Hello.

The focus of this article is season pass rewards, with a look at the in-game events that use the pass name.

With that in mind, I have put together an overview of MapleStory's pass events for new players, covering the different events, when each one runs, and the features that distinguish them.

Before We Begin

Before getting into the details, it is worth noting that MapleStory does not have a pass available at all times. Although I am not particularly familiar with other games, I understand that many offer an uninterrupted series of pass events or products.

The familiar pass format, with basic rewards available to everyone and additional rewards for those who purchase a paid pass, was only introduced a few years ago—a relatively recent addition considering how long the game has been running. As mentioned, these passes are not always available, but they have been released regularly during major update seasons.

The word “pass” was also in use before this event format was introduced. As shown above, it can refer to spending Maple Points to make up for missed attendance or missions in an ongoing event. Since update notes and event descriptions use the term in both senses, new players should be aware of this distinction.

Finally, the most recent versions of all the passes discussed below limited participation to once per registered identity, and the eligibility requirements and rewards listed here are based on each event's latest run. When a new event begins, be sure to check its description for the specific details.

[Challengers Pass]: A Pass Event Exclusive to Challengers World

The Challengers Pass is arguably MapleStory's most representative pass event. As its name suggests, it is closely tied to Challengers World and is only available there. During the most recent Challengers World Season 3, it began when the world opened and ran for 2 months.

Participation involves earning points by completing weekly missions, increasing your pass level, and claiming the rewards assigned to each level. These missions cover Symbol daily quests, Monster Park & Monster Park Extreme, Epic Dungeons, weekly boss defeats, and defeating monsters within your level range, so you can complete them through normal gameplay without much additional effort.

The Premium Pass was initially available for Maple Points, while the most recent version was sold for NX Cash; the payment method appears likely to vary with the state of the in-game economy. The price was 19,800 NX Cash.

In addition to providing extra items, this Premium Pass immediately granted the premium effects shown above, which was a significant advantage. The 200% increase in damage against normal monsters was particularly helpful when hunting in Grandis.

The rewards also consist of items that are particularly useful in Challengers World. The quantities and uses are listed below.

• 435 Sol Erda Fragments: 6th Job skill enhancement

• 20 Karma Black Cubes: Potential

• 20 Karma White Additional Cubes: Potential

• 3500 Advanced EXP Vouchers: EXP

• 20 VIP Boosters: EXP

• 12 VIP Sauna Recharge Tickets: EXP

• 300 Experience Nodestones: 5th Job skill enhancement

• 330 Karma Black Rebirth Flames: Bonus Stat resets

• 230 Selective Symbol Vouchers: Symbol leveling

• 110 Special Medal of Honor: Inner Ability

• 1 Transcendent Growth Potion: EXP

Every reward has a use. Even valuing Sol Erda Fragments at roughly 6.5 million mesos each puts their total value at about 2.8 billion mesos. The EXP rewards have become much more valuable since Challengers World's point missions changed from attendance to level milestones, while Symbols and Nodestones are also valuable resources in Challengers World.

Most of the rewards are concentrated in the Premium Pass, and together with the premium effects described above, they offer enough value to make the Challengers Pass an essential purchase for anyone playing in Challengers World.

[Frontier Pass]: The Follow-Up to the Challengers Pass

Next is the Frontier Pass, which can be considered a direct follow-up to the Challengers Pass. That may explain why, as shown above, it uses the same UI as the Challengers Pass, along with identical weekly mission requirements and progression mechanics.

The Premium Pass effects are also identical, but there are a few differences from the Challengers Pass, as listed below.

• The maximum pass level increases to 30, with rewards spread out accordingly

• Weekly mission point rewards are standardized at 100, leaving less leeway in the schedule

• Event eligibility is limited to characters created within a month of the first winter update

• The Premium Pass price increases to 30,000 NX Cash

• The event is not exclusive to Challengers World

The price is probably the most noticeable difference, but it helps to think of the Challengers Pass as having been offered at a special launch price.

The item rewards follow the same general pattern as those in the Challengers Pass, but quantities have decreased across the remaining rewards, with the exception of Sol Erda Fragments, which increased by 45.

• 480 Sol Erda Fragments: 6th Job skill enhancement

• 10 Karma Black Cubes: Potential

• 10 Karma White Additional Cubes: Potential

• 2500 Advanced EXP Vouchers: EXP

• 8 VIP Sauna Recharge Tickets: EXP

• 200 Experience Nodestones: 5th Job skill enhancement

• 180 Karma Black Rebirth Flames: Bonus Stat resets

• 100 Selective Symbol Vouchers: Symbol leveling

• 60 Special Medal of Honor: Inner Ability

• 1 Transcendent Growth Potion: EXP

Valuing Sol Erda Fragments at 6.5 million mesos each puts those rewards alone at about 3.1 billion mesos, so this pass also offers clear value. Combined with the premium effects, which make hunting in Challengers World much easier, that makes it a worthwhile purchase.

[Momentum Pass]: An EXP Reward Pass Available for Purchase at Level 280 and Above

The Momentum Pass is the most recently introduced of these events and is available to characters at level 280 or above. It launched alongside a major update and ran 3 times in 1-month periods, for a total of 3 months; I expect it may return unless the overall approach changes.

As the UI shows, participation works the same way as in the pass events above.

The weekly mission requirements are somewhat more difficult than those of the previous two passes. However, the weekly point limit is 2,000, so if you are using the pass on an alternate character, you do not necessarily need to complete every mission. These requirements have already been eased once, but because the pass ends and restarts on a 1-month cycle, there is little leeway to miss a week.

There is also a paid Prime Pass, priced at 49,800 NX Cash, which provides item rewards but no additional effects.

The rewards are listed below. Apart from Sol Erda, all of them are EXP-related resources.

• Mechaberry Farm Entry Tickets: 11

• VIP Sauna Passes: 3

• Sol Erda: 3

• 4x EXP Coupons (30 minutes): 6

• Advanced EXP Vouchers: 9500

The main reward here is the Mechaberry Farm Entry Ticket, which was also available from the Meso Shop during the event for 500 million mesos each, with a purchase limit of 2 per week.

The farm is essentially an upgraded version of the Golden Strawberry Farm, with entry restricted to characters at level 280 or above, and it provided substantial EXP. The EXP gained per ticket is listed below.

• 280: Approximately 9.7%

• 285: Approximately 5.1%

• 290: Approximately 2.2%

• 295: Approximately 0.7%

This pass was often purchased by players focused on leveling their main character or bringing an alternate character to level 285, the requirement for a level 3 Link Skill. Even a direct comparison with the Meso Shop price of Mechaberry Farm Entry Tickets shows that it offers good value, making it a worthwhile event for players with either goal.

[Genesis Pass]

Finally, the Genesis Pass has only been released once, but it had a considerable impact.

Purchasing this pass greatly reduced both the difficulty and the time required to liberate a Genesis weapon. As shown above, it made boss challenges easier and awarded a Magnificent Soul with a guaranteed top-tier option for completing liberation within the event period, giving the pass considerable appeal. This was especially valuable in Challengers World, which includes boss defeat missions.

There is little doubt that the pass offers enough value to justify a purchase on several grounds. However, the current announcement states that it will return after the prerequisite economic measures have been completed, and changes may be made before its return, so you will need to check the details when it is rereleased.

One possible change concerns the purchase limit: the original pass allowed one purchase per Nexon ID, but the stricter limit of one purchase per registered identity has since been introduced, so the Genesis Pass may return with that same restriction.

Thank you for reading.