Job instructors are the NPCs who perform job advancements. A character who meets the level and stat requirements talks to their branch's instructor to advance, unlocking a new tier of skills and, at the second advancement, choosing which job within the branch to become.
Each branch has its own instructor, and they do not stand in the same town. Dances with Balrog handles Warrior advancement in Perion, Grendel the Really Old handles Magician in Ellinia, Athena Pierce handles Bowman in Henesys, and Dark Lord handles Thief in Kerning City. Finding the right town is the first half of every advancement quest.
The third advancement has its own four instructors in El Nath. It is not in the game at Grand Launch, so they are listed separately below.
Every job instructor at launch
| NPC | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Athena Pierce | Bowman 1st job instructor | Henesys |
| Bowman Job Instructor | Bowman 2nd job instructor | Henesys |
| Dances with Balrog | Warrior 1st job instructor | Perion |
| Dark Lord | Thief 1st job instructor | Kerning City |
| Grendel the Really Old | Magician 1st job instructor | Ellinia |
| Thief Job Instructor | Thief 2nd job instructor | Kerning City |
Not at launch: Ossyria
Not in the game at launch. This article covers content that is confirmed and was playable in the second Closed Online Test, but which is not part of MapleStory Classic World at Grand Launch on October 21, 2026. Nexon has said it will be reworked before being introduced gradually, and has not given a date. See Differences from MapleStory for what has been confirmed so far.
The third advancement is not in the game at Grand Launch, and its four instructors stand in El Nath.
See also
- Jobs: every job and the advancement chain.
- Job advancement: the advancement quests themselves.
- Skill points: what an advancement grants, and the tier rules.
- NPCs: every NPC on the wiki.
- Other NPC roles: Shopkeeper · Storage keeper · Cab driver · Quest giver.