Devil Square complete guide: waves, strategy and rewards

Devil Square rewards pure combat efficiency — the more monsters you kill in 15 minutes, the better your reward. Unlike Blood Castle's objective race, Devil Square is a damage-maximization contest where AoE ability and positioning directly translate to EXP and Zen.

Entry system

DEVIL SQUARE LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Character level → DS Level they can enter:
→ Level 15-80:   DS 1
→ Level 81-130:  DS 2
→ Level 131-180: DS 3
→ Level 181-230: DS 4
→ Level 231-280: DS 5
→ Level 281-330: DS 6
→ Level 331-400: DS 7

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ASSEMBLING THE DEVIL'S INVITATION:

Required materials:
→ 1× Devil's Eye: drops from almost any monster in any map (very common)
→ 1× Devil's Key: drops from almost any monster in any map (very common)

How to get them quickly:
→ 15-20 minutes of farming in your regular map
→ They often drop before you even think to look for them
→ Alternative: purchase from other players for small Zen amount

Combination:
→ Chaos Goblin NPC (Noria, or server's designated location)
→ Open combination window
→ Place: Devil's Eye + Devil's Key (matching desired DS level)
→ Result: Devil's Invitation for that DS level
→ Combine BEFORE the event window — not during

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EVENT TIMING:

Devil Square schedule:
→ Typically every 2 hours (sometimes every 90 minutes on high-activity servers)
→ Check your specific server's event schedule
→ Common pattern: alternating with Blood Castle on the hour

Instance capacity:
→ Each DS instance has a player cap (typically 6-10 players)
→ If instance is full: next entry allowed in the next event window
→ Arrive slightly early for the entry portal

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LOWER DS LEVEL STRATEGY:

Why entering below your maximum is sometimes better:

Case 1: Character significantly outgearing the DS level
→ DS 3 with DS 5-equivalent gear: kill every monster in 1 hit
→ Kill rate: 3-5 monsters per second
→ 15 minutes: 2,700-4,500+ monsters killed

Case 2: DS 5 at appropriate gear level
→ Kill rate: 1 monster per 2-3 seconds (some monsters survive several hits)
→ 15 minutes: 300-600 monsters killed

→ DS 3 can give 5-10× the kill count of DS 5 in the same time
→ The base EXP difference between DS 3 and DS 5 doesn't compensate for that gap

When to use maximum DS level:
→ Your character kills efficiently at that level (never surviving past 2-3 hits per monster)
→ You have an Elf in party (Soul Barrier makes you survive the harder waves)
→ Your server gives large base EXP bonuses at higher DS levels specifically

Inside the arena

THE ARENA:

Physical layout:
→ Closed square arena
→ No exits during the event
→ Monster spawns from multiple points around the arena borders and center
→ No terrain variation — flat arena

Death in DS:
→ You respawn at the edge of the arena (not kicked out)
→ You can continue fighting after respawn
→ Cost: time running back to the action + some servers apply EXP penalty on death

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THE SIX WAVES:

Wave 1 (easiest):
→ Weakest monsters, lowest density
→ Purpose: warm up, establish your position
→ All classes: should kill these easily

Wave 2:
→ Stronger monsters, more numerous
→ Begin using AoE skills systematically
→ Positioning: center of the arena starts mattering

Wave 3 (medium):
→ Monsters with noticeable damage output
→ First potion usage likely here
→ Elf: Soul Barrier now noticeably reducing incoming damage

Wave 4 (hard):
→ Elite monsters, high HP per monster
→ AoE-dependent classes shine (DW, MG, DL)
→ Single-target fighters: struggle to maintain kill rate
→ Potion consumption increases significantly

Wave 5 (very hard):
→ Very dense monster spawns
→ Being surrounded: dangerous even for DK
→ Key moment: players who survive Wave 5 get the largest EXP contribution
→ Keep moving — don't let monsters stack on you

Wave 6 — Final Wave:
→ Hardest monsters in the event
→ HP is very high; these monsters can two-shot underprepared characters
→ GAION (on servers that include this boss): appears after Wave 6 monsters
→ Surviving to the end of Wave 6: maximum reward tier

GAION (server-dependent):
→ Boss-tier monster appearing as final challenge
→ AoE attacks that hit all nearby players
→ High HP — requires group focus fire
→ Kill Gaion: bonus reward on top of standard DS completion

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POSITIONING STRATEGY:

The most important DS skill is positioning:

Center positioning (recommended):
→ Stand in the CENTER of the arena
→ Monsters approach from all directions → you're always surrounded by targets
→ Cast AoE (Nova, Twisting Slash, Fire Scream) in 360° → maximum hits per cast
→ Move in small circles to avoid being cornered

Edge positioning (avoid):
→ Monsters only approach from 180° (the open side)
→ Half your AoE area is wasted hitting the wall
→ More likely to be pushed against the wall and pinned

Movement pattern during waves:
→ Never stand completely still
→ Move in large circles around the center
→ When a wave spawns: move INTO the spawn cluster, AoE, then circulate to the next spawn
→ This maximizes how many different monsters your AoE catches

Class strategies

DARK WIZARD (best DS class):

Why DW dominates:
→ Nova: massive AoE damage AND pull effect (drags monsters toward DW's position)
→ Nova pull + AoE damage: the pull concentrates monsters in a smaller radius
→ Every Nova: hits 15-25 monsters in a packed DS wave
→ Teleport: escape when HP is low (Teleport away → recover → Teleport back)

DW DS rotation:
1. Soul Barrier active (self-buff → reduces incoming physical damage)
2. Position in center of wave spawn
3. Nova (pull + damage on the cluster)
4. If HP drops below 40%: Teleport to safe corner, use potions
5. Teleport back → Nova → repeat

DW considerations:
→ ENE investment matters here: high ENE = Nova hits harder = faster wave clearing
→ Mana management: DS waves require continuous Nova casts → large mana pool valuable

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MAGIC GLADIATOR:

Why MG performs well:
→ Frost Nova: freeze all monsters in radius → they can't attack back while frozen
→ Frozen window: Twisting Slash the frozen cluster → zero incoming damage
→ Repeat cycle: Frost Nova → kill → Frost Nova next group → kill

MG DS pattern:
1. Stand in spawn cluster
2. Frost Nova → all nearby monsters freeze
3. Twisting Slash × multiple casts while enemies are frozen
4. Move to next spawn cluster
5. Frost Nova again

MG advantage in Wave 5-6:
→ Frost Nova prevents the elite monsters from dealing damage during the freeze window
→ While DK tanks hits from Wave 5 elites, MG takes zero damage by keeping them frozen

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DARK KNIGHT:

DK's DS role: frontline tank + melee AoE

DK DS pattern:
1. Position in center
2. Twisting Slash continuously (AoE hits everything nearby)
3. Higher HP than other classes: can take more punishment
4. Elf Soul Barrier: makes DK essentially unkillable in DS 1-5

DK limitation in DS:
→ Twisting Slash is strong AoE but doesn't pull/freeze like Nova or Frost Nova
→ Kill rate per minute: lower than DW/MG
→ Compensate: DK's survivability means fewer deaths = consistent kill rate throughout all 6 waves

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DARK LORD:

DL DS pattern:
1. Fire Scream: continuous AoE fan-shaped attacks
2. Dark Horse: faster movement between spawn clusters
3. Reposition with horse speed → Fire Scream next cluster

DL advantage:
→ Fire Scream covers a wide angle each cast
→ Dark Horse mobility allows covering more ground than walking classes
→ Can maintain high kill rate by chasing spawn clusters efficiently

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FAIRY ELF:

Energy Elf (support) in DS:
→ Your job: Soul Barrier active at ALL times for party members
→ Attack + Defense buffs: refresh before they expire
→ Personal kill count: low (that's OK — your buffs multiply the party's kill count)
→ Party DS with High Elf: DK can tank all 6 waves, DW can focus entirely on damage

Agility Elf (solo) in DS:
→ Ice Arrow: freeze individual high-threat monsters
→ Triple Shot: primary AoE (weaker than other classes but consistent)
→ Recommendation: enter DS 1-2 below maximum for reasonable kill rates

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SUMMONER:

DS is the Summoner's weakest event:
→ Requiem DoT takes 5-10 seconds to kill a monster
→ New waves spawn before the previous wave is fully dead
→ Kill count: significantly lower than burst classes

Summoner DS strategy:
→ Enter DS 1-2 levels below maximum
→ Use Requiem on every group that enters range
→ Drain Life on individual targets for HP sustain
→ Accept lower kill count — DS is simply less efficient for Summoner
→ Prioritize Blood Castle instead (BC is more forgiving of DoT-based play)

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PARTY DEVIL SQUARE:

Ideal party (5-6 players):
→ 2× Dark Wizard: dual Nova spam = clears entire waves in seconds
→ 1× Dark Knight: frontline tank, Twisting Slash, absorbs hits so DWs stay alive
→ 1× Magic Gladiator: Frost Nova utility + secondary AoE
→ 1× Fairy Elf: Soul Barrier + buffs (enables everyone to survive Wave 6)
→ 1× Dark Lord: Fire Scream + horse mobility filling gaps

Party DS mechanics:
→ Each player gets their OWN kill-count-based reward (not shared)
→ You receive reward for monsters YOU personally killed
→ Being in party: doesn't split the reward — it adds the Elf's buff benefit on top
→ The Elf's Soul Barrier doesn't give Elf kill credit but enables the party to kill more total

Party positioning:
→ DK: center, aggro monsters to your location (Twisting Slash)
→ DW: slightly behind DK, Nova everything the DK is tanking
→ MG: flanks, Frost Nova incoming groups before they reach DK
→ DL: roams, Fire Scream secondary groups
→ Elf: behind DK, maintains Soul Barrier + buffs, heals if needed

Rewards and efficiency

REWARD CALCULATION:

Devil Square rewards each player individually based on:
→ Monsters personally killed during the session
→ DS level (higher DS = better base reward per kill)
→ Survival (surviving to wave 6 end gives completion bonus)

EXP reward breakdown:
→ Per-kill EXP: accumulates throughout the session
→ Completion bonus: awarded at the end for surviving
→ Gaion kill bonus: additional reward if your server includes Gaion

Zen reward:
→ Per-kill Zen: small amount per monster, accumulates significantly
→ Completion Zen bonus: moderate to good
→ DS 7 completion + high kill count: among the best Zen events in the game

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EXP EFFICIENCY COMPARISON:

DS vs regular farming (level 260 character, appropriate maps):

Regular Aida farming for 15 minutes:
→ Kills: 200-400 monsters (includes travel between groups, repositioning)
→ EXP: 1× multiplier (base)

Devil Square 5 for 15 minutes:
→ Kills: 400-1200 monsters (depends on class and positioning)
→ EXP: potentially 2-3× what farming gives, because:
  1. Higher monster density (no gap time between groups)
  2. Monsters approach you (no walking to find them)
  3. DS-specific EXP multiplier (some servers amplify event EXP)

Result: DS 15 minutes ≈ 25-40 minutes of regular farming EXP

Over one day (3 DS sessions):
→ 45 minutes of DS time
→ Equivalent to 75-120 minutes of farming EXP
→ NET GAIN: 30-75 minutes of extra EXP from just 45 minutes of events

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POTION REQUIREMENTS:

DS consumes more potions than regular farming:
→ Monster density: 5-10× higher than any regular map
→ Monsters approach FROM ALL DIRECTIONS simultaneously
→ Final waves: elite damage that can rapidly deplete HP

Recommended potion stock per DS run:
→ Large HP Potions: 50-80 minimum (100 for aggressive styles)
→ Large Mana Potions: 30-50 (for mana-intensive AoE casters)
→ Use proactively: consume HP potions at 60-70% HP, not at 20%

Reactive potions vs proactive potions:
→ REACTIVE (waiting until 20% HP): you'll die before the potion activates vs fast-hitting elites
→ PROACTIVE (consuming at 70%): you maintain a safe HP buffer throughout
→ Experienced DS players: use potions constantly, treating them as a resource rather than an emergency measure

See also the Blood Castle guide (the other primary daily EXP event, complementary to DS), the daily routine guide (how to schedule DS + BC into an efficient session), the Dark Wizard build guide (the most efficient DS class by a wide margin), and the party guide (how the DK + Elf + DW combination dominates party DS).

Frequently asked questions