Chrono Trigger/Techniques

Crono
Crono uses lightning magic.

Cyclone is a useful tech for taking out groups of enemies early in the game, although it's even better when combined with some of the double techs you'll have. Life is particularly handy since Crono is a fixture in your party, and just keep in mind what your best physical attack or magic spell currently is. Luminaire is the most powerful Single tech in the game under normal circumstances.

Lucca
Lucca uses fire magic. You'll mostly just want to use the best fire spell Lucca has available.

Marle
Marle uses water magic in the form of ice.

As you can see she's almost entirely support spells. Haste is an extremely useful tech against long, drawn-out bosses like the Black Tyrano. and Life 2 is the best revival method in the game. Her drawback is the lack of healing spells that affect the whole party, but she does get a lot of Double Techs that compensate for that.

Frog
Frog uses water magic.

Frog is required for the whole sequence in Magus's castle, and he has a good physical attack otherwise. The Heal spell is very useful, and Frog Squash is a killer, doing extreme amounts of damage when HP is low, for example after using a Revive... keep this in mind.

Robo
Robo cannot learn magic, but deals shadow damage.
 * Rocket Punch - Attacks a single enemy
 * Cure Beam - Restores the health of a single ally
 * Laser Spin - Hits all enemies for Shadow damage
 * Robo Tackle - Attacks a single enemy
 * Heal Beam - Restores the health of the full party
 * Uzzi-Punch - Hits a single enemy
 * Area Bomb - Attacks a single enemy
 * Shock - Damages all enemies

Robo is very slow, so he needs a lot of Speed uppers before he can unleash his full potential. He learns a damage-all tech early, which is useful during the Factory section where he must be in the party. Heal Beam is also useful.

Ayla
Ayla uses entirely physical attacks since she predates the existence of magic on the planet.


 * Kiss - restores a single ally's HP
 * Rollo Kick - Attacks a single enemy
 * Cat attack - Attacks a single enemy
 * Rock Throw - Attacks a single enemy
 * Charm - Steals items from a single enemy
 * Tail Spin - Damages all enemies around the targeted area with a Tail Spin
 * Dino Tail - Attacks all enemies, does greater damage at low health
 * Triple Kicks - Attacks single enemy three times.

In general you'll probably be best off using the most powerful physical tech she has, and charm can be very useful for getting rare items. Dino Tail functions much like Frog Squash.

Magus
Magus uses all types of magic but specializes in shadow.
 * *Lightning 2 - As seen with Crono, attacks all enemies for lightning damage.
 * *Fire 2 - As seen with Lucca, attacks all enemies for fire damage.
 * *Ice 2 - As seen with Marle, attacks all enemies for water damage.
 * *Dark Bomb - Damages all enemies in radius around target for shadow damage
 * *Magic Wall - Raises magic defense of a single ally
 * *Dark Mist - Damages all enemies for shadow damage
 * *Black Hole - Attempts instant death of single enemy
 * *Dark Matter - The ultimate shadow magic attack on all enemies

Magus has every kind of magic available to him and a strong physical attack. What's not to love? One interesting note about Magus is that his versions of Lightning 2, Fire 2, and Ice 2 are about 30% more powerful than those cast by Crono, Lucca, or Marle, which makes him effectively the best Water magic user in the game among other things.

Double Techs
Every set of two characters, excluding Magus, has three double techs between them.

Triple Techs
One rule of thumb is that every three character set which includes Crono and doesn't include Magus has a triple tech. Thus, Crono Marle Frog have one, Crono Marle Lucca, etc. In addition to these triple techs however, there are some hidden ones that can only be activated by finding a hidden "rock" accessory somewhere in the game and equipping it on one of the characters involved in the triple tech. To use any of the special triple techs you'll need to wait until Chapter 24 when you're finally able to choose your party without Crono.

Dark Eternal
Requires: Marle, Lucca, Magus. The black rock which activates it is found by going to Kajar in 12,000 B.C. before the disaster, and activating the "water"-"wind"-"fire" books to reveal a secret area.

Spin Strike
Requires: Frog, Robo, and Ayla. The silver rock which activates it is in 65M B.C. at Laruba ruins, talk to the Nu there to recieve it.

Grand Dream
Requires: Frog, Marle, and Robo. The gold rock which activates it is in 600 A.D. at the Denadaro mountains. After completing Frog's Sidequest put him at the front of the party and have him catch one of the Free Lancer's rocks. The rock must be equipped on Frog and he must have the upgraded Masamune.

Omega Flare
Requires: Lucca, Robo, and Magus. The blue rock which activates it is found in a chest in the Giant's Claw, in the raised version you explore in 600 A.D. while doing Marle's Sidequest.

Poyozo Dance
Requires: Marle, Lucca, and Ayla. The white rock which activates it is found in a chest in the Black Omen, see Chapter 25 for more details. This also has the distinction of being one of the two non-elemental attacks in the game, along with tailspin, which works regardless of magic defense or defense, it also affects the ghost version of Cyrus in 1000 A.D. at the Northern Ruins.

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