Chrono Cross Element Allocation Guide | Up or Down?

[@zecko33995533]

For years, I've been using what sounded the most bad azz. But this def changes my opinion somewhat. 😅

[@tantacles]

“Uplift+6”

[@guiltycross]

Imagine using forever zero with the cool name and animation, then going back to serge just to end up with flying swords haha

[@rabidhellhound9714]

Thank you. You can go back 13 years into the GameFaqs forums for questions on this, and no one has given a solid answer. I always *assumed* that downgrading an element was better than upgrading simply because I use heal all elements for ALL heal slots once I get them. Especially lower level for easier after battle heals. But I never really did the math on it all. I appreciate the video showing us all this.

[@tantacles]

I’m so happy you like it!

[@zz1000zz]

I'm not sure why you say you can go that far back on the GameFAQs boards without finding a solid answer when the exact damage formulas have been posted there (and elsewhere) for over 10 years. People have answered this question on those boards many times.

[@rabidhellhound9714]

@@zz1000zz Then link one. And those damage calculations. I haven't seen anyone post those either.

[@arumea5418]

I've played chrono cross multiple times and never given this a huge amount of thought, but after watching this it's safe to assume that the - and + scaling is a percentage based value, thus the higher the base power the more the fluctuation. hence the lower level elements not changing so much.

[@armorvil]

Yup that's exactly it, damage increases or decreases by 1/8 per level so 12.5%

[@jhornbaker311]

Perfect timing for this. I haven't played in over a decade and I'm stoked to play the remaster. This was great info presented cleanly... thank you so much! :D

[@NomadNothing]

I took friday off from work so I could play all day.

[@vyadhis]

Incredible video for someone like me who enjoys minmaxing the grid but had no idea how to go about doing that

[@jaerivus]

Your awesome application of the scientific method to Chrono Cross is now a bookmarked video I will be referring back to. Thanks so much!

[@tantacles]

So happy you enjoyed it!

[@scottimothy1]

Really interesting, in the past I've mostly avoided any + or - on my grids

[@Landonio]

Love the music choice

[@kayne4701]

I am replaying the remake now and after this video, I am wiping out all my low level elements! Thank you!

[@deazee2288]

You know what? You're such trip down memory lane English wasn't my 1st language so I struggled to fully understand the game as a child And video games were one of the main reasons why I learned the language So listening to you explaining it is like when my aunt used to read FAQs to me and explaining it to me

[@dannysimion]

This guide was most helpful especially because I am so unfamiliar with the battle mechanics of this game. I usually just let the game allocate for me but that I know what these numbers mean on the element spells I can allocate them myself thanks to your tips. Visual aid helps a lot indeed.

[@cloudyvortex]

I've been waiting for this one. Thanks, man.

[@TrizRocks]

You are really helping me survive thru the wait for Radical Dreamers Edition

[@capncrunch6209]

Dude your channel is a hidden gem, found you while looking up good places to trap elements and been hooked since.

[@tantacles]

Thank you! I promise I’ll get back to posting videos in the near future. The medical channel has been extremely active in terms of views, and this channel is so fun but has to take a little bit of a back seat to my doctor stuff. But seriously: thank you.

[@JohnRambo1947-July-6th]

The remaster looks nice 👌 I wish we had a full blown remake, but this is better than nothing. Great video tantacles!

[@Eliedeoo]

I would love for them to be more clear about the powers of the elements in the remaster (showing actual values) and remake that slow as hell allocation page. I remember being a pain every time I had to change my elements.

[@djprojugs6606]

I'll mention it in case you want to when you see this but replacing your description timestamps with the newer chapter selection kind(idk the official name for it) might be a good thing to do. Don't know if you can once a vid is uploaded as i have no exp with them haha but just thought I'd throw it out there if possible. Mainly bringing it up just cuz I've been noticing a lot more people throughout KZbin seem to be getting the two kinds mixed up and complaining in comments that the uploader is saying to use timestamps(the chapter kind) that don't exist/forgot to add. Also if you do choose to then I think 4:56 could be a perfect spot to place a lil conclusion chapter for those three key suggestions you have at the end of the video. Honestly as it is now though I think your video was perfectly done anyway! Keep up the good work!

[@tantacles]

Great suggestion. Thank you

[@djprojugs6606]

@@tantacles I think you probably understood what I meant in the middle section but I meant to add/emphasize that I was seeing them say somebody forgot the stamps not realizing the said stamps were actually in the description and simply thought the creator referred to the chapter kind lol. P.S. sorry for the book sized comment for something as small as this lmao.

[@Kairikey]

Thank you. I've been waiting for something like this!

[@tantacles]

So happy you enjoyed it!

[@Angelalex242]

It is worth testing the black elements too, since the instant kill powers of black elements means the damage might be especially wonky.

[@tantacles]

Yes, black is a weird element, and it deserves some further examination.

[@Angelalex242]

@@tantacles I also want to see how normal elements compare to summons. Since Iceberg is the clear winner of the normal elements, test it in a blue field (+2) vs. Frog Prince +1 vs. Blue Whale, that we may determine if the Level 8s do at least do the damage they should for the nuisance they are.

[@Angelalex242]

@@tantacles I also want to determine what the percentage chance of the instant kill effect is, and how the percentage varies by element allocation.

[@tantacles]

You’re in luck! I recorded footage for that along with the footage for this video. I think you’ll like it!

[@douglasthequilava]

this is going to be so helpful when i buy the Radical Dreamers Edition

[@zoricgames]

This is legit fascinating

[@_Tizoc_]

This game is so freaking good! I love the intricate little details

[@tagjmclag3213]

Love the content!! Please do more Chono Cross videos!!

[@tantacles]

So happy you like it! I have a ton more planned, and my most recent video I posted yesterday is about traps. Let me know what you think!

[@matriarchofazure7607]

Since I have OCD, I forbid myself from using + or - elements, and I allocate every spell possible to my characters that have the same innate.

[@randomuser89]

so the multi target spells spread damage after playing the game so many times I never realized it until now..and what your saying is if you use deluge on a single target the spell will still do less damage as if it had more targets interesting

[@Derysss]

Excelent content, bro! New subscriber!

[@tantacles]

Thank you! More coming next week when I’m back from vacation

[@virtuazoso]

You should make a video explaining the entire story of Chrono Trigger and Cross

[@tantacles]

I love that idea

[@irmenotu]

Great video. Im wondering if everything is proportionally the same with healing. I tend to have either a green or blue innate as my default healer and give them far more healing spells on their grid, but if this math holds up it may be unnecessary or perhaps, more accurately, redundant.

[@tantacles]

I think I could make a 2-3 minute video with that testing.

[@AxelRyman]

I like the methodology and the testing, but I think the Level 2 and 3 Blue elements(IceLance and AquaBall) should of been included just for comparison purposes. Though since you did mention you'll expand on it in terms of a breaking point, this works as a more rough idea for the Allocation as a whole. Will you also be testing the colored elements on a full field color due to summons? Since the Level 7 summons can be used at +/- 2, you can throw them on a Level 5 and see how they compare to other elements around the same level (So Iceblast/Iceberg/Deluge in this case)

[@tantacles]

Funny you ask! That’s the element testing I’m working on right now on twitch.

[@urgoslav5107]

remaster in one week. My yearly playthrough can finally get an upgrade.

[@LancerkingNoel]

thanks!

[@erikofskullisland3987]

Invaluable comparisons of damage.

[@tantacles]

Dude I think it’s awesome that you’re watching all my old chrono cross videos!

[@erikofskullisland3987]

@@tantacles You named the sh*t out of Chrono Cross' characters XD Oh so good.

[@innova1335]

Nice guide

[@tantacles]

Thank you!

[@_Tizoc_]

Subbed!

[@tantacles]

Thank you!

[@yoso378]

It's been ages since I played this, but doesn't Auto-allocate assign elements in slots that give them +/- levels? Does it follow these rules for optimal damage? Because if it does then the game was telling us all along lol. If it doesn't then... I'm really curious as to how it picks what elements to assign where...

[@tantacles]

I’ll have to take a look, but I think that’s a great idea for another video

[@Pystoria]

Fargo I love you

[@Jay-ym3el]

Are you able to test this with EagleEye and Strengthen? Better for lower or higher value for these?

[@tantacles]

Yes! I’m on vacation but I’ll be doing more testing next week.

[@haxkn]

What about status elements? Like stat buffs/debuffs

[@tantacles]

I’ll have to figure out how to do that. Might have to crowdsource some data.

[@SuperHandi]

@@tantacles If you ever need any help with this, we have looked at a lot of this stuff for speedrunning the game! Its good to have more explanations on CC mechanics (I've been trying to do that as well haha!) As for buffs/debuffs; Probably not intentional, but they are not affected at all no matter where you allocate them. A regularly allocated EagleEye grants you the same amount of AP usage as an EagleEye on level 1. Same with Genius, Strengthen, etc. This also applies for things like WeakMinded and other debuffs. This is why you will see a lot of us speedrunners put all buffs/debuffs on level 1.

[@tantacles]

@@SuperHandi I constantly need help! Mainly what I always need is raw footage. I’m about to start doing some more casual guides (getting the summons, etc.) next week, and those are reasonable to do. However, these videos comparing element damage require me to do several hours of recording for each video. I’m in the chrono cross discord (both of them that I could find.) Do y’all have a place you talk about Cc?

[@xxtimedevourerxx7485]

Iceblast

[@SeveredLegs]

"will be my husband?" Weird

[@tantacles]

Thank you

[@cangrexX]

although it is most optimal to use icerblast-3 instead of aquabeam i don't really like to do that becuase it's a bit sad having so little divertsity of elements in the grid plus the game's dificulty is rather easy so i choose not to underplace my elements too much.. at least the attacking and healing ones... i can make an exeption for the "supportive" ones such as strenghten and that sort.. i don't know if underplacing them gives you less effectiveness though... have you done the testing on those ones?

[@tantacles]

I have not, but multiple viewers have told me there is no effect.

[@cangrexX]

@@tantacles thank you for responding i too adore this game and it's amazing how old it is and still the dept it has, imagine a sequel o boy let me dream... amazing channel friend :)

[@RihannaCarlaMorgan]

Should I only allocate white elements to white innate characters? Or if I equip them with other coloured elements other than their innate colour, it wouldn’t matter since it’s based on magic stat?

[@tantacles]

Generally, magic stat is king. If it’s within one or two points, equip it on the white innate. If more than that, might as well equip on the person with the higher magic stat.

[@RihannaCarlaMorgan]

@@tantacles thank you you’re very cute

[@guiltycross]

How about buffs and debuffs?

[@tantacles]

Sooooon!

[@guiltycross]

@@tantacles looking forward to it! Just bought the remaster, damn the nostalgia is real. I remember playing this back then as a kid without thinking about this stuff haha

[@KarkySphere]

is this the remastered version? damn the texture still looks pixelated, i think there are now mods that can improve these

[@tantacles]

Nope! It’s the ps3 port. Some of my recordings are from before the remaster was released because the battle system didn’t change. I’ll be transitioning to the remaster as soon as I get files in order.