In the vast, whimsical world of Maplestory, your journey through the Maple World is not just about slaying monstrous behemoths or unraveling the myriad mysteries. It’s also about companionship, particularly in the form of adorable, yet fiercely loyal pets that stride by your side. These creatures are not only a testament to your adventures and achievements but also pivotal assets that can significantly uplift your gameplay experience.
Pet Basics
Embarking on the quest with your faithful companion begins with understanding the rudiments of pet ownership in Maplestory. Pets in this vibrant world are not merely cosmetic; they are imbued with functionalities that assist Maplers in various aspects of their journey, from auto-looting to providing buffs.
A pet, once summoned, follows its owner around, picking up loot, thus saving precious time and allowing the player to focus on the battle or exploration at hand. But pets in Maplestory are not immortal; they require nourishment to stay active. This is where pet food comes into play, an essential commodity in keeping your companion by your side.
Types of Pets
Pets are categorized based on duration: permanent and temporary. The former are rare, often part of special events or promotions, while the latter, more common, have a lifespan, typically of 90 days, after which they revert to being mere dolls in your inventory unless rejuvenated with a Water of Life.
Obtaining Pets
The quest for acquiring a pet can lead a Mapler down various paths. The primary and most straightforward method is through the Cash Shop, where pets are up for grabs in exchange for NX, Nexon’s in-game currency. Here, one can find a plethora of pets, each with unique tastefulness and occasionally special abilities.
Events and Rewards
Beyond the Cash Shop, Maplestory frequently blesses its adventurers with event-based opportunities to obtain pets. These pets are often unique and available only for a limited time, making them quite sought-after. Keeping an eye on the event calendar and participating in event quests can reward players with these loyal companions without the need to spend NX.
Hatching Eggs
In some rare cases, pets can be obtained through hatching pet eggs, available as drops from bosses or purchase from special NPCs. These eggs require a nurturing process, involving a specific incubator found in major towns, and the result is a random pet that can range from common to exceptionally rare breeds.
Pet Skills
Every pet in Maplestory comes with a basic skill - the ability to loot items automatically. However, the potential of pets does not end here. Through the Pet Skill system, pets can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, enhancing their utility.
Skill Types
Auto HP and MP Potion Use: This skill enables your pet to automatically use HP and MP potions when your character’s health or mana falls below a certain threshold, ensuring your survival in the heat of battle.
Buff Skills: Some pets come equipped or can be trained to apply buffs to your character, ranging from stat increases to temporary immunity to certain debuffs.
Extended Auto Move: Increases the radius within which your pet will collect items, ensuring you miss out on fewer drops.
Auto Feed and Movement: Pets can also be trained to feed themselves automatically or even follow more complex movement patterns.
Skill Training
Training your pet to acquire these skills involves purchasing Skill Books from the Cash Shop or earning them through events. Each skill requires a specific book, and there’s a joy in gradually unlocking your pet’s potential as you journey through the Maple World.
Pet Equipment
Just as your character adorns gear to become more powerful, pets too can be equipped with items to amplify their abilities. Pet equipment is available via the Cash Shop or special game events, and can significantly augment your pet’s effectiveness.
Types of Pet Equipment
- Pet Hats/Caps: Offers elegant appeal and sometimes provides minor stat boosts.
- Meso Magnet and Item Pouch: Increases the efficiency of your pet’s auto-loothing capability, allowing it to collect mesos and items more effectively.
- Wing Boots: Enhances your pet’s movement speed, ensuring it keeps up with you during rapid traversal.
- Pet Collars: Typically offer stat increases, boosting your overall power when equipped.
Each piece of pet equipment is not just an adornment but a step towards maximizing your pet’s utility, making every piece a worthy investment for the dedicated Mapler.
Advanced Pet Guide
For the veteran adventurer, pets open up a realm of advanced gameplay strategies. Managing multiple pets (you can have up to three summoned at once), coordinating their skills for optimal coverage in battle, and outfitting them with gear that complements your playing style can be a game-changer.
Multi-Pet Dynamics
Summoning more than one pet not only increases your loot pick-up rate but, with the right combination of skills, can create a safety net that makes your character significantly harder to kill. Strategizing which pets to summon based on their utility and how their skills synergize with your character’s needs can elevate your Maplestory experience.
Special Pets
Special or event-based pets sometimes come with unique abilities not found in regular pets. These abilities can range from teleportation to safeguards against character death. The possession and optimization of these pets can be a significant focus for players looking to maximize their gameplay efficiency.
Pet Fusion
An advanced feature that transcends the basic pet functions is Pet Fusion, a process that allows the combination of specific pets to create a new pet with potentially superior skills and attributes. This feature not only presents the opportunity to experiment with different pet combinations but also adds a layer of depth to the pet system in Maplestory.