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1. Keep in mind that enemies can inflict the same amount of damage regardless of their hit points (HP). Concentrate your attacks on one foe at a time when faced with multiple groups of enemies. An alternative to this is to have one character cast spells that damage all enemies while the other party members focus on a single foe with normal attacks.
2. Unlike many RPGs, Chrono Trigger DS does not feature random battles. About half the time you will be able to see the enemies on-screen and evade combat. This, however, is not recommended. It is important to earn as much experience as possible for later in the game. Unless you are wandering through old territory with vastly underpowered enemies, it is recommended that you engage all foes. That being said, this walkthrough will point out instances where you can evade enemies if you wish to do so.

• Here is a run-down of each character:

1. Crono: The game's katana-wielding principle protagonist features an excellent blend of strong physical attacks along with powerful magic. He uses light-based magic which means that his spells usually involve lightning. His ultimate spell, Luminaire, is one of the most devastating in the game. His physical techs such as Cleave and Frenzy are also quite damaging. Along with these attacks he also possesses Raise, a spell that, as the name suggests, raises a party member from the dead and restores some HP. His double techs, particularly those involving Ayla and Frog, are also some of the best. His only real drawback is a lack of defensive abilities. This makes him reliant upon the other characters and inventory items for healing and stat boosts.
2. Marle: Marle (a.k.a. Princess Nadia) fires at enemies from afar using a crossbow, but will also bash them in the face with the weapon at close range. She can also attack with her water-based Ice magic. All in all she is more of a defensive character. Her abilities are focused on supporting her fellow teammates. Of these, her best are powerful healing spells like Cure and Cure II. She also uses Arise, an upgraded version of Crono's Raise ability which resurrects a fallen party member and fully restores their HP. Haste, another useful spell in her arsenal, cuts the time a character must wait to attack in half. The only downside of her enchantments is that they can only be cast on one character at a time. She lacks a healing spell that resores HP to all three characters at once.
3. Lucca: She is another strong offensive character, although not as well-rounded as Crono. Her normal blaster attacks are not as damaging as those of other characters. Fortunately her fire-based magic makes up for this deficiency. Her spells, especially Flare, are quite effective. She also can cast Protect on her fellow party members. This enchantment reduces the amount of damage the character takes from physical attacks.
4. Robo: While this robot's lasers inflict shadow damage, he does not have any true magic of his own. Luckily his physical attacks are quite good, especially Rapid-fire Punch and Robo Tackle. He also has two healing techs -- Heal Beam and Cure Beam. The former is useful because it heals all three party members at once. These healing abilities and his strength make him a good character to include in your party. He can, however, be a liability if the fight necessitates that you use magic.
5. Frog: This amphibious swordsman is another good all-around character. He features strong physical attacks like Crono and Robo. His tech, Aerial Strike is quite effective. Likewise Frog Squash is a unique finisher. The tech hits all enemies on the screen and deals more damage with the less HP Frog has. His offensive magic, like Marle's, is somewhat weaker than that of Crono, Lucca, or Magus. His highest offensive spell is Water II, a fact that makes him somewhat obsolete (at least when it comes to magical attacks) later in the game. That being said, his double techs, especially X-Strike and Lightning Rod (both with Crono) are some of the best. He is also a good healer, possessing both Heal (which heals all characters) and Cure II (which like Marle's spell, heals one character).
6. Ayla: While this cavegirl does not use magic, she employs some terrific physical attacks. Triple Kick rivals Frenzy as one of the best single techs. She also has some great double techs with other characters. Falcon Strike, one of her double techs with Crono, is particularly useful as it can hit two enemies at once. Perhaps Ayla's most useful ability is Charm. With this ability you can steal items from enemies. Think of it as pick-pocketing with sex appeal. Charm can yield you anything from the odd potion to powerful suits of armor.
7. Magus: Being a master magician, Magus is not restricted to spells of any particular alignment. He can cast second tier water, fire, and lightning based spells. His specialty, however, is shadow magic. Dark Matter, his ultimate magical attack, ranks with Luminaire and Flare as the game's great third-tier offensive spells. He can also cast Barrier on fellow party members which cuts down on the amount of damage they take from magic. Unfortunately this versatility comes with some downsides. Since all his techs involve magic, he is not useful against enemies who are more vulnerable to physical attacks. Likewise, most of his magic spells hit all targets on the screen. This can make him a liability when you are forced to target specific enemies and/or body parts. Finally, Magus has no double techs and only two triple techs, both of which can only be used after finding the correct Gemstones that are hidden throughout the game.

• You may only have three characters in your party at any given time. Therefore, party formation is important. Ultimately you want the three characters in your party to make up for one another's deficiencies. This is not always possible because the game often forces you into situations where you cannot change party members. Likewise, your party will have to change at times to better meet a new threat. All this aside, here are a few general recommendations on party formation:

1. It is always a good idea to reserve one of your three slots to a character with decent healing abilities. This will cut down on the amount of healing items you have to buy. In general Robo, Marle, and Frog are the best healers. Marle, however, is mostly a defensive character who possesses weaker attacks. Robo or Frog are better choices if you want to play more aggressively.
2. Crono is hands-down the best character in the game. His physical and magical attacks are both devastating. Whenever possible you should include him in your party.
3. Ayla's Charm tech is useful beyond words. It will give you a great deal of items and save you money in the long run. It is recommended that you include her in your party as much as possible to take advantage of this ability.
4. Despite his aforementioned drawbacks, Magus is a great character to include in your party due to his magical versatility. His presence allows you to more openly use non-magic users like Robo or Ayla.

• The game gives you an option of naming each playable character. For the purposes of this walkthrough, each character will be called by his or her default name (Crono, Lucca, Frog, etc.)

1. Each character possesses special abilities known as techs. These are magical and/or physical abilities that use magic points (MP). You discover new techs by collecting tech points. You receive these points upon the completion of each battle.
2. Characters can also earn double and triple techs. These are joint attacks that involve two or more members of the party. To activate a double tech you must wait for the participating members' ATB gauges to reach full capacity. From there you can select the double tech from the tech menu. The same strategy applies for a triple tech (an attack involving all party members).
3. There are five gemstones hidden throughout the game -- black, blue, gold, silver, white. If equipped, each will enable your party to perform a hidden triple tech. All of these do not involve Crono, and in fact equipping them is the only way of performing triple techs without him in your party. Consult the Guide to Gemstones at the end of the walkthrough for information as to each gemstone's location.

1. YouTube: Beginning (Time: 10:49)

2. You begin the game in Crono's house. Get out of bed and run downstairs.
3. Talk to Crono's mother. You can now name Lucca. Crono's mother tells you to see Lucca's invention at the Millennial Fair. Talk to Crono's mother again. She'll give you 200 gold. Exit the house.
4. You are now at the overworld screen. Walk north and enter Leene Square.
5. NOTE: You can also go south to the Mayor's Manor. Talk to the individuals inside to learn more about the dynamics of the game. This is helpful if it is your first time playing Chrono Trigger DS. There is a Potion in a treasure chest downstairs and 100 G in a chest in the upstairs bedroom. Talk to the old man in the upstairs bedroom (the one standing between the two beds) twice. The second time he will give you 300 G.

1. YouTube: Boy Meets Girl! Marle is missing! (Time: 10:57)

2. You emerge into a square with fountain in the middle. There are three vendors here. Going clockwise they are an items shop, armor shop, and swordsmith. Approach the swordsmith. Buy the bronze blade. Walk to the armor shop (the shopkeeper is to the left of the swordsmith in a blue tent). Buy the bronze helm. Equip both items. If you wish you can buy Potions at the item shop. Walk north to the next area.
3. You will see a bell ahead of you. Approach Marle (the blonde girl wandering around). You will automatically bump into her. When she gets up she will lament that she lost her pendant. Talk to her first before picking up the pendant. Pick up the pendant. Talk to Marle again and elect to give it back to her. She'll ask if she can join you. Say yes. You will now get a chance to name her.
4. NOTE: Doing things in the aforementioned manner during this first interaction with Marle will prove beneficial to you later in the game.
5. Your passage to the north (where you need to go) will be blocked by two men. You need to complete some tasks around Leene Square before you can proceed.

1. There are certain things you can do, or choose not to do, in Leene Square that will affect you later in the game (although not dramatically so). Here is a run-down, along with recommendations:
2. DO Save the Kitten - from where you are standing (near the bell), you can either go left or right. Go right first, down the stairs, and talk to the little girl standing nearby. She'll tell you her kitten ran away. Walk back to the bell and then down the stairs on the left. You will see a cat. Interact with it by pressing A. It will meow and being to follow you. Guide it back to the little girl. Talk to the little girl. She will thank you for bringing back her cat.
3. DO NOT eat the old man's lunch. It is in a red sack resting on a table near where you find the kitten. Crono will automatically eat it if you interact with it.
4. Talk to the swordsmith. He will ask if you can convince Marle to sell her pendant. Decline to do so.
5. A NOTE ON SILVER POINTS: Although it's not yet necessary, you can collect silver points by playing games around the fair. You can exchange these points for gold via the man in the purple tent to the left of the bell. He will give you 50 gold for 10 points. The best way to earn points is to beat Gato the robot (15 points). He is to the west of where you found the kitten. Alternatively, the man in the tent to the right of the swordsmith will allow you to place bets on the winner of the races. Talk to the old man to the southeast (near the fence) to find out his prediction. Place a bet on his prediction and you will win 20 points.

1. Once you have completed these tasks, talk to the girl sitting on the fountain. She will tell you whether or not Lucca is ready with her invention.
2. If Lucca is ready, then go to the screen with the bell. The two men who were blocking your way should be gone. Head north.
3. Before you walk up the stairs, Marle will tell Crono she wants to buy some candy. Go along with it and wait patiently. Not doing so will negatively affect you later. Once she is done, head north up the stairs.
4. After the dialogue scene. Walk to Lucca (the girl standing in the telepod on the left). Talk to her. Walk into the left pod when prompted.
5. After Crono reappears, talk to Marle. She says she wants to try it too. She'll step into the teleporter. Her pendant, however, interferes with the device. A portal opens and sucks her inside.
6. Walk to the telepod on the left. Pick up the pendant. Crono will climb inside the telepod. This will cause another portal to open, sucking Crono inside.

1. YouTube: 600 A.D.! 400 Years in the Past! (Time: 10:58)

2. When Crono appears, he will be attacked by three blue imps. There is nothing special about these enemies. Simply take them down, one at a time. Now head west.
3. Walk up the rope ladder and then turn left. Cross the bridge. Eliminate the two imps that attack you.
4. Walk to the left and take the Potion from the treasure chest. Now head south. Open the next treasure chest you see to obtain the Power Glove. Equip the glove. Walk down the rope ladder.
5. As you descend you will see two imps kicking a green creature (called a Roundillo). Run up to them. They will engage you in combat. Take out the green creature first (it deals more damage) and then the imps.
6. NOTE: While you can evade these enemies, at this point you will want to gain more experience and gold.
7. Head south after completing this battle.
8. You will be in the overworld again. Head south from Truce Canyon. You will see a town. There is a shop here if you wish to buy items or weapons. Walk west, through the town and then head north to the castle. Enter Guardia Forest.

1. Walk north until you reach a T-shaped intersection where you can turn left or right. First go right. You will reach a fork in the road. Head south. Pick up the Strength Tablet you see glowing in the grass. Use it if you wish. Retrace your steps back to to the T shaped intersection. Now head to the left.
2. In the next area you will be attacked by three birds. After you've defeat them, head north. Keep following the path until you reach a fork in the road. Take the path that leads northwest.
3. Keep following the path until it takes you north to the next screen.
4. You are again in the overworld map. Enter Guardia Castle.

YouTube: Marle Vanishes! Must Get to the Cathedral! (Time: 10:55)

1. Two guards will try to stop you from entering the castle. Queen Leene, however, will intervene and invite you inside.
2. When you regain control, head north, up the stairs, and through the double doors at the top.
3. Speak to the king and the chancellor. Walk to the left and head up the stairs ahead.
4. You will pass several rooms as you ascend the stairs. The second with have a treasure chest with 100 gold inside.
5. Eventually you will reach the top. Talk to the Chancellor. Now head south to the adjacent hallway. Walk through the double doors at the end of the hall. Collect the Bronze Armor from the treasure chest you find here. Equip it.
6. Return to the throne room. Now head up the stairs to the right.
7. You will again pass several rooms. The second one you pass will have a treasure chest containing a Potion inside of it.
8. When you reach the top, talk to the knight guarding the entryway. He'll move aside. Walk down the hallway and through the double doors. Walk to the queen. She reveals that she is actually Marle in disguise. After a brief conversation she will blink out of existence. Take the Ether from the nearby treasure chest before exiting.
9. Retrace your steps to the throne room. When you arrive downstairs you will encounter Lucca. She says that the two of you need to rescue Queen Leene.
10. NOTE: Before leaving the castle, you may want to pay a visit to the dining hall. From where you entered the castle, turn right. Follow the hallway around to the stairs. Once downstairs you will see two tables. Stand in the front of the upper left hand chair of the closest table to order food. The salad fully restores your MP, the stew your HP, and the roast restores both.
11. Exit the castle.
12. Retrace your steps back through the forest. You will encounter two groups of enemies along the way (assuming you are following the same path).
13. Once at the overworld, head to the town shop. Buy some items for Lucca. Now head to the Cathedral to the west of the castle. Enter the Cathedral.

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