With the recent release of Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers on the Nintendo Switch, I figured it'd be a good idea to compile a short list of the eleven WORST allies you can recruit in the game. Of course, I will explain what makes them so garbage in the game, and we're going in descending order. Let's get to it...
11- Korcha
Korcha is a Blue Innate ally that you get if you agree to save Kid from dying from Hydra poisoning. Problem is that refusing to save Kid gets you Glenn, one of the BEST characters in the game. So the game is almost forcing you to pick between this punk, and the guy who can dual wield later in the game...
But besides that? Korcha is mediocre at his absolute best. His weapon is a fishing pole, so his hit rate is sub par. His Magic Attack stat is below average, and otherwise the kid's outclassed HARD by most other Blue Innates, most of whom also happen to AT LEAST be above average mages.
And you're telling me I have to give up one of the BEST characters in the game... for HIM? NEXT!
10- Turnip
Few characters in the game learn Double Techs, which was one of Chrono Trigger's more unique battle mechanics. That, and his decent Strength, are reasons to have Turnip in your party.
Reasons AGAINST having Turnip in your party? Low stats overall, being yet ANOTHER sword wielder (and he's not even the best Green Innate sword wielder), and honestly you can do better than this little green veggie. He can't even use Magic very well, due to a small Elements Table AND a low Magic Attack stat! No thanks!
9- Steena
This is an unfortunate case of an objectively good character getting screwed over by the game itself. Steena has three BIG problems going against her. First off, she's recruited SUPER late; in fact, she'll generally be among the last, if not THE last character recruited. For joining so late, Steena's stats are ridiculously low; she seems better suited for the middle-to-late game. Second, her Techs all have to be FOUND. Don't have a guide? Go to GameFaqs! And thirdly, she's a White Innate who does the exact same things Serge does, but does nothing he doesn't do better!
Why even bother?
8- Zappa
Zappa is a case where he's good at doing ONE thing, but you need your characters to be more fluid than that. Zappa is a GREAT physical attacker, yes. But in this game, pure physical attackers are not nearly as versatile as the guys who can both attack AND cast magics. There are other, BETTER Red Innates in the game, and most of them do what Zappa does; some even do it better.
7-NeoFio
This little flower has ONE thing going for her, and that's the fact she can do a Double Tech with Turnip. That's it.
Her stats are otherwise too low to be of any real use. She's a mediocre at best Mage, her attacks aren't particularly strong, and she's otherwise a waste of a party slot that could be filled with a GOOD character. She doesn't even have a unique niche to fill! Next, please!
6- Van
Van's one of the few characters who can attack ALL enemies at once with his Attacks, plus his final skill can really HURT!
But he otherwise lacks the stats needed to justify bringing him along over any other character. If you need a good Green mage, you've got better options. If you need a Green Innate attacker, you have better options. Van's only "good" for when you recruit him, and even THAT is because your pickings are low, low, LOW!
5- Skelly
But recruiting him is a BITCH! Seriously, try recruiting this guy without a guide handy! What's that, you can't find all the pieces to bring him back together? Welp, too bad! No Skelly for you!
And after that odyssey to recruit him, what do you get? An average character! One who WILL be outclassed all too soon! So, RIP.
4- Funguy
Like Zappa, Funguy is a case of a character being good at ONE thing, when you want your characters to be good at more than one thing. He's got good Strength and good HP, but that's about it. That's not enough.
But what sets him below Zappa is the fact that his last Tech skill is earned so very late in the game; almost at the end! By that time, Funguy is SO BEYOND outclassed, using him is more of a joke than anything!
3- Unevolved Pip
Pip is unique in that, depending on how many Elements he uses, he'll evolve into a new form. Using a set number of White, Blue, or Green Elements gives him an Angel form, while Black, Red, or Yellow elements gives him a Devil form. But if you fail to evolve him by the time you get 35 stars, Pip will stay stuck in his base form, who'll end up being one of, if not THE, weakest member of your team!
You don't want that, trust me.
2- Mojo
Mojo has THREE things going for him, and that's it. First off, he's a very early recruit, and in fact he can even be the second character you recruit in the game if you know what you're doing. Second, he's pretty much your first Black Innate character, again if you know what you're doing. Thirdly, he's got GREAT evasion.
And that's absolutely it. Inarguably, Mojo is a bottom tier Black Innate character. Arguably, he's the absolute bottom of the barrel in terms of Black Innates. Once you get someone like Skelly, Mojo will find himself PERMANENTLY benched!
1- Pierre without the Hero Equipment
For Pierre to be useful, he has to equip the Hero's Sword, Hero's Shield, and Hero's Medal. When he has all three, he's pretty good; otherwise he sucks.
But is he GREAT? Nope! He's "above average" at best, getting himself outclassed HARD by Glenn, Fargo, Viper, and so on. At best, he might be considered the second best Blue Innate physical fighter, but again that's only if you have the WHOLE Hero Set. Forgot to find the Hero's Sword? AYYY LMAO, you ain't getting it again outside a New Game+!
Without the Hero Set, Pierre is far and away the absolute WORST Blue Innate character, and in fact he may well be the WORST character you can have if you've recruited him. You can do WAY better.
