| Lavos | |
|---|---|
| Chrono character | |
 The external shell and mouthparts of Lavos as seen in Chrono Trigger | |
| First game | Chrono Trigger (1995) |
| Designed by | Akira Toriyama (concept) Tsutomu Terada (sprite) |
| In-universe information | |
| Origin | Outer space |
Lavos (ラヴォス, Ravosu) is a fictional extraterrestrial monster and the main antagonist of the 1995 role-playing video game Chrono Trigger, also appearing as an antagonist in its sequel, Chrono Cross. A parasitic alien that falls from the skies in 65,000,000 B.C., its impact results in an ice age. In the intervening time, it drains the planet's energy, until in 1999 A.D., it resurfaces, causing an apocalypse that destroys most life on the planet.
The character of Lavos became one of the most iconic antagonists in video games, and was praised by critics due to its Lovecraftian design, mysterious origins and motivations, and the player's unique ability to travel to 1999 and fight it at any time in the story, resulting in multiple potential endings, something assisted by the game's New Game Plus mode. By the same token, it was noted for lacking characterization and serving only as an evil force and motivator for the game's characters.