Hello,

I'm 제이메르, a Nexon Picker.

This past May 22 marked a day dedicated to protecting and celebrating the diversity of life on Earth:

the International Day for Biological Diversity!

MapleStory, too, is home to a diverse range of distinctive monsters living alongside one another.

What would it be like to create your own field guide to the creatures of Maple World?

Today, I've put together a field guide exploring five groups of creatures that help make up Maple's ecosystem.

1. The First Creatures You Meet: The Snail Family

In the early days of MapleStory, the Snail was the very first monster you would encounter.

Alongside the basic green Snail, you'll find Blue Snails and Red Snails in different habitats.

Of course, there's also Mano, the field boss found near Lith Harbor.

Later, when you visit Henesys Ruins at around level 160, you'll encounter Mutant Snails.

These stand apart from their fellow snails as the highest-level and most powerful members of the family.

2. Maple World's Most Widespread Species? The Slime Family

Slimes may well be the most widespread species among Maple's monsters!

You're probably familiar with the basic Slime, Bubbling, and King Slime.

These days, you'll find Slimes in Gold Beach and The Seed,

along with Black Crescendo Slimes, Cube Slimes, Unknown Slimes, Mutant Slimes, and more,

making for a remarkably varied family of monsters.

The boss Guardian Angel Slime, in particular, summons

Magma Slimes, 사고뭉치 Slimes, Gold Slimes, Bomb Slimes, Halo Slimes, and 로맨티스트 Slimes,

bringing a wide variety of minions into battle.

If we also count the Red, Silver, and Gold Slimes that once inhabited Neo City (including the very same Gold Slime that appears in the Guardian Angel Slime boss battle!),

it becomes clear just how many Slimes call this world home.

I really miss Neo City 😥

3. MapleStory's Mascots: The Mushroom Family

When I think of mushroom monsters, MapleStory's mascot, the Orange Mushroom, is the first that comes to mind!

Victoria Island is home to classic monsters such as Shrooms, Green Mushrooms, Blue Mushrooms, Horny Mushrooms, and Zombie Mushrooms,

with many different species sharing its habitats.

You'll also find mushroom field bosses, including Mushmom, Zombie Mushmom, and Blue Mushmom.

Other varieties include Mutant Orange Mushrooms in Henesys Ruins, 버섯 샹들리에 and 버섯 철갑옷 in Mushroom Castle,

Moss Mushrooms in Ellin Forest, Bushrooms on Yum Yum Island,

and Nightmare Mushrooms summoned by Lucid—all part of a family firmly established throughout the world.

4. Cute but Headstrong: The Pig Family

Pig monsters make another appealing theme for a field guide!

From the familiar Pig to Ribbon Pigs, Blue Ribbon Pigs, Strange Pigs, and Poisoned Pigs, each has its own charm.

There are also evolved(?) pigs, including Iron Hogs, Iron Boars, Wild Boars, and Fire Boars.

In higher-level areas, you'll encounter Mutant Ribbon Pigs and mutant varieties of boars.

Pigs even inhabit Ellin Forest, which depicts Maple World as it was in the past.

There, you'll find Primitive Boars and Chao!

Tangyoon's quest also introduces the mouthwatering Glutton and 매우 살찐 돼지.

The pig family clearly has a firm place in Maple World's ecosystem as well.

5. The Beautiful Creatures of Aqua Road

The final stop in my field guide is Aqua Road and its deep-sea world.

Here you'll find Puffers, which puff up their bodies like pufferfish,

Pinbooms with their sharp spines,

and Scuba Pepes, perfectly adapted to their underwater surroundings and equipped with scuba gear!

It's home to a colorful variety of aquatic creatures,

and I wanted to include it because it's also one of my favorite maps 😆

These five themes make for a well-rounded field guide to the creatures of Maple World.

I used to hunt these monsters without giving them much thought,

but looking at them through the lens of biodiversity

has given me a renewed appreciation for just how intricately detailed MapleStory's world really is!

Thank you once again for reading :)