Meeting Grounds (65,000,000 B.C.)

Guide to Chrono Trigger's Meeting Grounds in 65,000,000 B.C.! Learn how to win the soup-drinking contest, deal with the stolen Gate Key, and trade for gear.

Alright, so you've made it to 65,000,000 B.C., and things are kicking off with a huge party! Music's playing, folks are dancing – it's a real prehistoric shindig. First things first, chat with everyone: Ayla, your other party members, and all the locals. Get a feel for the place.

After you've mingled, go back and talk to Ayla. She'll fill you in on Azala and the Reptites' plan to wreck the villages. Wander around a bit more, then find Ayla again. She's got a red stone she's willing to part with, but only if you can beat her in a contest. Accept her challenge – it's a soup-drinking competition! You'll need to mash the [A] button like crazy to drink as many bowls as possible. If you're the champion soup-drinker, Ayla gives you the stone. One last bowl for good measure, and then the party winds down.

You'll wake up the next day to a bit of a problem: the Gate Key has been swiped! Head straight to the Chief's Hut to find Ayla. She's snoozing, so give her a nudge. She'll tell you the Reptites are the culprits and that she's joining your crew to take them down. Now comes a choice: who's your third party member for this mission? I usually go with Robo or Lucca here – Robo's a solid pick.

Once you're back outside, make your way east to the nearby hut. This is where the trading happens! You can swap items like Petals, Fangs, Horns, and Feathers for weapons and gear. The full list of what you can get and what it costs is in the Shops section, but it's worth stocking up.

If you're looking to gather those trade items, head northeast from the huts to the Hunting Range. This is your spot to fight enemies that drop the goods you need. Keep an eye out for the super rare Nu enemy, which only shows up when it rains. Taking it down nets you 3 of each trading item, which is a huge help for gearing up your party with the best weapons and armor available in this era.

From the Hunting Range, head south and cross the bridge. Visit the other two huts you find. In the east hut, a friendly guy will toss you 4 Potions just for chatting. You'll also learn that the Reptites made their escape to the Forest Maze, located further south. So, leave the huts and continue south to brave the Forest Maze.