Hello!

I’m Nexon PEEKer PeaceTime.

One of the best parts of raising multiple classes in an online RPG is being able to enjoy the same content in completely different ways. In MapleStory, leveling other characters also feeds back into your entire account through link skills, the Union raid lineup, and Union Champions, so the fun of progression comes with meaningful rewards as well.

I also run weekly bosses on my main, Ren, and on my sub-characters Lete and Pathfinder. Even when fighting the same boss, each class handles the encounter differently, which keeps things fresh. Getting good drops on each character is part of the fun too.

Today, based on my own experience, I’d like to go over how to unlock and rank up Maple Union Champions, along with what makes raising a variety of classes so enjoyable.

Contents
1. Finding your playstyle among 48 classes
2. Why raising sub-characters also makes your main stronger
3. How to unlock and rank up Union Champions

1. Finding your playstyle among 48 classes

MapleStory currently has a total of 48 classes, which makes for a very large class roster. Combat styles and concepts vary widely, from familiar options like swords, magic, and bows to classes that use psychokinesis, summons, or exclusive weapons.

With so many classes available, it can be difficult to find one that perfectly matches your preferences right away. Still, if you browse videos of different classes farming or bossing, you will usually find a few that stand out to you.

I’ve also spent the past few years steadily raising new classes while playing MapleStory. Along the way, I discovered preferences I hadn’t noticed before, and my experience bossing on different classes ended up helping my main as well.

2. Why raising sub-characters also makes your main stronger

Category	Progress benchmark	Benefits you can gain	What makes it fun
Link Skills	Level 70·120 or higher	Transfer class-specific link skills to other characters	Build your account by combining the effects you need for each type of content
Maple Union	Level 200·250	Raider effects and raid grid occupation effects	The more characters you raise, the more your entire account grows
Union Champions	Serious progression at level 260 or higher	Use Champion Badges and Champion Raid	A long-term goal for players who want to invest in sub-characters
Weekly bosses	Challenge based on your gear and stats	Earn rewards such as Intense Power Crystals	Class-specific bossing and meso income

Raising multiple classes in MapleStory is not just about increasing your character count. As your characters progress, you gain effects that support both your other characters and your account as a whole.

Early on, many players aim for link skills and Union effects by raising several characters to level 120 and 200. Because those bonuses also apply to your main’s farming and bossing, working on sub-characters naturally helps your main grow as well.

In the past, many players stopped at level 200 or 250 once they had the link skills and Union effects they needed. But after Union Champions were added, there is now a reason to take classes you really enjoy to level 260 and beyond, and to invest in their gear and 6th job skills as well.

As your sub-characters become stronger, the number of weekly bosses you can challenge also increases. The mesos you earn by selling Intense Power Crystals can then be reinvested into your main or other sub-characters, creating a cycle where multiple characters support each other’s growth.

That said, gearing characters still costs a fair amount, so instead of expanding into too many characters right away, it is usually better to raise one class at a time that you truly enjoy playing.

3. How to unlock and rank up Union Champions

You can begin Union Champions once you reach Grand Master Union I, or in other words, 8,000 Union or higher, and have at least one character in the same world at level 260 or above.

After meeting those requirements, complete the quest “The Path of Maple Union Champion” from Dragon Hunter MS.Account in any major town, and the Champion tab will open in the Union UI.

At first, you are given 2 Champion slots. Once both registered characters reach rank A, you can unlock the third slot, and once you have 3 rank A Champions, you can unlock the fourth slot.

Only characters that have completed 4th job advancement can be registered as Champions, and duplicate classes cannot be registered.

A newly registered character starts at rank C. After that, you can accept an evaluation quest from Royal Knight SIR.Hamslot and rank up by solo-clearing the designated boss in Champion Mode.

Target Rank	Champion Evaluation Match
B Rank	Defeat Hard Lotus
A Rank	Defeat Hard Verus Hilla
S Rank	Defeat Hard Black Mage
SS Rank	Defeat Hard Chosen Seren
SSS Rank	Defeat Normal Watcher Kalos

Evaluation matches also count when cleared in Practice Mode, so you can attempt them without worrying about using up crystal rewards or entry opportunities.

A 30% Final Damage reduction is applied (25% for Black Mage), so the fights can feel harder than the actual boss. However, if you challenge them in Practice Mode, Hamslot’s protection is also applied, reducing damage taken by 25%, including damage based on max HP.

Champion Rank	Champion Badge Effect
C	None
B	All Stats +20, Max HP/MP +1,000
A	Attack Power/Magic Attack +10
S	Damage to Boss Monsters +5%
SS	Critical Damage +3%
SSS	Ignore Monster DEF +5%

Champion Badge effects are applied to your Champion characters based on the ranks of the characters registered as Union Champions. Each bonus may look small on its own, but together they add up to a major boost. At the moment, you can register up to 6 Champions and receive these effects.

If you register 2 or more Champions, you can also participate in the monthly content Champion Raid: Dragon Island. Because you switch between multiple characters in real time during battle and earn Champion Coins based on your score, it does the best job of showing what makes Union Champions appealing: putting the sub-characters you have raised to use all in one place.

Stat	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
All Stats/Max HP Increase	+10/+500	+20/+1,000	+30/+1,500	+40/+2,000	+50/+2,500
Attack Power/Magic Attack Increase	+5	+10	+15	+20	+25
Damage to Boss Monsters Increase	+2%	+4%	+6%	+8%	+10%
Ignore DEF Increase	+2%	+4%	+6%	+8%	+10%
Critical Damage Increase	+0.5%	+1%	+1.5%	+2%	+2.5%
Additional EXP Gain Increase	+5%	+10%	+15%	+20%	+25%

Champion Coins are consumed when using the Champion’s Blessing buff, and depending on how many coins you invest, you can shore up the stats you need. It is essentially like adding one more reserve buff to your setup.

For reference, Union Champions cannot be used in Challengers World. However, since Challengers World opens in summer and winter with growth support, it can be a good place to raise a character above level 260 and then transfer it to a regular world to use as a new Champion candidate.

Right now, I clear weekly bosses on Ren, Lete, and Pathfinder. Ren is enjoyable because of the nonstop pressure from rapid attacks, Lete is fun because I can leave the attacking to summons and focus on dodging patterns, and Pathfinder is satisfying because its long movement skill lets me get past dangerous mechanics. That is why I end up enjoying even the same boss differently depending on the class.

In the end, I think the appeal of raising multiple classes in an online RPG comes from finding new ways to enjoy the same game. In the next Challengers World, I’m thinking of trying Bowmaster or Hero. If you find a class that suits your taste, why not try raising it as your next sub-character?