When it comes to MapleStory you’ll figure out that having a lot of different characters is better than just maxing out one character. The reason is, the benefit of link skills and stats. Links skills are acquired when a character hits a certain level (70,120, 210), and can grant you a ton of bonus stats.
You technically have 13 link skills that are available to you since each character has it’s own permanent one on it. So just build around it and add in something from the other options I give to maximize gains.
Best Links To Prioritize
- Mercedes (EXP)
- Aran (Combo Orbs)
- Evan (Rune Duration)
- Kanna (Damage)
- Luminous (Ignore Enemy Defense)
- Demon Avenger (Damage)
- Phantom (Critical Rate)
These links should be prioritized because they will be useful to any character you make and will help you progress in the game a lot faster. The trio of Mercedes, Aran, and Evan are almost always going to be your first links. This is because of how useful they are when it comes to training and quickly leveling up your characters. Kanna, Demon Avenger, Phantom, and Luminous are all about doing more damage for both training and bossing. (IED is only relevant in bossing btw)
Best Link Skills To Use For Training
The best 12 links for training are:
- Mercedes (EXP)
- Aran (Combo Orbs)
- Evan (Rune Duration)
- Ark (Damage Increase as you stay in combat)
- Illium (Damage Increase as you move around)
- Lara (Damage to Normal Monsters)
- Phantom (Critical Rate) or Xenon (All Stat)
- Kanna (Damage)
- Hayato (All Stat +, Weapon and Magic Attack)
- Kinesis (Critical Damage)
- Demon Avenger (Damage)
- Cygnus Knight or Hoyoung or Explorer Pirate (whichever one lets you 1 shot)
The goal while training is to get the best EXP rates possible. To do that you must check off certain things like, being able to 1 shot, having a good rotation, and maximizing EXP multipliers. A good rotation depends on the map and your character but you just want to be able to kill as many mobs as you can in that map.
These links should give you the highest ratio of Damage to EXP multipliers. Critical Rate at 100% is very important when it comes to consistently 1 shotting but that can be also gained through Legion. If you’re at 100% crit rate, use xenon instead.
Luminous is not on this list because IED is unnecessary when mobbing and only useful when bossing. The last option really depends on what you have available to you and which one allows you to 1 shot. Hoyoung is potentially the strongest one but it only works on the 1st hit.
Lara’s link skill only works for training since the damage increase is only when you defeat normal monsters. It is great since you can get 16% extra damage.
Best Link Skills To Use For Bossing
The best 12 links for bossing are:
- Demon Slayer (Boss Damage)
- Mo Xuan (Boss Damage)
- Lynn (Crit Rate, Boss Damage, HP, MP)
- Angelic Buster (Active that Increases Damage)
- Demon Avenger (Damage)
- Kanna (Damage)
- Luminous (IED)
- Ark (Damage Increase as you stay in combat)
- Cadena (Damage Increase on monsters lower level than you, Damage increase if monsters inflicted with status conditions)
- Kinesis (Critical Damage)
- Explorer Mage (Bishop, I/L, F/P) (Damage and IED)
- Explorer Thief (Night Lord, Shadower, Dual Blade) (Damage when status is inflicted)
Honorable Mentions
- Adele (Boss Damage)
- Shade (Chance to survive fatal hit)
- Kain (Damage increase when you kill a certain amount of mobs)
- Illium (Damage Increase while moving)
- Phantom (Critical Rate)
- Resistance (BM,WH, Mechanic, Blaster) (Invincibility upon respawn)
The goal while bossing should be to clear the boss as fast as you can. In order to do that you need these link skills that maximize your damage.
There are a few things that are changed when it comes to certain classes. For example, Archers benefit a lot for extra critical rate while bossing due to their skill Vicious Shot. So for archers you can remove Kanna or Kinesis link for Phantom link. Also, if you’re in a full party Adele link becomes better so you can drop Kanna’s link for it.
If you know how to clear the boss and you’re comfortable in it, the best option is to go full damage since the more damage you have, the faster the clear should be and you can get to other things.
If you’re not comfortable in a boss or if you’re just looking to survive and maybe get carried then you need defensive links.
Best Defensive Bossing Link Skills (learning the boss or not dying out)
These are the link skills I would use when learning a boss or if all I wanted to do was survive and not die out. I’d use these when I’m on my mule for harder bosses like Black Mage.
- Resistance (BM,WH, Mechanic, Blaster) (Invincibility upon respawn)
- Khali (HP recovery + damage)
- Shade (Chance to survive fatal hit)
- Cygnus Knights (Abnormal Status Resistance)
- Explorer Warrior (Restores HP when it falls to a certain point)
Fill the other spots with IED or Damage. Whatever you need to be able to do the 5% HP and get out. If you also craft and use the special node Auto Recovery 2 (great for Black Mage) you’ll have a really good chance of not dying out with this setup.
MapleStory Links Skills List and Explained
This list and explanation will only be about the Links that are mentioned in this article!
Explorer Mage – Empirical Knowledge
From Explorer Magicians (Bishop, I/L Arch Mage, F/P Arch Mage). Inflicts a curse mark when attacking to increase damage dealt and ignore DEF of marked targets.
Level 70~119 provides 1 point (Level 30~119 if the owner is also an explorer magician)
Level 120+ provides 2 points.
| Skill Level | Effect |
| 1 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 15% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 1%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
| 2 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 17% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 1%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
| 3 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 19% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 2%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
| 4 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 21% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 2%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
| 5 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 23% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 3%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
| 6 | Inflicts a curse mark at a 25% chance. Curse mark lasts for 10 seconds, stackable up to 3 times. Each stack increases damage dealt and reduces DEF by 3%. (DEF reduced is summed before multiplied for multiple stacks) |
Explorer Thief – Cunning Thief
From Explorer Thieves (Night Lord, Shadower, Dual Blade). Increases damage shortly when you inflict an abnormal status. Not affected by buff duration increases, cooldown reduction and cooldown resets.
Level 70~119 provides 1 point (Level 30~119 if the owner is also an explorer thief)
Level 120+ provides 2 points.
| Skill Level | Effect |
| 1 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +3% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
| 2 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +6% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
| 3 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +9% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
| 4 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +12% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
| 5 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +15% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
| 6 | When an abnormal status is inflicted, damage +18% for 10 seconds. Cooldown 20 seconds. |
Mercedes – Elven Blessing
Originated from Mercedes. Boosts EXP gain and gives the ability to teleport to Elluel.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Mercedes) | Monster EXP +10% permanently. Can teleport to Elluel with a cooldown time of 10 minutes. |
| 2 | 120 | Monster EXP +15% permanently. Can teleport to Elluel with a cooldown time of 10 minutes. |
| 3 | 210 | Monster EXP +20% permanently. Can teleport to Elluel with a cooldown time of 10 minutes. |
Demon Slayer – Fury Unleashed
Skill from Demon Slayer. Increases your inner rage to deal more damage against boss monsters.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Demon Slayer) | Damage to Boss Monsters +10% |
| 2 | 120 | Damage to Boss Monsters +15% |
| 3 | 210 | Damage to Boss Monsters +20% |
Phantom – Phantom Instinct
From Phantom. Use high levels of insight to locate enemies’ weaknesses, thus increasing critical chance.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Phantoms) | Critical Rate +10% |
| 2 | 120 | Critical Rate +15% |
| 3 | 210 | Critical Rate +20% |
Luminous – Light Wash
From Luminous. Ignores a portion of monster defense.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Luminous) | Ignore 10% DEF |
| 2 | 120 | Ignore 15% DEF |
| 3 | 210 | Ignore 20% DEF |
Angelic Buster – Terms and Conditions
From Angelic Buster. Increases damage for 10 seconds. Cooldown time 90 seconds. Targeted characters will receive half of the original amount.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Angelic Busters) | Damage +30% |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +45% |
| 3 | 210 | Damage +60% |
Demon Avenger – Wild Rage
From Demon Avenger. Your rage goes wild so your damage increases.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Demon Avengers) | Damage +5% |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +10% |
| 3 | 210 | Damage +15% |
Xenon – Hybrid Logic
From Xenon. Using logic, increase all stats.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Xenon) | All Stat +5% |
| 2 | 120 | All Stat +10% |
Hayato – Keen Edge
From Hayato. Increase overall power.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Hayato) | All Stat +15, Weapon ATT and Magic ATT +10 |
| 2 | 120 | All Stat +25, Weapon ATT and Magic ATT +15 |
Kanna – Elementalism
From Kanna. Concentrate and focus your mind to increase damage.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Kanna) | Damage +5% |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +10% |
Lynn – Focus Spirit
From Lynn. Focus and increase overall power.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Lynn) | Critical Rate +4%, Damage to Boss Monsters +4%, HP and MP +3% |
| 2 | 120 | Critical Rate +7%, Damage to Boss Monsters +7%, HP and MP +4% |
| 3 | 210 | Critical Rate +10%, Damage to Boss Monsters +10%, HP and MP +5% |
Shade – Close Call
From Shade/Eunwol. Save yourself from an attack which would otherwise kill you at a chance.
| Skill Level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Eunwol) | 5% chance |
| 2 | 120 | 10% chance |
Kinesis – Judgement
From Kinesis. Increases critical damage.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Kinesis) | Critical Damage +2% |
| 2 | 120 | Critical Damage +4% |
Aran – Combo Kill Advantage
From Aran. Provides additional EXP when absorbing a Combo Kill Orb.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Aran) | Combo Kill Orb EXP +400% |
| 2 | 120 | Combo Kill Orb EXP +650% |
| 3 | 210 | Combo Kill Orb EXP +900% |
Evan – Rune Persistence
From Evan. Increases rune buff duration by intensifying the magical powers of runes. For runes with special 1-minute or 30-second effects, the duration of these effects will be increased as well, up to 1.5 minutes and 45 seconds respectively (for Level 2 link skill).
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Evan) | Rune Buff Duration +30% |
| 2 | 120 | Rune Buff Duration +50% |
| 3 | 210 | Rune Buff Duration +70% |
Cadena – Intensive Insult
From Cadena. Indirectly insult monsters weaker than you by dealing extra damage to them.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Cadena) | Damage +3% on monsters lower level than you, Damage +3% on monsters inflicted with any status conditions. (Total: Damage +6% on monsters lower level than you that are inflicted with status conditions) |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +6% on monsters lower level than you, Damage +6% on monsters inflicted with any status conditions. (Total: Damage +12% on monsters lower level than you that are inflicted with status conditions) |
Illium – Flow of Battle
From Illium. You get increasingly powerful as you keep your momentum. Not affected by buff duration increasing effects.
| Skill level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Illium) | Damage +1% for 5 seconds for every 500 pixels moved. Maximum: Damage +6%. Cooldown between stacks/refreshes: 1 second |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +2% for 5 seconds for every 500 pixels moved. Maximum: Damage +12%. Cooldown between stacks/refreshes: 1 second |
Ark – Ecstasy
From Ark. Concentrate and lose yourself in combat to increase damage as you fight longer. The buff resets when the character did not attack for 10 seconds straight. Not affected by buff duration increasing effects.
| Skill level | Level requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Ark) | Damage +1% for attacking at least twice within 5 seconds, stacks up to 5 times. The 1st stack gives additional 1% damage (Maximum: +6% Damage). Cooldown between stacks/refreshes: 5 seconds (1st stack only applies after 5 seconds of the 1st attack made). |
| 2 | 120 | Damage +2% for attacking at least twice within 5 seconds, stacks up to 5 times. The 1st stack gives additional 1% damage (Maximum: +11% Damage). Cooldown between stacks/refreshes: 5 seconds (1st stack only applies after 5 seconds of the 1st attack made). |
| 3 | 210 | Damage +3% for attacking at least twice within 5 seconds, stacks up to 5 times. The 1st stack gives additional 1% damage (Maximum: +16% Damage). Cooldown between stacks/refreshes: 5 seconds (1st stack only applies after 5 seconds of the 1st attack made). |
Hoyoung – Self Confidence
From Hoyoung. Increases DEF ignored and increases damage to monsters with full HP.
| Skill Level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Hoyoung) | Ignore DEF +5% and Damage to monsters with full HP +9% |
| 2 | 120 | Ignore DEF +10% and Damage to monsters with full HP +14% |
Adele – Noblesse
From Adele. Increase damage against boss monsters, and depending on your party size, further increases damage.
| Skill Level | Level Requirement | Stats |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Adele) | Damage to boss monsters +2%, for every party member including yourself (non-party is counted as 1 person party), damage +1% up to +4% |
| 1 | 120 | Damage to boss monsters +4%, for every party member including yourself (non-party is counted as 1 person party), damage +2% up to +8% |
Kain – Prior Preparation
| Skill Level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Kain) | When you kill 8 enemies or hit a boss monster 5 times, complete 1 preparation When you have 5 preparations, your damage is increased by 9% for 20 seconds Cooldown: 40 seconds |
| 1 | 120 | When you kill 8 enemies or hit a boss monster 5 times, complete 1 preparation When you have 5 preparations, your damage is increased by 17% for 20 seconds Cooldown: 40 seconds |
Lara – Nature’s Friend
| Skill Level | Level Requirement | Effect |
| 1 | 70 (10 for Lara) | Damage +3% Activate nature’s help upon defeating 20 normal monsters. Increases Damage Against Normal Monsters by 7% for 30 sec when nature’s help is active. Cooldown: 30 sec |
| 1 | 120 | Damage +5% Activate nature’s help upon defeating 20 normal monsters. Increases Damage Against Normal Monsters by 11% for 30 sec when nature’s help is active. Cooldown: 30 sec |