The 90s were a golden age for all things JRPG. Some of the genre’s most influential titles happened to release in the 90s and arguably the most influential RPG of all time, Chrono Trigger, were one of those releases. Developed by the self-proclaimed “Dream Team” by Square Enix, Chrono Trigger was released on March 11, 1995, to critical and commercial success. This title stands out for many reasons, but one of them is the depth of its mechanics and its nearly universally loved Tech system.
©Chrono Trigger artwork – Original
Chrono Trigger Premise
Chrono Trigger uses an active time battle system reminiscent of Final Fantasy IV. All the playable characters receive eight techs they can use in battle and if certain conditions are met they can use them in conjunction with each other. This is one of the many unique pillars that make Chrono Trigger such an influential title. You can use these cooperative skills in order to create new double and triple techs that’ll amplify the intended effect of the skill. There are over 50 combination attacks at your disposal, and below is a definitive list of every combo attack in Chrono Trigger.
©Chrono Trigger artwork – Original
Chrono Trigger Combo Abilities
These combo abilities are split into three categories. The Double Tech requires only two participants to execute, the Triple Tech requires three participants, and Special Techs requires three participants and a unique accessory.
| Name | Characters | Element | Status | Target | Description | Accessory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aura Whirl | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Marle (Aura, 1 MP) | – | – | All Allies | Restore all allies’ HP (Some) | – |
| Ice Sword | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Marle (✩Ice, 2 MP) | Water | – | Single Enemy | Ice Sword attack / single | – |
| Ice Sword 2 | Crono (Confuse, 12 MP) Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) | Water | – | Area | Ice Sword attack / multiple | – |
| Fire Whirl | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Lucca (Flame Toss, 1 MP) | Fire | – | Area | Flame Whirl attack | – |
| Fire Sword | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Lucca (✩Fire, 2 MP) | Fire | – | Single Enemy | Fire Sword attack / single | – |
| FireSword 2 | Crono (Confuse, 12 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) | Fire | – | Area | Fire Sword attack / multiple | – |
| X Strike | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Frog (Slurp Cut, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ X Strike | – |
| SwordStream | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Frog (✩Water, 2 MP) | Water | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Sword Stream | – |
| Spire | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) | Lightning | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Spire | – |
| Rocket Roll | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Rocket Roll multi-attack | – |
| Max Cyclone | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) | Physical | – | Near Robo | Crono’s Max Cyclone | – |
| Super Volt | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Robo (Shock, 17 MP) | Lightning | – | All Enemies | Super Volt attack | – |
| Drill Kick | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Ayla (Rollo Kick, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Drill Kick | – |
| Volt Bite | Crono (✩Lightning, 2 MP) Ayla (Cat Attack, 3 MP) | Lightning | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Volt Bite | – |
| Falcon Hit | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Ayla (Rock Throw, 4 MP) | Physical | – | Horizontal | Crono’s Falcon Hit | – |
| Antipode | Marle (✩Ice, 2 MP) Lucca (✩Fire, 2 MP) | Shadow | – | Area | Attack enemies w/ Antipode | – |
| Antipode 2 | Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) | Shadow | – | Area | Attack enemies w/ Antipode 2 | – |
| Antipode 3 | Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Flare, 20 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Attack enemies w/ Antipode 3 | – |
| Ice Water | Marle (✩Ice, 2 MP) Frog (✩Water, 2 MP) | Water | – | All Enemies | Attack enemies w/ Ice Water | – |
| Glacier | Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Frog (✩Water 2, 8 MP) | Water | – | Single Enemy | Massive Ice attack | – |
| Double Cure | Marle (✩Cure 2, 5 MP) Frog (✩Cure 2, 5 MP) | – | All | All Allies | Restore allies’ HP & Status | – |
| Aura Beam | Marle (Aura, 1 MP) Robo (Cure Beam, 2 MP) | – | – | All Allies | Restore all allies’ HP (Some) | – |
| Ice Tackle | Marle (✩Ice, 2 MP) Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) | Water | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Glacier | – |
| Cure Touch | Marle (✩Cure 2, 5 MP) Robo (Heal Beam, 3 MP) | – | – | All Allies | Restore allies’ HP (Full) | – |
| Twin Charm | Marle (Provoke, 1 MP) Ayla (Charm, 4 MP) | – | – | Single Enemy | Steal from enemy | – |
| Ice Toss | Marle (✩Ice, 2 MP) Ayla (Rock Throw, 4 MP) | Water | – | Area | Attack enemy w/ Ice Toss | – |
| Cube Toss | Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Ayla (Rock Throw, 4 MP) | Water | – | Area | Attack enemy w/ Cube Toss | – |
| Red Pin | Lucca (✩Fire, 2 MP) Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) | Fire | – | Single Enemy | Burn enemy w/ Flame Slash | – |
| Line Bomb | Lucca (Mega Bomb, 15 MP) Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) | Fire | – | Horizontal | Bomb enemies on a line | – |
| Frog Flare | Lucca (✩Flare, 20 MP) Frog (Frog Squash, 15 MP) | Fire | – | All Enemies | Ult. 2x damage / multiple | – |
| Fire Punch | Lucca (✩Fire, 2 MP) Robo (RocketPunch, 1 MP) | Fire | – | Area | Burn enemies w/ Fire Punch | – |
| Fire Tackle | Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) | Fire | – | Single Enemy | Burn enemy w/ Fire Tackle | – |
| Double Bomb | Lucca (Mega Bomb, 15 MP) Robo (Area Bomb, 14 MP) | Fire | – | Near Robo | Robo’s Max Bomb attack | – |
| Flame Kick | Lucca (✩Fire, 2 MP) Ayla (Rollo Kick, 2 MP) | Fire | – | Single Enemy | Burn enemy w/ Flame Kick | – |
| Fire Whirl | Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Ayla (Tail Spin, 10 MP) | Fire | – | All Enemies | Burn enemy w/ Fire Whirl | – |
| Blaze Kick | Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Ayla (Triple Kick, 20 MP) | Fire | – | Single Enemy | Burn enemy w/ Blaze Kick | – |
| Blade Toss | Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) Frog (Slurp Cut, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Line | Frog’s Blade Toss | – |
| Bubble Snap | Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) Frog (✩Water, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Robo’s Bubble Snap | – |
| Cure Wave | Robo (Heal Beam, 3 MP) Frog (✩Cure 2, 5 MP) | – | – | All Allies | Restore all allies’ HP (Full) | – |
| Slurp Kiss | Frog (Slurp, 1 MP) Ayla (Kiss, 1 MP) | – | All | All Allies | Restore all allies’ HP & Status | – |
| Bubble Hit | Frog (✩Water, 2 MP) Ayla (Rollo Kick, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Bubble Hit | – |
| Drop Kick | Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) Ayla (Triple Kick, 20 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Inferno Toss | – |
| Boogie | Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) Ayla (Charm, 4 MP) | – | Stop | All Enemies | Halts all enemies | – |
| Spin Kick | Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) Ayla (Rollo Kick, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Attack enemy w/ Spin Kick | – |
| Beast Toss | Robo (Uzzi Punch, 12 MP) Ayla (Rock Throw, 4 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Hurl an enemy! | – |
| Delta Force | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Elemental damage / multiple | – |
| Arc Impulse | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) | Water | – | Single Enemy | Attack w/ Ice Slash | – |
| Lifeline | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Marle (✩Life 2, 15 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) | – | – | All Allies | Revive / restore allies once | – |
| Final Kick | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Ayla (Triple Kick, 20 MP) | Shadow | – | Single Enemy | Attack w/ Final Kick | – |
| Delta Storm | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Frog (✩Water 2, 8 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Elemental Attack / multiple | – |
| Fire Zone | Crono (Spincut, 4 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) | Fire | – | Near Robo | Crono’s Fire Zone | – |
| Gatling Kick | Crono (✩Lightning2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Ayla (Triple Kick, 20 MP) | Shadow | – | Single Enemy | Attack w/ Gatling Kick | – |
| Triple Raid | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) Frog (Slurp Cut, 2 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Delta Attack | – |
| 3D Attack | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Frog (Slurp Cut, 2 MP) Ayla (Triple Kick, 20 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Delta Attack | – |
| Twister | Crono (Cyclone, 2 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) Ayla (Tail Spin, 10 MP) | Shadow | – | Single Enemy | Trio Whirl / multiple | – |
| Dark Eternal | Marle (✩Ice 2, 8 MP) Lucca (✩Fire 2, 8 MP) Magus (✩Dark Matter, 20 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Ultimate Dark Bomb | Black Rock |
| Omega Flare | Lucca (✩Flare, 20 MP) Robo (Laser Spin, 3 MP) Magus (✩Dark Bomb, 8 MP) | Shadow | – | All Enemies | Ultimate Laser | Blue Rock |
| Poyozo Dance | Marle (Provoke, 1 MP) Lucca (Hypno Wave, 1 MP) Ayla (Tail Spin, 10 MP) | – | Chaos | All Enemies | Damage w/ ? Magic & Chaos | Silver Rock |
| Spin Strike | Robo (Robo Tackle, 4 MP) Frog (Leap Slash, 4 MP) Ayla (Tail Spin, 10 MP) | Physical | – | Single Enemy | Damage w/ Whirl Jump Cut | White Rock |
| Grand Dream | Marle (✩Life 2, 15 MP) Robo (Heal Beam, 3 MP) Frog (Frog Squash, 15 MP) | Physical | – | All Enemies | Phys. Att. w/ New Masamune | Gold Rock |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Chrono Trigger gameplay screenshot.