By coolyou 
The Kerning City Party Quest, commonly known as KPQ, is one of the first major group activities in MapleStory Classic World. It gives players a reason to team up, solve puzzles, collect items, and fight King Slime instead of grinding monsters alone. A successful run depends on teamwork, but knowing how each stage works can save a lot of time.
This walkthrough covers the entry requirements, every main stage, the coupon questions, puzzle strategies, and the final boss. If you are preparing your character and gathering MS Classic World Mesos for potions or other supplies, learning the route beforehand can also help you avoid wasting resources during repeated runs.
Kerning Party Quest Requirements
Before heading to Kerning City, make sure your party meets the entry requirements.
- Minimum level: Level 21 for every party member
- Party size: Four players
- Starting NPC: Lakelis in Kerning City
- Available channels: Channels 3–12
- Main objective: Complete the stages and defeat King Slime
The party leader should speak to Lakelis to enter. Before your first attempt, consider accepting the one-time Proof of Companionship quest from her, which is associated with defeating King Slime.
Choose a leader who can communicate clearly and keep track of the party’s progress. During the puzzle stages, the leader handles the NPC interactions while the other three members test the available positions.
Stage 1: Collect Coupons from Ligators
The first stage is a collection task. Cloto asks each party member except the leader a question, and the answer determines how many Coupons that player must collect from Ligators.
How to complete Stage 1
- Each non-leader talks to Cloto and reads their question carefully.
- Identify the required number of Coupons.
- Defeat Ligators until you have the exact amount requested.
- Return to Cloto and exchange the Coupons for a Pass.
- Give your Pass to the party leader.
- Once everyone has delivered a Pass, the leader turns them in to Cloto.
Important: You need the exact number of Coupons. If Cloto refuses the exchange, check your inventory for extra Coupons and drop the surplus before trying again.
Coupon question answers
Some commonly reported questions and answers include:
| Cloto’s question | Coupons required |
| What level is required for first job advancement? | 10 |
| How much EXP is needed to advance from Level 1 to Level 2? | 15 |
| What is the required INT for a Magician? | 20 |
| What is the required DEX for a Bowman or Thief? | 25 |
| What is the required STR for a Warrior? | 35 |
The question pool may differ between versions and updates, so do not rely on an old answer list without checking the actual wording. Some questions reported by players use different game facts and require different totals.
The fastest approach is to let players who finish early help teammates collect their remaining Coupons. Avoid picking up extra items that could complicate the hand-in.
Stage 2: Solve the Rope Puzzle
The second stage replaces monster hunting with a positioning puzzle. Four ropes are available, but only three must be occupied.
The three non-leader members should each climb onto a different rope. The leader then speaks to Cloto to check whether the combination is correct.
Rope puzzle strategy
Number the ropes from left to right, or agree on another numbering system before starting. Keep the numbering consistent throughout the attempts.
There are four possible combinations:
| Attempt | Ropes occupied | Empty rope |
| 1 | 1, 2, 3 | 4 |
| 2 | 1, 2, 4 | 3 |
| 3 | 1, 3, 4 | 2 |
| 4 | 2, 3, 4 | 1 |
Test each combination once instead of moving players randomly. If Cloto rejects a setup, change the positions according to the next row and ask her again.
Once the correct arrangement is accepted, move to the next stage.
Stage 3: Find the Correct Kitten Platforms
Stage 3 uses five platforms, with three players required to stand on the correct combination. As in the rope puzzle, the leader remains responsible for checking each attempt with Cloto.
Number the platforms from 1 to 5 and work through the combinations in order.
| Attempt | Platforms occupied |
| 1 | 1, 2, 3 |
| 2 | 1, 2, 4 |
| 3 | 1, 2, 5 |
| 4 | 1, 3, 4 |
| 5 | 1, 3, 5 |
| 6 | 1, 4, 5 |
| 7 | 2, 3, 4 |
| 8 | 2, 3, 5 |
| 9 | 2, 4, 5 |
| 10 | 3, 4, 5 |
Have each player move only when the leader calls the next combination. This avoids confusion when several people are jumping between platforms.
The correct arrangement is random, so there is no need to guess based on the appearance of the platforms. Systematically testing every combination is more reliable.
Stage 4: Complete the Barrel Puzzle
The fourth stage follows the same basic rule, but this time there are six barrels and three players must occupy the correct positions.
Number the barrels from 1 to 6. There are 20 possible combinations, so communication matters more here than in the earlier puzzles.
Use this checklist to track each attempt:
| Attempt | Barrels occupied |
| 1 | 1, 2, 3 |
| 2 | 1, 2, 4 |
| 3 | 1, 2, 5 |
| 4 | 1, 2, 6 |
| 5 | 1, 3, 4 |
| 6 | 1, 3, 5 |
| 7 | 1, 3, 6 |
| 8 | 1, 4, 5 |
| 9 | 1, 4, 6 |
| 10 | 1, 5, 6 |
| 11 | 2, 3, 4 |
| 12 | 2, 3, 5 |
| 13 | 2, 3, 6 |
| 14 | 2, 4, 5 |
| 15 | 2, 4, 6 |
| 16 | 2, 5, 6 |
| 17 | 3, 4, 5 |
| 18 | 3, 4, 6 |
| 19 | 3, 5, 6 |
| 20 | 4, 5, 6 |
The leader should keep track of rejected combinations so the party does not repeat the same setup. If everyone understands the numbering, this stage becomes a simple checklist rather than a guessing game.
After Cloto accepts the correct arrangement, the party can proceed to the final combat stage.
Stage 5: Defeat King Slime
The final main stage is a combat encounter featuring Curse Eyes, Jr. Neckis, and King Slime. Your party must defeat the required monsters and collect the Passes they drop.
The usual target list is:
Three Curse Eyes
Six Jr. Neckis
King Slime
That means the party needs 10 Passes in total. Make sure every drop is collected; missing even one Pass can delay completion.
King Slime combat tips
King Slime is the main threat in the encounter. Keep attacking steadily and avoid letting the party become scattered across the map.
- Focus your damage: Defeat the required monsters and then concentrate on King Slime.
- Watch your HP: Use potions before your health becomes dangerously low.
- Coordinate loot collection: Check the ground for Passes after each monster dies.
- Know your damage type: King Slime resists several elemental attacks, including Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Holy, so some characters may deal less damage than expected.
- Let the leader handle the turn-in: Once all 10 Passes are collected, the leader returns them to Cloto.
King Slime is reported to be Level 32 with 16,820 HP. After the boss is defeated and the required Passes are handed in, each party member can claim a Companion’s Magic Box from Cloto.
Bonus Stage and Rewards
After completing the main quest, the party may have access to a bonus map containing mushrooms. Use the extra time to defeat monsters and gain additional experience before leaving.
When you are ready to exit, speak to Nella. Do not waste time searching for a normal exit portal inside the party quest maps.
The rewards and drops available from KPQ can vary by the game’s current data and updates. The Companion’s Magic Box is a key completion reward, while the Proof of Companionship quest offers an additional reason to defeat King Slime at least once.
Tips for Faster KPQ Runs
A well-organized party can make KPQ much smoother, especially when running it repeatedly.
Assign roles before entering. Pick the leader in advance and make sure everyone understands who will talk to Cloto and collect the Passes.
Use party chat for puzzle calls. Number ropes, platforms, and barrels clearly. Only the leader should announce the next combination to avoid conflicting instructions.
Help with Coupons. Players who finish Stage 1 early can assist party members who still need drops, making the first stage less frustrating.
Bring enough potions. The final stage involves several monsters and a boss. Having supplies ready is better than running out of healing items mid-fight.
Stay until the run is finished. Leaving early can disrupt the remaining players, particularly during the positioning puzzles or the final Pass collection.
Is Kerning Party Quest Worth Repeating?
KPQ is useful for players who want a change from ordinary monster grinding. It combines experience, teamwork, puzzle-solving, and a boss encounter in one activity. It is also a good way to meet other players around the same level and learn how group content works in MapleStory Classic World.
If you are preparing for multiple runs, keep your inventory organized, bring suitable potions, and avoid spending your funds on supplies you do not need. Players comparing equipment or currency options, including MS Classic World Mesos for sale, should still consider their actual progression needs and use trustworthy sources when making purchases.
The biggest time-saver is preparation. Learn the Coupon rules, follow a consistent order for the three puzzle stages, and make sure all 10 Passes are collected at the end. With a coordinated party, Kerning Party Quest becomes much easier to complete without unnecessary delays.