Maple, The Wholesome Shield Hero - BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

Itai-no-wa-Iya-nano-de-Bogyoryoku-ni-Kyokufuri-Shitai-to-Omoimasu-Wallpaper-3-559x500 Maple, The Wholesome Shield Hero - BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

Maple, The Wholesome Shield Hero


BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense. Preview (No Spoilers)

Newbie gamer Kaede (who goes by Maple in-game) decides to check out a new VRMMO at her best friend’s suggestion but starts off on a strange foot by immediately putting all of her skill points into defense so that she won’t get hurt. Not knowing how these things usually work, she bumbles her way through New World Online and somehow manages to become one of its top players by making choices that the developers didn’t expect and breaking the game. But Maple isn’t really concerned about that—all she wants to do is make friends and have fun!

Why We Love Maple (Spoilers Beyond This Point)

1. She’s Kind and Generous to a Fault

Maple is new to the concept of online games, so she doesn’t know that rushing up to random people and asking to be friends is considered odd. However, her genuine kindness to everyone she meets gains her plenty of close friends who she soon brings together under one roof as the Maple Tree guild. Her blithe innocence can get her in trouble sometimes, but with the help of her friends, she can get through anything.

2. She’s the Developers’ Worst Nightmare

The developers of New World Online have never had to deal with someone as unorthodox as Maple before, and it shows. They’re constantly trying to figure out how to nerf her broken abilities to give other players a fighting chance, but Maple just keeps on accidentally finding new ways to ruin their plans. She cheeses her way through high-level quests with her defense and poison abilities, granting her access to ridiculously powerful skills that include, but are not limited to: summoning a dragon made of pure poison, absorbing attacks with her shield, turning into an angel, turning into a Gundam, and turning into a giant lizard. No wonder the developers can’t stand her!

3. She Has an Adorable Pet Turtle Named Syrup

One early quest grants Maple a pet turtle as a reward, which she swiftly names Syrup and dotes upon like a real pet. She even completes extra quests to give Syrup skills that make him gigantic and able to fly—not because she wanted a flying mount, but because she thought it would be fun for them to soar through the air together. Later on, Syrup becomes so powerful that he can trap enemies with vines and then unleash a hyper beam attack with an adorable little scream. Who else but Maple could’ve thought of that?

4. She Works Hard to Protect Her Friends

Once Maple’s guild comes together, she works extra hard to protect the new friends she’s made. She spams a teleporting blocking attack to keep up with her speedy friend Sally, takes newbie players Yui and Mai on grinding quests to level up their skills, and spends most of the final event defending the guild’s base with an area-of-effect skill that reduces damage to her allies. The others are certainly capable players on their own, but Maple’s help makes them unstoppable!

5. She Has Her Own Fan Club

At the end of each episode, we see a few posts from a chatroom discussing recent happenings in the game. The anonymous users are skeptical of Maple at first, but soon discover that they love her brand of cheerful nonsense and start rooting for her. They even call her their “angel”, which is beyond adorable. Now we want to make our own Maple fan club!


Final Thoughts

Maple is a wholesome ray of sparkling light that shines through the fog that is our lives. She alone will guide us through these dark times with her sweet bumbling personality—we owe it to her to sing her praises.

Okay, maybe that was a bit much, but we do love Maple and we’re so happy that Bofuri came along when it did. But what do you think about Maple? Would you want to play New World Online with her? Let us know in the comments, and thanks so much for reading!

Itai-no-wa-Iya-nano-de-Bogyoryoku-ni-Kyokufuri-Shitai-to-Omoimasu-Wallpaper-3-559x500 Maple, The Wholesome Shield Hero - BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

Editor/Writer

Author: Mary Lee Sauder

After the hard-hitting East Coast lifestyle hit me a bit too hard, I started pursuing my passion as a writer in my cozy home state of Ohio. Aside from that, I spend my time cooking, cosplaying, collecting anime merch, and being an improv comedy actor. I also love sneaking alliterations and stupid puns into my writing, so be on the lookout for them! 😉

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