The new job 'Ren', which shook MapleStory to its core upon arrival, is set to become even more formidable following a round of optimisations.

During the MapleStory NOW online showcase on the 10th, Director Chang-seop Kim outlined the upcoming summer update. New hunting mechanics, the Goldrich event, adjustments to Ascent skills, fresh vanity items, and the 'Ren' refinements are all scheduled to hit the live servers on the 17th.

First, let us talk about 'Ren', the newcomer added on June 7th. Being a rabbit Anima, Ren captured hearts immediately, partly due to a cute aesthetic that stands in stark contrast to a rather tragic backstory. The flashy skill effects have also been well-received, with the general consensus being that the job is refreshingly straightforward yet undeniably punchy. Director Chang-seop Kim noted, "It is truly gratifying to see so many players enjoying Ren."

Future updates will buff the passive skill 'Advanced Longsword Mastery' and tweak the coefficients of primary attack skills. Furthermore, the visibility of the 'Back-sheath' icon for the teleport skill 'Flash-draw' has been improved via a colour change, and the convenience of mapping 'Draw' and 'Sheath' to separate hotkeys is being added. Players can also swap the current 'Draw' and 'Strike-draw' skills, used for general hunting and bossing respectively, for a new skill called 'Odo' instead of relying on right-clicks.

Additional details regarding the 6th job 'Ascent' core skills were also shared. Having debuted on the test server on the 3rd, these were designed to be relatively weak at level 1. Director Chang-seop Kim explained, "The Ascent skill is structured to be used three times per boss encounter, which naturally limits its late-game efficacy," adding, "That is precisely why the scaling is designed to grow more powerful the more you reinforce it."

On top of that, the 'Goldrich's Golden Vault' event will be live, where slaying monsters earns you entry tickets for a draw, alongside some limited-time cosmetic items. The 'Evenia Trade King' hunting event tasks players with upgrading an alpaca to earn rewards, complete with stage-based and cumulative participation bonuses. Finally, the summer hunting event 'Happy Oasis' triggers special skills once you have cleared a certain number of monsters within your level range.