Dario is FRICKING IMPOSSIBLE!

[Alastor]

OMG! i need MAJOR help with Dario. i haven't played the game in a month because of this asshat! i need help BADLY! i just kept trying and trying. i heard you have to keep your elements below level 3 to avoid his Conductarod, but its BS! i got this from ign.com too! WOW! i just need to know how i can beat Dario in the easiest way possible. P.S dont tell me to get the black plate, because i cant. i forgot it...

[Kyronea]

Dario is a kitten.

Basically, you need the Black Plate. To get that, you need to fight the Black Dragon with Fargo in your party so you can steal it. To fight the Black Dragon you must do the Marbule sidequest.

Once you've done that, equip the Black Plate on Riddel and all of your white elements on her. Equip all red elements on Lynx and your third party member, and then have them always attack to charge up then use a red element. Dario counters all elements with an opposing element, so if you keep attacking with red elements all he'll ever do is cast Numble. With Riddel having the Black Plate equipped she can absorb Conductarod and thus all of his attacks will be focused on her. You have to keep the cycle going; don't break it for anything, and you'll have him easily.

[Molotov]

Once you know about his counter pattern, Dario is a complete joke. Basically, go into battle with red elements all over your grid. Attack him with 2/2/2/FirePillar or MagmaBurst combos until he dies. Seriously, you won't have trouble that way (unless you miss, in which case you can go with the safer 1/1/1/1/1/1/red element combo).

Of course, if you want to be quicker about it (I can hear the pained groans from everyone else right now), start with Magnify-2 and hope someone survives the first turn he gets. Follow that with 2/2/2/FirePillar until you inflict Burns (to increase damage). Afterwards, use 2/2/2/AeroBlaster combos until he dies. The reason for AeroBlaster is because it's a level 4 element (compared to 3 for FirePillar) and has a fast animation.

Also, if you have the Plasma Pistol, use that on him. From what I remember, it seems to always critical on Dario. Use this to your advantage, if you've been using a character with a gun.

[Kyronea]

What's up with the insistance on low element levels? So long as you have enough to use an element each turn with the characters so he doesn't do anything other than counterattack you don't need to focus on the low elements.

Trust me...Black Plate with Riddel and all white elements on her and all red on everyone else is the way to go. I ate Dario for a snack that way.

[Molotov]

What's up with the insistance on low element levels? So long as you have enough to use an element each turn with the characters so he doesn't do anything other than counterattack you don't need to focus on the low elements.

Trust me...Black Plate with Riddel and all white elements on her and all red on everyone else is the way to go. I ate Dario for a snack that way.

You mean IGN? If so, it's likely because 90% (number taken out of thin air) of "FAQs" or "guides" for Chrono Cross are filled with completely false and silly information. Yes, GameFAQs is full of that as well. Heck, even the great Element-Tech location guide (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) has at least one minor flaw (FrogPrince CAN be trapped, easily).

Sorry to sound like a know-it-all and/or rude, but what gave you the idea that Dario focuses on Riddel? In my many playthroughs, I don't believe there's any evidence to say he focuses on her. It makes logical sense, but I don't think it really happens like that. I think that's also one of those bogus pieces of information that's been floating around for ages, and it's passed off as fact.

I apologize again for that, but I had to say it.

[Kyronea]

Basically, my method involves forcing Dario to always counterattack and never decide to make a real move. After the first move he may make you will never see anything other than Numble or Conductarod. That's what I meant by focusing his attacks on Riddel, because all of the damage done will be to Riddel, and if she has the Black Plate nothing will ever happen to your characters.

[Molotov]

Basically, my method involves forcing Dario to always counterattack and never decide to make a real move. After the first move he may make you will never see anything other than Numble or Conductarod. That's what I meant by focusing his attacks on Riddel, because all of the damage done will be to Riddel, and if she has the Black Plate nothing will ever happen to your characters.

Sorry about that, I see what you mean. I can see it's use in a casual playthrough, because white elements will end the fight with fewer attacks/turns (possibly anyway). Obviously, my mindset has been polluted anyway, but the concert/Marbule quest is too freaking long and boring to stand unless you really want Rainbow gear. Even in New Game+, I don't like doing it (too many times for me as well). >_<

It's probably a matter of preference, but I'd still recommend my method to a casual player (the standard type). This way, you can get the Mastermune without any unnecessary equipment (since the Plates suck, even Yellow), and you get to fight the Black Dragon with your new toy.

[Edit]: By the way, Inferno is just fine for replacing MagmaBurst. The point is to use a red element that inflicts Burns status, which MagmaBomb and MagmaBurst do not. About AeroBlaster, that's because it's an easily available (early) element with a fast animation. Carnivore is just fine, but unless you fought the Green Dragon recently, it's not reasonable.

[Kyronea]

It's boring? I found it quite enjoyable, but then I like that kind of stuff and the music is one of the best pieces of all Chrono music in my mind so that might be a biased opinion.

I still suggest my method because it's safer, more secure, and not as hard to screw up, but it is a matter of personal choice. So, do as you will with Dario Alastor. You have two equally valid methods available to you. It's up to you which one you will use. Either way, good luck.

[Alastor]

Kyronea...in case you didnt see from my first post, i said that i forgot the black plate, meaning i cant get it anymore, and i have beaten the six dragons quest. and i dont understand the whole "counter" thing...once you use one element on Dario from every member in your party, he counters with a flipping conductarod! and it kill in one shot..and if you're going to suggest me to replay the game so i can get the black plate...dont bet on it...

[Hopeful Death]

Then forget the Black Plate.  It's not at all essential to the strategy he posted, it's just a minor bonus.  In that case, you load up Riddel with red elements too and have her use them.  Just don't forget to end your turn casting a Red Element and no harm will come to you

[Molotov]

...and i dont understand the whole "counter" thing...once you use one element on Dario from every member in your party, he counters with a flipping conductarod!

This is why you don't use your elements back-to-back. I suggested 2/2/2 (1 stamina left for the element) because it's a fairly safe bet for accuracy.

About the counters though, it means that if you use a specific element color on him, he'll use the opposite color immediately afterwards. This takes his turn away, meaning he can't attack at that time. The pattern is like this:

Red: Numble
Blue: Weaken
Green: LoRes
Yellow: BatEye
Black: RecoverAll
White: ConductaRod

Hopefully this helps you.

[Alastor]

ok guys...i really dont understand any of this..what do you whant me to do? attack with one charachter at a time?? E.g:i hit Dario with a few physical attacks, then cast a red element on him. then defend with the other two charachters so i end my turn? is that what you mean by "ending a characters turn"? because im not familiar with that...

[Alastor]

...and i dont understand the whole "counter" thing...once you use one element on Dario from every member in your party, he counters with a flipping conductarod!

This is why you don't use your elements back-to-back. I suggested 2/2/2 (1 stamina left for the element) because it's a fairly safe bet for accuracy.

About the counters though, it means that if you use a specific element color on him, he'll use the opposite color immediately afterwards. This takes his turn away, meaning he can't attack at that time. The pattern is like this:

Red: Numble
Blue: Weaken
Green: LoRes
Yellow: BatEye
Black: RecoverAll
White: ConductaRod

Hopefully this helps you. oh, BWT, ty for that pattern list thing, i get it now. but the counter crap is still not making sense.

[Hopeful Death]

It's simple

Character 1 uses 6 points of stamina attacking, then uses the last point to cast a red attack element

Character 2 does the same thing

Character 3 ditto

Repeat until Dario is dead.  To cut down on risk, just do 6 "1" attacks for good accuracy.

[SergeTheRadicalDreamer]

I just used elements that diminished/nullified elemental attacks.  After that he was a piece of cake