Elton John pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Elton John begins with a song choice before the first plunge. Choose a song around five minutes long, shoot its yellow note arrows, then collect the lit wardrobe item at Backstage; repeat for the orange and red levels. Hit Tiny Dancer and lock two balls at the Crocodile VUK for the first Crocodile Rock Multiball. Rocket Man is separate: collect 500 fuel from Rocket VUK shots and album awards, then shoot the lit Rocket VUK.
The goal
Choose a song before plunging, complete its note-arrow levels and Backstage wardrobe collects, use Tiny Dancer and the Crocodile VUK for multiball, or build Rocket fuel for Rocket Man.
How to start a mode
Before the first plunge, use the flipper buttons and Action Button to choose the opening song. Later songs are selected by the game.
Recommended mode: A song around five minutes long
A song near five minutes gives you enough time to complete all three wardrobe levels and reach Victory Laps.
How to play it
Shoot the yellow note arrows. When Backstage lights, shoot the right ramp and use the upper flipper to collect the wardrobe item; repeat for the orange and red levels.
Start Crocodile Rock Multiball
Hit Tiny Dancer to light a Crocodile lock, then shoot the Crocodile VUK for two locks. The second lock starts the first Each unique flashing shot scores one Jackpot. After enough Jackpots, the Crocodile VUK lights for the Super. Lock a second ball there within 10 seconds after the Super to double it.; later starts need three locks.
Alternative route: Rocket Man Multiball
Use this when the Rocket VUK return is more repeatable than Tiny Dancer and the Crocodile lock.
- Build 500 Rocket fuel with Rocket VUK shots and The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. Album 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. Album 5 unlocks the five encore modes. awards, then shoot the lit Rocket VUK to start Shoot seven unique Jackpot shots. Then shoot the Rocket VUK for the Super. Later Super cycles need more Jackpots..
Need to know
- Songs
- Choose your first song at the start of the game; later songs are random, and each runs through yellow, orange, then red note-shot levels.
- Wardrobe items
- Complete each song level to light a wardrobe item at Backstage: the first gives 30 seconds of 2× song scoring, the second doubles progress on five note shots, and the third starts Victory Laps for the rest of the song.
- Crocodile Rock Multiball
- Hit Tiny Dancer to light a lock, then lock two balls at the Crocodile VUK for the first start and three for later starts.
Elton John uses song note arrows to light three wardrobe items at Backstage, Rocka-Box albums to unlock five encore modes, and E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N plus three piano-side-ramp locks to start a selected Signature Stage. Take Spot Star, complete each yellow, orange, and red song level, and collect its wardrobe item at Backstage. Use Crocodile Rock and Rocket Man Multiball to clear the Rocka-Box drops and run ready encore modes. Before the third Signature Stage lock, use the Action Button to select the more forgiving 1970 or 1975 rules.
The goal
Take This lights one unlit E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N shot. Stars qualify Signature Stage locks. Advance Croc stops helping after the first Crocodile Rock Multiball, so Spot Star stays useful longer..Follow the song arrows and collect every wardrobe item.Use Crocodile Rock and Rocket Man Multiball to clear Rocka-Box drops and run encore modes.Select the more forgiving 1970 or Fewer Jackpot shots are lit and they move after each Super, but the rules are more forgiving than 2009 or 2023..
- Time the plunge for This lights one unlit E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N shot. Stars qualify Signature Stage locks. Advance Croc stops helping after the first Crocodile Rock Multiball, so Spot Star stays useful longer.. If the ball reaches the upper flipper, shoot a flashing upper shot for the Super Skill Shot.
Spot Star setup details
- This lights one unlit E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N shot. Stars qualify Signature Stage locks. Advance Croc stops helping after the first Crocodile Rock Multiball, so Spot Star stays useful longer.: This lights one unlit E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N shot. Stars qualify Signature Stage locks. Advance Croc stops helping after the first Each unique flashing shot scores one Jackpot. After enough Jackpots, the Crocodile VUK lights for the Super. Lock a second ball there within 10 seconds after the Super to double it., so This lights one unlit E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N shot. Stars qualify Signature Stage locks. Advance Croc stops helping after the first Crocodile Rock Multiball, so Spot Star stays useful longer. stays useful longer.
- During the song, shoot the yellow note arrows. When Backstage lights, shoot the right ramp and make an early upper-flipper shot into Backstage. Repeat for the orange and red levels.
Song mode scoring and timing
- Complete a level of flashing note shots, then collect its wardrobe item at Backstage. The first item gives 30 seconds of 2x song scoring. The second gives double progress on the next five note shots. The third starts 3 million-plus Victory Laps until the song ends.: Complete a level of flashing note shots, then collect its wardrobe item at Backstage. The first item gives 30 seconds of 2x song scoring. The second gives double progress on the next five note shots. The third starts 3 million-plus Victory Laps until the song ends.
- Do not aim at the center Rocka-Box drops in single-ball play. Keep making song shots and take a lit Backstage item before it disappears.
- Hit Tiny Dancer to light a Crocodile lock. Shoot the Crocodile VUK to lock two balls and start the first Each unique flashing shot scores one Jackpot. After enough Jackpots, the Crocodile VUK lights for the Super. Lock a second ball there within 10 seconds after the Super to double it.. Later starts need three locks.
Crocodile Rock Multiball scoring and timing
- Each unique flashing shot scores one Jackpot. After enough Jackpots, the Crocodile VUK lights for the Super. Lock a second ball there within 10 seconds after the Super to double it.: Each unique flashing shot scores one Jackpot. After enough Jackpots, the Crocodile VUK lights for the Super. Lock a second ball there within 10 seconds after the Super to double it.
- During Crocodile Rock, clear the center Rocka-Box drops for albums. After ball save ends, Shoot a target on the same side as the active flipper, often from near the flipper base and behind the nearby slingshot. the green left standup to add a ball. A Super Jackpot relights this add-a-ball once.
Album timing details
- The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. Album 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. Album 5 unlocks the five encore modes.: The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. Album 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. Album 5 unlocks the five encore modes. 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. Album 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. Album 5 unlocks the five encore modes. 5 unlocks the five encore modes.
- Add-a-ball can also revive the multiball during its short grace period.
- Shoot the Rocket VUK and collect fuel from The Rocka-Box awards one after enough drop hits. Album 4 gives 15 seconds of ball save. Album 5 unlocks the five encore modes. awards until the display reaches 500. Then shoot the lit Rocket VUK to start Rocket Man. When possible, start it during Crocodile Rock for 2x multiball jackpots.
Rocket Man Multiball and related rules
- Shoot seven unique Jackpot shots. Then shoot the Rocket VUK for the Super. Later Super cycles need more Jackpots.: Shoot seven unique Jackpot shots. Then shoot the Rocket VUK for the Super. Later Super cycles need more Jackpots.
- Every extra 100 fuel after qualification adds a perk: longer save, easier Super, one extra ball at 300, then permanently lit Jackpots at 400.
- Use the stacked multiballs to clear more Rocka-Box drops and start ready encore modes. Prioritize Start with 6 orbits. Bumper hits score increasing values. or Start with 5 Backstage shots. All switches score; Backstage raises their value. while several balls are active.
Tiny Targets and related rules
- Tiny Targets: Start with 8 Tiny Dancer hits. Targets score; the left standup raises their multiplier.
- Start with 6 orbits. Bumper hits score increasing values.: Start with 6 orbits. Bumper hits score increasing values.
- Start with 5 Backstage shots. All switches score; Backstage raises their value.: Start with 5 Backstage shots. All switches score; Backstage raises their value.
- Start with 1,000 spins. Both ramp spinners score.: Start with 1,000 spins. Both ramp spinners score.
- Start with 5 piano side-ramp shots. Repeat that ramp for rising awards.: Start with 5 piano side-ramp shots. Repeat that ramp for rising awards.
- Only one encore runs at a time. Other qualified encores wait in a queue.
- Spell E-L-T-O-N J-O-H-N at the nine major shots. Lock three balls at the piano side ramp. Use the Action Button to choose 1970 or 1975 before the third lock.
1970 Signature Stage and 1975 Signature Stage rules
- All shots score Jackpots. A two-shot combo adds 1x. After two Jackpots, the piano side ramp lights for the Super.: All shots score Jackpots. A two-shot combo adds 1x. After two Jackpots, the piano side ramp lights for the Super.
- Fewer Jackpot shots are lit and they move after each Super, but the rules are more forgiving than 2009 or 2023.: Fewer Jackpot shots are lit and they move after each Super, but the rules are more forgiving than 2009 or 2023.
- In Signature Stage, score the required Jackpots. Then loop the piano side ramp for the Super. Each immediate repeat raises its multiplier and adds one S-U-P-E-R-S-T-A-R letter.
In Signature Stage, score the required Jackpots.
- SUPERSTAR letters carry between games until the word is complete. A 3x Super earns a milestone.
Builds toward: Champ, Super Stardom, and Final Tour
- Play all five encore modes. Shoot the piano side ramp to start Champ Multiball. Its Jackpot values use your performance in those encores.
- Play all four Signature Stage Multiballs to light Super Stardom at the piano side ramp.
- Complete any four unique milestones to light Lit regional shots change every 15 seconds. Press the Action Button to bank the active region. Bank all four regions, then shoot the piano side ramp to complete the wizard mode and score the four totals again. at the piano side ramp. Continue collecting available milestones because each one improves the mode.
Final Tour scoring and timing
- Lit regional shots change every 15 seconds. Press the Action Button to bank the active region. Bank all four regions, then shoot the piano side ramp to complete the wizard mode and score the four totals again.: Lit regional shots change every 15 seconds. Press the Action Button to bank the active region. Bank all four regions, then shoot the piano side ramp to complete the wizard mode and score the four totals again.