Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger

Character Recruitment

Recruit every ally in Chrono Trigger. Learn how to gain mandatory party members and optional characters like Frog and Robo through side quests.

Character Recruitment

Chrono Trigger features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and backstories. While some characters join your party as part of the main story progression, others require specific actions or side quests to recruit. This section details how to gather every potential ally to aid you in your quest to save the future.

Mandatory Party Members

These characters will join your party automatically as you advance through the main storyline. You cannot miss them.

  • Crono: The silent protagonist, he's with you from the very beginning.
  • Lucca: Crono's childhood friend and a brilliant inventor, she joins after the initial time travel incident at the Millennial Fair.
  • Marle: Princess Nadia of Guardia, she joins after a mishap at the Telepod during the Millennial Fair.
  • Robo: A sentient robot from the future, he joins your party in the Proto Dome (2300 A.D.) after you repair him. You'll need a Power Tab to fully restore him.
  • Frog: The cursed knight Glenn, he joins your party in the Denadoro Mountains (600 A.D.) after the battle with Masa & Mune.
  • Ayla: The chief of the Ioka Tribe, she joins your party in the Prehistoric era (65,000,000 B.C.) after you help her recover the Gate Key from Azala.

Optional Party Members

One character, Magus, can be recruited to your party, but this choice has significant implications for the story and certain events. Consider your decision carefully!

Recruiting Magus

Magus, the formidable dark wizard, can become a permanent member of your team, but only after a pivotal moment in the game. This decision is irreversible for your current playthrough, so choose wisely.

  1. Defeat Magus in the Fiendlord's Keep (600 A.D.): This is a mandatory story event. After a challenging battle, Magus will be defeated.
  2. Advance the Story to the North Cape (600 A.D.): Following the events at the Fiendlord's Keep, you will eventually find yourself at the North Cape.
  3. Confront Magus at the North Cape: Here, you will have a critical choice. Frog will confront Magus, and you will be presented with the option to either:
    • "Fight him." If you choose this, Frog will engage Magus in a duel. Regardless of the outcome, Magus will not join your party. This path allows Frog to potentially resolve his personal vendetta.
    • "Don't fight him." If you choose this, Frog will hesitate, and Magus, seeing the greater threat of Lavos, will offer to join your party. This is the only way to recruit him.
  4. Magus Joins: If you choose not to fight him, Magus will join your party immediately. He comes equipped with powerful Shadow magic and a unique scythe weapon.

Important Note: Recruiting Magus will alter some dialogue and character interactions throughout the game, particularly concerning Frog. If you wish to experience all character-specific events, consider doing a playthrough both with and without Magus in your party.