How to beat Lavos at level 50!

Every walk-through I have read for Chrono Trigger says you should be at least level 65 before attempting Lavos. I'm going to show you how to wipe the floor with him at level 50.

Before initiating this battle, make sure Frog, Crono, and Marle know the triple tech Arc Impulse. It's not neccesary, but it helps in the third fight. Also, Crono should know Luminaire. Frog and Marle should know Double Cure(double tech) and Glacier(double tech). These techs are neccesary to win.

Use the bucket that takes you to 1999 to get to Lavos.

The first part of the battle is easy. Just use the same strategies you used on the earlier bosses, since he will basically become them. Any combination of fighters you feel like using here will do... assuming they know some good double techs and you have a designated healer. Frog is a good fighter to have, as he can heal all 3 party members of 100 - 200 damage at once.

After whooping the shell, go to the time gate. At the End of Time, use the healing bucket. Save the game, then form this party. Frog, Marle, and Crono. Get in the Epoch, then go to 1999. There will be sorta cool cut scene of the Epoch crashing into Lavos. You will be next to a save point and a Time Gate when the scene ends. Now for the fun part.

Make sure your party is equipped with these items:
Frog
Weapon: Masamune
Helmet: Vigil Hat(or Safe Helm)
Armor: Nova Armor(or best you have)
Accessory: Muscle Ring(or Amulet if you give him Safe Helm)

Marle
Weapon: The best one you have for her
Helmet: Vigil Hat
Armor: Prism Dress(if you have it)
Accessory: Magic Seal

Crono
Weapon: Kali Blade(or Red Kitana if you don't have Kali)
Helmet: Haste Helm
Armor: Nova Armor(or best you have)
Accessory: Gold Stud

Frog and Marle will be protected from status effects, for the most part, this way. Amazingly, Crono is has never suffered from status effects when I play. The Kali Blade will make Crono's Confuse more effective. If you don't have that, the Red Kitana will help his Luminaire. Prism Dress will make Marle almost immune to magic attacks(cuts magic attacks by 1/3). Even though the second time I played the game I didn't get it, I strongly suggest it since it will be easier to keep her alive in the third fight. Magic Seal will increase her magic and magic defense by +5. Which will make her magic defense nearly maxed. Gold Stud will cut Crono's MP use by 75%. This means his Luminaire attack only costs 5MP! Luminaire will be the deciding factor in the second and third fights. His Haste Helm casts Haste on him permanently. This means if he accidentaly dies you won't need to recast it. Or cast it in the first place, for that matter. Now save the game again and head north(where else can you go?).

By this point, Crono and Marle were technically at level 51 for me(does it really matter?). Lavos ALWAYS starts with -Laser Beams/Doors of Doom Open-. He will nearly kill the entire party before you have a chance to blink. Crono will get to go first(because of Haste). However, he needs to use Luminaire the entire battle unless he A: runs out of MP, or B: needs to revive Marle. As soon as Marle and Frog both are able to go, use Double Cure. As long as two of your party members have over 800 HP, have Marle cast Haste. First on herself then Frog. If one of your party members(most likely Marle at this point in the fight) goes lower than 800 HP, Frog can use Cure2 on them. When the right arm is destroyed, have Crono use Confuse on the left arm. Marle and Frog can just attack it.

The third arm will dissapear after like two Confuses. Now you can just wait about a turn until the defense is dropped, the attack with everything you've got. Crono using Luminaire again and the other two using Glacier. Marle and Frog should use Double Cure when needed. If anyone's MP is lower than 30, then use a Mega Elixer(I had 3 when I fought him.). If you only have one left, save it for the third fight and use regular Elixers and Ethers. Occasionally, Lavos will use Obstacle, and you will need to use heal Heal from your inventory to fix Frog. Chaos really screws up your party. Recast Haste as neccessary.

SPOILER!!!
If you have never beaten the game before, you might not knopw that the humanoid thing in the center is not the Core. Lavos Core is the thing on the right. However, you can't attack it until you destroy one of the Bits(well you could, but it wouldn't do much damage). The best strategy is to have Crono use Confuse on the left Bit. The other two can either heal or use regular attacks. The left Bit will dissapear after one Confuse and a hit from both Marle and Frog. Haste will carry over from the second battle, so you shouldn't have to recast just yet.

If at any time you are unlucky enough to be on the recieving end of a -Crying Heavens, Hidden Blow-, revive the character immediately. You can not survive this fight without all three party members. Once the Core drops it's defense, have Crono use Luminaire as often as possible. Marle and Frog should use Ice Water or heal until the left Bit is revived. When the Bit is revived, focus all attacks on the center Bit. All those multi-enemy attacks should have weakened the center Bit, as well as the Core. The center Bit should fall without much trouble. The attacks to watch out for are: -Grand Stone/Ultimate Physical Attack-, and -Dreamless/Ultimate Magic Attack-. All attacks that do any real damage come from the center Bit. Which means that after it goes you should have a pretty easy time.

The center Bit should fall before the Core restores it's defense. For some reason, if this is done correctly, the Core will restore it's defense then drop it again right after. With the center Bit gone, Crono should use Confuse and the other two should use Glacier. If the center Bit is revived before the Core goes down, Start using Arc Impulse. Occasionally you will need to kill the left Bit again to finish the fight, but probably not.

TA DA! You have done the impossible(says them). You have beaten Lavos at level 50! Now, go tell those other players of Chrono Trigger to kiss you behind. Oh, and enjoy the ending you've unlocked(whichever one it may be).