Ending/Achievement Guide

If you haven't noticed or aren't familiar with Chrono Trigger, there are 13 achievements all corresponding to different endings. I'll try to keep this as spoiler-light as possible but I suggest beating the game naturally first.

WARNING

If you're looking here to figure out how to get the achievements, as of the most recent update (March, 2022) it seems the achievements are broken for most, if not everyone.

If you want to continue progressing through the game, consider keeping separate save slots before each ending trigger so you can come back and get them!

Apparently the issue with achievements has been fixed in another update. They claim watching the ending in the Extras menu may pop the achievement, otherwise you may need to complete it again.

Introduction

If you haven't noticed or aren't familiar with Chrono Trigger, there are 13 achievements all corresponding to a different ending. I'll try to keep this as spoiler-light as possible but I'd advise beating the game naturally prior to trying to hunt for all the endings because (mild spoiler incoming)
some endings are only advisable in New Game + mode.

Since it was asked, and may be helpful for others, here's what I believe to be the most efficient order to get them all in two runs:

• Beyond Time (first run)
  
• Dream's Epilogue (first run is the most efficient if doable and sets you up for the second run)
  
• The Dream Project (if doable in your second run)
  
• The Successor of Guardia
  
• Good Night
  
• The Legendary Hero
  
• The Unknown Past
  
• People of the Times
  
• The Oath
  
• Dino Age
  
• What the Prophet Seeks
  
• Memory Lane
  
• Reunion

Additional Tips

Thanks to "Beldo Crowlen" & "stealing from ruins" in the comments for these tips:

Some best practice tips:

• Make a habit of rotating save slots. That way if you progress too far you have a save (or two) to go back to. (Generally good practice in most games when possible)
  
• Some have complained of save files disappearing. Haven't experienced it myself but it's never a bad practice to make backups anyway (they can be found at Documents\My Games\Chrono Trigger)
  
• Similar to the above, if you're ever unsure whether or not it's the right time to finish the game for an ending, the safest bet is just to go do it. Worst case you'll see the previous ending again.
  
• Go for an ending as soon as you can; at certain points of the story, even progressing the story a mere couple extra minutes can cause you to miss an ending.

Note: As with any spoilers, completing the game the first time before reading this part is advised.

To trigger any of the 'bucket' endings and skip the initial Lavos phase where he imitates the other bosses, you can either:

• Take the right teleporter at the Millenial Fair
  or
  
• Beat that first phase and save/return (there's a return teleporter there), which causes that phase to be skipped from then on

Beyond Time

Chances are if you took my suggestion, you happened upon this ending naturally.

• Make your way through the Black Omen
  
• Use the bucket at the End of Time any time after Crono rejoins the party

Dream's Epilogue

• After beating the game, three dimensional vortices will unlock in 12,000 BC, 1,000 AD and 2,300 AD. Beat each of those dungeons, talk to Gaspar at the End of Time, then use the bucket and choose the new option, "Time's Eclipse"
  
  If you don't feel prepared, you can do this in NG+ after collecting all the other endings and gaining additional equipment/levels. For more of a challenge (relatively speaking) you can do these after finishing the game the first time.

The Dream Project

• Defeat Lavos at the Ocean Palace in 12,000BC
  
• At the Millenial Fair when Lucca is showing off her machine instead of engaging as normal, use the right teleporter. New Game + only

The Successor of Guardia

New Game + only

• Similar to the previous ending, use the right teleporter right after finishing up in 600 AD.

Good Night

New Game + only unless you're insane

• Use the bucket at the End of Time right after arriving for the first time.

The Legendary Hero

New Game + only unless you're insane

• Immediately after arriving in 600 AD the second time, go back to the End of Time and use the bucket.

The Unknown Past

New Game + only unless you're insane.

• Use the bucket at the End of Time right after finishing up in 600 AD the second time.

People of the Times

New Game + only unless you're insane.

• Use the bucket at the End of Time right after getting the gate key back.

The Oath

New Game + only unless you're crazy.

• Use the bucket at the End of Time immediately after giving Frog the repaired Masamune.

Dino Age

Most likely New Game + only.

• Use the bucket at the End of Time after fighting Magus but before finishing 65,000,000 BC.

What the Prophet Seeks

• Use the bucket at the End of Time as soon as possible after finishing 65,000,000 BC.

Memory Lane

• Use the bucket at the End of Time IMMEDIATELY after Schala opens the sealed door in Zeal Palace, BEFORE restoring Marle's pendant at the Mammon Machine.
  
  The tightness of this window cannot be understated. As soon as the first part happens, get out. Do not explore.

Reunion

Easier to accomplish in New Game +

• Defeat Lavos after losing in the Ocean Palace but before re-acquiring Crono

The Future Refused to Change

This ending is easy to achieve (though there's no achievement for it). Just lose any battle that can be won.

Losing to Magus

Not much to see here but it is different than losing anywhere else.

• Lose to Magus during the first battle with him

To summarize this ending, You die, Magus turns around, you hear Lavos, game over.

Complete Ending List in Order (With Spoilers)

If you're looking for a basic step-by-step guide, with fewer options, or something you can copy into a Notepad, open on your phone or print out (if people still do that), this is the section for you.

Warning: Spoilers Abound

Thanks to the way spoiler tags & lists work in Steam, I can't wrap the whole thing in spoiler tags or add them to individual parts while keeping it copy/pasteable, so reveal at your own risk.

In other words, play through the game normally & follow the story until its logical conclusion prior to following this guide, unless you don't care or you've already played through the game.

---

• Beyond Time - Play through the game normally, follow the story until it reaches its logical conclusion Beat Lavos after reaching and going through the Black Omen
  
• Dream's Epilogue - After beating the game, three dimensional vortices will unlock in 12,000 BC, 1,000 AD and 2,300 AD. Beat each of those dungeons, talk to Gaspar at the End of Time, then use the bucket and choose the new option, "Time's Eclipse". This will be easier in New Game + if you're good with completing the entire game twice.
  
• Restart the game (New Game + based on your existing file)
  
• The Dream Project - At the Millenial Fair when Lucca is showing off her machine, instead of engaging as normal, interact with the sparkle on the right teleporter.
  
• Play all the way through the 600 AD section and return to 1,000 AD.
  
• The Successor of Guardia - Similar to the previous ending, use the right teleporter after returning to 1,000 AD.
  
• Continue until you reach the End of Time
  
• Good Night - Use the bucket at the End of Time right after arriving for the first time.
  
• Save after beating Lavos's first form, so you won't have to fight it again.
  
• Keep playing until you get back to 600 AD the second time.
  
• The Legendary Hero - Immediately after arriving in 600 AD the second time, go right back to the End of Time and use the bucket.
  
• Head back to 600 AD and complete that portion of the story.
  
• The Unknown Past - Use the bucket at the End of Time right after finishing up in 600 AD the second time.
  
• Play through 65,000,000 BC until you lose & regain the gate key
  
• People of the Times - Use the bucket at the End of Time right after getting the gate key back.
  
• Repair the Masamune, return it to Frog
  
• The Oath - Use the bucket at the End of Time immediately after giving Frog the repaired Masamune.
  
• Play up through the fight with Magus
  
• Dino Age - Use the bucket at the End of Time after fighting Magus but before finishing 65,000,000 BC.
  
• Finish up 65,000,000 BC.
  
• What the Prophet Seeks - Use the bucket at the End of Time as soon as possible after finishing 65,000,000 BC.
  
• Play through Zeal Palace, until Schala opens the sealed door, and stop IMMEDIATELY. Make sure to be rotating saves, just to be safe. You can see what it looks like in my playthrough here if you're worried or don't remember:
  

  YouTube™ Video: Chrono Trigger PC Playthrough #33 - Endings 11 & 12 

  Views: 44

  What the Prophet Seeks & Memory Lane
  
  
• Memory Lane - Use the bucket at the End of Time right after Schala opens the sealed door in Zeal Palace, but before restoring Marle's pendant at the Mammon Machine.
  
• Continue until you lose Crono
  
• Reunion - Defeat Lavos after losing in the Ocean Palace but before re-acquiring Crono

[Argonath]

Thank you for the guide!

[Jimmeh]

Thanks for the additional tips, tossed 'em in. Save rotation is always a good practice but maybe not everyone knows that.

I also added the type of list I think SeaGoblin was looking for, more of a straightforward guide without all the fluff. Hopefully that's helpful to some!

[stealing from ruins]

I have a few things you can add:
Additional Tips
- make a backup of your save files (the chance is very low, but you don't want to lose 40+ hours of progress; I have seen reports of lost game files for like every game on steam for reasons as strange as playing during full moon)
- finish an ending as soon as possible
- use more than one save slot (loading an older save slot and losing 30 minutes is still better than restarting ng+ and watching 5 hours of unskipable ingame cutscenes)
- don't get distracted while reading the requirements of an ending
- depending on how strong your characters are, beating lavos just in case when you are unsure, is still faster than loading another save slot or having to start a new ng+

Memory Lane:
Don't charge the amulet or else you can't leave the building and you will have to load an older save

[stealing from ruins]

Save slot titles for additional orientation:
"name of ending" ---> "last quest before the ending" / "first time you can get the ending"
"last quest before the ending" is meant for being prepared and avoid getting distracted at the wrong time.
Endings at the very start or very end of the game are not listet.
The Successor of Guardia ---> A vanished Princess / Homecoming
Good Night ---> The Derelict Factory / The End of Time
The Legendary Hero ---> Fiendish Folk / The Hero appears
The Unknown Past --->Tata and the Frog / The rare Red Rock
People of the Times ---> Footprints! Follow! / The Masamune
The Oath ---> The Masamune / The Masamune (no title change)
Dino Age ---> The Fiendlord's Keep / Forward to the Past
What the Prophet Seeks ---> Unnatural Selection / The magic Kingdom
Memory Lane ---> The magic Kingdom / The magic Kingdom (no title change)
Reunion ---> The new King / The Time Egg

[iAlexander]

Good job!

[Jimmeh]

@JeanDrunK it is a lot of info for sure. I've got the optimal (IMO) order in there, but maybe a brief summary of when/how to do each one would be helpful? Otherwise if you have any feedback, happy to hear it. I can't erase my knowledge of when/where to do things, so fresh eyes are always welcomed.

[JeanDrunK]

pain in the ass.

[Aviatori]

@deathness I don't think you have the right game here. Looking up Payachin gives me results for the Fae Tactics game, and this guide is for Chrono Trigger.

[Jimmeh]

Added a big fat "IMMEDIATELY" to stress how short a window it is, along with the location and where the restoration happens. Hopefully that helps someone else in the future, thanks for the feedback.

[Jimmeh]

@TutomaN that one's a narrow window for sure, if I remember right you have to leave pretty much immediately, and I think the restoring of the pendant is the cue that you've gone too far, but I'll look back at my playthrough and see if there's another way I can word it.