MapleStory Classic World Beginner's Guide (2026)
New to MapleStory Classic World, or coming back after many years? This MapleStory Classic World beginner guide covers what the game is, how to install it, your first hours on Maple Island, choosing a job, and the systems that set this version apart from regular MapleStory.
What Classic World is
Classic World is Nexon’s return to early MapleStory. Nexon’s stated goal is “to bring back the experience of early MapleStory that so many Maplers have long missed,” keeping “the charm and feeling of early MapleStory” while adding “thoughtful modern improvements” (Ossyria Exploration Report). It is not a one-for-one remake. Some old content returns, some is adapted, and some is new, and Nexon names Crafting and Citizenship as Classic World originals (Inkwell interview).
The Grand Launch was Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM PDT, and it is open to everyone, whether or not you bought a Founder’s Package (Grand Launch announcement). The maximum character level is Lv 100 (Grand Launch Release Notes).
Getting started
Classic World runs on Windows and macOS. You can play through the Nexon Launcher, which has a “MapleStory Classic World” toggle, or through Steam, where it is bundled under the MapleStory listing (FAQ). Classic World and regular MapleStory share one account. NX is shared between them. Maple Points, MVP status and character names are not, and only one of the two games can be open at a time (same FAQ).
You can have up to 3 characters per account (Grand Launch Release Notes), so you have room to try more than one job.
Your first steps on Maple Island
Every character starts as a Beginner on Maple Island, then travels to Victoria Island (Grand Launch Release Notes). You arrive at Mushroom Town - West Entrance, where Heena gives your first quest.
The island is a gentle tutorial. Its monsters run from the Level 1 Snail to the Level 8 Orange Mushroom. Its 20 quests teach movement, items and combat, and give 1,075 EXP in total. Along the way you can earn a Fruit Knife from Biggs, a hat from Lucas, and The Green Relaxer from Pio.
When you are done, head to Southperry and talk to Shanks, the ship’s captain, to sail to Lith Harbor on Victoria Island. Every quest, map and monster is listed in our Maple Island guide.
Choosing a job
Classic World has four jobs: Warrior, Magician, Bowman and Thief. You take your 1st job at Lv 10 by visiting the job’s instructor in their home town (Grand Launch Release Notes):
At Lv 30 you return to the same NPC for your 2nd job. Warriors choose Fighter, Page or Spearman. Magicians choose Wizard (Fire/Poison), Wizard (Ice/Lightning) or Cleric. Bowmen choose Hunter or Crossbowman, and Thieves choose Assassin or Bandit (same release notes).
Until Lv 10 you play as a Beginner, with the Beginner skills.
Trading and megaphones
Two rules catch many new players out:
- Trading. New accounts can’t trade. All trading opens 24 hours after a character on your account reaches Lv 15 (Grand Launch Release Notes).
- Megaphones. Megaphones need Lv 15. This was raised from Lv 10 at Grand Launch (Megaphone change notice).
So plan to reach Lv 15 on at least one character early. After that, every character on the account can trade once the 24 hours are up.
Crafting, Citizenship and Housing basics
Crafting
Crafting opens at Lv 10 and is a Classic World original. Your crafting skill grows as you use it and unlocks more recipes (Grand Launch Release Notes). Each craft has its own NPC, and each NPC starts you off with a Lv 10 apprentice quest:
| Craft | NPC | Town | First quest | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithing | Silas Irons | Perion | Silas Irons in Need of an Apprentice | Recipes (Bronze Ingot and more) |
| Weaponcrafting | Mr. Thunder | Perion | Mr. Thunder in Need of an Apprentice | Recipes (Screw and more) |
| Tailoring | Francois | Ellinia | Francois in Need of an Apprentice | Recipes (Processed Cloth and more) |
| Woodcrafting | Vicious | Henesys Market | Vicious in Need of an Apprentice | Recipes (Arrows for Bows and more) |
| Leatherworking | JM From tha Streetz | Kerning City | JM From tha Streetz Looking for a Partner | Recipes (Processed Leather and more) |
| Arcforge | Chrishrama | Sleepywood | Chrishrama in Need of an Apprentice | Recipes (Garnet and more) |
Each apprentice quest gives 188 EXP and 351 mesos. Every NPC also has a Lv 15 follow-up that rewards a crafting kit, and a Lv 25 quest that rewards a crafting catalyst. You can browse all six crafts on the recipes page.
Citizenship
Citizenship opens at Lv 12. You can become a citizen of Henesys, through Arthur in the Henesys Town Hall, or of Kerning City, through Roxy in the Kerning City Civic Center. Requests from the Community Board (Henesys, Kerning City) earn Contribution toward your citizenship grade. Perks include specialty items and discounts on cabs, storage and some shop items (Grand Launch Release Notes).
Housing
You can buy a home with mesos, in Henesys from Bianca or in Kerning City from Scarlett. You need a citizenship grade of Visitor or higher. Each account gets one home, shared by all its characters (same release notes). Each town has a housing quest line that starts at Lv 17: A Home in Henesys begins with The Right to Own a Home from Arthur, and A Home in Kerning City with The Right to Own a Home from Roxy.
Where to go next
Once you have your 1st job, these guides help you plan the next stretch:
- Training Spots by Level: where to train at each level on Victoria Island. You can also browse monsters by level, starting with Level 11–20.
- Quests Worth Doing: the quests with the most EXP at each level, plus quest lines that end in equipment.
- Bosses Guide: the bosses of Victoria Island.
Good luck, and take it at your own pace.