Recruiting every character to Serge's cause is quite possibly Chrono Cross' biggest endeavor. It requires no fewer than three playthroughs – made easier thanks to New Game Plus but still fairly demanding – and certain choices must be made each time to ensure your success.

Related:Chrono Cross: Every Summon Element And How To Get Them

With Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition now out on PC and major consoles, we knew a character recruitment guide simply had to be made. We hope you'll find ours easy to navigate, as we've grouped the cast into distinct categories which should aid you in keeping your journey neatly organized as you help to save the people of El Nido not once, not twice, but thrice.

Please bear in mind that this guide will contain spoilers, as spoilers are an undeniable part of the equation here.

Characters Who Join Automatically

Chrono Cross Kid cutscene

This section covers everyone who hops into your party without a second thought as well as those who will unavoidably ask to join. By separating these heroes from the rest of the pack, you'll know the names of every character whose recruitment you won't need to worry about at all.

19 characters join (or request to join) no matter what you do.

Character Name

Arrival

Innate Element

Serge

Unsurprisingly, the game's protagonist is yours from the get-go.

White

Kid

Cape Howl (Another World). Rejecting her offer to join does allow you to fetch a different character before she eventually forces her way into the party – we'll cover that further on.

Red

Lynx

Joins at Fort Dragania.

Black

Sprigg

Insists on tagging along at the Dimensional Vortex.

Green

Harle

Follows Sprigg's lead moments later.

Black

Radius

His recruitment's required in Arni (Home World) after returning from the Dimensional Vortex.

Green

Norris

Take Radius along with you to Viper Manor right after recruiting him.

Yellow

Irenes

Requests entry into your squad aboard the S.S. Zelbess.

Blue

Karsh

To get Karsh a bit sooner, ask him to help you rescue Riddel. He'll ask to join later on if you don't grab him here.

Green

Zoah

Same deal as Karsh!

Yellow

Orcha

Beat his more vile aspect while rescuing Riddel at Viper Manor.

Red

Grobyc

Opts to help after you've finished pummeling him while attempting to rescue Riddel at Viper Manor.

Black

Riddel

Gratefully accompanies the group after being rescued at Viper Manor.

White

Viper

Dad's so glad for your aid in rescuing Riddel that he up and joins after she's been saved.

Yellow

Marcy

The spunky girl follows Viper's suit.

Blue

Leah

Wants you to help her out at Gaea's Navel.

Yellow

Fargo

After proving his heroic deeds by helping out at Hermit's Hideaway.

Blue

Steena

This wise lady wises up to the chance to join Serge after you've bested the six dragons.

White

Starky

You can grab this quirky little guy as soon as you have access to the El Nido Triangle (Home World) by traveling to the end of the short area and grabbing a Star Fragment, then checking out the treasure chest at Sky Dragon Isle. Doing so, at this time, means he's choice-based – but toward game's end, he must be recruited, so you might as well pick him far sooner.

White

Related:Chrono Cross: How To Unlock Every Level 7 Tech

Characters Who Join Automatically Per Certain Decisions

Chrono-Cross-Nikki-being-attacked-1

Chrono Cross features two instances of branching story paths, both fairly early into the adventure. In the former case, which is a rather tame narrative deviation, you can only recruit one out of three characters per playthrough. In the latter, which is more substantial, a total of three characters will exclusively join the party in one of two possible routes.

Additionally, you can only gain one character by refusing another (and the other character will join not much later regardless, meaning there's not much reason not to do this). The total in this section is ten.

Character Name

Decision Required

Innate Element

Leena

When Kid asks Serge to join her at Cape Howl (Another World) near the start of the game, tell her no three (!) times before she takes a hint. Not much later, Leena insists on helping Serge instead. Note that Kid will soon join regardless of your decision!

Blue

Guile

Once Serge reaches Termina, either with Kid or after bumping into her here, the plan to infiltrate Viper Manor mandates the recruitment of a guide. You'll find Guile at the bar. Ask him to be your guide, and he'll join for the rest of the game.

Black

Pierre

Once Serge reaches Termina, either with Kid or after bumping into her here, the plan to infiltrate Viper Manor mandates the recruitment of a guide. You'll find Pierre in a spare room at the equipment shop. Ask him to be your guide, and he'll join for the rest of the game.

Nikki

Once Serge reaches Termina, either with Kid or after bumping into her here, the plan to infiltrate Viper Manor mandates the recruitment of a guide. Unlike Guile and Pierre, there's a bit more legwork involved; head to the Magical Dreamers' ship at the dock, chat with Miki, and agree to rescue Nikki at the Shadow Forest. If you're looking for the most plot-relevant character (Nikki's vital later on), he's worth the added effort.

Blue

Korcha

Agree to help Kid with the Hydra Humour. Korcha joins for a grand total of five minutes (?), but joins permanently soon thereafter.

Blue

Macha

Recruiting Macha means refusing to help Kid with the Hydra Humour. As a result, Korcha won't help Serge, leading to Macha taking his place like a champ.

Red

Glenn

Often considered either the strongest overall character in the game or at least in the running, Glenn will only join if you refuse to help Kid. Tough break, right?

Green

Mel

To get Mel, agree to help Kid. Technically, there's a tad more to do – say yes when prompted to find her and get Kid's Elements back, then get Kid to have a nice little chat with her at the Residential Tower a little bit later (by our estimates, just do the next plot bit and return to Guldove). We're filing Mel here even though she doesn't automatically request to join since she's part of the split decision section.

Yellow

Doc

Doc joins the squad by refusing to help Kid, but not only Kid heals up despite your, well, ruthlessness.

Red

Razzly

Save this poor fairy after a boss battle in the Hydra Marsh if you've agreed to help Kid with the Hydra Humor.

Green

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Characters Who Require Purely Optional Content

Chrono Cross talking to Miki

The remaining characters in Chrono Cross come in two varieties, but they're similar enough to group together in a singular category. Either you'll need to complete a sidequest for them, or they're a bit easier and ask to team up simply by speaking with them (but speaking with them isn't automatic as per the story).

This is how you'll acquire the last 16 of Chrono Cross' 45 recruitable characters total.

Character Name

Recruitment Method

Innate Element

Poshul

You can grab this silly pink dog lady right at the beginning of the game! If you talk to her without the Heckran Bone key item, she'll claim to be busy. She's probably looking for the thing. You'll find it upstairs above the restaurant. Poshul's a very weird case, however. She'll ask to join if you go the Leena route at Cape Howl by refusing to let Kid join Serge. But since she's not exclusive to that route, we're filing her here – you can get her with the Heckran Bone either way.

Yellow

Luccia

Return to Viper Manor after the initial events there. You'll see Luccia out on the balcony, which is technically unavailable on your first trip since a cutscene kicks in upon your arrival there.

Black

Zappa

You'll need Radius in your party for this. Simply speak with him at Termina (Home World) anytime after Radius has joined the team. Zappa is required if you wish to forge the best gear in the game!

Red

Miki

The sidequest to save Home World's Marbule must be completed in order for Miki to join you.

Red

Draggy

The Dodo's Nest in Fossil Valley (Another World) contains a Big Egg that can, in fact, be pilfered after the Dodo's dead. Head to Fort Dragania (Home World) a good bit later on and take the Big Egg downstairs from the lift.

Red

Janice

Janice tags along if you win all three round at the Grand Slam. As it happens, we just so happen to have a guide on how you can do that.

Black

Mojo

In Arni Village (Home World), there's a Shark's Tooth key item in the (rather happy) fisherman's basement. The jolly guy gives it to you for free. With either Kid or Leena in the team, speak with the (not at all happy) former fisherman in the same spot at Arni Village (Another World). Interact with each of the three statues.

Black

Turnip

There's a patch of ground at Hermit's Hideaway (Another World) that you can use Ice Breath on. Do so, then take Poshul along to sniff out a plant at Hermit's Hideaway (Home World). How the heck did the first players of Chrono Cross ever figure this one out, anyway?

Green

NeoFio

The Life Sparkle key item can be located at Hydra's Marsh (Another World). At Viper Manor (Another World), use the item at the small pond up on the balcony where you recruit Luccia.

Green

Skelly

To start the quest to reassemble poor blown-to-pieces ol' Skelly, acquire the Heavy Skull by letting the guy hanging by a ladder at Fossil Valley (Home World) know you're totally the exorcists they requested. (Which makes Serge a liar. But hey.) There's a rather conspicuous skull on the screen the ladder takes you to. From here, it's a matter of finding all his remaining parts, then bringing them to his grandmother in Termina. Here's where you'll find each one:

  • The cave beneath a waterfall, which you'll find by navigating Shadow Forest (you'll either come here automatically if you select Nikki as your guide for breaking into Viper Manor or optionally return here afterward). You'll find his Angry Scapula here.
  • In Guldove. Chat with the Element Trader for a free Pelvic Bone. How darling.
  • In the Hydra Marshes, proceed after acquiring the Life Sparkle key item and you'll find a little cave-like hole near a chest containing Good Backbone.
  • One of the explorers at Water Dragon Isle (Home World) will offer up some Sturdy Ribs.
  • To find the Mixed Bones, head to the Isle of the Damned and attempt to interact with the top-left hole on the initial screen. Phew.

Black

Pip

Unlock Pip's cage in Luccia's laboratory at Viper Manor during Kid's search for the Frozen Flame. You'll find him later, aboard the S.S. Invincible, but you'll have to chase him a few times before he relents. Strangely, he's talkative and cheerful afterward.

White

Greco

You can find Greco at Termina's shrine area after the aforementioned sequence at Viper Manor.

Red

Funguy

There's a cave beside a waterfall in Shadow Forest's third screen. It's a bit tough to see. Head inside, talk to the strange fellow who offers stew, and then return to the underground waterway that leads to Viper Manor for a Mushroom. Bring it to him and... well, see for yourself on this one.

Yellow

Van

In Termina (Home World), speak with this miserly kid and let him know how much you mean it about finding the legendary Frozen Flame.

Green

Sneff

After the events aboard the S.S. Zelbess, talk to him in the rehearsal/dressing room and he'll agree to join.

Yellow

Orlha

You can only do this with Lynx. Head to her bar in Guldove (Another World) and she'll challenge you to a battle, handing you the Sapphire Brooch key item afterward. Once you've got Serge back, show her the Sapphire Brooch.

Blue

Next:Chrono Cross: Who Should You Pick As A Viper Manor Guide?