MapleStory Classic Moon Bunny's Rice Cake Guide: HPQ Prep

Checked against v1.0.0 on October 29, 2026.

Moon Bunny's Rice Cake is MapleStory Classic World's version of HPQ, the Henesys Party Quest, and it arrives as a Thanksgiving event with the November update. This MapleStory Classic Moon Bunny guide sorts what is confirmed from what is carried over from the original game, maps the Primrose Hill area already in the Grand Launch client, lists the monsters you'll fight, and gives a prep plan and party roles so you're ready on day one.

Quick summary

• What it is: Moon Bunny's Rice Cake is the Thanksgiving party quest that veterans call HPQ (Henesys Party Quest). Nexon's Classic World roadmap puts it with the November update, for level 11 and up, from mid-November to early December; exact dates aren't announced (NiaMeowDB events page).
• What's already in the game files: the Grand Launch client of October 21 added Primrose Hill, Pig Town, Back to Town, two Shortcut maps, the Moon Bunny, and the quest's monsters: Stirge (Lv 11), Flyeye (Lv 13) and Goblin Fire (Lv 15) (MapleStory Quest, henesys.gg).
• How it played in the original: plant six colored seeds on Primrose Hill, then guard the Moon Bunny while it pounds rice cakes and the leader collects them. The steps and roles below come from the original GMS version and are labeled as reference.
• How to prepare: get a character to level 11 and through its first job, bring ranged damage for the flying mobs, check your accuracy against Lv 13–15 monsters, and pack potions.
• Not announced yet: exact start and end dates, party size, rice cake count, rewards, and the entry NPC's location.

Know what's confirmed for Classic World

Detail	Classic World status	Source
Release	The November update, with Forgotten Hollow; henesys.gg lists November 18 for Forgotten Hollow	Nexon roadmap via NiaMeowDB, henesys.gg
Event window	Mid-November through early December; exact dates not announced	NiaMeowDB events page
Level requirement	11 and up	Nexon roadmap via NiaMeowDB
Theme	Thanksgiving event	NiaMeowDB
Maps in the client	Primrose Hill (80003000), Shortcut (80003100), Pig Town (80003200), Back to Town (80003300), Shortcut (80003400)	MapleStory Quest, Grand Launch client
Quest monsters	Stirge Lv 11, Flyeye Lv 13, Goblin Fire Lv 15	MapleStory Quest, henesys.gg
Moon Bunny	Lv 30, 5,000 HP, 0 EXP	Henesys.gg
NPCs in the client	Tory (on both Shortcut maps), Timmy, Growlie (Primrose Hill)	MapleStory Quest, NiaMeowDB
Party size	Not announced (original: 3–6)	Henesys.gg (GMS reference)
Rewards	Not announced	—
Time limit and cake count	Not announced (original: 10 cakes)	Henesys.gg (GMS reference)

The October 6 Public Release client had none of these maps. They arrived in the October 21 Grand Launch client, which is why fan databases list them as "new at Grand Launch" even though you can't enter them yet. henesys.gg's Grand Launch notes describe the party quest (Tory, Primrose Hill) as already in the client, ready for an event from mid-November. Nexon's own Grand Launch release notes don't mention it.

Learn the maps already in the client

MapleStory Quest lists the five maps in the client's order. All sit on "Hidden Street," the label the game uses for instanced and side areas.

Map	ID	Monsters	NPCs	What it likely is
Primrose Hill	80003000	Stirge ×2 spawns (two variants), Flyeye ×3, Goblin Fire ×3, plus unlabeled spawn points	Growlie	The main quest map: seeds and the Moon Bunny
Shortcut	80003100	None	Tory, Timmy	Exit or bonus hand-in room; returns to Back to Town
Pig Town	80003200	Ribbon Pig ×17 (Lv 10), Pig ×12 (Lv 7)	Timmy	Pig-filled side map; its role isn't confirmed
Back to Town	80003300	None	Timmy	Exit map
Shortcut	80003400	None	Tory	Second Tory room; returns to Back to Town

Two things stand out. First, Primrose Hill has a 2-second respawn on its monsters, per MapleStory Quest, so expect a steady stream of attackers rather than a single wave. Second, the Primrose Hill Stirges are a separate Lv 11 variant with 218 and 242 HP, weaker than the regular Lv 20 Stirge you meet around Kerning City's subway at 296 HP (both on Henesys.gg). Don't judge the event by the subway version.

Learn how the original HPQ worked (GMS reference)

This is the original Henesys Party Quest as Henesys.gg describes it. Classic may change the numbers.

1. Form a party. The original needed 3–6 players, level 10 or higher. Classic's announced minimum is 11.
2. Enter through Tory. The party leader talks to Tory, and the party moves to Primrose Hill.
3. Stage 1: collect and plant seeds. Kill the monsters on the hill to collect six Primrose Seeds, one of each color. Henesys.gg's walkthrough says Pigs dropped them in the original. Classic's Primrose Hill spawns Stirges, Flyeyes and Goblin Fires instead, so the drop source may differ. Plant each seed on its matching pad.
4. Stage 2: the full moon rises. Once all six seeds are planted, the moon comes up and the Moon Bunny appears in the center and starts pounding rice cakes.
5. Protect the bunny. Monsters come in and attack it. Kill them before they reach it. In the original, the bunny made about one rice cake every 15 seconds.
6. Collect 10 rice cakes. The leader loots the cakes and turns them in to Tory. In the original that meant 10 cakes.
7. Leave through the exit maps. In the Classic client, the two Shortcut maps hold Tory and Timmy and lead to Back to Town. Where rewards are handed out in Classic isn't confirmed.

At one cake every 15 seconds, 10 cakes take about 2.5 minutes of guarding once the moon is up, if nothing interrupts the bunny. A clean run was short, which is why HPQ was a popular repeat activity for low-level characters in the original game.

Plant the seeds in the right spots

Henesys.gg's walkthrough gives the pad colors on Primrose Hill. The client map layout hasn't been checked against these spots in Classic, so confirm in your first run.

Seed color	Pad location (GMS reference)	Who should plant it
Blue	Top left	A ranged player already on the top platforms
Green	Top right	A ranged player already on the top platforms
Yellow	Left	Whoever is closest
Purple	Right	Whoever is closest
Brown	Bottom left	A melee player near the center
Pink	Bottom right	A melee player near the center

Tip: call out each color in party chat as soon as it drops, and hand seeds to whoever stands nearest the pad. Running a seed across the map is the most common way to waste time in stage 1.

Know the monsters you'll fight

Monster	Level	HP	EXP	Notes	Source
Stirge (event variant)	11	218 or 242	36	Flying; two variants on the map	Henesys.gg, MapleStory Quest
Flyeye	13	242	42	Flying	Henesys.gg, MapleStory Quest
Goblin Fire	15	310	49	25 DEF, 20% weapon damage reduction; event-only	Henesys.gg, MapleStory Quest
Moon Bunny	30	5,000	0	The one you protect; gives no EXP	Henesys.gg

Goblin Fire is the one to watch. Its weapon damage reduction means a level 11 warrior or thief swinging a starter weapon will feel slow against it, while magic shrugs off most of that reduction. If your party is mostly physical, focus Goblin Fires first so they don't pile up on the bunny.

Compare this to grinding. Ribbon Pigs (Lv 10) give 19 EXP for 172 HP. A Goblin Fire gives 49 EXP for 310 HP, so roughly 1.6 times the EXP per HP. The Stirge variants give 36 EXP for 218–242 HP, about 1.5 times. With a 2-second respawn, Primrose Hill could be good EXP for level 11–20 characters on top of whatever the rewards turn out to be. Party EXP sharing rules still apply, so check our party grinding guide.

Assign party roles by job

Henesys.gg's GMS walkthrough recommends ranged attackers on the top platforms and melee around the bunny. Here's how that maps to Classic's jobs at level 11–20.

Job (Lv 11–20)	Best spot	Main job in the run	Watch out for
Magician (Magic Claw)	Top platforms, then center	Kill Goblin Fires fast; magic gets around their weapon reduction	Low HP; stay out of crowds
Bowman (Arrow Blow / Double Shot)	Top platforms	Clear flying Stirges and Flyeyes before they drop in	Arrow supply; bring extra
Thief, claw (Lucky Seven)	Top platforms or a side ledge	Ranged backup; good on flyers	Throwing stars run out
Thief, dagger	Next to the bunny	Body-block and finish low-HP mobs	Goblin Fire's 25 DEF
Warrior	Next to the bunny	Hold the center; Power Strike and Slash Blast catch mobs that reach it	Accuracy against Lv 15 mobs
Beginner (Lv 11 before first job)	Next to the bunny	Extra hands for the seed phase	Damage; advance first if you can

A party of three with one ranged player up top, one magician floating, and one melee player at the bunny covers everything. With more players, put the extras where the mobs are getting through.

For reach on each class's attacks, see our weapon reach guide.

Prepare your character before the November update

Work through this list during the next three weeks.

1. Reach level 11. That's the announced minimum. A new character gets there just after leaving Maple Island; our Maple Island guide and Lith Harbor guide cover the first quests, and our launch day leveling plan the route after that.
2. Take your first job advancement. Level 10 for every class in Classic World, Magicians included (Nexon). A Beginner at level 11 is weak against 310-HP Goblin Fires.
3. Check your accuracy. You'll fight Lv 11–15 monsters. Miss rates rise quickly when monsters out-level you. Run your numbers through our accuracy guide before the event.
4. Stock potions. Bring enough HP and MP potions for several runs. Our potions guide ranks them by value. Since v1.0.0, monsters from level 10 to 30 drop more potions (Nexon), so farming your own on the way to 11–20 is cheaper than it was. Our 10–30 meso farming guide shows which drops pay for the rest.
5. Ranged players: stock ammo. Arrows and throwing stars run out faster than you expect when mobs respawn every 2 seconds.
6. Find your party early. Event parties fill quickly in the first days. Set up a friends list with players around your level now. Our first-character party plan covers class mixes.
7. Read the November patch notes. Check for party size, rewards and entry NPC before your first run.

Plan the event weeks

Moon Bunny's Rice Cake overlaps with other content. Here's the calendar so far, from NiaMeowDB's events page and the roadmap.

Date	What happens	Level	Source
Until Nov 18, 23:59 UTC	The Journey Begins check-in with Maple Administrator	10+	Nexon
Oct 28, 00:00 UTC to Nov 18	Halloween: Malady's candies and Orange Slimes in four towns; see our Halloween event guide	10+	Nexon
Oct 21 to Nov 18	The Marks We Leave Behind (Mark of the Beta); see our Mark of the Beta guide	25+	Nexon
Nov 6, 00:00–02:00 UTC (Nov 5 in the Americas)	Coconut Harvest GM event through Paul in Lith Harbor	Any	Nexon, NiaMeowDB
November (henesys.gg: Nov 18)	Forgotten Hollow opens (Lv 39–59 monsters, Rotten Mushmom field boss)	39+	Nexon, henesys.gg
Mid-Nov to early Dec	Moon Bunny's Rice Cake (Thanksgiving)	11+	Nexon roadmap via NiaMeowDB
Dec 9	Guilds and Happyville; Forgotten Hollow party quest (41+)	41+ for the PQ	NiaMeowDB

If your main is in the 40s by November 18, Forgotten Hollow will compete for your time. Moon Bunny's Rice Cake is a strong reason to level an alt to 11–20 during the Halloween weeks. Our Forgotten Hollow guide covers the other half of the update.

Decide whether HPQ is worth your time

Option	Level	Party	Rewards	Best for
Moon Bunny's Rice Cake	11+	Not announced (original 3–6)	Not announced; EXP from Lv 11–15 mobs with a 2-second respawn	Alts and new characters, during the event only
Grinding Pigs and Ribbon Pigs	7–15	Solo or party	EXP and common drops	Solo players between PQ runs
KPQ (Kerning City Party Quest)	21+	Exactly 4	Stage EXP, King Slime, Companion's Magic Box; channels 3–12 since v1.0.0	Characters who have outgrown HPQ
Forgotten Hollow	39+	Solo or party	New maps and the Rotten Mushmom field boss	Mains in their 40s and 50s

Run HPQ while it's live and you're in its range. It's a limited event, so it won't wait for you. Once you're past 21, KPQ is the better repeat, and our KPQ guide has every stage answer.

Know what the original rewarded (GMS reference)

Henesys.gg lists these rewards from the original game. Classic hasn't announced its own.

Reward (original)	What it was
Rice Cake Topper	A cosmetic rice cake hat; the iconic HPQ reward
Rice Cake	A consumable from the run
Ores	Bronze and iron ore pieces

The modern GMS version on MapleStory Wiki is a different quest (level 70+, 80 rice cakes, parties of 1–4, a Crimson Stirge Disrupter). Classic World's level 11 requirement points to the original design, not the modern one.

If you're returning, boosted, or on an alt

• Returning players: if you ran HPQ in the original GMS, the seed colors and bunny defense will feel familiar, but don't assume the old rewards or numbers. Read the November patch notes first. Our Classic World vs. original differences guide lists what Nexon has already changed.
• Characters who leveled fast: a character that skipped the early levels may lack first-job skill points in the right places and the accuracy to hit Lv 15 mobs. Check your build and your hit rate before you queue with a party that's counting on you.
• Alts: this is the event's sweet spot. An alt at level 11–20 can run HPQ with friends' alts and get EXP from a fast-respawn map. Start the alt during the Halloween weeks so it's in range by mid-November. Each account holds up to three characters (Nexon), so plan which slot the alt takes. Our training guide covers the levels after HPQ.

Want a hand with this?

If you would rather not grind this part yourself, MapleStory Classic powerleveling services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Nexon's Terms of Service before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

What changed for Moon Bunny's Rice Cake at Grand Launch

Grand Launch v1.0.0 (October 21, 2026) is the build that added this party quest's maps, NPCs and monsters to the client, even though the event itself isn't live. Other v1.0.0 changes from Nexon's Grand Launch maintenance notes and release notes shape how you prepare:

Change	Why it matters for HPQ
Primrose Hill, Pig Town, Shortcut and Back to Town maps added to the client	The event area exists; only the event switch is missing (MapleStory Quest, henesys.gg)
Higher potion drop rate for monsters Lv 10–30	Covers the Lv 11–15 Primrose Hill monsters and the leveling on the way there
Windia expanded to 40 channels	More room to form parties when the event opens
New-account trade lock	A brand-new account can't trade until 24 hours after a character reaches Lv 15, so buy potions from NPCs
Level cap 100, Forgotten Hollow in November	Mains will split time between Forgotten Hollow and HPQ alts

The MapleStory Classic hub lists every guide for the game.

FAQ

When does Moon Bunny's Rice Cake start in MapleStory Classic? Nexon's roadmap puts it with the November update, running from mid-November through early December. Exact start and end times haven't been announced.

What level do I need for Moon Bunny's Rice Cake? Level 11 or higher, per the roadmap. The original GMS version allowed level 10.

Is Moon Bunny's Rice Cake the same as HPQ? Yes. Veterans call it HPQ, the Henesys Party Quest. The Classic client includes the original maps and an NPC named Tory, who started HPQ in the original game.

How many players do I need? Nexon hasn't said. The original needed 3 to 6 players. Plan for a party of at least three.

What are the rewards? Not announced. The original gave a Rice Cake Topper hat, rice cakes and ores. Check the November patch notes.

Which class is best for HPQ? Ranged classes and magicians. Flying Stirges and Flyeyes are easier to hit from the top platforms, and magic gets around Goblin Fire's 20% weapon damage reduction. Melee players guard the bunny.

Can I play Moon Bunny's Rice Cake now? No. The maps and monsters are in the October 21 client, but the event isn't active yet.

Related guides

• MapleStory Classic hub
• MapleStory Classic KPQ guide
• MapleStory Classic Forgotten Hollow guide
• MapleStory Classic accuracy guide
• MapleStory Classic party grinding guide
• MapleStory Classic training guide, levels 1–70
• MapleStory Classic Henesys guide
• MapleStory Classic launch day leveling plan