable items are marked with a small cloud logo next to their icons in the inventory.

Finally, there are minted items, the NFT versions of the mintable items mentioned earlier. NFT items are freely tradable on the marketplace, and you can freely swap NFT items between your wallet and your in-game inventory. NFT item icons do not have any special visual indicators in the inventory.

Minting Items: To mint mintable items, go to your player inventory (default hotkey: I) and press the "Mint" button. This will let you select the mintable items you want to mint (minting is free!). Some mintable items come in stacks, so there will sometimes be a prompt asking how many of the items you want to mint. Once you’ve made your selection, click the "Mint" button, and voilà, your items are now NFTs.

If you want to trade these items for the in-game currency NESO, you first need to move the NFT items from your character inventory to your wallet inventory. This is done via the "Wallet" button. Simply drag and drop the NFT items from your character inventory to your wallet inventory. Once done, the chosen items will appear in your MSU marketplace account, and you are free to trade them.

NESOLET and NESO

The game features two primary currencies: NESOLET and NESO.

NESOLET is the currency you accumulate through regular gameplay activities, such as completing quests, defeating monsters, and participating in events. Think of NESOLET as your day-to-day earnings within the game.

NESO serves as the main currency for various in-game transactions, including purchasing items, enhancing equipment, and trading in the marketplace. To utilize NESOLET for these purposes, you need to convert it into NESO. This conversion is done within your character's inventory by minting NESO from your accumulated NESOLET. 

Skills, Combos, and Combat Tips

Combat in MapleStory N is all about mastering your character’s skills and using them strategically. Each class comes with a unique skill set that grows as you reach job advancements. You can open the Skills tab via the Skills sub-tab under the Character tab or by pressing the K key. Each character level-up grants points toward your stats and skill points, which you can allocate accordingly.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Skill Macros: Combine multiple skills (up to three specific skills in a chosen order) into a single command to execute devastating combos. This is particularly useful in boss fights or crowded areas.
• AOE Skills: Use Area of Effect abilities to clear groups of monsters quickly. These are great for farming and earning multikill XP bonuses.
• Platform Targeting: Many maps feature multiple levels. Use skills that can target enemies on higher platforms to maintain an advantage.
• Debuffs: Apply skills that weaken enemies, reducing their attack or defense during tough battles.

Take note that some skills are toggled On/Off. Additionally, skills from your previous job can still be used as you advance.

Job Advancements and Progression

Advancing your job in MapleStory N is a huge milestone that opens up a ton of possibilities for your character. Each job advancement lets you unlock powerful new skills, gear, and abilities to really hone your playstyle. Your starting job sets the tone—Warriors are perfect for up-close melee combat, while Mages dominate with ranged magic attacks. As you progress, you’ll gain access to specialized skills that let you fine-tune how you approach battles, whether you want to go all-out on offense, focus on defense, or even support your team. Plus, with every advancement, better gear becomes available, so upgrading your equipment to match your new skills is key to keeping up with tougher challenges. 

Tips and Tricks for Beginners

To get the most out of your journey in MapleStory N, it’s essential to focus on leveling up your character. This unlocks new regions and maps with better loot while also improving your chances in daily boss entries. One of the fastest ways to level up is by clearing as many story quests as possible, as they offer significant XP rewards and guide you through the game’s core mechanics. When you reach a new region, make sure to accept all the available quests in the town before heading out. Many quests often overlap, such as tasks involving the same type of monsters, allowing you to complete multiple objectives simultaneously. While working on quests, take advantage of the "Navigation" button, which will guide you directly to the required location, saving you time and effort.

When farming for loot, it’s best to stick to maps with enemies close to your character’s level. This ensures optimal XP gain and better drop rates. Farming in areas with enemies that are too low-level results in reduced XP and significantly fewer loot drops, making it less efficient. Additionally, if you come across loot that doesn’t suit your class or playstyle, consider trading it on the marketplace for NESO. Selling unwanted gear is a great way to earn extra currency and make room for more valuable items.

Be the Maple Hero

Whew, that was a long ride, wasn’t it? Well, it’s worth the read because MapleStory N is as massive as ever! Keep in mind that this guide only scratches the surface, covering the basics of the early game. We haven’t even tackled end-game content like late-game bosses, advanced item upgrades, bonus potential, or Star Force enhancements. Those topics are better suited for an advanced MSN guide. We hope this guide helps you get started on your journey to becoming a true Maple hero!