Throne and Liberty in 2025: First Impressions, Player Base, and Honest Review

Throne and Liberty, a new MMORPG that launched globally a few months ago, started strong with over 300,000 concurrent players and still peaks at 50,000 daily. That’s impressive, right? But opinions are mixed—some love it, others don’t. Today, I’m diving into Throne and Liberty for the first time to see what it’s really like. In this first-impression guide, I’ll level to max (level 50), explore the basics, and check out endgame content like Dimensional Circles and Abyssal Dungeons. By the end, I’ll break down the good, the bad, and answer the big question: is this game worth playing in 2025? Let’s jump in!

Getting Started: Tutorial and Character Creation

The game kicks off with a cinematic tutorial, throwing you into chaos with a “Goddess of Destruction” and star fragments. I was tasked with protecting children from monsters, shouting, “Why protect the children? Isn’t it better to let them die and fight to stay alive?” The graphics are stunning, with a flying whale and a mysterious woman (who is she, bro?). Combat starts simple—Q to attack, shift to dash, and weapon swapping between greatsword and dagger. I shapeshifted into a cat, yelling, “I’m a cat!” and fought a boss, King Verta, with a star fragment “crawling up my ass” in a dream sequence. The tutorial ends with a bald eagle morph, and I hit level 1, unlocking a Wayshrine for fast travel.

Character creation offers weapon-based classes: greatsword (melee), dagger (stealth), longbow/crossbow (ranged), staff (mage), wand (healer), and sword/shield (tank). I chose greatsword and dagger, following a Maxroll.gg guide for optimal builds. Stats like dexterity (for crit) and strength were key, with skill specialization unlocking at level 15 to enhance abilities. Morphs—ground, gliding, and swimming mounts—are a highlight, letting you transform into animals. The keybinds were messy, but after tweaking them (1-4, shift+1/2/Q/E/F/G), combat felt smoother.

Leveling Up: Main Story and Bounties

Leveling is fast if you stick to the main storyline, marked by purple quest indicators. I hit level 4 in 15 minutes, enchanting skills and unlocking passives. By level 9, I fought rain crabs and a giant wolf, using grappling hooks to save time. The story, narrated with voiceovers, is engaging—local tales like Henry sacrificing himself to save children from a fire or the Terrific Trio (Sophia, Robert, Routan) fighting spiders kept me hooked. At level 12, I reset stats to max strength, and by level 15, I completed bounty contracts for XP. Grappling hooks and gliders made traversal fun, like “smart tactics” from Genshin Impact’s Paimon.

At level 20, dungeons unlocked, but I needed 600 combat power. I crafted green gear (helmet, cloak) and upgraded items to hit 600, then tackled a Reaper dungeon, dealing “massive damage” with my greatsword. By level 28, I fought vampire lord Leonardis, summoning Ezekiel (a Blade-like vampire hunter) as an Asakel, shouting, “I’m kicking his ass, bro!” The story deepened with Ezekiel’s tragic past, and I crafted a level 2 greatsword using appendix rewards. At level 50, I rode a flying whale, battled Kazar (who stole star fragment powers), and watched Clay sacrifice himself, hitting max level with 1658 item level.

Endgame: Dungeons, PvP, and Gear Farming

At level 50, I dove into endgame content. Co-op dungeons (Dimensional Circles, 1- and 2-star) are key for gear, dropping Dimensional Soul Shards and Abyssal Contract Tokens to craft purple items. I queued for a 1-star Dimensional Circle, fighting a boss with a “big ass worm” phase, dodging poison pools and yelling, “That’s a clutch!” Abyssal Dungeons offer boss-specific loot (e.g., purple gear from B1/B2), but tokens have a 4.5k cap, so I used them every 3-4 days. Guild raids, PvP Arenas, and solo content (Gate of Infinity) add variety, while weekly missions reward gear.

Large-scale PvP, like Stonegard Castle sieges, is epic, with thousands of players from guilds attacking or defending. However, it’s scheduled (possibly biweekly Sundays), limiting access. I tried a Dimensional Trial, but mind-control mechanics made it tough, and I dealt “zero damage.” Gear crafting is crucial—senior crafters turn 80 selection chests into epic items. The auction house sells purple gear for Lucent (e.g., 300 Lucent per item), but Lucent costs real money ($15 for 500, $100 for 6,000), raising pay-to-win concerns. My item level hit 1658, but I aimed for 2,500 to unlock 2-star Dimensional Circles.

Beginner Tips: What I Learned

• Main Story Focus: Stick to purple-marked main story quests to hit level 50 fast. Skip side quests unless needed for XP.
• Grappling Hooks: Use grappling hooks and gliders to save time traveling across zones.
• Craft Gear: Craft green/blue gear via crafters and upgrade items to boost combat power (e.g., 600 for dungeons).
• Appendix Rewards: Complete appendix tasks for crafting materials and weapons (e.g., greatsword).
• Skill Specialization: At level 15, enchant skills and passives with books to boost damage or utility.
• Token Management: Use Dimensional Soul Shards and Abyssal Contract Tokens (4.5k cap) every 3-4 days to avoid wasting them.
• Party Matchmaking: Use the party board or matchmaking for Co-op Dungeons and Dimensional Trials.
• PvP Events: Check the timetable (M key) for Guild, Dominion, or Stonegard Castle PvP events.

Pros: What Makes Throne and Liberty Shine

• Fast Leveling: Main story quests get you to level 50 quickly without excessive grinding.
• Creative Mounts: Morphs (ground, gliding, swimming) are available early, making travel exciting.
• Engaging Story: Simple, voice-acted local stories (e.g., Terrific Trio, Ezekiel) are easy to follow.
• Linear Progression: Clear path from leveling to gear farming in dungeons, PvP, or raids, with daily/weekly tasks.
• Solid Graphics: Beautiful visuals, especially flying whales and zones, enhance immersion.
• Voiceovers and Hooks: Quest narration and grappling hooks add polish and convenience.
• Large-Scale PvP: Stonegard Castle sieges with thousands of players are thrilling, when accessible.

Cons: Room for Improvement

• Optimization Issues: Frame rate drops in major cities, making crowded areas laggy.
• Complex Combat: Too many buttons and combos can overwhelm new players, less thrilling than Lost Ark or Black Desert Online.
• Scheduled PvP: Large-scale PvP (e.g., Stonegard Castle) is limited to specific times, unlike Guild Wars 2’s constant World vs. World.
• Pay-to-Win: Purple gear can be bought with Lucent (real money, e.g., $100 for a full set), normalizing pay-to-win mechanics.
• Confusing Start: Early game feels chaotic with unclear gear progression and keybinds.

Verdict: Is Throne and Liberty Worth Playing in 2025?

After hitting level 50, reaching 1658 item level, and trying Dimensional Circles, Abyssal Dungeons, and PvP, here’s my take. Throne and Liberty is a solid MMORPG with potential. Fast leveling, creative morphs, and engaging stories make it accessible, while endgame dungeons and large-scale PvP offer depth. The graphics are beautiful, and grappling hooks add flair. However, its 50,000 daily players (down from 300,000 at launch) reflect issues: optimization problems, scheduled PvP, and pay-to-win gear purchases ($100 for epics) frustrate players. Combat lags behind Lost Ark, and the early game is confusing.

Still, it’s worth trying if you enjoy traditional MMORPGs with a mix of PvE and PvP. Developers NCSOFT and Amazon Games need to fix optimization, make PvP more frequent, and address pay-to-win to keep players. It’s not an S-tier game, but it’s enjoyable for casual players. Join a guild for Stonegard Castle sieges and use Maxroll.gg for builds. Thanks for reading! Drop your thoughts on Throne and Liberty in the comments, hit the like button, and I’ll see you in the next one. Till then, goodbye!