[MM1] Easy Black Box Farm
MM1 was my white whale on Apple 2, I finally beat it on DOSBOX. I never found this easy farm route until DOSBOX.
The route:
Start at the inn at Sorpigal and walk out of town.
Cast 3-2 Fly to tile E-4, you will now be on 15,14 in E-4.
Follow the trail west-ish until 2,13 for an encounter. Burn your Cleric and Sorc 6-1 spells.
Walk south until 2-6 for an undead fight, Cleric 7-2 insta-kills everything.
Walk one tile east, repeat Cleric 7-2, this one has a chance to drop Black Box.
Walk one tile east again for some free gems.
Cast Fly back to C-2 to take you to the entrance to Sorpigal, rest and save at the inn, repeat.
I have Ultimate Sword and Ultimate Plate for all eligible party members, Giant's Bow, Robber's X-Bow, Un-Holy Plate, etc. The Dragon City fight can still wreck me with bad rolls, but this route appears to be the grindmax loop in this game, discovered by me 40 years later.