Choose a routine before a ranking
This comparison adds practical decision criteria to the dated class tier list. Funding pressure and difficulty are editorial descriptions, not measured cost rankings. Early game describes the branch foundation; the developed second-job columns assume levels 30–70. A newly advanced character does not have the whole kit.
The underlying skill-source snapshot remains October 23, 2026. We reviewed the comparison and linked build plans on October 28 without claiming a new client patch or live test. Current client tooltips and newer official updates take priority before permanent AP or SP spending.
References: MapleStory Quest: launch class roster · Nexon: Grand Launch release notes · MapleStory Quest: Grand Launch skill diff
All ten second jobs side by side
| Class / build | Early game | Developed second job | Funding pressure | Party value | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter | Compact melee route | Groups and party attack support | Weapon and contact recovery | Rage | Straightforward loop; contact positioning |
| Page | Melee foundation | Control-oriented melee | Weapon, accuracy and recovery | Conditional debuff value | Target selection and debuff timing |
| Spearman | Melee foundation | Steady close-range sustain | Weapon choice and potion reserve | Current second-job kit only | Range and recovery management |
| Ice/Lightning Wizard | Magician foundation | Group clearing and movement | MP reserve and usable equipment | Meditation | Elemental matchup and pack positioning |
| Fire/Poison Wizard | Magician foundation | Group poison with a fire option | MP budget and target selection | Meditation | Damage timing and resistance |
| Cleric | Magician foundation | Party support; situational undead route | Recovery still needs measuring | Heal and protection | Party awareness and target suitability |
| Hunter | Ranged spacing | Ranged groups with control | Bow upgrades and resupply | Control; no assumed unique damage buff | Firing lanes and close-range pressure |
| Crossbowman | Ranged spacing | Group damage with weapon commitment | Crossbow upgrades and resupply | Primarily damage contribution | Lanes and spacing without Hunter’s stun |
| Assassin | Mobile ranged foundation | Single-target uptime | Claw and ammunition planning | Haste | Spacing, movement and resupply |
| Bandit | Close-range thief foundation | Single-target concentration | Dagger upgrades and contact recovery | Haste and conditional utility | Close-range uptime; limited groups |
References: MapleStory Quest: Fighter skills · MapleStory Quest: Page skills · MapleStory Quest: Spearman skills · MapleStory Quest: Ice/Lightning skills · MapleStory Quest: Fire/Poison skills · MapleStory Quest: Cleric skills · MapleStory Quest: Hunter skills · MapleStory Quest: Crossbowman skills · MapleStory Quest: Assassin skills · MapleStory Quest: Bandit skills
Read the matching tier column
The same table supplies both pages, so a comparison cannot quietly disagree with the tier list. S/A/B is an editorial order within one task. It is not an overall score and does not convert into EXP per hour, boss time or a promise about your equipment.
| Second job | Solo | Single target | Party | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter | S | A | A | Groups and Rage; melee contact and weapon choice matter. |
| Page | A | A | B | Useful melee control; less broadly useful party support. |
| Spearman | A | A | B | Sustain and steady melee; no launch Hyper Body. |
| Ice/Lightning Wizard | S | B | A | Mobile group clearing; MP budget and elemental matchup matter. |
| Fire/Poison Wizard | A | B | A | Group poison and fire; damage timing and resistance matter. |
| Cleric | B | B | S | Heal and protection; solo rating improves on suitable undead. |
| Hunter | A | A | B | Ranged groups with stun; needs a good firing lane. |
| Crossbowman | A | A | B | Ranged group damage; Iron Arrow lacks Hunter’s stun. |
| Assassin | B | A | A | Mobile ranged single-target play; limited group coverage. |
| Bandit | B | S | A | Strong single-target potential; close range and weaker group clearing. |
References: NiaMeowDB: level-70 class comparison · MapleStory Quest: launch class roster
Which class is best for a beginner?
For a compact solo melee loop, consider Fighter. If you prefer groups and movement, consider Ice/Lightning and reserve MP for normal sessions. If you have a regular party and want a support role, consider Cleric. Those are conditional starting points, not one universal winner.
Warrior versus Thief is a choice of routine before it is a damage comparison. Fighter values compact groups and contact management; Assassin values range and movement; Bandit values single-target uptime at close range. Ask which problem you are willing to solve for an entire session.
References: MapleStory Quest: Fighter skills · MapleStory Quest: Ice/Lightning skills · MapleStory Quest: Cleric skills · MapleStory Quest: Assassin skills · MapleStory Quest: Bandit skills
How to compare funding without inventing prices
Write down your next usable weapon, required stats and a recovery reserve. Compare the attack pattern before and after an affordable upgrade. If an enemy still needs the same number of attacks, the upgrade may contribute less to the session than the character-sheet increase suggests.
For an MP-heavy route, include recovery interruptions. For ranged classes, include ammunition or resupply where relevant. For melee, include contact recovery. Use the same observation window and avoid a rare drop making one run look sustainable. We did not collect a comparable current market basket for these classes.
- Read the branch foundation before selecting second job.
- Inspect the current skill prerequisites before spending.
- Test two ordinary sessions, including walking and recovery.
- Choose a build that solves your actual problem, then use the AP/SP guide.
Class comparison questions
Should I reroll because my class has a B? A B in one task is a conditional recommendation, not a claim that the class is unusable. Name the problem a switch would solve before abandoning a working character.
Is the single-target column a bossing tier list? It describes attack potential under stated assumptions, with a directional community benchmark. It is not our measured boss-clear ladder; real uptime, survival and mechanics can change the result.
Which second job is cheapest? This review has no controlled current cost-per-level dataset. Use the funding pressures above to prepare a budget, then measure your own session rather than treating an invented price table as evidence.
Sources & version notes
Reviewed on for the Grand Launch period. Official updates take precedence over older community references.
- MapleStory Quest: launch class roster
Checked 23 October 2026. Community client-data reference separates ten launch second jobs from historical CoT2 third jobs; it does not provide our tier placements.
- Nexon: Grand Launch release notes
Official release post. Its JavaScript article was not extractable during our audit; launch changes are cross-checked with the linked community digest.
- MapleStory Quest: Grand Launch skill diff
Grand Launch view checked 23 October 2026: twelve revised skills, including recovery, Final Attack duration and Dark Sight prerequisites. The default view may advance after future updates.
- MapleStory Quest: Fighter skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Used for Rage, Rush and weapon-path context; our tiers are editorial.
- MapleStory Quest: Page skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Used for Threaten and Rush, not its unspecific comparative damage claim.
- MapleStory Quest: Spearman skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Iron Will and Final Attack are in the current kit; Hyper Body is associated with historical CoT2 Dragon Knight.
- MapleStory Quest: Ice/Lightning skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Used for Thunder Bolt, Cold Beam, Teleport and Meditation roles; no observed EXP rate is implied.
- MapleStory Quest: Fire/Poison skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Poison Breath has group coverage; historical single-target-only assumptions are not carried over.
- MapleStory Quest: Cleric skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Used for Heal, Bless and Holy Arrow roles. We do not adopt its claim that training costs nothing.
- MapleStory Quest: Hunter skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Arrow Bomb control and Soul Arrow utility inform the comparison.
- MapleStory Quest: Crossbowman skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Iron Arrow and weapon-specific skills inform the comparison.
- MapleStory Quest: Assassin skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Used for Haste, claw specialization and recovery tools; no market-price ranking is claimed.
- MapleStory Quest: Bandit skills
Grand Launch community reference checked 23 October 2026. Savage Blow hits one target. The Steal skill page reports an earlier temporary disable; availability must be checked in the current client. These are not guaranteed boss-uptime figures.
- NiaMeowDB: level-70 class comparison
Checked 23 October 2026. Model of saved level-70 builds, neutral zero-defense target by default. No overall rank; map travel and actual potion use are excluded. Directional context, not our own live gameplay measurements.
Our prose and planning methods are original. Community facts are attributed here. Read our editorial and attribution policy.