Flash Gordon Pinball Rules & Strategy

The goal

Use the ordered drop banks to reach 5x Bonus X, then shoot the safer lit spinner for points and more upper-playfield control.

Reach 3x Bonus X
From the left flipper, clear the three right in-line drops. The second drop lights 2x Bonus, and the third lights 3x Bonus.
Reach 5x Bonus X
With 3x lit, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x Bonus. Then complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. for 5x Bonus and the Shows left spinner on the Flash Gordon playfield. With 4x lit, complete the lower-left bank to light 5x Bonus and the left spinner..
Use the lit spinners
Complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. again to light the Shows right spinner on the Flash Gordon playfield. Complete the lower-left bank a second time to light the right spinner for 1,000 per spin. for 1,000 per spin. Repeat the safer lit spinner and use its return to reach the upper bank and rollovers.

Need to know

Main route: Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. for 5x and both lit Shows Left and right spinners on the Flash Gordon playfield. Repeatable scoring shots after the lower bank lights them..
Long goal: Hit Shows upper targets on the Flash Gordon playfield. Hit upper targets and rollovers to raise upper Bonus. and rollovers to raise upper Bonus.
Safer fallback: Simpler Bonus X route: Use this shorter route when you want fewer features to track.

Bonus X comes from the right in-line, upper 1-2-3, and lower-left banks in that order. Hit each upper 1-2-3 target while its arrow flashes to light 2x playfield scoring, and light all eight lower-playfield colors to light 3x. When both lamps are lit, shoot the center saucer for a timed 5x playfield window.

The goal

Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. for 5x and both lit Shows Left and right spinners on the Flash Gordon playfield. Repeatable scoring shots after the lower bank lights them..

Time the plunge so the ball hits the lit upper 1-2-3 target, then control the upper-playfield exit.
From the left flipper, clear the three right in-line drops. The second lights 2x Bonus, and the third lights 3x Bonus.
From the left flipper, clear the three right in-line drops.
- If Extra Ball is enabled, hit the standup behind the bank after the third drop. On competition or novelty settings, that award scores 25,000 instead.
- Check whether Bonus X and the 2x/3x playfield lamps carry between balls, and whether Extra Ball is enabled or scores 25,000.
With 3x lit, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank to light 4x Bonus.
With 4x lit, complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. to light 5x Bonus and the Shows left spinner on the Flash Gordon playfield. With 4x lit, complete the lower-left bank to light 5x Bonus and the left spinner..
Complete the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. a second time to light the Shows right spinner on the Flash Gordon playfield. Complete the lower-left bank a second time to light the right spinner for 1,000 per spin. for 1,000 per spin.
Repeat the safer lit spinner. From its upper-playfield return, shoot the upper 1-2-3 bank and rollovers.

Fallback: Simpler Bonus X route

Use this shorter route when you want fewer features to track.

Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus.
Complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then the Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. for 5x.
Shoot a spinner ramp back to the upper playfield and keep scoring there while protecting the built Bonus.

Alternative: Combined 5x playfield

Use this plan when the Shows Center saucer on the Flash Gordon playfield. Saucer that starts the prepared playfield multiplier. and at least one lit spinner return safely.

Hit each upper 1-2-3 drop while its arrow flashes. This qualifies 2x playfield at the Shows Center saucer on the Flash Gordon playfield. Saucer that starts the prepared playfield multiplier..
Hit the four lower-left drops and both Shows right standups on the Flash Gordon playfield. Light all eight lower-playfield colors by hitting the four lower-left drops and both right standups and rolling through both inlanes., then roll through both inlanes to light all eight lower-playfield colors and qualify 3x playfield at the Shows Center saucer on the Flash Gordon playfield. Saucer that starts the prepared playfield multiplier..
While both 2x and 3x playfield are lit, shoot the Shows Center saucer on the Flash Gordon playfield. Saucer that starts the prepared playfield multiplier. to start 15 seconds of 5x playfield scoring.
While both 2x and 3x playfield are lit, shoot the center…
- Starting 5x uses both lit playfield-multiplier awards; neither can be started again on that ball.
During 5x, shoot a lit 1,000-per-spin spinner. If upper Bonus is ready, hit the lit Shows top-center standup on the Flash Gordon playfield. If upper Bonus is ready, hit the lit top-center standup; to collect lower Bonus, lower the single upper drop target and send the ball through the shooter lane.; to collect lower Bonus, lower the single Shows upper drop target on the Flash Gordon playfield. If upper Bonus is ready, hit the lit top-center standup; to collect lower Bonus, lower the single upper drop target and send the ball through the shooter lane. and send the ball through the shooter lane.

Builds toward: Maximum bonus and 5x playfield

Hit Shows upper targets on the Flash Gordon playfield. Hit upper targets and rollovers to raise upper Bonus. and rollovers to raise upper Bonus. Hit the lower-left drops, first right in-line drop, lit Shows right standups on the Flash Gordon playfield. Light all eight lower-playfield colors by hitting the four lower-left drops and both right standups and rolling through both inlanes., and lit inlanes to raise lower Bonus. Each stops at 19,000.
Hit the second and third right in-line drops, then complete the upper 1-2-3 bank and Shows lower-left bank on the Flash Gordon playfield. Shoot the right in-line drops through 3x Bonus, complete the upper 1-2-3 bank for 4x, then complete the lower-left bank for 5x and both lit spinners. in that order to reach 5x Bonus.
Hit each upper 1-2-3 drop while its arrow flashes to light 2x playfield. Hit the four lower-left drops and both Shows right standups on the Flash Gordon playfield. Light all eight lower-playfield colors by hitting the four lower-left drops and both right standups and rolling through both inlanes., then roll through both inlanes to light 3x playfield.
With both playfield-multiplier lamps lit, shoot the Shows Center saucer on the Flash Gordon playfield. Saucer that starts the prepared playfield multiplier. to start 15 seconds of 5x playfield scoring, then shoot a lit spinner or make a ready Bonus collect.

Shot techniques

Shoot a target on the same side as the active flipper, often from near the flipper base and behind the nearby slingshot.Shoot a target on the same side as the active flipper, often from near the flipper base and behind the nearby slingshot. the Shows right spinner on the Flash Gordon playfield. Complete the lower-left bank a second time to light the right spinner for 1,000 per spin. from the right flipper. Lower the upper flipper after the shot so it does not block the lane or return.
Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall.Use one small forward Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. to move away from the down ramp. Use a second small Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. to send the ball across the saucer feed to the upper flipper.
Transfer a cradled ball to the opposite flipper with a quick release and repress that sends it around the center post.Push a trapped ball against the sling post and let it cross to the flipper that shoots the inline drops.
Alley-pass return-lane collectLet the ball reach the flipper base. Make one full flip across the opposite inlane to collect a needed color.

Physical cautions

Drop targets and short spinner shots can return through the center.After the ball contacts the target, lower the shooting flipper. Do not make a second reflex flip at the rebound.
A large Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. can forfeit both built bonuses with a tilt.Use small upper-playfield nudges. Do not make a late desperation move after the ball reaches the lower playfield.
A Shows drop target on the Flash Gordon playfield. If upper Bonus is ready, hit the lit top-center standup; to collect lower Bonus, lower the single upper drop target and send the ball through the shooter lane. can fail to fall or register.Watch the first bank completion. Call the tournament director if a required target does not score correctly.

Sources and references

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The goal

Reach 3x Bonus X

Reach 5x Bonus X

Use the lit spinners

The goal

Fallback: Simpler Bonus X route

Alternative: Combined 5x playfield

Builds toward: Maximum bonus and 5x playfield

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Flash Gordon pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

The goal

Reach 3x Bonus X

Reach 5x Bonus X

Use the lit spinners

The goal

↪Fallback: Simpler Bonus X route

↔Alternative: Combined 5x playfield

◆Builds toward: Maximum bonus and 5x playfield

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Fallback: Simpler Bonus X route

Alternative: Combined 5x playfield

Builds toward: Maximum bonus and 5x playfield