Easily one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made, Chrono Trigger’s excellence has endured not just because of its time-hopping plot but chiefly because of its compelling cast of characters who are arguably the beating heart of the whole affair. From Frog to Ayla, Magnus and more, we’ll be providing an explanation about each of the Chrono Trigger characters and more importantly, how to get them to join your party. To the time… thing!
Chrono Trigger Characters
In total there are seven playable characters in Chrono Trigger. Beginning with Crono (who for obvious reasons is already unlocked when you start the game), the remaining six characters are unlocked at various times and places as you make your way through Chrono Trigger. Let’s get started with Lucca – one of the most important characters in Chrono Trigger. Oh and beware – though it might seem obvious, there are big ol’ spoilers in these hills (well, words).
Lucca – How To Get Her In Chrono Trigger
Crono will actually meet Lucca first of all at the Millennial Fair (and even provide a name for her there, too) but she actually won’t be a permanent part of Crono’s ragtag group of time-travelling misfits until later in Chrono Trigger. The first party member that you’ll recruit, Crono will bump into Lucca again in the depths of the Guardia Castle dungeon after being falsely imprisoned for abducting Queen Leene – and then hilariously being freed by the very same person he was accused of abducting.
Once Lucca joins the party in Chrono Trigger, she brings a whole heap of bum-kicking to the table thanks to her proficiency in gun and hammer based combat, in addition to a handy mastery of fire spells.
Marle – How To Get Her In Chrono Trigger
Though you’ll meet Marle very early on in the game at the Millennial Fair, she’ll be whisked away by a mysterious portal to 600 A.D and Crono will chase after her. After arriving in 600 A.D (affectionately referred to as the ‘Middle Ages’ within Chrono Trigger’s lore), Crono will escape a deep fissure called Truce Canyon which will in turn take him to Truce Inn whereupon he’ll come upon an explorer that will regale him with a story about the missing Queen Leene. Well, as it happens the story of this missing monarch has relevance because Marle has been mistaken for the wayward queen (also discovered in the Truce Canyon by some soldiers prior to Crono’s arrival) and can be found in Guardia Castle during chapter two.
Once found here, Marle will join Crono’s party for good and in addition to possessing a rather nifty bow, can also obtain elemental ice powers to devastate her foes.
Robo – How To Get Him In Chrono Trigger
Robo is a character that you’ll pick up during Chrono Trigger’s sixth chapter. Set in the far flung future of 2300 A.D, you’ll need to immediately head south at the beginning of the chapter in order to reach the Trann Dome. From here, you’ll need to Lab 16 in the north in order to resume your journey eastward and then go outside into the Arris Dome where you’ll fight the challenging Guardian boss. Once you’ve defeated the Guardian boss, you’ll need to catch a rat that will provide you with an access to code to activate a motorised bridge which will in turn allow you to reach Lab 32. A very small area, the only place you can go to from here is the Proto Dome and it is here that you at last will find Robo who will eagerly join your party.
Able to soak up a massive amount of damage, Robo also boasts a veritable kaleidoscope of offensive capabilities that allow him to deftly blend physical, shadow, fire and light based attacks with ease.
Frog – How To Get Him In Chrono Trigger
The first time that Crono and company meet Frog earlier in the game, the plucky cursed knight will only be able to join the group on a temporary basis. It’s only much later in Chrono Trigger, in chapter eleven (Tata and the Frog), that you’ll be able to get this noble amphibian to join your party for the duration. To get Frog to become a party member in Chrono Trigger, you’ll need to defeat the Masa & Mune boss in order to collect one half of the super shiny Masamune. From here you’ll need to go to Tata’s house and collect the Hero’s Medal which together with the other half of the Masamune (handily found in a trunk in Frog’s house in the Cursed Wood), will bring Frog into your party.
One of the strongest of all the party members you’ll collect in Chrono Trigger, Frog is an extremely skilled melee combatant that leverages his towering broadsword to great effect, in addition to wielding powerful water magic that not only lets him deal high damage to his enemies, but also provide ample healing to the party as well.
Ayla – How To Get Her In Chrono Trigger
It isn’t until you reach the halfway point in Chrono Trigger’s epic narrative that you’ll come across Ayla. Discovered during chapter twelve in 65,000,000 BC, Ayla will help you to vanquish a big group of her mortal enemy, the Reptites, who will attack you en masse as soon as you step through the time portal.
Shortly after this, Ayla will join your party and proves to be something of a boon thanks to her overwhelming physical attacks and ability to eat damage and just keep on going.
Magus – How To Get Him In Chrono Trigger
First things first you need to make sure that you’ve defeated the Blackbird boss in chapter 24 (essentially the second time that you’ll visit the 12,000 BC time period). Once you’ve laid waste to Blackbird, head to North Cape, investigate a weird looking sparkle and then you’ll bump into Magus where you have two options – you can either fight Magus with Frog exclusively in a difficult one-on-one battle, or you can refuse to fight him. In the case of the former, if Frog is victorious he’ll turn into a human during the ending that you’ll now receive, whereas electing to spare Magus, allows him to join your party for the remainder of the adventure and also feature in the ending.
Predictably harder than a bag full of hammers, Magus swings around a massive scythe and kicks out frankly ridiculous amounts of magical shadow damage. A force to be reckoned with to say the least.
Buy Chrono Trigger on PC
Now you know how to get the characters, why not get them in-game? Head over to our store and pick up a copy of Chrono Trigger for less. Or if you’re looking for more in the Chrono series, you can dive in with a copy of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, bringing the sequel’s HD remaster to PC for the first time.
