All Endings Guide

Chrono Trigger has 13 endings depending on when you beat Lavos and what story events have occurred. The SNES version has 12; DS/PC/Mobile adds the 13th. Some endings have multiple variations based on your choices. You'll need New Game Plus to see most of them.

How to Fight Lavos

Four ways to reach the final boss:

• Right Telepod (NG+ only): Press A on the sparkle at the Millennial Fair. Skips straight to Lavos's first form. Easiest method for most endings.
• Bucket at End of Time: Travel to 1999 A.D. and fight through all of Lavos's pre-forms first. A gate sends you back if you beat the outer shell.
• Epoch ram: Fly to 1999 A.D. and crash into Lavos. Destroys his outer shell instantly. Required for "no Epoch" ending variations.
• Black Omen: Fight through the dungeon and face Lavos after defeating Zeal. Required to unlock New Game+.

There's also the Ocean Palace fight you're meant to lose. Lavos is stronger than normal here, but if you win (usually NG+ only), you get the Dream Project ending.

Standard Endings

1. Beyond Time. Defeat Lavos after resurrecting Crono at Death Peak. The "real" ending most players see first. Crono wakes to find his execution canceled. The party visits the castle, Lucca shows off her temporal tampering, and you wander the Moonlight Parade at the fair. Variations:

• Epoch intact: Crono's cats escape through a gate (number depends on how many you fed). Mom chases them. Party pursues in the Epoch, viewing scenes from each era.
• Epoch crashed: Marle and Crono float away on balloons over Truce.
• Magus spared: He appears during goodbyes.
• Magus killed: Frog appears in human form at a waterfall scene.
• Lucca saved Lara: Her mom stands healthy at the fair.
• Chancellor saved: He appears in the throne room instead of Pierre.

2. Reunion. Defeat Lavos while Crono is dead (before resurrecting him). The party wakes at the End of Time as gates close. Everyone returns to their eras. Marle walks the parade alone, then floats on balloons to Death Peak where Crono emerges from the mist. Same Magus/Epoch/Frog variations as above.

New Game+ Endings

These require defeating Lavos at specific story points using the Telepod or bucket during NG+.

3. The Dream Project. Beat Lavos at the very start (before Yakra) or win the Ocean Palace fight. You meet the dev team. The only "programmer's ending" in the game.

4. The Successor of Guardia. Beat Lavos after returning from 600 A.D. the first time. Crono and Marle only. History changed: Frog married Queen Leene while still a frog, so the entire royal family is now frog hybrids. Including Marle.

5. Good Night. Beat Lavos when you first reach the End of Time. A Nu, a frog, and a Kilwala cavort during the credits, then fall asleep. "All things begin and end with Nu."

6. The Legendary Hero. Beat Lavos before getting the Hero Medal from Tata. Tata challenges Magus's castle and finds unexpected company. Robo finds a robot girlfriend in the future.

7. The Unknown Past. Beat Lavos after getting the Hero's Badge but before visiting 65M B.C. for the party. Shows prehistoric village scenes you missed, plus various character cameos.

8. People of the Times. Beat Lavos after recovering the Gate Key but before giving Frog the Masamune. Weakest ending - just character sprites during credits. Starts at Lucca's house.

9. The Oath. Beat Lavos after giving Frog the Masamune but before defeating Magus. Frog storms Magus's castle alone, cutting through Ozzie, Slash, and Flea. Final battle with Magus plays over the credits. Winner? Open to interpretation.

10. Dino Age. Beat Lavos after defeating Magus but before beating Azala. Reptites won; humans lost. Everyone in the present is a Reptite now - except the Green Ambler, who's human.

11. What the Prophet Seeks. Beat Lavos after reaching 12,000 B.C. but before the Ocean Palace events. Scenes with Magus as the Prophet, implying he'd get his revenge on Lavos without your interference.

12. Memory Lane. After Schala opens the Zeal Palace door, do NOT power up your pendant. Return to End of Time and beat Lavos. Marle and Lucca do a slideshow discussing the men of Chrono Trigger. Crono speaks - the only time he has dialogue in the entire game.

DS/PC/Mobile Ending

13. Dream's Epilogue. Complete all three Dimensional Vortexes, then defeat the Dream Devourer at Time's Eclipse. The Dream Devourer tries to destroy existence; Future Magus wakes Schala, who warps you home. New cutscene plays after credits. Reward: DreamSeeker, Crono's best weapon (90% crit rate). This ending connects to Chrono Cross.

Lose-State Endings

The Lavos Ending. Lose to Lavos at any point. You see what happened in 1999 A.D. in detail. "But... The future refused to change." (DS version: "In the end, the future refused to change.") No credits, straight to title screen.

The Magus Ending. Lose to Magus in his castle. He turns around, raises his arms, and Lavos screams. Implies Magus summoned Lavos and failed to defeat it. No credits, straight to title screen.

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