Iron Man pinball rules and strategy
Strategy summary
Iron Monger is the clearest of Iron Man's three character Multiballs to learn first. Shoot the three spinners until M-O-N-G-E-R is complete, shoot a flashing spinner lane to raise Iron Monger, then hit the raised toy six times to start Multiball. Hit Iron Monger six more times and shoot the center lane for the Super Jackpot; shooting each ramp until both reach 400,000 starts Bogey instead.
The goal
Shoot the three spinner lanes to qualify Iron Monger, hit him six times to start Multiball, then collect six Jackpots and the center-lane Super Jackpot.
Start Iron Monger Multiball
Shoot any of the three spinner lanes until M-O-N-G-E-R is complete, then shoot the center spinner to raise Iron Monger. Hit the raised Iron Monger six times; the sixth hit starts three-ball Iron Monger Multiball.
Score Iron Monger Multiball
Shoot the center spinner or complete either orbit to raise Iron Monger, then hit him six times for six Jackpots. Shoot the center lane for the Super Jackpot.
Alternative route: Bogey ramp loops
Use this when both ramps return cleanly to the flippers.
- Shoot each ramp until both ramp awards reach 400,000; maxing the second ramp starts Bogey.
- During Bogey, alternate the lit ramps. Each ramp returns the ball for an immediate shot at the other ramp.
Need to know
- Iron Monger Multiball
- Shoot spinner lanes until MONGER is complete, then use the center spinner to raise Iron Monger. Six hits start three-ball play. The spinner-hit requirement can be adjusted to 4, 6, or 10.
- Double Scoring
- After Fast Scoring ends, hit the seven red standups until I-R-O-N-M-A-N is complete, then hit any flashing red standup to start Double Scoring. Pinball News recommends leaving it ready for a Multiball or wizard mode; on 1.85+, the default setting does not allow it to start during Multiball.
- War Machine Multiball
- Hit lit drone targets until eight drones are destroyed, then shoot War Machine to start two-ball play.
Iron Man uses five character inserts for Do or Die and six Mark milestones for Jericho. For a two-Multiball stack, hit lit drone targets until eight Drones are destroyed and shoot War Machine to start its Multiball. Then complete M-O-N-G-E-R at the three spinners, shoot a flashing spinner lane to raise Iron Monger, and hit the raised toy six times to add Iron Monger Multiball; Iron Monger and Whiplash cannot run together.
The goal
Use Iron Monger for the direct Multiball route, or prepare War Machine before either Iron Monger or Whiplash for a two-Multiball stack.Across a strong ball, light all five character inserts for Do or Die and advance six Mark milestones for Jericho.
- For the direct route, shoot the left-orbit, center-lane, or right-orbit spinner until M-O-N-G-E-R is complete.
- Shoot a flashing spinner lane to raise Iron Monger. Hit the raised toy six times; the sixth hit starts three-ball Iron Monger Multiball.
- During Iron Monger Multiball, shoot the center spinner or complete either orbit to raise Iron Monger. Hit him six times for six Jackpots, then shoot the center lane for the Super Jackpot.
- For a two-Multiball stack, light War Machine at the drone targets before starting another Multiball. Start War Machine first, then add either a raised Iron Monger or a ready Whiplash. Do not prepare Whiplash and Iron Monger as one stack; they cannot run together.
- During one ball, start Fast Scoring, Iron Monger Multiball, War Machine Multiball, and Whiplash Multiball, and destroy all eight drones. Shoot the center lane to start Do or Die, then shoot the center lane again to collect the hurry-up.
Top-player proof
- In the Pittsburgh Pinball Open 2017 final, Steven Bowden chose the qualified Bogey ramp for roughly two million points, but a right-ramp rejection ended the attempt.
- At Pinburgh 2025, players opened with Iron Monger; John Delzoppo then combined War Machine and Whiplash, collected Do or Die, and played Jericho at 2x.
Builds toward: Do or Die and Mark VI
- During one ball, start Fast Scoring, Iron Monger Multiball, War Machine Multiball, and Whiplash Multiball, and destroy all eight drones to light the five character inserts.
- When all five character inserts flash, shoot the center lane to start Do or Die, then shoot the center lane again to collect its hurry-up.
- Separately, advance the Mark ladder by completing its feature milestones. Completing S.H.I.E.L.D. or I-R-O-N-M-A-N and starting major features can add Mark progress.
- When the Mark VI arc-reactor insert flashes, shoot the center lane to start Jericho.