
maplestory bandit guide
MapleStory Bandit Guide: A Comprehensive Overview (Updated 12/19/2025)
This guide details the Bandit class in MapleStory, covering skills, leveling, equipment, and advanced techniques for optimal gameplay and progression․

The Bandit is a unique and dynamic class in MapleStory, renowned for its swift mobility and reliance on throwing knives as a primary damage source․ Unlike traditional warriors or mages, Bandits excel at hit-and-run tactics, utilizing their ‘Dash’ skill to quickly reposition during combat․ This makes them exceptionally effective against single targets and challenging bosses․
Originating as a part of the Explorer class, Bandits offer a distinct playstyle focused on agility and precision․ They aren’t heavily reliant on complex combos, but rather on skillful positioning and maximizing throwing knife damage․ Mastering the Bandit requires understanding its unique mechanics and adapting to various combat scenarios․ This guide will provide a comprehensive overview, from beginner builds to advanced techniques, ensuring you can fully harness the Bandit’s potential․
II․ Bandit Strengths and Weaknesses
Bandits boast exceptional mobility thanks to their ‘Dash’ skill, allowing for quick escapes and strategic repositioning during battles․ Their single-target damage, particularly with maximized throwing knife attacks, is remarkably high, making them effective boss hunters․ Furthermore, Bandits possess relatively low stat requirements, making funding more accessible for new players․
However, Bandits also have notable weaknesses․ Their area-of-effect (AoE) damage is comparatively lower than other classes, hindering their efficiency in mobbing situations․ They can be squishy, requiring careful positioning to avoid taking excessive damage․ Finally, mastering the Bandit’s unique mechanics, like consistently landing throwing knives, demands practice and skill․ Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is crucial for optimizing your Bandit gameplay․
III․ Bandit Skill Build – Level 1-100
A balanced skill build is vital for a smooth Bandit progression․ Early levels (1-30) should prioritize ‘Dash’ for mobility and ‘Throwing Knife’ for consistent damage․ Invest points into ‘Sneak’ for survivability and initial bossing potential․ As you reach the mid-game (31-70), max ‘Throwing Knife’ and begin leveling ‘Quick Draw’ for increased attack speed․ Allocate points into ‘Disarm’ for crowd control․
In the late-game (71-100), focus on maximizing ‘Double Throwing Knife’ and ‘Final Attack’․ Consider investing in ‘Hidden Skill: Wind Step’ for enhanced mobility․ Remember to allocate skill points strategically based on your preferred playstyle – focusing on single-target or mobbing capabilities․ Regularly review and adjust your build as you gain experience․

III․1․ Early Game Skills (Levels 1-30)
Focus on foundational skills for efficient early-game leveling․ Maximize ‘Dash’ immediately for superior map mobility, crucial for questing and avoiding damage․ ‘Throwing Knife’ should be your primary damage source; prioritize leveling this skill consistently․ Invest at least one point into ‘Sneak’ for a defensive boost and potential surprise attacks․ ‘Quick Draw’ offers a minor attack speed increase, but isn’t a priority at this stage․
Don’t neglect utility skills․ A single point in ‘Disarm’ can interrupt monster attacks, providing valuable breathing room․ Skill points are limited, so concentrate on skills directly impacting damage output and survivability․ Experiment with skill combinations to find what suits your playstyle best during these initial levels․
III․2․ Mid-Game Skills (Levels 31-70)
This phase emphasizes skill specialization and combo development․ Continue maxing ‘Throwing Knife’ and ‘Dash’, then focus on ‘Double Throwing Knife’ for significant damage amplification․ Invest heavily in ‘Fleet Foot’ to further enhance mobility and evasion․ ‘Haste’ provides a valuable attack speed boost, complementing your damage output․ Begin allocating points into ‘Shadow Step’ for improved positioning and escape capabilities․
Experiment with skill rotations, incorporating ‘Dash’ for quick repositioning before unleashing ‘Double Throwing Knife’․ Consider a point or two in ‘Magic Guard’ for added defense against magical attacks․ Prioritize skills that synergize with your core damage dealing abilities, maximizing efficiency during training and bossing․
III․3․ Late-Game Skills (Levels 71-100)
At this stage, maximizing damage and survivability is crucial․ Fully max ‘Shadow Step’ for unparalleled mobility and evasion․ Invest heavily in ‘Final Attack’ for a powerful, high-damage finisher․ ‘Quick Draw’ significantly reduces weapon swapping cooldown, enhancing burst potential․ Prioritize ‘Mesmerize’ for crowd control and utility during boss encounters․ Allocate remaining points into passive skills like ‘Critical Focus’ and ‘Sharp Eyes’ to boost critical hit rate and damage․

Mastering skill combos, like ‘Dash’ into ‘Final Attack’, becomes essential․ Consider allocating points into ‘Lucky Strike’ for increased item drop rates during grinding․ Optimize your skill build based on your preferred playstyle – burst or sustained damage․

IV․ Bandit Hyper Skills
Bandit Hyper Skills dramatically enhance your capabilities․ ‘Combo Kill’ increases damage dealt while comboing, synergizing with Bandit’s fast attack speed․ ‘Quick Recovery’ provides substantial stat boosts after successful combos, improving sustain․ ‘Master Thief’ grants a chance to steal buffs from enemies, offering tactical advantages․
Prioritize ‘Soul Exhalation’ for increased critical damage and ignore enemy defense․ ‘Overload’ significantly boosts damage output for a short duration, ideal for bossing․ ‘Invincible Preparation’ provides temporary invincibility, crucial for avoiding fatal attacks․ Carefully consider your playstyle when allocating Hyper Skill points, focusing on maximizing damage or survivability․
V․ Equipment Recommendations
Optimal Bandit equipment focuses on critical damage and attack speed․ For weapons, consider the Tyrant Eye Sword or the Dark Tyrant weapon for high damage potential․ Armor sets like the Von Bon set or the Abyssal Lord set provide significant stat boosts․ Accessories should prioritize critical rate and damage – consider the Master Soul Ring and Vengeance Necklace․
Star Force enhancement is crucial; aim for at least Star Force 14 on all gear․ Potential stats should focus on attack speed, critical damage, and boss damage․ Don’t neglect your emblem – a well-chosen emblem can provide a substantial power boost․ Regularly upgrade your equipment to maintain competitive performance․
V․1․ Weapon Choices for Bandits
Bandits thrive with weapons boosting critical hit rate and damage․ Early game, the Level 120 weapon, “Crimson Dagger”, is a solid choice․ Mid-game progression benefits from the Tyrant Eye Sword, offering substantial damage․ Late-game Bandits should aim for the Dark Tyrant weapon, providing exceptional stats․ Consider the Sengoku Emperor Katana for specific bossing scenarios․
Weapon potentials are vital; prioritize attack speed and critical damage․ Star Force enhancement is crucial – aim for at least Star Force 14․ Don’t underestimate the power of weapon scrolls to further enhance your damage output․ Regularly assess your weapon choice based on your current leveling stage and content․
V․2․ Armor and Accessory Sets
Armor sets for Bandits should focus on critical damage, HP, and all stats․ The Von Bon set is excellent for early to mid-game, providing a balanced stat boost․ Transition to the Wild Hunter set for increased critical hit rate and damage․ Late-game Bandits benefit from the Abyssal or Arcane Force sets, depending on the content․
Accessories are crucial; aim for the Tyrant set for substantial damage increases․ Star Rock accessories offer a good alternative․ Prioritize potential stats like %HP, %STR, and critical damage․ Enhance accessories with Star Force and potential scrolls․ Regularly evaluate and upgrade your gear to maximize your Bandit’s potential․
VI․ Bandit Training Spots – Leveling Guide
Efficient leveling is key for Bandits․ From levels 1-60, explore maps like Golem Temple, Kerning Square, and Sleepywood․ Utilize party play for faster experience gains․ Levels 61-100 benefit from training at Sahel 2, Magatia, and El Nath․ Focus on maps with high monster density and manageable difficulty․
For levels 101-140, consider Korean Folk Town, Leafre, and Temple of Time․ Korean Folk Town offers excellent experience, while Leafre provides a good balance․ Remember to utilize EXP buffs and Maple Boost to accelerate your progress․ Regularly assess map efficiency and adjust accordingly for optimal leveling․
VI․1․ Level 1-60 Training Locations
Early Bandit leveling focuses on foundational maps․ Begin in Golem Temple (levels 10-20) for consistent mobbing․ Transition to Kerning Square (levels 20-30), utilizing the various zones for diverse monster types․ Sleepywood (levels 30-40) provides a calmer environment, ideal for skill practice․ Continue to Mushroom Castle (levels 40-50) and then proceed to Ant Tunnel (levels 50-60)․
Prioritize maps with relatively low monster HP to maximize Bandit’s early damage output․ Party play significantly boosts experience gains during this stage․ Remember to complete quests within these areas for bonus EXP and rewards, accelerating your journey towards level 60․
VI․2․ Level 61-100 Training Locations
Mid-level Bandit training requires maps with higher monster density․ Leafre (levels 61-70) offers good experience, particularly in the Forest of Whispers․ Explore Elodinne Forest (levels 70-80), focusing on the Troll Caves for efficient grinding․ Proceed to the Silent Forest (levels 80-90), utilizing the various monster types for varied training․
Consider maps like Scared Ground Floor 1 (levels 90-100) for increased EXP rates․ Party play remains beneficial, and utilizing EXP buffs is crucial․ Focus on maps that complement Bandit’s mobbing capabilities, maximizing efficiency․ Completing relevant quests within these zones will further accelerate your leveling progress․
VI․3․ Level 101-140 Training Locations
Reaching level 101 unlocks higher-tier training spots; Korean Folk Town (levels 101-110) provides solid experience, though can be crowded․ Explore the Knight Stronghold (levels 110-120), focusing on the monster types that suit Bandit’s skill set․ For levels 120-130, consider Twisted Aqua Road, utilizing party play for faster gains․
Future Perion (levels 130-140) offers excellent EXP, but requires efficient map movement․ Remember to utilize EXP coupons and participate in events․ Prioritize maps with consistent monster spawns to maximize your training efficiency․ Consistent grinding and strategic map selection are key to rapid progression during this stage․
VII․ Bandit Bossing Capabilities
Bandits offer surprisingly decent bossing potential, excelling in consistent damage output․ While not top-tier DPS, their mobility and sustained damage make them valuable assets․ Early bosses like Zakum and Horntail are easily cleared with proper gear and skill rotation․ Mid-level bosses, such as Von Leon, require more strategic play and party support․
For harder content like Magnus or Lucid, Bandits benefit from high critical rate and boss damage percentage․ Utilizing dash for positioning and maximizing throwing knife uptime are crucial․ Bandits shine in bosses where consistent damage and mobility are prioritized over burst potential․
VIII․ Bandit in Party Play
Bandits excel as supportive damage dealers within a party, offering consistent DPS and valuable utility․ Their dash ability provides excellent mobility for quick repositioning, aiding in boss mechanics and map coverage․ Throwing knives contribute steady damage, especially when combined with party buffs․ Bandits can effectively peel for teammates with well-timed dashes and stuns․
They synergize well with classes providing significant damage amplification or crowd control․ While not offering strong burst, their sustained damage output ensures consistent contribution throughout a boss fight․ Bandits are adaptable and can fill various roles depending on party composition and boss requirements․
IX․ Bandit’s Unique Mechanics – Dash & Throwing Knives
The Bandit class revolves around two core mechanics: Dash and Throwing Knives․ Dash is a crucial mobility tool, allowing for rapid movement across the map, dodging attacks, and quickly reaching optimal positioning․ Mastering dash timing is essential for both offense and defense․
Throwing Knives are the Bandit’s primary damage source, offering consistent, albeit not exceptionally high, damage output․ Effective knife usage involves maximizing range and hitting multiple enemies simultaneously․ Combining dash with knife throws creates a dynamic playstyle, enabling hit-and-run tactics and sustained damage application․
X․ Advanced Bandit Techniques
Bandit mastery extends beyond basic skill usage․ Maximizing Throwing Knife damage requires understanding enemy positioning and utilizing skills that enhance range and critical hit rates․ Precise timing of knife throws, coupled with strategic dashing, allows for consistent damage output while maintaining mobility․
Efficient Dash usage isn’t simply about moving quickly; it’s about chaining dashes with attacks and utilizing them to interrupt enemy patterns․ Learning to cancel dash animations and combine them with other skills unlocks a fluid and responsive playstyle․ Mastering these techniques elevates a Bandit from competent to truly formidable․
X․1․ Maximizing Throwing Knife Damage
Optimizing Throwing Knife damage hinges on several key factors․ Prioritize stat allocation towards critical hit rate and damage, alongside boss damage․ Utilize skills like Sharp Eyes to significantly boost accuracy and critical chance․ Enemy positioning is crucial; aim for weak points whenever possible․
Consider equipping gear with Throwing Knife damage enhancements or critical hit modifiers․ Buffs like Hero’s Will and Combat Orders amplify damage output․ Mastering the timing of throws, combined with dash cancels, ensures consistent hits․ Experiment with different skill rotations to find the most efficient damage cycle for various scenarios․
X․2․ Efficient Dash Usage for Mobility
The Bandit’s dash is paramount for swift navigation and evasion․ Mastering dash cancels – immediately following a dash with an attack – allows for rapid repositioning and sustained damage output․ Utilize dash to quickly traverse maps, dodge enemy attacks, and maintain optimal positioning during boss encounters․
Combine dashes with jump mechanics for extended range and unpredictable movement․ Practice chaining dashes together to cover significant distances efficiently․ Be mindful of stamina consumption; manage it effectively to avoid being caught immobile․ Efficient dash usage is not just about speed, but also about tactical advantage and survivability․
XI․ Bandit’s Role in Guild Wars
Bandits excel in Guild Wars as disruptive skirmishers and opportunistic attackers․ Their high mobility, facilitated by dash, allows for quick flanking maneuvers and targeted eliminations of key enemy players․ Focus on harassing enemy formations, disrupting supply lines, and securing strategic objectives․
Throwing Knife damage, while not consistently high, can be burst-focused to interrupt channeling skills or finish off low-health opponents․ Prioritize survival; Bandits are relatively fragile․ Coordinate with guildmates to maximize impact and avoid being isolated․ Effective communication and map awareness are crucial for success in Guild War scenarios․
XII․ Common Bandit Mistakes to Avoid
A frequent error is neglecting dash management․ Bandits rely on dash for mobility and evasion; failing to utilize it effectively leaves you vulnerable․ Over-reliance on Throwing Knives without proper positioning is another pitfall – prioritize safety first․ Ignoring skill rotations significantly reduces damage output․

Furthermore, many Bandits underestimate the importance of funding․ Adequate equipment is vital for scaling into the late game․ Avoid spreading skill points too thinly; focus on core damage and utility skills․ Finally, don’t engage in prolonged fights; Bandits thrive on quick bursts and hit-and-run tactics․
XIII․ Bandit Funding Strategies

Early funding focuses on weapon upgrades․ Prioritize enhancing your throwing knives for maximum damage output․ Utilize daily quests and event rewards to accumulate mesos efficiently․ Consider bossing runs for potential drops, even at lower levels, to acquire valuable equipment․
Mid-game funding should target set bonuses․ Acquiring key armor pieces and accessories significantly boosts stats․ Explore the Auction House for affordable options, but be wary of inflated prices․ Later, invest in star forcing and potential scrolls to further enhance gear․ Consistent meso farming through efficient maps is crucial for sustained funding․
XIV․ Bandit’s Potential System
Bandits greatly benefit from Attack Potential and Boss Damage potentials․ Prioritize these on your weapon for substantial damage increases․ For armor, consider a mix of HP, MP, and Damage Reduction potentials to enhance survivability․ Seek out potentials with desirable implicit stats like increased critical hit rate or ignore enemy defense․
Star forcing potentials is vital for endgame progression․ Aim for high star levels on your core equipment․ Utilize the potential scroll system strategically, understanding the risks and rewards․ Consider using flame to re-roll potentials, but be mindful of the cost․ Optimizing your potential system is key to maximizing Bandit’s damage output․
XV․ Bandit’s Legion and Link Skills
The Bandit’s Legion skill provides a significant damage boost to all characters within the party․ It’s crucial to level this skill to its maximum level as quickly as possible․ The Bandit Link Skill, “Throwing Knife Mastery,” increases critical hit rate and damage for all characters linked to the Bandit․
Prioritize leveling a Bandit specifically for Legion and Link skills․ These passive benefits are invaluable for all your MapleStory accounts․ Consider utilizing events and training areas to efficiently level the Bandit to 140 for maximum Legion skill level․ Regularly check for updates to these skills, as Nexon frequently adjusts class balance․
XVI․ Bandit’s Emblem
The Bandit’s Emblem is a crucial component of end-game progression, offering substantial stat boosts and enhancing overall character power․ Obtained through dedicated gameplay and Emblem Dungeon completion, it requires significant investment․ Focus on acquiring and upgrading the core Emblem pieces – Hat, Top, and Bottom – first․
Emblem pieces can be enhanced using Emblem Fragments, earned from daily quests and bossing․ Prioritize stat choices that complement your build, such as Attack Percentage, Critical Damage, and Boss Damage․ Regularly check for Emblem-related events offering bonus rewards․ A fully upgraded Bandit Emblem dramatically improves your damage output and survivability․
XVII․ Bandit’s Inner Ability
The Bandit’s Inner Ability, unlocked at level 200, provides a powerful passive bonus significantly impacting gameplay․ It focuses on enhancing Throwing Knife damage and recovery, crucial for sustained DPS․ Maximizing this ability requires careful consideration of your overall build and playstyle․
Investing Inner Ability points into the correct tiers is vital․ Prioritize options that directly increase Throwing Knife critical hit rate, damage, and reduce cooldowns․ Synergizing this ability with equipment and Hyper Stats further amplifies its effectiveness․ Regularly review and adjust your Inner Ability allocation as your character progresses, ensuring optimal performance in all content․
XVIII․ Bandit’s Zero Card
The Zero Card is a highly sought-after item for Bandits, offering a substantial boost to their damage output․ Specifically, it grants increased critical damage, a core component of maximizing Throwing Knife effectiveness․ Obtaining this card typically involves completing challenging content or trading with other players․
When equipped, the Zero Card synergizes exceptionally well with high critical rate builds․ Prioritize maximizing critical rate through equipment and Hyper Stats to fully capitalize on the card’s bonus․ Consider the cost-benefit ratio when acquiring the card, weighing its impact against other potential upgrades․ It’s a significant investment for serious Bandit players․
XIX․ Bandit’s Best Pets
Selecting the right pet can significantly enhance a Bandit’s efficiency․ For leveling, pets providing experience boosts are invaluable, accelerating progression through training spots․ Once focused on bossing, pets offering damage boosts, particularly to critical damage, become paramount․ The Black Tail Cat is a popular choice due to its consistent damage increase․

Consider pets with skill cooldown reduction for increased Throwing Knife uptime․ Darkness pets can also be beneficial, providing stat bonuses․ Ultimately, the “best” pet depends on your specific build and goals․ Prioritize pets that complement your playstyle and address your character’s weaknesses, maximizing overall effectiveness;

XX․ Resources and Further Learning
Staying updated with the MapleStory community is crucial for Bandit mastery․ Utilize online resources like the MapleStory Wiki for detailed skill information and item databases․ MapleTips and vAude offer comprehensive guides and build suggestions, frequently updated by experienced players․
Engage with the Bandit community on platforms like Reddit’s r/Maplestory and the official MapleStory forums․ Watching experienced Bandit players on YouTube and Twitch can provide valuable insights into advanced techniques and bossing strategies․ Regularly check patch notes for class balance changes and adapt your build accordingly․ Continuous learning is key to maximizing your Bandit’s potential․
