Chrono Trigger Walkthrough, Part Thirty-Six: Lost Sanctum (DS Only)

Chrono Trigger owned by Square-Enix. 
Images used for educational purposes only.

Part Thirty-Five: Lavos

BE WARNED! This is by far the most obnoxious section of Chrono Trigger DS, and consists largely of a series of stupid fetch quests. The equipment you find is nice for some of the later parts of the game, but it’s hardly necessary. I don’t recommend traipsing through the Lost Sanctum unless you’re a hardcore completionist… or really, really bored. The other optional quests are so much better.

Lost Sanctum

- The Lost Sanctum first appears when you gain access to the Epoch in its flying form, after recruiting / killing Magus and watching the rise of the Black Omen. It appears in two different time periods: 600 AD (north of Ozzie’s Fort) and 65,000,000 BC (west of the Sun Shrine). You need the Epoch to reach both locations.

65,000,000 BC

- Entering the Lost Sanctum in 600 AD will only get you rebuffed, so forget about going through this way and try 65,000,000 BC instead.

- Beyond is an empty village. There’s nothing to see here right now, so climb the ladders in the far northeast to exit the area.

- You’re now in a forest. Follow the path through the trees to find several Ogan Youths. Unlike previous battles with these troll-like creatures, the hammer doesn’t make a difference to overall defences.  Further north is a Slate Imp and a Pink Imp accompanied by another Ogan Youth; none are terribly inspired enemies. Near them is a Hi-Potion in a chest.

- Two of each of these enemies are waiting to the southwest. South of them is another Ogan Youth, this accompanied by a tougher (but still not very tough) Ogan Chieftain. The latter will respond unfavourably to physical attacks, so settle for Techs. South of them you can find a hidden path through the trees that leads to a chest containing 20,000 gil.

- Head north, checking the trees on your left for a path that leads to a Hi-Ether. There’s another Ogan Youth / Chieftain squad to the north on the main path. Kill them off and you’ll find a sparkling seedling. It will be important later. Look north of the seedling for a semi-hidden path through the trees that leads to Athenian Water, then to the west for another semi-hidden path that leads south to an Elixir.

- Return to the village. You’ll hit a small cut scene on your way out, revealing that it is inhabited… by Reptites. They’re friendly, though, and by speaking to them you can embark on a large series of side quests that ultimately lead to some fancy rewards. For the moment they’ll give you the Dragon’s Tear.

- Speak to the Reptite in the bottom-left corner of the village. He’ll ask you to search for a Golden Hammer. Agree. You can get some extra info about it from a Reptite in the west. You can also speak to one of the northern Reptites for items, weapons and equipment sales, and the Reptite on the cliffs will let you sleep in his home for free.

- We’re now going to do some exploring. Get it over with now and you’ll find the later side quests a bit easier to manage, as you’ll already know which direction you need to go.

Great Southern Swamp

- Head south in the village to find another area, this lushly appointed with palm trees. Look to your left upon entering to find a chest containing a Hi-Potion.

- You’ll face three evasive (but weak) Kingfrogs following the path. Northeast of them are two more Kingfrogs and a Deathcreeper, an odd creature that can charm your party. Still not too difficult. South of these enemies is a chest containing 8000 gil.

- Head south until you reach a junction. Proceed to the very bottom of the screen. On your right is a chest containing a Shelter. (Further east is blocked by a Nu, so don’t bother trying to go this way.) On your left, snug in a grove of trees, is a Turbo Ether. Continue all the way west along the bottom of the screen to find a Mid-Potion. There’s another Kingfrog confrontation north of here, along with two Exiles. Not terribly difficult opponents, these, though don’t fall for their Reptite looks - they absorb Lightning attacks.

- To the right of this confrontation is a sparkle on the bushes. Grab it for Golden Sand. North of here and on your left you’ll find a chest containing Athenian Water, and past a battle with more Kingfrogs and a Jackpot (beware its absorbing attack; magic recommended) you’ll find a new area.

Winding Passage

- Head west. A Black Bat bars your path at a crossroads. Easy kill, if a little evasive. Slip through the hidden wall south of the Bat to find a Shelter.

- Head west. There’s a conspicuous dip in the part partway through the passage. Look on the left side of this dip to find a hidden pathway leading to a Reptite Tiara.

- North of here is a Black Bat and Deathcreeper combo. Look further north after taking them out for a passage that leads to a Megalixir.

- The next path here leads to a blackened area that you can’t currently bypass, and won’t get through for some time. Ignore it and return to the village.

- Head back to the forested area in the north. Run to the sapling you found earlier and use the Golden Sand on it. Now you’re ready to leave.

600 AD

- Check out the Lost Sanctum. Yep, the Reptites are still here, and they want you to clear the monsters from the northern forest. Aaaagain. Lousy reptiles. 

- Wipe out the monsters. They’re the same as in 65,000,000 BC, though the combinations are different. There are unopened chests in the same places as before, these containing a Shelter, 25,000 gil, a Turbo Ether, a Megalixir, and a Dragonhead.

- In the northwest you’ll find an Ogan with a big, golden hammer. It will run off. Head back towards the village, following the main path (no shortcuts through the trees), and you’ll run into it soon enough.

Goldhammer

Goldhammer is reasonably tough. He specializes in physical attacks on single targets, and has a physical defence that’s very difficult to breach. The only effective way to kill this guy is to employ magical attacks or Dual Techs. Do that and he’s not too insanely tough… though you want to reduce the potential for hard hits by using your strongest attacks, as he gains attack power each time he’s hit. A lack of HP hobbles the guy in your favour.

- Beating Goldhammer will earn you the Golden Hammer. Woo! Make tracks back to the village with your prize in hand. The elder will give you a Megalixir in exchange for your heroism.

- Head to the south. The Marsh has been replaced by a forest, though the enemies in the area are the same as in 65,000,000 BC. The main exception are Dire Rats, which aren’t a big deal anyway. You can find 50,000 gil in the northeast, a Shelter in the southeast, a Lapis in the south, an Elixir in the southwest, and an Athenian Water in the west. From here you can also access the Winding Passage again to find a Lapis, a Turbo Ether, and a Steel Ingot, the last of which is a key item.

- You’re all done. Hop back in the Epoch.

65,000,000 BC

- Take the Golden Hammer to the southwest Reptite. He’ll give you 100,000 gil. Yeesh.

- Speak to the Reptite one house north of the last one. This guy wants you to help his daughter by finding the Prismastone.

- Head south, into the Marsh, then east. You’ll find a mountain path nearby, guarded by a Nu. Speak to him after accepting this quest and you’ll get into a brawl.

Nu Guardian

The Nu Guardian does not fight like his normal brethren. Most of the time the Guardian will sit in spot and do absolutely nothing, only occasionally breaking out the signature Nu attack of bringing you down to a single HP. Attack him, though, and the Guardian will counter your attack with a strike of the same element or type. Hit him with a Shadow attack, for example, and he’ll counter with Dark Matter. Hit him with Lightning and he’ll come back with Luminaire. This is a painful setup, but it also means that you can manipulate the Nu into doing whatever you like. Set up a team that absorbs or resists an element, then trash the Nu with that element alone. He’ll keep healing you, or at least dishing out a minimum of damage. Ruby Vests make hitting him with Fire ideal, as they’re easy to procure, though if you’ve been collecting other Vests already you’ll have more options.

Mount Emerald

- You can proceed after trouncing the Nu. North of here you’ll face a Jadewing, a highly-evasive-but-otherwise-just-mildly-annoying enemy. Kill it with magic. Look on a nearby ledge for 10,000 gil.

- More enemies to the east. Check south of them for a Shelter, then proceed up the mountain. To the west is a chest containing an Elixir. Continue tromping along the path and, soon enough, you’ll come to a save point.

- Continue climbing. There are Hercules Beetles up here that are fairly standard enemies. To the west is an Aeonian Helm, to the east a Hi-Potion, and to the far north is an Aeonian Suit.

- At the top of the mountain is another save point. Head east of here to find the Prismastone on an outcropping of rock. Take it back down the mountain and give it to the Reptite. You’ll receive two Strength Capsules, two Magic Capsules, and two Speed Capsules as thanks. Score!

- After collecting the Capsules, head to the east-most Reptite and show her the Prismastone. She’ll ask you to find another such gem. You won’t find it here, soooo…

600 AD

- Speak to the southwest Reptite. He’ll ask you to check on a ‘lonely figure’ at the base of Emerald Mountain. Then speak to the right-most Reptite, the one who always talks about bridges, and he’ll ask you to procure several items so he can complete his dream: metal, a hammer, and lumber. The Steel Ingot covers the metal, and you can borrow the Golden Hammer from the Reptite you gave it to back in 65,000,000 BC. Speak to the Reptite at the entrance of the woods to receive Godwood, the lumber you need. Take these items back to the bridge builder and he’ll give you a Haste Helm.

- Head to the Mountain in 600 AD. The Nu Guardian is waiting at the bottom, and he’ll tell you to find him at the top. Unfortunately, a ladder partway up is busted. Return to the village and the Reptite in the bottom-right house will tell you to look for vines to repair it in the Southern Glade. You can find the Sturdy Vines in the top-right corner of the map. Jump back to 65,000,000 BC and you can hang the vines beside the ladder that’s busted in 600 AD.

- Return to 600 AD. Fight your way up the Mountain, collecting chests along the way - they contain 30,000 gil, a Lapis, an Athenian Water, a Rainbow Helm, a Turbo Ether, and a Mermaid Helm - and you’ll find the Nu waiting at the top.

Nu Master

This fight is almost completely different from the last. The Nu Master is capable of the usual Nu nonsense of cutting your HP down to one, but he can also cut your HP in half - or just outright kill you if your luck is bad. He can also use a Lightning-based strike, and every time you hit him he’ll absorb about 200 HP back from his attacker. Ouch. Smack him around with your strongest Dual Techs, and only the strongest, to whittle down his HP with a minimum of absorbed health. About halfway through the fight the Nu will change tactics, and instead stand still and charge up an all-hitting attack that gets stronger each time he uses it. At this point you can hit him with anything you like, though don’t take too long finishing the battle, as the attack gets reeeeeally painful after a few uses.

- The Nu will settle down for a nap once he’s defeated. Return to the village and speak to the bottom-left Reptite to receive Nova Armor for fighting the Nu.

- Visit the elder back in the village, up the ladders in the middle of the area. He won’t allow you to get inside the shrine at his back without the Reptmark. You’ll find it in the far northwest corner of the northern woods.

- Now for some Prismastone duplication. Jump back in time to 65,000,000 BC, enter the sanctuary, and set the Prismastone on one of the two columns in the room. Then jump forward to 600 AD and pick up the Prismastone. Take it back in time to 65,000,000 BC and put it in the sanctuary, beside the existing Prismastone. The two will react and merge into a single Saintstone. Fancy.

- Show the Saintstone to the Reptite on the far left. He’ll give you a Dragon Arm. Then speak to his closest neighbour to learn how to make the Saintstone shine. Take the Saintstone to the top of Emerald Mountain, as instructed, and leave it in the spot where you first collected the Prismastone. Then head to Emerald Mountain in 600 AD and collect the Waystone where you left the Saintstone.

- Return to the village. Speak to the first Reptite north and to your right to receive a quest regarding the bridge builder. Trek back up the mountain and speak to the Nu (you may be able to do this while fetching the Waystone, I’m not positive) to find the guy. Then backtrack and speak to the Nu. 

- … he’s hungry. Yikes. Return to the village… again… and speak to the Reptite in the bottom-left house. He’ll give you a Hearty Lunch. Take it up to the Nu… and… and…!

- … he wants something else to eat. Jesus christ. Leave the mountain and climb in the Epoch.

65,000,000 BC

- Return to the village and speak to the first few Reptites to learn that the animals nearby carry food items. You need a Sweet Banana to satisfy the Nu, and you can find it in the Marsh to the south. While here, you should also speak to the Reptite in the bottom-right corner of the area. With the Waystone in hand he’ll give you a quest to check out the darkened area in the west.

- Enter the Marsh. The enemy carrying the Sweet Banana is south, east, north, and then back to the west a short ways. You’ll face a Deathcreeper and some Kingfrogs. Take them out for the Banana.

- Head to the far end of the Winding Passage. With the Waystone in hand you’ll light the next section of the passage, leading to a new area.

Primeval Fortress

- Dead ahead is a quick cut scene and three Twin Snakes. They’re easy to kill with physical strikes. Once they’re gone you’ll jump back to the village, and one of the villagers will give you the Judgment Scythe.

- Return to the Fortress. Along the way you’ll get into a number of battles, the first of which introduces you to Chryosaurs. Unlike most lizards they absorb Lightning, and should be handled via other elements. Eventually you’ll make it back to the Fortress entrance; check the chests here for 40,000 gil in total. The next room to the north has an Athenian Water and a Shelter.

- In the next set of corridors you’ll face two Chryosaurs. There are three sets of stairs to check here, as well as a dinosaur skull. Go through the skull to start, kill the enemies inside, and go down the stairs in the north to find five chests. They contain a Feather, a Petal, a Fang, a Horn, and a TurboShot.

- Return to the central chamber and go up either set of stairs. They lead to the same corridor. The right door leads to a battle, 10 gil, a Potion, and a Panacea. (Don’t bother with this door, basically.) The left door leads to another battle, as well as a Megalixir and a Dragon Armor. The central door leads to a save point and a wide corridor. Both sides lead outside.

- You’ll find flying creatures named Pteranyxes outside that can’t handle physical attacks but heavily resist magic. Down the left side of the corridor you’ll find a Stardust Bow and a dead end; down the right side you’ll find the path onward. 

- Climb to the top of the tower, avoiding or killing enemies as you see fit. At the top, protected by a large number of fliers, is a chest containing a Reptite Dress. After grabbing it, backtrack one level and go south to find a save point. Boss time!

Archaeofang

Blue and red ruling over an ancient kingdom, the Archaeofangs are irritating opponents. Their attacks consist primarily of high-level magic that does surprisingly little damage, though they use them often enough that the HP loss adds up quickly. More annoying than that is their propensity for stealing MP after every freaking attack. Yikes. Expect to run low on MP. As you may predict, the Blue absorbs Water damage and takes extra from Fire, while the Red does the exact opposite. Either target them one-at-a-time with strong Dual Techs that go after their specific weakness, or use neutral elements that will take them both down at roughly the same time. Not that difficult, but you may find the battle dragging on if you don’t have items that restore your MP.

- Winning will jump you back to the village, where the villagers will reward you with the Valor Crest. You’re now more or less done with the Lost Sanctum in 65,000,000 BC.

600 AD

- Wander up to the Mountain and give the Banana to the Nu. (As far as I know, you can’t finish the bridge before completing the Primeval Fortress quest in 65,000,000, but I could be wrong.) You’ll be jumped back to the village (WHYYYYYYYYYY) and earn Saurian Leathers. From this point on the Nu will remain in the village, and you can purchase some cool armour from his store.

- On the way out you’ll hit a cut scene, and… now… you have to go up the mountain. Again. Sigh. Cross the bridge at the top, and after a few encounters you’ll wind up in a new area. These enemies include Bone Knights, a new foe that can’t handle its magic.

Tower of the Ancients

- Straight ahead are more Bone Knights and two chests, one containing 50,000 gil and the other a Dinoblade.

- Climb the tower. The enemies along the way aren’t too tough. You’ll find a save point midway up, and near the top you’ll see an area with a red carpet. Look right to find a Rusted Blade.

- The third save point signals the end of the Tower. Beyond…

Master-at-Arms, Bladesman

Not a difficult fight, but trying. The Master-at-Arms is a Lightning-based creature, and will either use physical or all-hitting Lightning attacks to smack you around. Every hit you land on him will incur a counterattack, which, though kinda weak, can get annoying after a while. He’ll occasionally change stances to redirect his stats; it’s better not to attack when he’s in his defensive stance. The Bladesman has no counters and generally isn’t a great threat, but unlike the Master-at-Arms he’ll absorb any Shadow magic you may use. Focus strong Dual Techs on the Bladesman to wipe him out before focusing your full might on the Master-at-Arms. Neither is really strong enough to do significant amounts of damage unless you came here reeeeally early in the game.

- Check the rear room after defeating this pair and you’ll be tossed back to the village. Here you’ll receive the Champion’s Badge, which is basically an upgraded version of the Hero’s Badge for Frog.

- So close to done. Remember when I said you were done in 65,000,000 BC? I lied. Jump back there and speak to the Reptite along the top row. Give him the Rusted Blade and he’ll grant you an Icewyrm. If you manage to track down Lumicite in a later dungeon, the Dimensional Vortex, you can trade it to the Reptite in this same spot in 65,000,000 BC for an Elemental Aegis.

- You’re finished. Hopefully you’ll never have to come here again.

Part Thirty-Seven: Dimensional Vortex (DS Only)