Hit the Deck / Neptune pinball rules and strategy

Collect six red cards and six black cards through the labeled lanes. The top and bottom holes also award cards of their indicated colors. Shoot between the center and left bumpers to feed the lanes; use the lower-left Queen and King standups only when one of those cards is still missing. After completing a color, follow the installed card's lit WOW or Special collect.

The goal

Keep the ball in the upper playfield and let lanes, bumpers, and holes fill the two card rows. Take the dangerous lower-left standups only to finish a color, then collect the version-specific lit award instead of assuming every Hit the Deck or Neptune is configured alike.

  1. Plunge for a card you still need; on the first ball, favor the 10 when its lane is available.

  2. Shoot between the center and left bumpers so upper-playfield action reaches card lanes and either card-award hole.

  3. If the lower-left Queen or King is the last needed card, take that standup from a controlled ball; otherwise keep using the upper route.

  4. After completing one color, follow the installed instruction card to the lit WOW or Special collect and exploit the raised card values.

Need to know
Complete Red
Collect all six red cards through lanes and the red-card hole.
Complete Black
Collect all six black cards through lanes and the black-card hole.
Award Needed Card
Use the top or bottom hole for a card of the indicated color.

Machine setup

  • Identify Hit the Deck, Neptune, Poseidon, or the licensed regional version; test every red and black card lane, both card-award holes and ejects, the lower-left Queen and King standups, the top-left chute, and the ball kicker.
  • Read the installed instruction card before play. Confirm three- or five-ball settings, replay versus add-a-ball rules, the value of WOW or Special, which completed color lights which hole, and whether card progress carries from ball to ball.
Sources and references
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Playbooks

Hit the Deck / Neptune playfield

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