Characters in Chrono Cross all have an innate Element that corresponds to one of the six colors used in the game. These Elements dictate how much damage they do to enemies of the opposing Element and the proficiency they have with certain spells.

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The White Element is the least populated in the game, having only six characters. That said, the main character Serge is a White Element character, so you'll be forced to get acquainted with the Element for much of the game. Here's how they all stack up.

Doc

Chrono Cross Doc

Now, there's nothing actually wrong with Doc. He's a perfectly viable character in his own right and he even manages to have one of the most impressive techs in the game with Hang Ten, which is a full party heal.

His problem lies in the fact that he's rather overshadowed by every other White Element character there is. Serge and Starky are better physical attackers, Steena and Riddel make for better mages, and Pip is... well... Pip. Add to that his unimpressive Element Grid and you have an easily ignored doctor who won't appreciate the lack of faith in his abilities, no matter how justified.

Pip

Chrono Cross Pip

Pip is a tricky character to rank. He is Luccia's experiment and fittingly, has some wacky mechanics that make him stand out in the massive crowd that is the Chrono Cross roster. You see, Pip will change forms as he battles depending on the Elements used within those battles, even those used by enemies and his allies.

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Pip only starts as a White Element character and will change Elements as he changes forms. In his final form, he can be any color possible and will usually have a fantastic set of stats, most often geared towards casting. With an in-depth knowledge of the game and a ton of forward planning, Pip's versatility makes him a top-tier character no doubt.

It's just rather a lot of effort for a game that doesn't warrant it.

Starky

Chrono Cross Starky

Starky is pretty cool, being a high-tech alien in a pretty grounded fantasy RPG. Despite this, he does end up being a little bit lackluster in battle. This is mostly due to being pretty average in everything you could think of - even his Element Grid is nothing special.

Being a White Element character, he's certainly got his uses - White Element characters are powerful thanks to the prevalence of Black Element bosses in the game. That said, he's up against some stiff competition, including the mandatory protagonist who outpaces Starky in every department.

One unique advantage is that you can get a very powerful weapon for Starky - the Plasma Gun - simply by having him in your party and visiting the Home World version of Arni. Having a weapon that powerful without needing a Rainbow Shell is one heck of a boon.

Steena

Chrono Cross Steena

By the time you acquire Steena, you'll be more than acquainted with Serge and what he can do in a fight. Steena is quite like Serge, but the more magical version. All of her techs deal magical damage, she has a high magic stat, and even has a higher Stamina than him, meaning she can take more turns than him in battle.

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Apart from her terribly late recruitment window, the biggest complaint you could levy against Steena is that she's completely overshadowed in her niche as a mage by Riddel. Of course, you could always use them both at the same time, but why would you want to do that?

Riddel

Chrono Cross Riddel

Riddel makes for possibly the best mage in the entire game, and it's pretty easy to see why. She has a fantastic Element Grid and the stats to go along with it, but the star of the show is her third tech, Snake Fangs. This tech recharges every Element previously used in the current battle and means that Riddel is the most consistent healer, summoner, and nuker in the game.

Despite her amazing proficiency at casting and her above-average Stamina, she still doesn't clinch that top spot, and that's largely to do with two things. First, she's a White Element character in a game where you've already got a White Element character forced into your party for most of the story. Second, her physical stats are abysmal. Sure, you're not using Riddel for physical damage, but she isn't taking too many hits before she goes down.

Serge

Chrono Cross Serge

As the protagonist of the game, you'd hope that Serge has good stats and is worth using - and you're in luck. Serge is proficient with both physical attacks and magic, and has a pretty stellar Element Grid to boot. Serge is the quintessential all-rounder, who deserves your best Elements and should be a priority for weapon upgrades.

Add to that the hilariously overpowered Mastermune that he can obtain and you'll be glad that he's forced into your party whenever he's around. He'll be doing great damage whether he's charging up his Element Grid or using the Elements he has equipped, and there's not much more you can ask for.

There's a large chunk of the game where you don't have access to him, but his replacement is pretty much the same but with a different Element, so you're not missing out on too much.

NEXT: Chrono Cross: Should You Save Kid Or Not?