The MapleStory Classic World Kerning Party Quest, officially named First Time Together, is open to characters at level 21 and above. The party leader talks to Lakelis in Kerning City, and Nexon’s notes limit entry to Channels 3, 4, 5 and 6. A run has five stages: collect coupons from Ligators for Cloto’s questions, solve rope, kitten-platform and barrel puzzles by trial and error, then defeat King Slime. Nexon has not published the puzzle solutions or the full question list, so this guide gives the confirmed rules and a method that finds every answer quickly.
Summary: MapleStory Classic World Kerning Party Quest
- Name: First Time Together, the Kerning City Party Quest, or KPQ.
- Entry: level 21 and above, with the party leader starting it at Lakelis in Kerning City.
- Channels: Nexon lists Channels 3, 4, 5 and 6 as of October 8, 2026.
- Party size: four players, according to the in-game quest text quoted by community databases.
- Stages: coupon quiz, ropes, kitten platforms, barrels, then King Slime and a bonus map.
- Boss: King Slime is level 32, with 16,820 HP in community data.
- Quest: Proof of Companionship is a one-time quest that needs a King Slime kill.
What Is the Kerning Party Quest in MapleStory Classic World?
The Kerning City Party Quest is the first party quest in MapleStory Classic World. Nexon calls it First Time Together, and the notes say your party solves puzzles, clears monsters and finishes against King Slime. It has been in the game since Founder’s Access opened on October 6, 2026.
The quest plays out in an instance that you reach from Kerning City. Each stage ends with Cloto, an NPC who checks your progress and opens the next area. The party leader does most of the talking, so choose a leader who is patient and clear in chat.
Grand Launch arrives on October 21, 2026, and Nexon says the servers go down for about five hours of maintenance that morning. Because the notes do not list KPQ changes for the launch build, treat the details below as current for Founder’s Access. You can read the official rules in the Founder’s Access release notes on Nexon’s site.
KPQ Requirements: Level 21, Lakelis and Channels
The rules are short, and Nexon’s notes only confirm part of them.
| Requirement | What we know | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 21 and above | Nexon release notes |
| Start NPC | Lakelis in Kerning City | Nexon release notes |
| Channels | 3, 4, 5 and 6 only, since October 8 | Nexon release notes |
| Party size | Exactly four players | In-game quest text, per community databases |
| Time limit | 30 minutes | Community databases |
| Level cap for entry | None confirmed | Not announced |
Nexon limited entry to four channels because of heavy activity on Channels 1 and 2. A community database says players report that Channel 7 was added on October 13, but Nexon’s notes we found do not confirm it, so check Lakelis’s prompt on the day.
Only one party can be inside the quest at a time on a given channel in the original game, and the leader had to keep clicking Lakelis to take a turn. A community guide describes a similar queue in Classic World, so be ready to wait. For another four-player co-op game with a similar team structure, see our Helldivers 2 Update 7.2 guide.
Stage 1: Coupons and Cloto’s Questions
Stage 1 is a quiz that you answer with coupons. Community databases list 22 Ligators in the room, and they drop Coupons. Cloto asks every party member except the leader one question about the game, and the answer is a number. You bring that many Coupons to Cloto, who trades them for a Pass, and the leader hands all the Passes to Cloto.
The tricky part is the question set. A guide for Classic World says plainly that the Classic World question set has not been confirmed, and that Classic World differs from older versions. For example, every job advances at level 10 and there is no stat requirement for first job. Therefore, answer from the game’s current rules, not from an old answer list.
Here are three answers you can verify from Nexon’s own notes:
- Entry level for this party quest: 21, per the release notes.
- First job advancement level: 10, per the release notes.
- Second job advancement level: 30, per the release notes.
Community databases also report questions about the experience needed for level 2 and the ability points gained early on. Those come from tests and player posts, so treat them as unconfirmed until you see the question in game. A practical way to avoid trouble is to ask your party in chat which question each person got, then collect a few spare Coupons. A guide notes that extra Coupons cannot be traded, so drop spares before you talk to Cloto.
One trick from player reports: the leader never receives a question, so a player who dislikes their question can sometimes take over as leader. That is a player report, not an official rule.
Stages 2 to 4: Rope, Platform and Barrel Solving Method
The middle stages are position puzzles. The correct spots change each run, so no fixed list will work. What stays the same is the structure, which means you can solve each puzzle in a fixed order.
| Stage | Puzzle | Players placed | Possible combinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Four ropes | 3 of 4 ropes occupied | 4 |
| 3 | Five kitten platforms | 3 of 5 platforms occupied | 10 |
| 4 | Six numbered barrels | 3 of 6 barrels occupied | 20 |
Those counts match what community guides report, and the math checks out: choosing 3 spots from 4, 5 and 6 gives 4, 10 and 20 combinations. The leader stays out of the puzzle and checks each attempt with Cloto.
Here is a method that works for all three stages:
- Number the spots. An MMO guide says to agree on labels, such as upper left is 1 and upper right is 2, because the ropes have no markings. Do the same for platforms and barrels.
- Write the combinations in order. Start with the lowest three numbers, then change one number at a time. Listing them first stops the party from repeating a failed guess.
- Have one person call the order. The leader tells the group which spots to take, and everyone moves together.
- Read the feedback. In the original game, Cloto’s reply tells you how many spots were correct, so use that to narrow the list.
- Do not guess randomly. At worst, stage 2 takes 4 tries, stage 3 takes 10 and stage 4 takes 20, and an ordered list keeps you under that.
In stage 3, the platforms carry 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 kittens, so you can use the kitten counts as your labels. In stage 4, the barrels sit in a stack, with one on top, then two, then three. Do not memorize old rope and barrel solutions, since they change every run.
Last Stage and King Slime
The last stage is a tall map with several tiers of monsters. Community databases list Curse Eyes, Jr. Neckis and King Slime on the way down, and the party collects Passes from them before the final fight. Jr. Neckis have high avoidability, so a player with strong accuracy should handle them.
King Slime is the boss. A community database lists it at level 32 with 16,820 HP and 2,400 EXP, and says it resists Ice, Fire, Lightning and Holy damage. It attacks on sight, so keep your healer supplied and your HP potions stocked. Players also report that it splits into smaller slimes when it dies, and that you do not need to kill them.
These numbers come from a fan database built on the launch data, not from Nexon, so they may change at Grand Launch. A short bonus map follows the boss, filled with mushrooms that are good for experience. Talk to Nella to leave, since quest maps have no normal portal.
King Slime Drops and Squishy Shoes
A fan database lists Squishy Shoes as a King Slime drop. It describes them as level 28 shoes with +1 to all four stats, five upgrade slots and tradeable status. Another community wiki names a Slime Helmet as the King Slime drop, so the sources disagree.
Because Nexon has not published drop tables, we cannot confirm either item or any drop rate. Here is what to do:
- Check the boss’s drops in game. Your own party’s loot is the real evidence.
- Compare before you trade. Do not pay for an item until you see it drop and know its stats.
- Share results. Report drops in party chat, since several players will see the same loot.
Everyone in the party also receives a reward item from Cloto after the clear. A fan database calls it Companion’s Magic Box and says the launch data does not list its contents. Players report equipment, scrolls, potions and ores from it, but nobody has published rates.
Proof of Companionship Quest Guide
Proof of Companionship is a one-time quest from Lakelis. A community guide tells you to accept it before your first run, and says it requires you to defeat King Slime inside First Time Together. It is available at level 21.
A fan database lists the reward as 1,870 EXP, 687 mesos and an Intermediate Earring Scroll, and other sources mention one fame point. Because the quest data and player reports differ on fame and on which scroll you get, check the quest window for the real reward.
Here is how to finish it:
- Talk to Lakelis and accept the quest. Do this before the party enters.
- Run the full quest. Clear all stages with your party.
- Defeat King Slime. The kill completes the objective.
- Turn in the quest. Return to the quest window after you leave with Nella.
Party Tips and What Happens if Someone Drops
These points come from player reports, not from Nexon, so they may change.
- Dying does not end the run. Players say a party can still finish with three people. If the party falls to two before the puzzle stages, the run reportedly ends.
- Say so before you go AFK. A missing player can stall the whole party.
- Pick up stray Coupons and Passes. Drop them in front of Cloto.
- Explain the combination order to first-timers. A clear plan saves several minutes.
- Mind your channel. Use one of the allowed channels, and check Lakelis’s current prompt.
A run reportedly takes about 35 minutes and gives a big share of a level at the entry levels, but those numbers are player estimates.
What Is Still Unconfirmed
Several details are not officially published:
- The full list of Cloto’s questions in Classic World
- The drop table for King Slime and the contents of Companion’s Magic Box
- Whether Grand Launch changes any KPQ rules
- Whether Channel 7 supports the quest
We will update this guide when Nexon or the community confirms them.
Common Mistakes
- Using old rope and barrel answers. The correct spots change every run.
- Answering from the original game’s rules. Classic World changed job advancement rules.
- Bringing extra Coupons to Cloto. Spares block the trade.
- Starting on the wrong channel. Only Channels 3 to 6 were listed.
- Skipping Proof of Companionship. Accept it before your first run.
- Trusting drop tables. Nexon has not published any.
Conclusion
The MapleStory Classic World Kerning Party Quest needs a party of four at level 21 or higher, with the leader starting at Lakelis on Channels 3 to 6. Solve stage 1 from Nexon’s job levels, work through the puzzles with an ordered list and prepare for King Slime. Accept Proof of Companionship first, and check Nexon’s notes after Grand Launch.
FAQs
What level do you need for KPQ in MapleStory Classic World?
You need to be level 21 or above, according to Nexon’s Founder’s Access release notes.
Where do I start the Kerning Party Quest?
The party leader talks to Lakelis in Kerning City.
Which channels allow KPQ?
Nexon’s notes list Channels 3, 4, 5 and 6 as of October 8, 2026.
How many combinations do the rope and barrel puzzles have?
The rope stage has 4, the kitten platform stage has 10 and the barrel stage has 20, and the correct answer changes each run.
What does King Slime drop?
A fan database lists Squishy Shoes, while another wiki lists a Slime Helmet. Nexon has not published a drop table.
What is Proof of Companionship?
It is a one-time quest from Lakelis that needs a King Slime kill inside First Time Together.
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