Joust pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Joust sends balls between two players through center spinner gates, then ends with a 30-second Unlimited Balls period. Keep a controllable ball on your side, raise the spinner to 5,000, and collect flashing Egg Bonus. During the finale, keep every available ball moving through the best lit awards.
The goal
Learn both center-gate returns and keep controllable balls on your side. Hit the disappearing targets to raise the spinner to 5,000, collect flashing Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps., and use the final 30-second Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires. period for continuous scoring.
Release the first ball when prompted. Watch both center spinner gates before committing to a shot.
Keep a controllable ball on your end while you learn which center shot transfers it to the other player.
Hit the first disappearing target to light the spinner at 1,000, then hit the second to raise it to 5,000.
Shoot the 5,000 spinner only when you accept the transfer to the other end.
Use numbered and Hunter rollovers, then collect a flashing Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. at the indicated left three-bank.
- Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps.: Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps.
When a target lane shows a qualifying value, shoot it and confirm Untimed Unlimited Balls before changing routes.
- Untimed Unlimited Balls is separately qualified from the automatic 30-second finale. Its ending condition varies, so identify the installed behavior before changing routes.
When normal play ends, use the 30-second Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires. finale to keep every available ball moving.
- Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires.: Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires.
During the finale, favor the 5,000 spinner and lit Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. or target-bank collects until time ends.
Alternative route: Recovery: Local targets and Egg Bonus
Recovery pivot: Use this when center-gate shots give the opponent too much control.
- Keep the ball on your end.
- Work one local three-bank at a time.
- Use Hunter rollovers when the feed is natural.
- Wait for Collect Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. to flash, then take its indicated bank.
- Avoid the spinner until its value is useful.
Need to know
- Game format
- Joust supports one-player or two-player play, and its configured normal-ball count determines when the timed finale begins.
- Head-to-head play
- Each player controls two flippers while spinner gates send balls between the two ends.
- Untimed Unlimited Balls
- A qualified disappearing-target lane can start a separate replacement-ball period under the installed rules.
Joust sends balls between two players through center spinner gates, then ends with a 30-second Unlimited Balls period. Learn both spinner returns before sending a ball away, raise the spinner to 5,000, and collect the indicated bank when Egg Bonus flashes. Use the final 30 seconds for continuous spinner and bank scoring.
The goal
Learn both center-gate returns and keep controllable balls on your side.Hit the disappearing targets to raise the spinner to 5,000, collect flashing Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps., and use the final 30-second Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires. period for continuous scoring.
- Release the first ball when prompted. Watch both center spinner gates before committing to a shot.
- Keep a controllable ball on your end while you learn which center shot transfers it to the other player.
- Hit the first disappearing target to light the spinner at 1,000, then hit the second to raise it to 5,000.
- Shoot the 5,000 spinner only when you accept the transfer to the other end.
- Use numbered and Hunter rollovers, then collect a flashing Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. at the indicated left three-bank.
Egg Bonus scoring details
- Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps.: Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps.
- When a target lane shows a qualifying value, shoot it and confirm Untimed Unlimited Balls before changing routes.
When a target lane shows a qualifying value, shoot it and…
- Untimed Unlimited Balls is separately qualified from the automatic 30-second finale. Its ending condition varies, so identify the installed behavior before changing routes.
- When normal play ends, use the 30-second Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires. finale to keep every available ball moving.
Unlimited Balls timing details
- Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires.: Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires.
- During the finale, favor the 5,000 spinner and lit Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. or target-bank collects until time ends.
Builds toward: The 30-second Unlimited Balls finale
- Complete normal play on your side.
- Keep scoring while the other player finishes remaining normal balls.
- Enter the final 30-second Drained balls are replaced during the timed finale, which ends when its 30-second countdown expires. period.
- Use the 5,000 spinner and lit bank or Hunter and numbered rollover progress lights the bank collect shown by the local display and lamps. awards.
- Continue until the countdown ends.
- Joust has no separate mini-wizard or wizard mode.