Chaos Trial
The fourth Trial of Toroah, featuring a complex box-pushing puzzle that must be solved to reach the Chaos Prism.
Table of contents
- Overview
- How to Access
- Battle Conditions
- Enemy Composition
- Treasure
- Map Layout
- The Box Puzzle Explained
- Strategy Guide
- Detailed Tactics
- Tips & Tricks
- Recommended Timing
- Rewards
- FAQ Authors’ Perspectives
- Step-by-Step Checklist
- Troubleshooting
- Next Steps
Overview
The Chaos Trial is the fourth Trial of Toroah and is widely considered the most mechanically complex Trial. It features an all-golem battle combined with a 3-box stacking puzzle that must be solved correctly to reach the Chaos Prism.
Warning: This Trial has a FAIL STATE! If you trap boxes in corners or push them incorrectly, you may become unable to reach the chest and must restart the entire Trial!
How to Access
Step 1: Collect All 3 Collector’s Treasures
You must find three special items scattered across Chapters 2-4:
Treasure #1: MACROMAN
- Location: Chapter 2, Section 2 (Ygdra Canyon)
- Where: NW corner, dry patch of land
- When: After liberating Yuzu Village
Treasure #2: TAROT
- Location: Chapter 3, Section 4 (Basil Gate)
- Where: Cross-shaped dirt patch in SE corner
- When: During escape sequence
Treasure #3: RAMEN
- Location: Chapter 4, Section 4 (Magic Train)
- Where: Grate in front car
- When: During train heist battle
ALL THREE ARE MISSABLE! If you miss even ONE, you cannot access the Chaos Trial or unlock Vandalier!
Step 2: Trade for Chaos Key
After collecting all three treasures:
- Travel to Trade City Kerachi
- Enter the tavern
- Talk to the collector/barfly
- Show him all three treasures (Macroman, Tarot, Ramen)
- He’ll be so impressed he gives you the Key of Chaos
Step 3: Start the Trial
- Have Ash equip the Chaos Key as an item
- Visit any Dojo in any town (earliest: Chapter 4)
- Try to Leave the Dojo
- The Dojomaster will notice the key and offer to start the Trial
- Select “Transform” to begin
Battle Conditions
- Victory: Destruction of all enemies
- Defeat: Death of Ash Lambert OR Puzzle Failure (boxes trapped)
- Gold Reward: 180G (10G × 18 golems)
- Experience: Only from curative/supportive spells (no combat EXP)
Enemy Composition
ALL GOLEMS: Every enemy in this Trial is a golem! Bring magic damage - physical attacks are weak against golem defense.
Enemy List (18 Total)
| Enemy | Count | Typical Level | HP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Golem | 8 | L21-28 | 176-230 | Highest HP, slowest |
| Dark Golem | 7 | L21-28 | 176-230 | Strong physical attacks |
| Clay Golem | 3 | L21-28 | 168-220 | Easiest to paralyze |
Treasure
Chests
- Chaos Prism - Located on an elevated platform accessible only via box bridge
CRITICAL: You MUST build a 3-box bridge to reach the Chaos Prism! You MUST collect it BEFORE defeating all enemies!
Map Layout
The Chaos Trial features a multi-tiered arena with aqueduct channels:
[Tier 3 - Highest]
[Box 3] [CHAOS PRISM on platform]
[Tier 2 - Middle]
[Box 2] [Golems]
↓ Aqueduct
[Tier 1 - Ground]
[Box 1] [Most Golems]
[Ally Start]
Key Features:
- 3 elevation tiers (ground, middle, top)
- 3 pushable boxes (one per tier)
- Aqueduct channels that boxes can be pushed through
- Elevated chest platform requiring stacked boxes to reach
- 18 golems scattered across all three tiers
The Box Puzzle Explained
Objective
Stack all 3 boxes to create a “bridge” that allows you to reach the elevated Chaos Prism platform.
Box Mechanics
- Boxes can be PUSHED by standing behind them and moving forward
- Boxes move 1 space per push
- Boxes fall through aqueducts to lower tiers when pushed into them
- Boxes can be TRAPPED in corners (FAIL STATE!)
- Cannot pull boxes - only push!
Critical Rules
✓ Boxes must be stacked in order: Tier 1 → Tier 2 → Tier 3
✓ Aqueducts drop boxes down levels
✓ Walls block box movement
✗ NEVER corner a box - you cannot undo it!
✗ Don’t push boxes across middle - they must go around perimeter
Strategy Guide
Phase 1: Golem Management
Objective: Clear most golems while leaving 3 alive as “timers”
Tactics:
- Use Area Spells (Phase Shift, Dark Star, Salamander) on golem clusters
- Magic damage » Physical damage (golems have high DEF)
- Clear ground tier (Tier 1) completely
- Clear middle tier (Tier 2) completely
- LEAVE 3 GOLEMS ON TOP TIER (Tier 3) alive - don’t attack them!
Why Leave 3 Golems? You need time to solve the box puzzle. If you kill all enemies, the battle ends immediately. The 3 golems on top tier act as “timers” giving you unlimited turns to solve the puzzle.
Recommended Golem Killers:
- Mages/Sorcerers: Phase Shift, Salamander (AOE spells)
- Monks/Ninjas: Mixed attacks
- Priests with Attack Spells: Roman Fire
- Archers: Physical backup
Paralyze Option:
- Dark Golems and Clay Golems can be paralyzed with Spellbind
- Keep them locked down while solving puzzle
- They’ll eventually break free, so work efficiently
Phase 2: The Box Puzzle Solution
WARNING: This is where most players fail! Follow these steps EXACTLY or you may trap boxes and need to restart!
Box 1 (Tier 1 - Ground Level)
Objective: Position Box 1 along the south wall under the elevated platform
Steps:
- Clear all ground-level golems first
- Find Box 1 on ground tier (Tier 1)
- Push Box 1 to the south wall where it juts out to the west one block
- Position it directly under the middle tier access point
- This creates a “step” for characters to climb to Tier 2
Critical Points:
- Don’t push it into a corner!
- Position must be along south wall
- Must line up with the aqueduct path above
Box 2 (Tier 2 - Middle Level)
Objective: Push Box 2 through aqueduct to land on Box 1
Steps:
- Characters climb to Tier 2 using Box 1 as a step
- Clear all middle-tier golems
- Locate Box 2 on middle tier
- Push Box 2 south once
- Get behind Box 2 and push it west
- Push it under the bridge (through the aqueduct)
- Continue pushing until it’s lined up with the chest platform
- Push through aqueduct - Box 2 falls onto Box 1
Key Trick: Box 2 must go “ALL the way around by chest” - push it along the perimeter, not straight across the middle!
Box 3 (Tier 3 - Top Level)
Objective: Push Box 3 through aqueduct to land on Box 2
Steps:
- Send 1-2 characters to Tier 3 (preferably with healing - Ash recommended)
- Don’t attack the 3 remaining golems! (need them alive)
- If golems attack, heal and dodge
- Locate Box 3 on top tier
- Push Box 3 north once
- Push through archway toward the aqueduct
- Push Box 3 through aqueduct - it falls onto Box 2
Result: All 3 boxes now stacked! You have a “bridge” to the Chaos Prism platform!
Phase 3: Get the Prism
- Character climbs the 3-box stack
- Cross to elevated platform
- Open chest and collect Chaos Prism
- Verify prism in inventory
Phase 4: Cleanup
- NOW attack the 3 remaining golems on Tier 3
- Kill all remaining enemies
- Battle ends when last golem defeated
Detailed Tactics
Party Composition
| Role | Purpose | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Mages (multiple) | AOE golem clearing (Phase Shift!) | Critical |
| Healers | Support during puzzle solving | High |
| Monks | Hybrid damage/support | Medium |
| Box Pushers | Any physical class (Fighters, Knights) | Medium |
| Scouts | 1-2 for Tier 3 (heal capable preferred) | Medium |
Spell Recommendations
Most Effective:
- Phase Shift (Mage AOE) - Hits multiple golems, massive damage
- Salamander (Mage) - Fire AOE, great against golems
- Spellbind (Mage/Monk) - Paralyze troublesome golems
- Healing spells - Keep puzzle solvers alive
Less Effective:
- Physical attacks (golems have high DEF)
- Single-target spells (inefficient against 18 enemies)
Tips & Tricks
Effective Tactics
✓ Magic is king - Golem DEF is high; magic ignores it
✓ Phase Shift spam - Best spell for this Trial; hits groups of 3-4 golems
✓ Leave 3 alive - Top-tier golems are your “timer” insurance
✓ Perimeter pushing - Move boxes around edges, not across center
✓ Healer on Tier 3 - Character solving Box 3 puzzle needs self-healing
✓ Save frequently - If puzzle fails, reload instead of restarting Trial
✓ Spellbind backup - Paralyze golems if they interfere with puzzle
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ Killing all golems early - Battle ends; you can’t solve puzzle!
✗ Cornering boxes - FAIL STATE; must restart
✗ Pushing boxes straight across - They get trapped!
✗ No magic users - Physical attacks take forever on golems
✗ Rushing Box 3 - Take your time; golems can’t reach the platform
✗ Forgetting prism - Climb stack, get prism BEFORE killing last golems!
Recommended Timing
When to Attempt
Minimum Level:
- Ash Level 18+ (makes golems Level 18-21)
- Party at Level 17-20 range
Recommended Timing:
- Earliest: End of Chapter 4 (after getting Ramen, trading for key)
- Mid: Chapter 5 with Master-tier equipment
- Late: Chapter 6 (puzzle is same difficulty, combat trivial)
Equipment Recommendations:
- Weapons: Great-tier minimum, Master-tier preferred
- Armor: Kevlar/Great Armor for melee
- Accessories: Mage Gems (MP restoration for spells)
Difficulty by Chapter
| Chapter | Combat | Puzzle | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 4 | Hard | Hard | Very Hard |
| Chapter 5 | Medium | Hard | Hard |
| Chapter 6 | Easy | Hard | Medium |
Puzzle Difficulty Never Changes: The box puzzle is equally challenging regardless of when you attempt it. Only the golem combat gets easier with levels/gear.
Rewards
Battle End
- 180G (10G × 18 golems)
- Chaos Prism (from chest, required for Vandalier)
Progress
- ✓ 4 of 6 Trials complete
- ✓ Chaos Key consumed (Trial cannot be replayed with Prism)
- ✓ Chaos Prism added to inventory
FAQ Authors’ Perspectives
Wolverine Inc. (1997)
Difficulty: Very Hard (puzzle + combat) Key Insight: “The trick is NOT to get the 1st tier box trapped in a corner” Recommendation: “Leave 3 golems at top alone while building bridge”
Syonyx (2003-2006)
Difficulty: Tricky - unique mechanic Key Insight: “You must use all 3 crates to get to the chest, and arrange them without killing all enemies” Recommendation: “Spellbind at least one golem; don’t paralyze them in the path you need for crates”
Shotgunnova (2000s)
Difficulty: Challenging - requires planning Key Insight: Box puzzle is the real challenge Recommendation: Understand mechanics before attempting
Step-by-Step Checklist
Before the Trial
- Collect Macroman (Ch. 2, Sec. 2 - Ygdra Canyon NW)
- Collect Tarot (Ch. 3, Sec. 4 - Basil Gate SE)
- Collect Ramen (Ch. 4, Sec. 4 - Magic Train grate)
- Trade all 3 to collector in Kerachi Tavern
- Receive Chaos Key
- Equip multiple Mages with Phase Shift
- Stock Mage Gems for MP restoration
During the Trial
- Use Phase Shift on golem clusters
- Clear Tier 1 (ground) completely
- Clear Tier 2 (middle) completely
- Leave 3 golems on Tier 3 ALIVE
- Position Box 1 along south wall (Tier 1)
- Climb to Tier 2 using Box 1
- Push Box 2 around perimeter (not across middle!)
- Push Box 2 through aqueduct onto Box 1
- Send healer to Tier 3
- Push Box 3 through aqueduct onto Box 2
- Climb 3-box stack
- Cross to platform
- Open chest - GET CHAOS PRISM
- Verify Chaos Prism in inventory
- Kill remaining 3 golems
- Victory!
Troubleshooting
“I trapped a box in a corner!”
Solution: Reload your last save. There’s no way to undo a trapped box.
Prevention: Always push boxes around the perimeter walls, never straight across the middle area.
“I killed all the golems before solving the puzzle!”
Solution: Restart the Trial. Battle ends when last enemy dies.
Prevention: Leave 3 golems on Tier 3 completely untouched until puzzle is solved.
“The golems keep attacking my puzzle solver!”
Solution: Use Spellbind to paralyze them, or have a healer heal each turn.
Prevention: Send a self-sufficient character to Tier 3 (Hero Ash is ideal with healing items).
“I can’t figure out where to push the boxes!”
Solution: Follow the step-by-step in Phase 2 above exactly.
Key Principle: Boxes must go “around” the map along perimeter walls, using aqueducts to drop down levels.
Next Steps
- Return to Trials of Toroah Overview to plan your next Trial
- Continue the Walkthrough to progress the story
- See Logos Trial Strategy for the fifth Trial (Chapter 5)
- Review Spell Reference for optimal golem-clearing spells
Remember: Collect 2 more Prisms to unlock Ash’s ultimate Vandalier class!
Progress: 4/6 Trials Complete ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️