Atlans and Tarkan: complete guide to MU Online's advanced hunting maps

Atlans and Tarkan are the heart of MU Online's advanced progression — the maps where characters transition from "mid-game" to "approaching end-game." They require solid gear but reward with the best EXP and drops available before the final push to Kanturu and Raklion.

Atlans — the underwater realm

Map overview:

Theme: underwater world — coral, aquatic backgrounds
Level range: 70-130 efficient
Access: walk or warp from major city connections
Map structure: multiple sub-areas (Atlans 1, 2, 3)

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Sub-area progression:

Atlans 1 (entrance):
→ Level range: 70-90 optimal
→ Monsters: Bahamut (shark-type), basic Atlans enemies
→ EXP: good for level 70-90
→ Item drops: mid-tier Excellent items

Atlans 2:
→ Level range: 90-110 optimal
→ Stronger Atlans monster variants
→ EXP: better than Atlans 1
→ Better item quality

Atlans 3 (deepest):
→ Level range: 110-130 optimal
→ Monsters: Silver Valkyrie (the strongest Atlans monster)
→ EXP: best in Atlans
→ Best drops in the map
→ Silver Valkyrie: iconic Atlans monster — good drop table

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Key monsters in Atlans:

Bahamut (Atlans 1-2):
→ HP: medium
→ Speed: moderate
→ EXP: excellent for level 70-90
→ Drops: mid-tier Excellent items (sword/armor)

Vepar (Atlans 1-2):
→ HP: medium
→ Stronger magic attacks
→ DK: be careful of its projectile-type attack

Silver Valkyrie (Atlans 3):
→ HP: high
→ Silver-colored Valkyrie-type monster
→ EXP: very high for level 110-130
→ Drops: better Excellent items including armor relevant to end-game
→ The main target for most Atlans 3 groups

Lord Silvester (boss, some versions):
→ Boss of Atlans in certain server configs/seasons
→ High HP, strong attacks
→ Drops: boss-tier loot (Excellent items + chance of rare drops)
→ Requires small group (3-5 players)

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Farming strategy for Atlans:

For AoE classes (DW, DK):
→ Find dense Bahamut spawn
→ Stand in center → AoE kills 5-10 monsters simultaneously
→ Move to next spawn → repeat

For ranged classes (Elf):
→ Kite around spawn edges
→ Triple Shot / Penetration Arrow from distance
→ Don't get surrounded — Atlans monsters can overwhelm low-HP classes

Atlans 3 group farming:
→ 3-4 players in Atlans 3 (DK + DW + Elf)
→ Sustainable long-term farming
→ EXP shared but each individual gets better survivability

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Why Atlans before Tarkan:

EXP comparison at level 90:
→ Atlans 2 monster EXP: high for level 90
→ Tarkan monster EXP: even higher but monsters are stronger
→ Atlans 2 is safer — better to maximize Atlans first, then Tarkan

Item quality comparison:
→ Atlans 3 Excellent items: good for this level range
→ Tarkan Excellent items: slightly better tier (higher level bases)
→ Both contribute to Wing L1 crafting material accumulation

Tarkan — the desert frontier

Map overview:

Theme: desert/volcanic landscape with ancient ruins
Level range: 90-220 efficient (long-running map)
Access: from Icarus warp or direct map connection (server-dependent)
Map structure: Tarkan 1 and Tarkan 2 (deeper, stronger)

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Why Tarkan is a key gateway map:

Tarkan sits at the intersection of:
→ End of mid-game (the best EXP before Aida/Kanturu)
→ Beginning of Wing crafting (Excellent items here fund Wing L1)
→ Event relevance (Chaos Castle happens at various levels overlapping Tarkan farming)

At level 150-200: Tarkan is one of the best options in S6

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Tarkan 1 (entry area):

Level range: 90-150 optimal
Monsters:

Iron Knight:
→ HP: high
→ Armored warrior monster
→ Strong physical attacks
→ EXP: excellent for level 90-130
→ Drops: good Excellent items (armor types)

Persona (Tarkan Soldier):
→ HP: medium-high
→ Ranged attack
→ EXP: good
→ Faster than Iron Knight

Tarkan 1 Tantalos:
→ HP: high
→ EXP: great for level 120-150
→ Drops: decent

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Tarkan 2 (deeper):

Level range: 150-220 optimal
Monsters:

Butcher (Tarkan 2 boss-type spawn):
→ HP: very high
→ Extremely powerful melee
→ EXP: very high for level 150-200
→ Drops: one of the best item tables in Tarkan — Excellent items
→ The primary farming target in Tarkan 2

Tantalos (Tarkan 2 variant):
→ Stronger version of Tarkan 1's Tantalos
→ Better EXP and drops

Deep Tantalos / Alquamos:
→ Elite-tier Tarkan monsters
→ Level 180-220 recommended
→ Best EXP in Tarkan 2

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Best farming spots by class:

Dark Wizard (Grand Master):
Best in Tarkan: Nova farming
→ Stand in Butcher/Tantalos dense spawn
→ Nova → kills 8-15 monsters simultaneously
→ Fastest farming in Tarkan when well geared (150-200+ ENE)
→ Tip: position near spawn center → Nova → step to next spawn → repeat

Dark Knight (Blade Master):
→ Twisting Slash AoE into Iron Knight / Persona groups
→ Tarkan 1: best DK spot in this level range
→ Rageful Blow for forward cone
→ Less efficient than DW for AoE but strong sustained farming

Fairy Elf:
→ AGI Elf: Triple Shot / Penetration from range
→ Be careful of Iron Knight's charges
→ ENE Elf in party: buff DK/DW → dramatically better group efficiency
→ Solo Elf farming in Tarkan: possible but slower than DK/DW

Magic Gladiator:
→ Balanced MG: Frost Nova into Iron Knight groups → Twisting Slash follow-up
→ STR MG: like DK — Twisting Slash into dense spawns
→ Both viable — Tarkan suits MG well

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Tarkan economic value:

Why Tarkan drop is crucial:

Excellent items from Tarkan:
→ Fund Wing L1 crafting (need 3x Excellent items as ingredients)
→ Tarkan's item table includes options common on S6 crafting market
→ Many players sell Excellent items from Tarkan → buy JoB → upgrade gear

Pieces of Horn (Fenrir material):
→ Drop from Tarkan monsters (Iron Knight, Tantalos)
→ Needed for Stage 1 Fenrir crafting (10x Pieces of Horn required)
→ Farming Tarkan = passively accumulating Fenrir materials

Transition from Atlans/Tarkan to end-game

After Tarkan: where to go?

Level 200-280:
→ Aida: dark forest map with different monster types
→ Bloody Queen spawn for DW AoE farming

Level 280-360:
→ Kanturu 1 → 2: preparation for Nightmare
→ Better EXP and items than Tarkan 2

Level 350-400+:
→ Raklion: the true end-game (Selupan territory)
→ Kanturu 3: Nightmare farming

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When to leave Tarkan:

Leave Tarkan when:
→ Level 200+ and Kanturu 1 monsters are accessible and farmable
→ Your gear exceeds what Tarkan drops offer (better items in Kanturu)
→ Party is organizing for Kanturu runs

Stay in Tarkan when:
→ Not geared enough for Kanturu (Kanturu monsters hit hard)
→ Solo farming is more productive than your current Kanturu group
→ Farming Pieces of Horn for Fenrir (Tarkan source)

See also the Aida and Karutan map guide (the next maps after Tarkan), the Kanturu map guide (Nightmare and end-game territory), and the Wing L1 crafting guide (how Tarkan's Excellent items become Wings at the Chaos Goblin).

Frequently asked questions