Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Pre-Renewal or Renewal?
Pre-Renewal is the starting point if you want the older combat and character builds. It uses the earlier stat, damage and casting systems, usually with second jobs or their transcendent versions.
Renewal changes those systems and opens the door to later progression, including third and fourth jobs where the server supports them. Expect different builds, equipment priorities and levelling routes.
Choose the mechanics first, then compare rates and features. Pre-Renewal does not automatically mean slow levelling, and Renewal does not guarantee that every recent class or episode is available.
Are Classic, Revo-Classic and Zero the same thing?
No. These labels can describe quite different games. Classic often means an earlier period, sometimes before transcendent jobs, but owners also use it more loosely for an old-school experience.
Revo-Classic mixes older content and progression with Renewal mechanics. Zero is a separate version with its own balance and progression changes; a server based on it may make further changes.
Read the class list and mechanics page. An old map and a level 99 cap do not tell you which damage formulas, skills or equipment systems you will actually be playing with.
What do episode numbers and level caps like 99/70 mean?
The episode describes a stage of content, including areas, quests, monsters and equipment. A progressive server unlocks more of that content over time. Owners can also bring later content into an older ruleset, so check what is already playable.
99/70 means Base Level 99 and Job Level 70, commonly the cap for transcendent second jobs. It does not mean every class reaches Job 70. Earlier second jobs commonly cap at 99/50, while later jobs have different limits.
If you want a particular class, check that it is enabled now, rather than only promised on a roadmap.
What do rates like 5x/5x/3x mean? Are cards included?
The usual order is Base EXP / Job EXP / item drops. A listing of 5x/5x/3x advertises five times the base and job experience, with a threefold item-drop multiplier.
Cards and boss drops may use separate rates. On a simple multiplier, a 0.01% card at 5x becomes 0.05%, not 5%. Some servers also apply caps or custom drop formulas, so read the actual card and MVP rates.
Low, mid and high rate are broad labels. Lower rates put more time into levelling; higher rates shorten that stage. Neither tells you how long equipment farming, refining or endgame preparation will take.
How can I tell whether a server has an active population?
Separate players from shops. With offline vending, a merchant can stay in town selling items after its owner disconnects. A crowded market is useful, but it does not mean all those people are available for a party.
Check whether the online counter separates vendors from active characters. Then look for recent party recruitment, guild activity and actual trading during your playing hours.
Votes on this list help you find servers to investigate. They are not a count of unique people online, and a busy Discord alone does not establish the in-game population.
Are they free, and how do I spot pay-to-win?
Many are free to join. The real question is what money buys after you arrive. Read the cash shop, donation rewards and VIP benefits before committing.
Look for stat-bearing equipment, powerful cards, refining protection and EXP or drop boosts. Also check whether paid items or donation vouchers can be sold for zeny. That can let spending turn into equipment even when the shop mostly sells costumes.
If the same rewards are available through quests or voting, check the time needed to earn them. Calling a payment a donation does not tell you whether it affects progression.
Can I play solo if I only have a few hours each week?
Yes, but solo levelling and soloing every boss are different goals. Ordinary farming can suit short sessions, while harder MVP bosses and instances may need better equipment, a suitable class or a party.
Look for an affordable starter build, useful quest rewards and a clear route to equipment. Check whether progress depends on daily attendance or scheduled group runs. Higher EXP rates help you level faster, but the gear grind matters just as much when your time is limited.
Do I need multiple accounts for buffs or a merchant?
That depends on the server's rules. Dual-clienting means running two game clients, often to keep a support character alongside your main. Some servers allow it; others restrict each player to one active character, including across separate computers.
Offline vending through @autotrade may be allowed even where dual-clienting is banned. Check the merchant and household exceptions. Permission to leave a shop open is not permission to use a bot, macro or unattended farming tool.
What are autoloot, warpers and job changers? Can I reset my build?
Autoloot puts eligible monster drops into your inventory. A warper provides travel to selected locations. A healer restores HP or SP, sometimes with buffs. A job changer handles class changes without the usual job quests.
A reset NPC lets you redistribute stats, skills or both. Availability, fees and level restrictions vary. Some servers retain the original quests and travel requirements instead of offering these shortcuts.
Check reset access before following a build guide. A guide written for a server with cheap resets can be a poor fit somewhere your choices are harder to undo.
What is WoE, and how do I find a server with good PvP?
War of Emperium, or WoE, is guild combat over castles. It runs at scheduled times. PvP arenas and Battlegrounds offer other ways to fight players, with their own rules and rewards.
Check the WoE schedule in your time zone, recent participation and whether guilds are recruiting. Ask about equipment restrictions, class limits and how newcomers obtain competitive gear.
A server can have a busy farming community and a quiet PvP scene. Look for recent battles and active opponents, not just a WoE tag in the listing.
Does server location matter if it offers a nearby proxy?
Yes. A proxy can improve the route, but the game server still runs wherever it is hosted. A nearby connection point does not guarantee low delay all the way to the server.
Try the available routes during your normal playing hours. Check movement, skill responsiveness and disconnects as well as the reported ping. Community language and event times matter too: a smooth connection is less useful if the people you want to play with are asleep.
How do I install the game and connect?
Open the listing here, visit the server's website and create an account there. Follow its download guide and let its patcher finish before launching.
- Full client or full installer — includes or downloads the game files needed to start.
- Lite client or patch — usually needs a compatible base installation, often kRO, the Korean game client.
Use a fresh folder for each server. Mixing clients can cause missing sprites, GRF errors or login failures. If it will not launch, check the server's troubleshooting page and the exact error. Download required Microsoft runtimes from Microsoft, not individual DLLs from random websites.
Is a client safe if it uses Gepard or triggers an antivirus warning?
An anti-cheat label is not a safety certificate. Gepard is used by some servers to restrict cheating, but its presence does not independently verify every file in a download.
Use links published on the server's own website, scan the files and use a unique password. Never reuse your official-game or email password.
False positives can happen, but investigate the exact detection before running a flagged file. Ask the antivirus provider to review it rather than disabling protection or excluding a whole folder to silence an unexplained warning.
Can I play on a Mac or phone?
Some servers support them, but check before downloading. Mac play may need a compatibility tool or Windows virtual machine. The client, anti-cheat settings, macOS version and processor can all affect whether it works.
Some servers provide an Android client; that does not establish iPhone support. Use the server's own device guide and download links.
A separate mobile game such as Ragnarok Origin is not a client for the original PC servers. Make sure the download connects to the same game world you intended to join.
Are private servers legal or approved by Gravity?
A listing here does not establish that a server is licensed by Gravity. Gravity has publicly announced legal action against unlicensed services using its copyrighted material. Being free to play or accepting only donations does not establish permission.
The legal position depends on what a service uses and the applicable law. Do not treat a server's age, popularity or use of an open-source emulator as proof that it has permission to distribute the game client and assets.
What happens to my characters if a server wipes or closes?
A wipe can reset characters, items and zeny. Some servers announce resets after beta testing or between seasons. Read what carries over before investing time or money.
If a server closes permanently, assume you lose access to its characters unless the operators arrange a migration. There is no standard transfer between independent servers or into the official game.
A no-wipe policy means the team does not plan those resets. It cannot guarantee permanent hosting, continued funding or protection from legal action.