Hello,

I'm 제이메르, a Nexon Picker.

April 14 is #블랙데이, a day for singles.

A bowl of black bean noodles is a fine way to mark the occasion,

but why not enjoy some quiet solo time with a rich story in MapleStory?

Today, we're taking a closer look at Grand Athenaeum, an immersive storytelling experience for solo players!

What Is Grand Athenaeum?

Grand Athenaeum lets players experience key events from MapleStory's past

by stepping into the protagonist's shoes.

Characters at level 100 or above can enter directly through the Maple Guide menu.

It features solo-only content, with no party play required,

so you can focus entirely on the story without interruptions!

Standout Episodes to Try

Grand Athenaeum currently houses several books, each containing an episode.

As you can see, I've completed episodes 1, 2, 4, and 5!

Here are a few particularly memorable stories from the collection.

The White Mage

This story explores his days researching light, before he became the Black Mage, a central figure in MapleStory's lore.

The narrative is sweeping, dark, and captivating.

I'd call it a must-see episode for any MapleStory player.

On a side note, I really, really love the Stormy Forest BGM that plays during The White Mage episode.

Winter Bard

Many players count this story as their all-time favorite episode.

Following Ryude's footsteps through the story can leave you with the same lingering impression as a memorable film.

The background music and presentation are excellent, so be sure to play with the sound on!

Sharenian Knights

This episode explores the lore behind guild content.

I haven't played it yet, but it's been praised for its tragic story and deeply immersive atmosphere.

I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to delve deeper into MapleStory's world.

The episodes released so far go up to 7. Sephiroth's Gardener.

That episode arrived in the October '23 patch,

so I'm starting to wonder whether a new story update might be coming soon ㅎㅎ

Rewards and Benefits for Solo Players

Beyond its engaging stories, Grand Athenaeum also offers a variety of rewards through its collection system!

You can access this feature through the World Archive UI after completing the prerequisite quests in Grand Athenaeum.

The system was added last October, but I only discovered it recently, haha.

Unlike Monster Collection, registering an entry can be as simple as talking to an NPC or defeating a monster just 1 time, which I found convenient.

Collect enough entries and you'll earn items such as chairs and custom character selection screen backgrounds.

These rewards are exclusive to this content, which really brings out the collector in me :)

I enjoy collecting all sorts of things, so this feature was a great fit for me!

Building up your stats, hunting, and taking on bosses are all part of MapleStory's appeal,

but discovering its well-crafted stories is rewarding, too.

This Black Day, why not leave the crowded hunting grounds behind, turn the pages in Grand Athenaeum,

and explore the history of Maple World at your own pace? 😊