The second half of Chrono Trigger propels players deeper into its intricate story, weaving through new eras, emotional character arcs, and escalating challenges. As the party uncovers the true nature of Lavos and its impact on history, they must rally their allies, face powerful foes, and ultimately decide the fate of the world. This thorough guide will help you navigate the second half of this timeless RPG.

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7. The War Against Magus

After establishing The End of Time as your hub, you learn that Magus, a powerful sorcerer, is responsible for summoning Lavos in 600 A.D. The party sets out to confront him and uncover his role in the apocalypse.

Reaching Magus’s Castle

• Travel to 600 A.D. and speak to Frog in the Cursed Woods. Frog, a disgraced knight, will reluctantly join you to confront Magus.
• Use the repaired Masamune sword, obtained earlier, to break the seal on the Magic Cave leading to Magus’s Castle.

Exploring Magus’s Castle

• The castle is filled with traps, puzzles, and tough enemies. Use magic to exploit elemental weaknesses, as physical attacks are less effective here.
• Battle through waves of Henchmen, Vampires, and Sorcerers to reach Magus’s throne room.

Boss: Magus

• Strategy: Magus changes elemental barriers throughout the fight, requiring you to adjust your magic attacks accordingly.
• Watch for his Dark Matter attack, which deals heavy damage to all party members. Keep healing with Marle or items.
• Once Magus is defeated, a cutscene reveals that Lavos’s origins go beyond Magus, deepening the mystery.

Magus’s defeat triggers a time anomaly, sending the party to prehistoric times.

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8. Prehistoric Era and Ayla

In the prehistoric era of 65,000,000 B.C., the party encounters Ayla, a powerful warrior and chief of the Ioka Tribe. Ayla helps the group uncover Lavos’s extraterrestrial origins.

Key Objectives

• Join Ayla at a feast in the Ioka Village, where she challenges Crono to a friendly drinking contest.
• Retrieve the stolen Dreamstone, a critical material for upgrading the Masamune and progressing the story.

Reptite Lair

• The Dreamstone is located in the Reptite Lair, a dungeon filled with dinosaur-like enemies resistant to physical attacks.
• Use magic to defeat Reptites and Winged Apes. Robo’s high HP makes him a valuable tank in this area.

Boss: Nizbel

• Strategy: Nizbel absorbs physical attacks, so focus on magic to weaken him.
• Beware of his Lightning Counter, which triggers after using electric-based magic.

With the Dreamstone retrieved, the Masamune is fully restored, and Frog’s character arc advances as he accepts his destiny as a hero.

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9. The Ocean Palace and The Fall of Zeal

The Kingdom of Zeal, an advanced civilization powered by Lavos’s energy, becomes the focal point of the story. The Ocean Palace is the setting for one of the game’s most dramatic moments.

Exploring Zeal

• Travel to 12,000 B.C. and explore the floating Kingdom of Zeal. Speak to NPCs to learn about the Mammon Machine, a device that draws power from Lavos.
• Interact with Queen Zeal, Schala, and Janus to understand the family’s complex dynamics.

The Ocean Palace

• This dungeon is filled with advanced enemies, such as Scouters and Djinn. Use magic to exploit their weaknesses and manage your resources carefully.
• Activate switches and solve puzzles to progress through the palace’s labyrinthine corridors.

Boss: Golem Twins

• Strategy: The twins mimic your attacks, so vary your strategy to prevent overwhelming counterattacks.
• Focus on one twin at a time to reduce the difficulty of the fight.

As you reach the core of the Ocean Palace, a tragic cutscene unfolds where Lavos awakens and destroys Zeal, scattering the party across time.

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10. Reuniting the Party and The Blackbird

After the events at Zeal, the party regroups and prepares for their final confrontation with Lavos. This segment involves exploration, resource recovery, and strategic planning.

The Blackbird

• Wake up aboard the Blackbird, a massive flying fortress. Your equipment has been confiscated, so you must sneak through the ship to recover it.
• Defeat guards stealthily and retrieve your weapons, armor, and items from storage rooms.

Escape the Blackbird

• After recovering your gear, confront Dalton, a recurring antagonist. He summons a Golem Overlord to stop you.

Boss: Golem Overlord

• Strategy: Use magic to exploit elemental weaknesses while keeping your party healed.
• Dalton’s antics add a humorous touch to an otherwise intense sequence.

With the Blackbird destroyed, the group regains access to their time-traveling ship, the Epoch.

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11. Side Quests and Strengthening the Party

Before confronting Lavos, the game opens up, allowing you to complete optional side quests that develop characters and provide powerful rewards.

Recommended Side Quests

• Frog’s Trial: Confront Cyrus’s ghost to help Frog come to terms with his past.
• Robo’s Factory Restoration: Restore Fiona’s forest and witness Robo’s emotional character arc.
• Magus’s Redemption: Learn more about Magus’s tragic backstory and his connection to Schala.

These quests not only enhance the story but also provide the best equipment and abilities for your characters.

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12. The Final Battle: Lavos

With all preparations complete, it’s time to face Lavos. The final battle spans multiple phases and requires strategic mastery of the game’s mechanics.

Phases of the Battle

• Outer Shell: Defeat Lavos’s outer shell by targeting its weak points with magic.
• Core Battle: Inside Lavos, focus on destroying its two support cores before attacking the main body.
• Ultimate Form: Lavos’s final form uses devastating attacks that test your healing and damage output.

Once Lavos is defeated, the party celebrates their triumph, and the game’s multiple endings are determined by your choices throughout the journey.

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The second half of Chrono Trigger delivers an unforgettable experience filled with emotional depth, challenging gameplay, and one of the most satisfying finales in RPG history. With its time-traveling narrative, memorable characters, and rich world-building, Chrono Trigger remains a masterpiece that continues to captivate players decades after its release.