Hello.

This post focuses on patch notes, with information that new players may find useful when looking for them.

I have put together a guide to checking the regular patch schedule, along with related abbreviations and other key details worth knowing. These are topics that players regularly ask about, but you only need to familiarize yourself with them once, so I hope this guide will be helpful.

Where to find official MapleStory update information

Official MapleStory patch notes are posted by topic in the Notices section when an update goes live. They are more detailed than you might expect, with clearly organized sections, so while other summaries and videos are also worth referring to, the notices themselves are now easier to read and better laid out than before.

Click the relevant button on the right side of the official website to view the highlights of each update, complete with images.

You can also find event and Cash Shop information, along with related images, in their respective categories.

How to check update (patch) dates for “본섭,” the live servers

MapleStory updates are first introduced to the Test World, commonly called “테섭,” before being applied to the live servers, commonly called “본섭.”

The test server usually opens 1 week before the live server update, and updates for both servers are always scheduled for Thursdays. This update also took place on January 15 (Thursday), and while the schedule may have been different further back, updates have consistently taken place on Thursdays over the past few years.

Maintenance starts at either 2, 3, or 4 in the morning on the day of the update, depending on the schedule, and is always scheduled to end at 10 that morning. Maintenance is sometimes extended.

Updates follow a 4-week or 5-week cycle. Months with a long holiday period, such as February, follow a 5-week cycle, while most others follow a 4-week cycle. Events are usually scheduled to match.

To find the exact update date, check when the current events end. Events finish at 23:59 on Wednesday, the day before the update, so the following day is that month’s update date.

Here are some examples using the events currently running.

The events ending in February finish on February 11, so February’s update date is February 12.

The events ending in March finish on March 18, so March’s update date is March 19.

All the April events related to [Challenger World Season 3] end on April 15, so April’s update date is April 16. The date shown above is listed as April 16 because the server itself remains open until maintenance begins on April 16.

You can use event dates to check the schedule this way, or, if [Challenger World] is running, you can refer to the early World Leap period shown above. Early World Leap is available until 23:59 on the day before maintenance and reopens after update maintenance is complete.

There are a few exceptions to keep in mind.

First, this only applies to events that began with the update, not to events added between updates. The Christmas event shown above is a recent example of this exception.

Some events also have an additional 1-week grace period. This applies specifically to <Item Burning> and event skills acquired using SP, commonly called “보약” (tonics), which remain available for 1 week longer than other events. In months when these events end, use the end dates of the other events as your reference instead.

Finally, the <Premium PC Café Cumulative Rewards Event> runs until 23:59 on Thursday, the day of the update, while other PC café events end on Wednesday at 23:59, just like other events. This allows rewards from the cumulative rewards event to be claimed in Challenger World.

The schedule for “테섭,” the Test World

Some content revealed on the test server may receive changes or additions before reaching the live servers, but most arrives as originally shown, making test server information an important part of planning your MapleStory activities.

As mentioned, the test server usually opens on the Thursday 1 week before the live server update, although it very occasionally stays open for 2 weeks depending on the update schedule, such as when new 6th Job skills are being added.

The opening time is not fixed, but recently it has been between 4 and 6 in the afternoon.

You can access the test server from the bottom of the official website; simply apply for access, then download the game and log in. Once connected, you can try the next update’s content in advance, while the Tester Support Box lets you try on Boutique gifts, new cosmetic items, and more. Recent improvements to the character import feature have also made it easier to bring characters over from the live servers and try out new bosses.

Alongside the test server opening, the director hosts a livestream called “메이플 나우” on the official YouTube channel. It takes place at almost the same time as the test server opens, with the exact start time announced in the YouTube Community tab before the broadcast.

Since the director hosts the broadcast personally, it provides an overview of the update along with the director’s commentary. Although it has followed a consistent format for over 2 years, a change has now been announced for March onward, so we will need to watch February’s 메이플 나우 for details on what will change.

“팅패,” minor patches, maintenance, and Burning Field refills

Channel maintenance and minor patches sometimes follow a live server patch, as shown above. When this happens, notices on the website and in the game explain which groups of channels will be unavailable and at what times. Maintenance that prevents players from connecting is called “팅패,” short for a patch that disconnects players. This also includes the regular live server updates discussed above.

Once this maintenance ends, Burning Field levels are reset to a high level. This is called a “Burning refill,” and it applies to all hunting maps, including popular ones, so logging in immediately after maintenance can offer a considerable advantage.

Notices such as the “Nexon Scheduled Maintenance” notice above, however, refer to maintenance that is entirely separate from maintenance within MapleStory. This does not count as “팅패” and does not refill Burning Fields.

When are showcases held?

Showcases are held in summer (June) and winter (December) to introduce and promote each season’s major updates. They often include in-person events, which may require tickets, so if you would like to attend, please check the requirements for each event. The timing varies, but showcases take place on a Saturday 1–2 weeks before the live server update date.

The update dates discussed earlier can also help you work out this timing. The events ending this June finish on June 17, so June’s update date is June 18. This means the first summer update in June 2026 will take place on June 18.

When are Sunday Maple details posted?

This ongoing event offers different effects every Sunday. During major updates like these, it runs under the title <Special Sunday Maple> and provides more benefits than usual.

Details are posted in the Events tab on the official website every Friday at 10 in the morning. If Friday is a holiday, they are posted earlier in the week at the same time of day. Very occasionally, they are revealed in advance during a showcase or livestream.

As shown here, Special Sunday Maple offers some particularly useful effects. Since the same effects return periodically, following the event over time can give you a general sense of when a particular benefit is due, allowing you to prepare for it.

Thank you for reading.