Chrono Trigger

• A Gold Stud and an AlloyBlade... for me? How sweet... - Ayla's Charm technique is one of the most useful techniques in the game. This is the only tech capable of stealing items from enemies. Usually, the items you steal will only be items you can get at the end of the battle, but sometimes you will find very helpful items to Charm. For example, on Mt. Woe there are several enemies which you can Charm stronger weapons from. In the Black Omen you can get a Gold Stud, an accessory which lessens MP consumed for a spell by 75%, per Flyclops; Magic Tabs from the Aliens, Power Tabs from the Tubsters, and the rare Speed Tab from the Panels. Try Charm on bosses too! Sometimes you'll get helpful items from them. Charming is also helpful in getting GP because you can get several of the same item and sell them. Charm isn't always successful, though, but you can increase your chances by either equipping Ayla with the Charm Top accessory (found in a black chest in 2300 B.C.), using Marle and Ayla's dual tech, Twin Charm, or both.
• The cheapest housing has been in years - There is a place in the game where you can get as many Shelters as you want, for free. In 600 A.D., go to Guardia Forest. (Ever notice that the CT forest theme sounds like BOF3's forest theme?) Go left and up, where you see the fork in the road. You'll see a bush shaking. No, it's not that one. Now go a little right and up to the bush, well, within the trees. Check that one, and a Kilwala will come out and will drop a Shelter. Leave Guardia Forest, and you can come back as many times as you want!
• Legal blackmail - Now, you got the point in which you can open those black chests, but there's a pretty cool secret to some of them. You will find that some of them exist in both 600 A.D. and 1000 A.D. and similar locations. You can get powered up items from these. To do this, go to the 600 A.D. version and check the chest. When asked to open the chest, say "No." Now go to the 1000 A.D. one and open the chests. They will be powered up! Now, once you got the item(s), you can get the corresponding 600 A.D. The locations for the power-up-able black chests are in Truce Inn, Guardia Castle, Elder's/Mayor's House (south continent) and the Northern Cave/Hero's Grave. In the Mayor's House, the powered up items will be the White Mail and, *ahem*, the Black Mail. :)
• Experience easier to get than working at McDonalds - There are two locations good for gaining experience. They are:
  1. The Black Omen
  2. Giant's Claw (600 A.D.)
  The Black Omen is gone once you defeat Zeal, so you'll probably rely more on the Giant's Claw. Giant's Claw is also a good place to stock up on Elixirs and Megaelixirs using Ayla's Charm.
• Rubble, rubble, toil and trouble - There are some enemies throughout the game that pump up your experience and tech points, but are hard to beat, yet they don't often attack you. These are often called "Rubbles." They first start off the battle by disabling all techs and items for the battle, and then do nothing else. However, they have high Evade rates, so one should go into a battle with them with a high Hit attribute. If you don't kill them in time, they run away. If you win, though, you get 1000 exp. and a whoping 100 tech points! You can first find Rubbles in Mt. Woe and again in Giant's Claw. Enemies that do basically the same thing (but attack) can be found on the Blackbird and the Black Omen.

How I beat GolemTwins

First, it's best to have the elemental vests and mails (Red, Black, Blue, and White). When you have one equipped, it absorbs the corresponding element. You get these using the "Legal Blackmail" trick (see above).

Can you guess what you have to do yet? Well, in case you haven't figured it out, you decide on an element you want to attack the twins with and equip the corresponding mail on one person and vest on another. You can just heal the third person during battle. My element of preference is Lightning, but you can choose your own.

Now, have the character(s) with the element you chose cast that magic on the GolemTwins. When they copycat your attacks, they will end up healing two of your characters instead of hurting them! Just keep this up, and you shouldn't have any problem beating them. Note: If you want to charm them, go ahead. However, the best strategy for using this against the Golems is to use it, then immediately follow up with the chosen element. This way, it prevents the Golems from "Copying Psychics." I believe it was a Magic Tab that you can get from each.

How I beat Lavos

1. The first stage can be done with anyone. There are two parts of the first stage of the Lavos battle. If you use the Epoch to get to Lavos, and you have not fought this stage, this stage will be skipped. However, you will not be able to save or warp back to the End of Time before the second part.
   1. In the first stage, Lavos will enter different battle modes. You basically fight many of the bosses you have fought already, except they will appear as Lavos (fight him and you'll see what I mean). Just use the same strategies you used against the bosses the first. You can switch out characters, heal, etc. between each boss.
   2. If you enter the special warp in New Game+, you will start here. This is also the part you fought in the Ocean Palace. Once you have defeated all of the bosses, there will be a different music, signifing that you are about to enter this form. Use any characters you want; I recommend at least Crono and a healer. This battle is not too difficult; just use your strongest attacks (Luminare helps a lot) and heal when necessary. Keep it up and you will defeat this first stage and enter Lavos to fight the next stage.
2. First, I have recommend in your party Crono, Marle, and Ayla, all equipped with Gold Studs and at least one item that prevents status change. Be sure to have a good amount of Lapises and a few Megaelixirs. You will not be able to switch out characters, heal, save, etc. between this battle and the next battle. This one isn't too hard if your characters are leveled up enough. The attacks you can hit it with are not very limited. Luminare, Ice Sword 2, Falcon Hit, Final Kick, etc. all work well. If you are doing a tech that only harms a single enemy, then defeat the left arm first, then the right arm, then the center. As always, cure when necessary. Once you get down to the center, it should be relatively easy. Heal any status ailments that Lavos may deal to you as a result of him removing the protection against status change (except Poison, you can probably handle that) and use your best techs. Be careful of Shadow Doom Gaze, for if your Magic Defense is relatively low, it can do lots of damage. Use Elixirs or a Megaelixir, if necessary, after this attack. Keep it up, and you'll enter the final stage.
3. Now, this is the Lavos Core. Although it may look like your mission is to defeat the center one, you want to defeat the right one. The right one, however, is protected, so you first have to defeat the left and/or center one to turn off its defense. Since they are all lined up, it is helpful to use Crono and Ayla's Falcon Hit. The left bit absorbs all magic against it, so Falcon Hit is a good way to damage it. Have Marle use Lapises or Megaelixirs as necessary, or have her use Haste if there is nothing better to do. If someone in your party becomes injured (runs out of HP), either have Crono cast Life or Marle cast Life 2 on him/her. If both Crono and Marle become injured, you better be feeling lucky and have Ayla have some mad Revive skills. Sometimes the center bit may use an ultimate attack, in which case have Marle use a Megaelixir. Keep Falcon Hitting after the left bit is destroyed (or now you can use Luminare) and the center bit will eventually be destroyed itself. Now, use the triple tech Final Kick as much as you can against the right bit. Eventually, the center and left bits will revive (it is possible that one may revive when the other is still there), so just start Falcon Hitting again. Keep going like that, and you will eventually beat Lavos.