Night Lord class guide

Night Lord setups by content.

Use Night Lord as a burst-and-mark class: keep buffs before damage skills, separate mob pages from boss pages, and treat Kleenex v2 as an older setup base that still needs account testing.

Open setups Open skill reference
On this page Balance changes Skill reference Current checks Content setups Manual timing Cubing priority Star Force priority Tips and FAQ Sources

May 21 balance patch

What changed for Night Lord

The 05.21 update made Night Lord more mark- and 4th Job-sensitive. The setups below use current skill data, newer companion checks, and content-specific testing notes instead of treating older CP screenshots as the answer.

Assassin's Mark hits more targets

Assassin's Mark now reaches 7 targets, and the mastery damage increase moved from 50% to 80%.

Alchemic Adrenaline improved

The mastery adds another Final Damage boost, so buff uptime and skill cycling matter more in close boss checks.

Frailty Curse is a real boss-window skill

Its Final Damage now scales with skill level, while the target damage-taken value increased to 18%.

Shadow Shifter moved toward Final Damage

Shadow Shifter changed from Attack to Final Damage, with a shorter no-buff window after activation.

Dark Harmony raised the floor

The minimum damage multiplier increase doubled, making Min / Max tuning more relevant at higher levels.

Skills and job data

Use MSI Jobs for exact unlocks, then use this page for content setup.

Night Lord has more active skills than one tab can hold. These setups use two tabs, keep low-tier basic attacks out after Showdown is unlocked, and place passives in notes instead of active slots.

Open Night Lord skill reference Browse all Jobs
BuffNimble Feet

Attack Speed and movement buff. Keep it early unless MP or timing breaks.

BuffDark Sight

Critical Rate and Attack buff when reactivated; use before burst unless Crit Rate is solved.

ControlGust Charm

Stun skill for Arena and Stage Breakthrough final monsters. Remove it for bosses that cannot be stunned.

MoveShadow Surge

Instant movement cancel. Keep it late when damage timing matters, earlier when map contact is the wall.

3rd JobTriple Throw

Single-target filler before Quad Star. Useful when a durable target decides the timer.

FieldDark Flare

Persistent area damage that improves after cooldown and strike-interval masteries.

4th JobShowdown

Current basic-attack effect after 4th Job. Older basic attacks should not take slots.

4th JobQuad Star

Single-target burst. Place early for boss pages when cooldown cycling matters.

4th JobSudden Raid

High-value multi-target burst with a damage-over-time follow-up.

4th JobFrailty Curse

Boss-window damage-taken and Final Damage setup skill.

Companion and artifact checks

Check these before rerolling the setup.

The content sections remain the slot-by-slot starting point. Recent Night Lord discussion reinforces that the class needs separate hunt, breakthrough, and boss pages; use these checks when the loss comes from timing, companion effects, MP, accuracy, or a content-specific artifact window.

Do not force a weak exact page over the effect mix

Use the content setup first, but keep the effect goal in mind: Skill Damage, Normal Monster Damage, Attack Speed, Boss Damage, Crit Rate, basic-hit checks, and Guild Conquest utility can all win different rows.

I/L and F/P Mage are breakthrough checks

Recent Night Lord discussion still points to Stage Breakthrough as the pain point: waves can feel slow while the final monster dies cleanly. Use I/L for normal-wave pressure and F/P when Crit Rate is the gap; move Night Lord back up only when the final target is the wall.

Attack Speed is useful only while MP stays stable

Attack Speed and current-job skill level are recurring Night Lord checks, but MP can become the hidden wall. If the page runs dry, fix MP or reduce speed before blaming the setup.

Guild Conquest uses Shadower main

For Guild Conquest, Shadower stays the main companion because armor shred and defense-buff removal are the purpose of the setup. Kleenex also flagged Bishop and Paladin as not fully tested in that older guide context.

Crit Rate and MP are common hidden walls

Recent player discussion repeatedly surfaced 100% Crit Rate, Book value before crit cap, and MP sustain as checks before blaming the class. If Quad Star and buffs stop cycling, fix those basics first.

Content setups

Open the content you are building for.

Each setup shows the skill tabs, main and alt-main companion picks, six sub companions, ability priority, artifact order, then the swap check for that content.

Content setupChapter Hunt

Use this when EXP per minute and mob contact matter more than boss burst.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Shadow Surge Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Frailty Curse Gust Charm Triple Throw Quad Star

Triple Throw and Quad Star are placed late for pure mob farming; move them earlier only when your map has a single durable target.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage
Alt mainLegendaryF/P MageCritical Rate
Sub companions
LegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed UniqueI/L MageNormal Monster Damage EpicI/L MageNormal Monster Damage UniqueBow MasterAttack Speed EpicBow MasterAttack Speed UniqueF/P MageCrit fallback

If I/L is your main, use Unique/Epic I/L in sub slots and let Bow Master carry speed support.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Current Job Skill Level3Critical Damage4Crit Rate to 100%5Normal Monster Damage
Result check
1KPM2EXP per minute3Companion contact4MP stability

Artifacts

1Hexagon 2Book 3Sayram 4Athena Gloves 5Chalice 6Glass Shoe

Glass Shoe can beat Sayram when companion range and map contact raise KPM.

Content setupStage Breakthrough

Stage Breakthrough needs enough Normal Monster Damage to reach the final monster cleanly, then enough boss burst and stun timing to finish it.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Sudden Raid Showdown Dark Flare
Tab 2
Gust Charm Quad Star Triple Throw Shadow Surge

Save Gust Charm manually for the final monster when the auto order wastes the stun early.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryF/P MageCritical Rate
Alt mainLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Sub companions
LegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage LegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed LegendaryNight LordBoss Damage UniqueI/L MageWave support UniqueBow MasterSpeed support UniqueNight LordBoss finish

If Bishop is higher level than F/P Mage, test it as main. Use boss HP left and timer left, not CP, as the result check.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Current Job Skill Level3Critical Damage4Normal Monster Damage5Boss Damage
Result check
1Timer left2Final HP left3Stun timing4Miss rate

Artifacts

1Book 2Sayram 3Chalice 4Athena Gloves 5Icy Soul Rock 6Star Rock

Chalice is a near-clear manual push tactic. If the final target never appears cleanly, solve wave speed first.

Content setupChapter Boss

Use this when the chapter boss is the wall and the run is decided by boss HP left, not normal wave speed.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Triple Throw Sudden Raid
Tab 2
Dark Flare Showdown Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Gust Charm is shown late for the full active pool. If the boss cannot be stunned, treat that slot as the first one to disable after testing.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Alt mainLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Sub companions
UniqueBow MasterSpeed support UniqueNight LordBoss Damage EpicNight LordBoss Damage LegendaryBishopSkill Damage LegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat % LegendaryHeroMax roll

Bow Master often wins as main because its buff affects your character. Night Lord remains a strong boss-damage page, especially as a sub or when its page level is far ahead.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Current Job Skill Level3Critical Damage4Boss Damage5Defense Penetration
Result check
1Boss HP left2Timer left3Crit consistency4Companion window

Artifacts

1Hexagon 2Star Rock 3Book 4Athena Gloves 5Glass Shoe 6Icy Soul Rock

Star Rock is stronger here than in survival raids because Chapter Boss is a pure timer and HP-left check.

Content setupWorld Boss / Guild Raid

Use this when the whole score is boss uptime. Treat companion buffs, Defense Penetration, and group-friendly artifacts as the first swaps after the core boss row.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Triple Throw Sudden Raid
Tab 2
Dark Flare Showdown Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Skip Gust Charm unless the target can actually be stunned. Long boss windows reward clean buff-before-burst order.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Alt mainLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Sub companions
UniqueBow MasterSpeed support UniqueNight LordBoss Damage EpicNight LordBoss Damage LegendaryBishopSkill Damage LegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat % LegendaryHeroMax roll

If the group has enough speed support, test Night Lord as main only when its page level is clearly ahead.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Current Job Skill Level3Boss Damage4Critical Damage5Defense Penetration
Result check
1Score2Boss HP left3Buff uptime4Crit consistency

Artifacts

1Hexagon 2Lamp 3Star Rock 4Book 5Athena Gloves 6Glass Shoe

Horn Flute and Silver Pendant are lower-slot tests when companion timing or group damage beats personal damage.

Content setupArena / Colosseum

PvP is matchup-dependent. Use this as a first page, then swap around Accuracy, Evasion, Cursed Doll, and stun value.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Gust Charm Frailty Curse Quad Star Shadow Surge
Tab 2
Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown Triple Throw

Ban and matchup logic can change the order. If the opponent has strong Evasion, solve hit consistency first.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryDark KnightArena utility
Alt mainLegendaryShadowerControl utility
Sub companions
LegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed LegendaryMarksmanStatus Damage LegendaryHeroMax roll UniqueDark KnightAccuracy check UniqueShadowerMin roll UniqueMarksmanStatus test

Marksman is a sub-page test for status windows. Dark Knight stays the safer main when hit consistency or PvP utility decides the match.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Critical Damage3Accuracy if missing4Evasion / survival5Status Damage test
Result check
1Hit consistency2Ban result3Stun value4Survival

Artifacts

1Music Box 2Soul Pouch 3Lava Flower 4Athena Gloves 5Cursed Doll 6Flaming Lava

Cursed Doll is promoted here as an anti-evasion comparison. Keep it out of PvE unless misses are somehow the whole problem.

Content setupGuild Conquest

Guild Conquest is the exception row: use Shadower main because defense-buff removal and armor shred are the setup.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Quad Star Triple Throw Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Time burst around the defense-removal window. If your Shadower page is very low, still test it before replacing the main.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryShadowerArmor shred
Alt mainLegendaryDark KnightBuff removal
Sub companions
LegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed LegendaryNight LordBoss Damage LegendaryMarksmanStatus window UniqueNight LordBoss Damage UniqueBow MasterSpeed support UniqueHeroMax roll

Marksman is a sub-page test for stunned or groggy targets. It is not the main companion.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Boss Damage3Defense Penetration4Current Job Skill Level5Status Damage test
Result check
1Armor shred timing2Orb timing3Boss HP left4Survival

Artifacts

1Hexagon 2Ancient Text 3Book 4Star Rock 5Athena Gloves 6Glass Shoe

Peach Tree Herb Pouch is a real test when buff removal timing is the wall, but keep Hexagon and Ancient Text as the baseline.

Content setupGuild War

Guild War borrows the boss skill family, but the scorecard is matchup, Accuracy, companion window, and survival.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Sudden Raid Showdown Dark Flare
Tab 2
Gust Charm Quad Star Triple Throw Shadow Surge

Keep Gust Charm only when the matchup rewards the status window. If accuracy is failing, fix hit consistency before adding more burst.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Alt mainLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Sub companions
UniqueBow MasterSpeed support LegendaryMarksmanStatus window UniqueNight LordBoss Damage LegendaryBishopSkill Damage LegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat % LegendaryHeroMax roll

Marksman is a sub-page test for status windows, not the main companion.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Boss Damage2Defense Penetration3Accuracy if missing4Survival if dying
Result check
1Match result2Hit consistency3Companion window4Survival

Artifacts

1Hexagon 2Book 3Sayram 4Chalice 5Athena Gloves 6Glass Shoe

For Guild War, start Hexagon and Book before testing Chalice. Zakum Piece and Alliance Badge belong to their own rows below.

Content setupBoss Raid - Zakum

Boss Raid Zakum disables companion summons, so use companion pages as passive equipped effects. Survive first, then tune boss damage.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Triple Throw Sudden Raid
Tab 2
Dark Flare Showdown Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Gust Charm is the first late-slot skill to disable if Zakum does not reward stun value. If dying early, lower damage before changing the whole skill order.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Alt mainLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Sub companions
UniqueNight LordBoss DamageUniqueBow MasterSpeed supportLegendaryBishopSkill DamageLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %LegendaryHeroMax rollLegendaryF/P MageCrit check

These are passive page choices only. Do not plan a summon window for Boss Raid.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Boss Damage2Defense Penetration3Final Damage4Max HP / survival if dying5Critical Damage
Result check
1Survival time2Boss HP left3Revives used4Accuracy

Artifacts

1Zakum Piece2Silver Pendant3Book4Star Rock5Athena Gloves6Sayram

If Star Rock makes you die earlier, replace it with a survival artifact before chasing more score.

Content setupGrowth Dungeon - Weapon

Weapon Dungeon is boss-like for Night Lord. Keep boss damage, burst order, and enough Defense Penetration to move the timer.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Sudden Raid Showdown
Tab 2
Dark Flare Triple Throw Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Quad Star and Triple Throw stay late in EXP or Equipment Dungeon; disable them only if single-target casts lower mob clear speed.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Sub companions
LegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage LegendaryNight LordBoss Damage UniqueBishopSkill Damage UniqueBow MasterAttack Speed UniqueI/L MageWave support UniqueNight LordBoss support

For EXP and Equipment Dungeon, I/L and Bow Master can beat boss pages. For Weapon and Enhancement, move toward Bishop and Night Lord.

Ability / Hero Power

Weapon / Enhancement
1Boss Damage2Final Damage3Current Job Skill Level4Defense Penetration
EXP / Equipment
1Normal Monster Damage2Attack Speed3Critical Damage4Main Stat %

Artifacts

1Book 2Water 3Star Rock 4Athena Gloves 5Lava Flower 6Icy Soul Rock

For Weapon Dungeon, use the boss half of this row first. If the timer still stalls, compare Hexagon and Chalice against the lower slots.

Content setupGrowth Dungeon - EXP

EXP Dungeon should be tested like farming: keep KPM, map contact, and Attack Speed stable before adding boss-only lines.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Shadow Surge Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Frailty Curse Gust Charm Triple Throw Quad Star

Quad Star and Triple Throw are late-slot checks here. Disable them only when single-target casts lower room speed.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage
Alt mainLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Sub companions
UniqueI/L MageWave support EpicI/L MageWave support UniqueBow MasterSpeed support EpicBow MasterSpeed support LegendaryBishopSkill Damage UniqueF/P MageCrit fallback

If EXP per minute drops, move back to I/L and Bow Master pages before testing boss pages.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Normal Monster Damage2Attack Speed3Critical Damage4Crit Rate to 100%5Main Stat %
Result check
1EXP per minute2KPM3Map contact4MP stability

Artifacts

1Book2Chalice3Sayram4Athena Gloves5Lava Flower6Icy Soul Rock

Chalice and Sayram are lower-slot tests only if the EXP timer already stays stable.

Content setupGrowth Dungeon - Equipment

Equipment Dungeon leans mob-clear first, then checks whether the final target needs a boss page.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Shadow Surge Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Frailty Curse Gust Charm Triple Throw Quad Star

Keep one boss skill only if the final target lives long enough to matter.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage
Alt mainLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Sub companions
UniqueI/L MageWave supportEpicI/L MageWave supportLegendaryBow MasterAttack SpeedUniqueBow MasterSpeed supportUniqueBishopSkill DamageLegendaryNight LordBoss finish

Use the I/L main unless the final target, not rooms, is the loss point.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Normal Monster Damage2Attack Speed3Critical Damage4Final Damage5Boss Damage if final target stalls
Result check
1Clear time2Final target HP3Wave contact4MP stability

Artifacts

1Book2Water3Hexagon4Athena Gloves5Icy Soul Rock6Lava Flower

Book and Water are the stable start; Hexagon moves up when companion damage or final-target uptime decides the run.

Content setupGrowth Dungeon - Hero Training

Hero Training can flip between boss-like and mob-like depending on your wall. Start skill-damage heavy, then test speed and normal damage if rooms are slow.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Sudden Raid Showdown
Tab 2
Dark Flare Triple Throw Shadow Surge Gust Charm

This row keeps the mixed dungeon tab until your own timer proves one side is wasted.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryBow MasterAttack Speed
Sub companions
UniqueBishopSkill DamageUniqueBow MasterSpeed supportLegendaryNight LordBoss DamageUniqueNight LordBoss supportLegendaryHeroMax rollLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %

If rooms, not the final target, are slow, swap Bow Master or I/L Mage into main.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Final Damage2Current Job Skill Level3Critical Damage4Boss or Normal Damage5Main Stat %
Result check
1Clear time2Final target HP3KPM4Buff uptime

Artifacts

1Book2Hexagon3Star Rock4Athena Gloves5Chalice6Sayram

This is a mixed row: Star Rock is stronger when the final target is the wall, while Sayram helps when room flow matters.

Content setupGrowth Dungeon - Enhancement

Enhancement Dungeon usually behaves like a boss push. Keep the boss skill tab and compare survival only if the run ends early.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Sudden Raid Showdown
Tab 2
Dark Flare Triple Throw Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Use the same boss order as Chapter Boss unless you need to remove a skill for survival.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Sub companions
UniqueBishopSkill DamageUniqueNight LordBoss supportLegendaryBow MasterAttack SpeedUniqueBow MasterSpeed supportLegendaryHeroMax rollLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %

Bishop is the first main check; Night Lord is the alt when boss damage page levels are much higher.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Boss Damage2Final Damage3Current Job Skill Level4Defense Penetration5Critical Damage
Result check
1Timer left2Boss HP left3Survival4Buff uptime

Artifacts

1Book2Star Rock3Hexagon4Athena Gloves5Icy Soul Rock6Chalice

Chalice is a manual near-clear test. If you die first, shift the row toward survival instead of more damage.

Content setupParty Quest - First Time Together

Use this when farming Squashy Ring. Party Quest companion summons are disabled, so judge the passive pages by clear time and objective consistency.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Shadow Surge Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Frailty Curse Gust Charm Triple Throw Quad Star

If rooms die instantly, move boss skills later or disable them after testing. If the last target stalls, keep Frailty Curse and Quad Star.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage
Sub companions
LegendaryBow MasterAttack SpeedLegendaryNight LordBoss DamageLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %LegendaryHeroAttack supportUniqueBishopSkill DamageUniqueI/L MageWave support

Use the main as an equipped-bonus choice; no summon timing is available here.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Skill Damage2Normal Monster Damage3Boss Damage if final target stalls4Main Stat %5Critical Damage
Result check
1Clear time2Objective progress3Final target HP4Hit consistency

Artifacts

1Alliance Badge2Silver Pendant3Peach Pouch4Music Box5Book6Icy Soul Rock

Alliance Badge is strongest when the party can coordinate it. Otherwise use the personal clear-time row.

Content setupParty Quest - Dimensional Crack

Use this when farming Cracked Necklace. Balance normal-room speed against the final target timer.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Shadow Surge Sudden Raid Dark Flare Showdown
Tab 2
Frailty Curse Gust Charm Triple Throw Quad Star

Keep boss skills only if the last target is the timer loss.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster Damage
Sub companions
LegendaryBow MasterAttack SpeedLegendaryNight LordBoss DamageLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %LegendaryHeroAttack supportUniqueBishopSkill DamageUniqueI/L MageWave support

If room speed is solved but the boss-like target stalls, test Night Lord over I/L as alt main.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Skill Damage2Normal Monster Damage3Boss Damage if final target stalls4Main Stat %5Critical Damage
Result check
1Clear time2Final target HP3Hit consistency4Debuff downtime

Artifacts

1Alliance Badge2Silver Pendant3Peach Pouch4Music Box5Book6Icy Soul Rock

Music Box can beat damage if debuffs interrupt the run; otherwise use the same party artifact package.

Content setupParty Quest - Remnant of the Goddess

Remnant is the most boss-like Party Quest row. Keep skill damage and target pressure high while still checking party artifacts.

Skill tabs

Tab 1
Nimble Feet Dark Sight Frailty Curse Quad Star Triple Throw Sudden Raid
Tab 2
Dark Flare Showdown Shadow Surge Gust Charm

Use the boss route first, then move single-target slots later or disable them only when room speed is the actual loss.

Companions

Main picks
Main companionLegendaryBishopSkill Damage
Alt mainLegendaryNight LordBoss Damage
Sub companions
LegendaryI/L MageNormal Monster DamageLegendaryBow MasterAttack SpeedLegendaryBuccaneerMain Stat %LegendaryHeroAttack supportUniqueBishopSkill DamageUniqueNight LordBoss support

Use Bishop/Night Lord when the final target is the wall; use I/L if normal rooms eat the timer.

Ability / Hero Power

Priority
1Skill Damage2Boss Damage3Normal Monster Damage if rooms are slow4Main Stat %5Current Job Skill Level
Result check
1Clear time2Final target HP3Objective progress4Debuff downtime

Artifacts

1Alliance Badge2Silver Pendant3Peach Pouch4Music Box5Book6Star Rock

Use Alliance Badge first when the party can stack it; otherwise compare Silver Pendant, Peach, and Music Box by clear time.

Manual timing

Night Lord wins close clears by lining up buffs before burst.

1Buff before damage

Use Nimble Feet, Dark Sight, and Frailty Curse before Quad Star, Triple Throw, and Sudden Raid.

2Watch MP after speed gains

High Attack Speed and high 3rd Job pressure can cause MP loss. Max MP potions before lowering damage stats.

3Summon in the real window

For boss and guild content, summon after the damage-taken and buff-removal window is ready.

4Stop when the wall changes

If the loss is misses, survival, or Crit Rate, fixing timing alone will not move the page.

Cubing and Hero Power

Prioritise the stat that answers the content.

  1. Final Damage.Best broad line when the account can support it.
  2. Current Job Skill Level.Especially important after the 4th Job and May 21 Night Lord changes.
  3. Critical Damage.High value once Crit Rate is solved.
  4. Critical Rate to 100%.Use equipment and artifacts before locking weak Hero Power crit lines.
  5. LUK %, Min / Max Damage.Scale better than generic Damage % at higher levels.
  6. Boss or Normal Monster Damage.Pick the one that matches the content page.
  7. Defense Penetration.Use for raids, World Boss, guild boss-style content, and later high-defense walls.

Star Force priority

Use Star Force to fix the wall, not just the CP number.

  1. Weapon first for close boss timers.Night Lord boss pages want the burst window, Crit Damage, Boss Damage, and Defense Penetration to land together.
  2. Glove and accessory checks for farming.Use them when Attack Speed, Crit Rate, or min / max spread changes KPM more than another raw attack push.
  3. Accuracy before damage when misses appear.If Stage Breakthrough, Arena, or guild content is losing to misses, solve hit consistency before adding more damage lines.
  4. Save good outcomes before chasing perfect 10-slot gear.Night Lord can flip between wave, burst, MP, and boss walls after a Star Force upgrade, so retest the content row after major gear changes.

Tips and FAQ

Common Night Lord checks

  • Do not use old basic attacks after Showdown.Lucky Seven, Shuriken Burst, and Shuriken Challenge are not part of the 4th Job active-tab plan.
  • Marksman is not the main companion.Use it as a status-damage sub when stun or groggy-state windows matter.
  • Boss Damage is not automatically best for every boss.Bow Master, F/P Mage, or Skill Damage support can outperform it when their buffs improve your character more than a flat boss page does.
  • Accuracy and MP are failure checks.If hits miss or Attack Speed drains the page dry, damage rows will look worse than they are.
  • Guild Conquest uses Shadower main.The armor shred / buff removal window is the reason that row works.
  • Defense Penetration is situational.It is strongest in raid, World Boss, guild boss, and high-defense checks, not early Chapter Hunt.
  • Damage % falls off.Use it early if it moves clears, then replace it with stronger late-game lines.
How should I treat Bishop, Paladin, and newer artifacts?

Treat Bishop and Paladin as uncertain companion tests, not settled Night Lord route rules. Use I/L for wave pressure, F/P for Crit Rate gaps, Shadower for Guild Conquest utility, and newer artifacts only when they beat the ranked lower slot by timer, score, or HP-left result.

Does May 21 change the setup?

Yes. Night Lord gained stronger mark coverage and more Final Damage-sensitive passives, so buff order, current job skill level, and 4th Job burst timing matter more than they did before the patch.

Can I equip duplicate companion pages?

You cannot equip the exact same page twice. You can use the same job across Legendary, Unique, and Epic pages, then replace missing rarities with the closest effect you own.

Where should Crit Rate come from?

Mostly equipment and artifacts until 100%. Avoid locking weak Hero Power Crit Rate lines if the account can solve Crit Rate elsewhere.

Guide changelog

Updates

  • - Confirmed Kleenex v2 as the older base source and tightened the Stage Breakthrough, I/L/F/P, Shadower, Crit Rate, Attack Speed, and MP caveats from current player discussion.
  • - Added the Night Lord class guide using Kleenex v2, Night Lord discussion, MSI Jobs skill data, Nexon 05.21 patch notes, and Korean/community references.
Sources referenced
  • Kleenex v2 Night Lord guide from the main MapleStory Idle Discord, checked May 28, 2026.
  • MSI Night Lord Jobs page data, checked May 28, 2026.
  • Nexon 05.21 Patch Notes, checked May 28, 2026.
  • Main MapleStory Idle RPG Discord Night Lord class-channel discussion from January through May, checked May 28, 2026.
  • Korean/community references across MGF, MekiPick, DCInside, MEKI.GG, and Mekifun, refreshed May 28, 2026.
  • Internal MSI guide consistency checks against Shadower, companion, artifact, stage/boss, Guild War, Guild Conquest, Party Quest, and boss raid guide pages.