Galactic Tank Force pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
In Galactic Tank Force, mission, tank, and Multiball progress advance separately. Use the right spinner to select the first ice-cream mission and shoot the right saucer to start it; later missions require both return lanes before the saucer relights. Make 36 pop-bumper hits for the first Meltdown Multiball, or spell A-I-R and shoot the left loop for each of three Air Strike locks. Complete one Quantum Accelerator target bank for 2x playfield scoring or both banks for 4x.
The goal
Use the right spinner and mission saucer for an ice-cream mission, the pop bumpers for This is a two-ball mode. Green shots build the current Jackpot. Pop-bumper hits collect it and advance the mode., and the Quantum Accelerator targets for playfield X.
How to start a mode
Use the right spinner to select a mission, then shoot the right mission saucer to start it. The first mission is ready; later missions require a completed return-lane pair.
Recommended mode: Sprinkle Desert
Choose it when the spinner, mission saucer, and LAB shot are reliable.
How to play it
Shoot the spinner, then shoot either the mission saucer or LAB shot to finish the mission.
Start Meltdown Multiball
Make 36 pop-bumper hits to start the first This is a two-ball mode. Green shots build the current Jackpot. Pop-bumper hits collect it and advance the mode.. During it, shoot flashing green-arrow shots to raise the Jackpot; every pop-bumper hit scores the current Jackpot.
Start playfield X
Use the magnet override to feed the Quantum Accelerator. Complete one target bank for 2x playfield scoring or both banks for 4x.
Alternative route: Air Strike Multiball
Use this when the A-I-R targets and left loop are easier to repeat than the pop-bumper route.
- Spell A-I-R to light a lock at the left loop, then shoot the left loop to lock a ball. Repeat; the third lock starts Four different Jackpot shots light the UFO Super Jackpot. After the Super Jackpot, all major shots score Victory Laps..
- Shoot both orbits, the left ramp, and the mission saucer for Jackpots, then shoot the moving UFO for the Super Jackpot.
Need to know
- Main route
- Play all five ice-cream missions while building Air Strike and Methane between missions.
- Long goal
- Play all five ice-cream missions.
- Safer fallback
- This is a two-ball mode. Green shots build the current Jackpot. Pop-bumper hits collect it and advance the mode.: Use this plan when pop-bumper hits are easier to make than A-I-R locks or direct tank shots.
Playing all five ice-cream missions lights Ice Cream Sundae at Galactic Tank Force's right saucer, while defeating all five center tanks lights Tank Zulu at the left orbit. Use the right spinner to select a mission and the right saucer to start it. Between missions, spell A-I-R and take left-loop locks for Air Strike while collecting Methane plus targets. Finish any running mission before taking the third lock. During Air Strike's ball save, hit the blue tank target for a Methane one-shot kill; use Ice Cream Sundae's extra balls for later tanks.
The goal
Play all five ice-cream missions, build Air Strike and Methane between missions, finish a running mission before the third Air Strike lock, then attack tanks during Air Strike or A multiball mini-wizard with extra balls. Follow the lit shots and on-screen instructions..
- Plunge through the flashing LAB lane or the flashing rank lane. Then shoot the Shows Mission saucer on the Galactic Tank Force playfield. The mission start is on the upper-right side, below the right wireform. to start the first mission.
Skill shot and Mission start rules
- Skill shot: The flashing LAB lane gives LAB progress. The flashing rank lane advances your military rank.
- The first mission is ready at the right mission saucer. Later missions need a completed return-lane pair before the saucer lights again.: The first mission is ready at the right mission saucer. Later missions need a completed return-lane pair before the saucer lights again.
- Use the right spinner to select a mission before you shoot the mission saucer. Complete the called objective.
Sprinkle Desert and related rules
- Shoot the spinner. Then shoot the mission saucer or LAB shot.: Shoot the spinner. Then shoot the mission saucer or LAB shot.
- Shoot the lit LAB and mission-saucer shots.: Shoot the lit LAB and mission-saucer shots.
- Shoot lit ramps to collect berries. The mission can hold as many as five. Shoot the mission saucer to send them.: Shoot lit ramps to collect berries. The mission can hold as many as five. Shoot the mission saucer to send them.
- Follow the moving green shots.: Follow the moving green shots.
- Make 15 switch hits to collect cows. Shoot the mission saucer to send them.: Make 15 switch hits to collect cows. Shoot the mission saucer to send them.
- Each mission starts with 60 seconds on default settings. A completed mission advances your rank.: Each mission starts with 60 seconds on default settings. A completed mission advances your rank.
- Between missions, hit the Shows A-I-R targets on the Galactic Tank Force playfield. The A-I-R bank is in the upper-left area beside the hangar entrance. and shoot the Shows Air Strike lock loop on the Galactic Tank Force playfield. The left loop enters the upper-left hangar and feeds the ball lock. for locks. Finish any running mission before you take the third lock.
Air Strike qualification details
- Spell A-I-R to light a lock at the left loop. The third locked ball starts Air Strike Multiball.: Spell A-I-R to light a lock at the left loop. The third locked ball starts Four different Jackpot shots light the UFO Super Jackpot. After the Super Jackpot, all major shots score Victory Laps..
- Build Methane before you attack a tank. Collect the required green plus targets. Then hit the Methane target until the center tank target turns blue.
Methane Blaster setup details
- A blue tank target is ready for a one-shot tank kill. Early tanks need one plus target. Later tanks can need as many as four, and the active target can move.: A blue tank target is ready for a one-shot tank kill. Early tanks need one plus target. Later tanks can need as many as four, and the active target can move.
- Use the magnet override to reach the Quantum Accelerator targets. One completed bank starts 2x playfield scoring; both completed banks start 4x.
- Start Four different Jackpot shots light the UFO Super Jackpot. After the Super Jackpot, all major shots score Victory Laps. with the third left-loop lock. Shoot both orbits, the left ramp, and the mission saucer for Jackpots. Then shoot the Shows Moving UFO on the Galactic Tank Force playfield. The moving UFO target crosses the upper-middle playfield. for the Super Jackpot.
Air Strike Multiball and Air Strike add-a-ball rules
- Four different Jackpot shots light the UFO Super Jackpot. After the Super Jackpot, all major shots score Victory Laps.: Four different Jackpot shots light the UFO Super Jackpot. After the Super Jackpot, all major shots score Victory Laps.
- Each A-I-R target starts red. Hit each target three times. When all three targets are green, the game adds one ball.: Each A-I-R target starts red. Hit each target three times. When all three targets are green, the game adds one ball.
- While the Air Strike ball save runs, attack the center tank. If Methane is ready, hit the blue tank target for the one-shot kill. Otherwise, keep hitting the tank while the ball save remains active.
Defense Shield and Tank plan rules
- The center post protects the drain for the first 20 seconds of a tank fight on default settings.: The center post protects the drain for the first 20 seconds of a tank fight on default settings.
- Use Air Strike Multiball's ball save for early tanks and Ice Cream Sundae's extra balls for later tanks.: Use Air Strike Multiball's ball save for early tanks and Ice Cream Sundae's extra balls for later tanks.
- After Air Strike ends, complete both return lanes to relight the mission saucer. Select the next mission with the right spinner, then shoot the saucer to start it.
- After you play all five missions, shoot the lit mission saucer to start A multiball mini-wizard with extra balls. Follow the lit shots and on-screen instructions.. Use its extra balls to attack the remaining tanks.
Ice Cream Sundae rule details
- A multiball mini-wizard with extra balls. Follow the lit shots and on-screen instructions.: A multiball mini-wizard with extra balls. Follow the lit shots and on-screen instructions.
Builds toward: Ice Cream Sundae and Tank Zulu
- Play all five ice-cream missions. Shoot the lit mission saucer to start A multiball mini-wizard with extra balls. Follow the lit shots and on-screen instructions..
- Defeat five tanks. Shoot the lit left orbit to start Pop-bumper and left-orbit hits give extra attacks during this single-ball mini-wizard mode.. Damage the tank to 50%, hit three lit Spybot shots, then finish the tank before the 60-second timer ends.
Tank Zulu rule details
- Pop-bumper and left-orbit hits give extra attacks during this single-ball mini-wizard mode.: Pop-bumper and left-orbit hits give extra attacks during this single-ball mini-wizard mode.