Chrono Cross – Walkthrough Checklist

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Chrono Cross uses a unique stat-growth system instead of traditional experience points. Regular battles grant small stat increases, but only up to a cap; once battles stop giving gains, you've hit it. Larger, permanent stat boosts come only from defeating specific "boss" fights, each of which awards a numbered level-up star (tracked throughout this guide). All active party members must survive a boss fight to get its full stat bonus. Characters sitting outside the active party miss out on stat gains entirely until the Tele-Porter key item allows swapping them in.

00) Dream Sequence

Name your lead character (anything except Crono) to begin the dream sequence in a large draconic palace. Kid and one randomized character accompany you.

At the fork, head SW to a glowing blue exit. Touching a Cybot or Alphabat starts a battle, though no XP or items are gained here, so engage or avoid freely.

Exit the first enemy room (it loops back on a higher ledge). Ignore the entrance stairway and use the catwalk to reach the NW door marked with a red symbol; enter and shut down the black pillar.

Step onto the six-circle teleport pad in the previous room, ride it to the top, and exit through the nearby door to end the dream sequence.

01) Arni Village [Home World]

Check under the covers in Serge's room for 200G, then grab 5 Tablet consumables from the room's dark corner.

In the town square, search the woman's cart near the item shop for a Shellfish Frame (changes the textbox frame under Customize).

Talk to the large man standing beneath the swordfish sign near Serge's house. Agree with him ("You're probably right!") to receive the Komodo Scale key item.

Show the Komodo Scale to the boy nearby to receive an Uplift element. It cannot be sold to him for 1000G.

He'll also mention some information about Poshul.

In the house next door, search the teapot near Poshul's doghouse for a PhotonRay element.

Left of Serge's house at the chief's steps, search the bucket for an AquaBeam element.

Inside the chief's house, search behind a picture for a Cure element. Chief Radius can walk you through elemental battle basics outside if you ask.

A save point (Record of Fate) is here but occupied by townsfolk early on.

In the cafe nearest the town exit, examine the barrel three times for another Uplift element.

In the cafe's back room, search the unmade bed for the Heckran Bone key item, and open the chest against the wall for an Ivory Helmet.

Poshul (Innate: Yellow): Found outside Radius' house. Show her the Heckran Bone key item to recruit her. It's recommended to get her now, though she can still be found later if missed here.

Next door at the fisherman's house, listen to his tips on catching Komodo Dragons, then go downstairs and talk to the king to receive the Shark Tooth key item.

At the pier, talk to Leena. She asks Serge to fetch three Komodo Scales from Lizard Rock, then wait for her at Opassa Beach.

Optional: Cape Howl, northwest of Arni, has Beach Bum enemies and water jets dealing -5 HP. It contains a Heal element and Bone components only.

Before leaving, consider swapping any Tablets for a healing element and equipping Poshul with Uplifts.

02) Lizard Rock [Home World]

Fight as many battles here as possible for small stat increases before facing the area boss. Some battles may give nothing before better ones appear.

In the first screen, push aside the rock blocking the entrance to find a Fireball element. Spook the Komodo Pup into the tunnel and block it with the boulder, then circle around to trap and defeat it for the first Komodo Scale.

In the southern screen, destroy the rock near the Beach Bum and push it into the pond to surface a Silver Loupe chest.

Defeat the Beach Bum standing on the log, then re-enter the screen where the first Komodo Pup fled. From the higher outlook point, jump down onto it as it passes beneath the cliff to defeat it for the second Komodo Scale.

In the third screen, chase down the final Komodo Pup in a circle starting at the bridge. Defeating it summons the area boss.

Don't waste your good elements on the minions leading up to this fight; save them for the boss.

BOSS: Mama Komodo

Innate: Blue Weakness: Red HP: 160 Spoils: @Fang, Tablet

Star: 1st

Defeat Mama Komodo. She uses only blue elements, so a red field effect reduces her damage. Physical attacks, especially fierce ones, are more effective here than elements. Her Breath tech, which always follows SquirtGun, can deal 30+ damage, so keep healing with Tablets. Keep active party members alive through the fight to get the full level-up stat bonus. Reward: 264G.

Collect the Tablet chest under the bridge. Drop through the nearby hole to reach the pond's upper section for a @Bone component, then walk under the northern tunnel for another Ivory Helmet chest.

Return to Opassa Beach and watch the scene with Leena.

DIALOGUE CHOICE: Opassa Beach scene with Leena

Answer that Serge does "remember the day", then follow up with "we'll never forget this day!!". These responses count toward eventually unlocking Leena's "MaidenFaith" tech.

Re-enter Lizard Rock after the scene.

03) Lizard Rock [Another World]

Explore the now-altered Lizard Rock. Opah Fish replace the Beach Bums, but the layout is unchanged. Collect the @Feather, @Bone, and Ivory Helmet items scattered through the area.

Optional: Cape Howl: a chest holds an ElectroJolt element, and a @Bone container sits above where the Beach Bums used to be.

Optional: Hydra Marshes: walking through the water drains 2 HP per step. Collect a Tablet, a Bushwhacker element, and an ElectroJolt element across the screens. A man at the western dead end gives the Safety Gear key item, which removes the marsh's damage.

Head to Arni Village once finished exploring.

04) Arni Village [Another World]

Visit the shop for new wares, then check the cafe's pot for an IceLance element and the backroom curtain for a Tablet.

At the chief's house, find a TurnRed element in the porch bucket and steal a Tablet from behind a painting inside.

At Poshul's house, search the teapot for another PhotonRay element.

In Serge's house, search his room for a MagmaBomb element. Sleeping here costs 100G in this timeline.

Talk to Leena at the pier. She directs Serge to Cape Howl.

05) Cape Howl [Another World]

Fight regular battles here to get extra stat gains.

Open the two chests here for an ElectroJolt element and a @Bone bounty, then head north to the cliff outlook and read the headstone.

A knight kicks Poshul over the bluff and starts a fight with his cronies. A new ally called "Girl" teams up with Serge for this battle.

BOSS: Solt, Karsh & Peppor

SoltInnate YellowHP 52Spoils Ivory Vest → @Copper KarshInnate GreenHP 115Spoils Bone Axe → Power Glove PepporInnate YellowHP 60Spoils Ivory Helmet → @Copper

Star: 2nd

Defeat Solt, Karsh, and Peppor. Keep active party members alive through the fight to get the full level-up stat gains. Reward: 300G.

"Girl" (Innate: Red): revealed to be named Kid after the fight.

RECRUITMENT CHOICE: Invite Kid?

Accepting Kid permanently forfeits recruiting Leena later; refusing three times keeps Kid out for now and lets Leena join automatically instead. Only one of the two can be recruited in a single normal playthrough.

Recommended: Invite Kid. She grants the Tele-Porter key item, which allows switching characters at a save point or on the world map, a major convenience for a first playthrough. Future steps in this guide assume you have chosen Kid.

Kid (Innate: Red): if invited, Serge receives the Tele-Porter key item, which allows switching characters at a save point or on the world map.

Leena (Innate: Blue): joins automatically if Kid is refused.

Poshul (Innate: Yellow): rejoins the party here automatically if she wasn't recruited earlier in Home World Arni.

If Leena is in the party and the Shark Tooth key item was obtained earlier in Home World Arni, talk to the fisherman (now a voodoo-doll worshipper) and show him the Shark Tooth. Mojo joins automatically as you try to leave.

Mojo (Innate: Black): requires Leena in the party and the Shark Tooth key item. Not obtainable if following this guide's recommended Kid path, since Leena won't be in the party.

Head north through Fossil Valley to reach Termina.

06) Fossil Valley [Another World]

Talk to the soldier guarding the ladder and bluff your way past him by saying you're the exorcists they're looking for.

Agree to help Skelly, a talking skull, to receive the Heavy Skull key item. He can rejoin the party later once all his missing pieces are found.

Don't use elements on any Dodos near the Bellflower; it sends them into a frenzy with a hard-hitting tech that can potentially defeat anyone not defending.

Grab the Bellflower key item on the cliff, guarded by a harmless plant monster.

Climb down the vertebrae ladder near the soldier, ignoring his warning, to reach the Big Egg key item guarded by a mother Dodo. A character can be hatched from it later.

Return to the lowroad and continue forward. Solt and Peppor block the path and start a fight.

BOSS: Solt & Peppor

SoltInnate YellowHP 80Spoils Ivory Vest → @Copper PepporInnate YellowHP 90Spoils Uplift → @Copper

Star: 3rd

Defeat Solt and Peppor. Peppor only attacks once Solt is defeated, so focus Solt first for an easy win.

Serge, Kid, and Poshul each gain their first tech in a permanent Lv. 3 element grid slot after this fight. Kid's is the "Pilfer" ability, allowing theft from enemies.

Exit to the world map and travel to Termina. Other locations aren't accessible yet.

07) Termina [Another World]

If Kid wasn't invited at Cape Howl, she's waiting here for another chance to join; if she leaves before you can talk to her, speaking with the person polishing the General Viper statue brings her back.

Talk to the man hidden in the shade of the house left of the General Viper statue. Answer yes when he asks if you "get his drift" to receive the Tea for Three Frame.

In Van's house, search beneath the foyer's stairway for a hidden chest containing the Profiteer Purse.

The Profiteer Purse boosts gold gained by roughly 123%, but disassembling it instead yields 3 @Copper and an @Iron, enough to craft Iron Mail and an Iron Swallow before entering Viper Manor.

Party members cannot be swapped once inside Viper Manor, so choose your party carefully before entering.

GUIDE CHOICE: Nikki, Guile, or Pierre?

A guide is needed to reach Viper Manor. Only one of the three can be obtained; whichever is picked, the other two cannot be recruited in the same playthrough, and each leads through a different path with its own boss fights.

Recommended: Choose Guile. He's a functional black-innate character, and unlike Pierre's route, this path allows leveling up between boss fights. Future steps in this guide assume Guile's route was chosen.

Guile (Innate: Black): found at the Termina Bar and joins automatically, no requirements.

At the bridge east of the element shop, talk to Korcha, then follow him down to the shrines.

Watch the scene with Glenn and Riddel at the shrines. Give them the Bellflower key item from Fossil Valley if you have it.

With Guile in the party, return to Korcha at the shrines and pay the 100G fee to travel to the bluffs.

Head east across the stepping stones near Korcha's boat and climb up into the next screen.

Along the cliff to the west, time your climb around the waterjet to reach a Heal element atop a ladder. A PhotonRay chest is also reachable if the jet knocks you back.

Take the ladder by the dock, then use another waterjet to reach a Tablet on the small ledge below it.

At the three-path junction past the Tablet, take the middle path. The left path leads to a Meteorite chest; the right is a dead end.

In the next screen, take the first left up a long ladder to find the FreeFall Trap element, watching for falling rocks.

Descend and take the right-hand ladder to reach the top, where an Acacia soldier throwing rocks blocks the way.

BOSS: Acacia PVT

Innate: Yellow HP: 70 Spoils: Tablet, PhotonRay

Star: 4th

Defeat the Acacia PVT. Reward: 320G.

Immediately after, a trio of giant eagle-people block the way into the mansion.

BOSS: KingMoaman, RedMoaman & BlueMoaman

KingMoamanInnate BlackHP 245Spoils GravityBlow, Power Glove RedMoamanInnate RedHP 145Spoils @Feather, FirePillar BlueMoamanInnate BlueHP 145Spoils @Feather, IceBlast

Star: 5th

Defeat the Moaman trio. Focus Red and Blue Moaman first to stop King Moaman's TwinTurbo attack, which only triggers while both are alive.

The party waits until nightfall before entering the manor. This ends Guile's Route; all three guide paths converge from here.

08) Viper Manor [Another World]

From the starting point, climb up the cliffs and grab the TurnBlue element from the shaded cliff building.

Head north to the barn, avoiding the spotlights. Talk to the dragon handler and pose as a new trainer to begin the dragon-feeding minigame.

Dragon Feeding minigame: feeding 10 times is the minimum needed to proceed and unlocks the Manor Key. Higher tallies unlock better prizes (20: Bronze Helmet, 30: Bronze Mail, 40: RecoverAll element, 100: Iron Vest) and can be repeated as many times as desired.

Claim the Manor Key from the NE cabinet after feeding the dragons at least 10 times.

Head to the mansion's east gate (Pierre's entrance) and grab the TurnYellow element from the hidden chest behind it.

Defeat the SGTs guarding the mansion's main entrance, then use the Manor Key to enter.

Party members cannot be changed once you fall through the trapdoor inside.

In the foyer, inspect the coiled-snake statue and enter a random rotation number to fall through the floor into the basement.

Defeat the soldiers that ambush the party after landing to claim their knight outfits. Poshul cannot wear hers.

In the jail area, inspect the treasure chest to fight a monster duo. Attacking the correct one wins 100G and an AeroSaucer element; you can flee and retry if you guess wrong.

Avoid walking on the red carpet nearby; it triggers a battle with patrol enemies that isn't worth fighting.

In the dining hall, talk to Glenn (or eavesdrop) to learn about a password. Grab the Dragoon's Honor chest in the corner and a TurnGreen element in the cabinet near Orcha, then follow Glenn out.

Optional: Guile's Bet: picking up the Dragoon's Honor pays off with a reward later, as part of a bet Guile made with Termina's fortune-teller.

Follow Glenn to the barracks quickly to catch him writing the foyer's password on the wall. The password is randomized each playthrough; the writing remains on the wall if you're too slow to catch him in the act.

Grab the Revive element in the barracks before heading upstairs via the staircase near the quarters.

In one of the upstairs rooms, open the chest for a TurnBlack element and fight the boxer duo for a chance at 100G and an IceLance element.

Head to the opposite basement section. Talk to the guards twice; when asked for a password, select nothing until "silence" is revealed as the correct answer.

If Kid wasn't recruited earlier, she's found here in the vault instead.

In the vault, collect the Bronze Sword, Bronze Mail, and the Hero's Shield key item (usable only with Pierre). Fight the chest's Big Boxer/Li'l Boxer duo for a chance at 100G and an IceLance element; you can flee and retry.

Inspect the vase to fight and defeat "Potty" for a TurnRed element.

Take the Silver Pendant from the wall. This sends the party into Luccia's lab and triggers a boss fight.

BOSS: Neo-N-Bulb (×2)

Innate: Green HP: 160 Spoils: AeroSaucer, EagleEye

Star: 6th

Defeat both Neo-N-Bulbs. Reward: 400G.

Talk to the caged monster Pip in the corner and unlock his cage. He can't join now, but remembers the favor for later.

Sneak past the portalgheist (when its eye is closed) into the storage room. Take the Decor Shield and equip it on the incomplete armor set, plus grab the Bronze Helmet.

Man-O-War enemies here (×5) drop Capsules, useful since there's no free healing anywhere in the manor.

In Karsh's chambers, through the other portalgheist-guarded door, inspect the chest 20 times to exhaust his patience and receive the Dragoon Gauntlet.

Return to the main lobby and input the password learned from Glenn to head north.

Take the only open exit (left) from the large hall, cross the outdoor catwalk, and enter the library tower. Talk to the girl inside to trigger a scene and a boss fight.

BOSS: Marcy

Innate: Blue HP: 525 Spoils: IceBlast, @Iron

Star: 7th

Defeat Marcy. Reward: 780G.

Two screens back in the large hall, find a switch behind the second-from-last pillar on the left side.

Use the bookshelf ladder-dropping switch to reach the third floor and grab the TurnWhite element.

Return to the main hall, meet Harle, press the button, and defeat the SGT/PVTs that attack to clear the way upward.

Save the game, then head through the door the blue carpet leads to. Inspect the glowing blue orb after exploring the office to trigger a boss fight.

BOSS: Lynx

Innate: Black HP: 820 Spoils: Pendragon Sigil C, Gravitonne

Star: 8th

Defeat Lynx. Reward: 500G.

Remove any elements equipped on Kid before continuing; she won't be available again for a while.

Watch the scenes and save if desired before continuing to Guldove.

09) Guldove [Another World]

When Serge awakens, check outside to find the allies talking with Korcha. Kid falls ill and is admitted to the town clinic, giving Serge her Astral Amulet to hold onto.

STORY CHOICE: Try to save Kid?

Choosing "Find a way to save her" recruits Korcha, Mel, and Razzly, and keeps Kid's absence from the party relatively short. Choosing "...I don't know" or "...There's nothing we can do" recruits Doc, Macha, and Glenn instead, and delays Kid rejoining the party until very late in the game.

Recommended: Find a way to save her. Future steps in this guide assume Kid was saved.

Pelvic Bone (either path): obtained from the element trader by the town dock by choosing "Trade," then agreeing to dispose of a bone she wants gone.

Green Tinkler (either path): after talking with the shaman, go into the bar and talk to the drunken dwarf twice. It's used to control plants at Hydra Marshes later.

Feathery Dress (either path): found behind Macha's house through a hidden entrance, reached by going around the blind spot on the tower's midlevel walkway.

Talk to the doctor, who suggests consulting the village shaman. The shaman's tower is past the bar and up the ladder to the left.

Talk to Shaman Direa and Steena to learn about seeking the hydra humour back in Serge's original world, which requires a dimensional distortion ritual, "Angelus Errare."

Collect the items listed above around town, then Korcha will escort everyone out of town at the dock.

Whichever path is taken, the next stop is Termina.

New Game+

Content coming in a later pass.

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