MapleStory has been running since 2003 and now carries more than forty playable classes split across Explorers, Cygnus Knights, Heroes, Resistance, Nova, Sengoku, Flora, Anima and Jianghu. The level cap sits at 300, fifth job opens at 200 and sixth job with the HEXA Matrix arrives at 260. The side scrolling combat has barely changed, but everything past level 200 is a symbol grind measured in daily quests rather than in skill.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensalir weapon | S | Levels 140 to 150 while you save for the next tier | The level 140 crafted tier that most characters use as their first real weapon after the free early game gear runs out. |
| Fafnir weapon | A | Levels 150 to 160 and early boss progression | The level 150 tier, obtainable from Root Abyss bosses and from crafting. |
| AbsoLab weapon | A | Levels 160 to 200 and the whole early Arcane River stretch | The level 160 tier crafted from Chaos Root Abyss and Hard Magnus materials. |
| Arcane Umbra weapon | B | Levels 200 and up, and everything from Lucid through Verus Hilla | The level 200 tier from Lotus, Damien and the Arcane River bosses. |
| Genesis weapon | B | Accounts that have cleared the Black Mage and are pushing Kalos and Kaling | An Arcane Umbra weapon liberated through the Black Mage questline, which adds a substantial permanent damage increase without changing the level requirement. |
S-Tier: Pensalir weapon
The level 140 crafted tier that most characters use as their first real weapon after the free early game gear runs out. Cheap enough to star force without regret while you learn the systems.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Levels 140 to 150 while you save for the next tier |
| Key Mechanic | Job advancement line |
| Recommended Build | Night Lord |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Pensalir weapon: Pairs naturally with Night Lord thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Fafnir weapon
The level 150 tier, obtainable from Root Abyss bosses and from crafting. It is the first weapon worth putting real cubes into because it lasts long enough to justify the mesos.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Levels 150 to 160 and early boss progression |
| Key Mechanic | Arcane and Sacred Symbols |
| Recommended Build | Bishop |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Fafnir weapon: Pairs naturally with Bishop thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: AbsoLab weapon
The level 160 tier crafted from Chaos Root Abyss and Hard Magnus materials. Many players stay on AbsoLab far longer than the level range suggests because the next tier is expensive.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Levels 160 to 200 and the whole early Arcane River stretch |
| Key Mechanic | V Matrix and HEXA Matrix |
| Recommended Build | Adele |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using AbsoLab weapon: Pairs naturally with Adele thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Arcane Umbra weapon
The level 200 tier from Lotus, Damien and the Arcane River bosses. This is the endgame weapon for most accounts and the base that later gets liberated.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Levels 200 and up, and everything from Lucid through Verus Hilla |
| Key Mechanic | Legion and Link Skills |
| Recommended Build | Hoyoung |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Arcane Umbra weapon: Pairs naturally with Hoyoung thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Genesis weapon
An Arcane Umbra weapon liberated through the Black Mage questline, which adds a substantial permanent damage increase without changing the level requirement.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Accounts that have cleared the Black Mage and are pushing Kalos and Kaling |
| Key Mechanic | Star Force and potentials |
| Recommended Build | Kain |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Genesis weapon: Pairs naturally with Kain thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Henesys
- Fafnir weapon → Your first real upgrade, available early
- AbsoLab weapon → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Pensalir weapon → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Do your symbol dailies before anything else in a session. Arcane and Sacred Symbols are hard capped by daily quests, so a missed day is permanently lost progress that no amount of grinding on another day can recover.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More MapleStory Guides
- MapleStory MapleStory Overview
- MapleStory Best Builds
- MapleStory Tier List
- MapleStory Walkthrough
- MapleStory Beginner's Guide
- MapleStory Tips & Tricks
- MapleStory Combat Guide
- MapleStory Boss Guide
- MapleStory Maps & Locations
- MapleStory Crafting Guide
- MapleStory Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy MapleStory, check out these related guides:
- New World: Aeternum Weapons Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- Lost Ark Weapons Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- The Elder Scrolls Online Weapons Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
