Paragon Pinball Rules & Strategy

Paragon carries Super Bonus thresholds while the Valley of Demons raises Bonus X. Reach 20,000 early, use controlled Valley shots toward 5x, then continue toward the 49,000 base maximum. Use the spinner only when its waterfall return is safe.

The goal

Reach 20,000 Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. early. Use the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. for safe bonus and 5x. Then raise the bonus toward 49,000 at 5x.

Plunge for It starts at 2,000 and rises by 2,000 per visit to a 20,000 maximum. Its value holds between balls.. Pursue spelling PARAGON when letters advance in order or the Valley targets spot letters.
Test both right flippers, the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. return, the waterfall exit, and both top-saucer kickouts.
From a right flipper, shoot the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. inline drops. Use the upper-left flipper as a diverter on the return.
- The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x.: The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x.
- The first saucer visit gives 5x. The next visit gives an extra ball or its configured point value.
Reach 20,000 bonus as early as possible. Then work toward 30,000 and 40,000.
- Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball.: Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball.
After collecting 5x, shoot the Valley saucer again for the Extra Ball award (or its configured point value) and to reset the inline targets. Repeat the targets for bonus advances if enabled. Use the spinner when it is strong and the waterfall exit is safe.
Build to 49,000 at 5x. Protect the ball and avoid a tilt before the end-of-ball collect.
- 49,000 at 5x scores 245,000. There is no live bonus collect; it scores only when the ball ends.: 49,000 at 5x scores 245,000. There is no live bonus collect; it scores only when the ball ends.

Alternative route: Spinner to 20,000

Use this when the Valley rejects, but the spinner is active and the waterfall exit is controlled.

From the right flipper, shoot the spinner.
Use top-playfield nudges to seek a saucer and more bonus advances.
Stop after reaching the next Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. threshold if the bumper or waterfall return becomes unsafe.

Need to know

Main route: Reach 20,000 Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. early.
Long goal: Lock in the 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. thresholds.
Safer fallback: Spinner to 20,000: Use this when the Valley rejects, but the spinner is active and the waterfall exit is controlled.

In Paragon, reaching 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 carries each Super Bonus threshold to later balls, while Valley of Demons shots raise Bonus X to 5x. Secure each threshold, then build the remaining base toward 49,000 and avoid tilting away the 245,000 collect.

The goal

Reach 20,000 Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. early.Use the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. for safe bonus and 5x.Then raise the bonus toward 49,000 at 5x.

Plunge for It starts at 2,000 and rises by 2,000 per visit to a 20,000 maximum. Its value holds between balls.. Pursue spelling PARAGON when letters advance in order or the Valley targets spot letters.
Test both right flippers, the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. return, the waterfall exit, and both top-saucer kickouts.
From a right flipper, shoot the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. inline drops. Use the upper-left flipper as a diverter on the return.
Valley of Demons scoring details
- The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x.: The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x.
- The first saucer visit gives 5x. The next visit gives an extra ball or its configured point value.
Reach 20,000 bonus as early as possible. Then work toward 30,000 and 40,000.
Super Bonus scoring details
- Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball.: Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball.
After collecting 5x, shoot the Valley saucer again for the Extra Ball award (or its configured point value) and to reset the inline targets. Repeat the targets for bonus advances if enabled. Use the spinner when it is strong and the waterfall exit is safe.
Build to 49,000 at 5x. Protect the ball and avoid a tilt before the end-of-ball collect.
Maximum bonus scoring details
- 49,000 at 5x scores 245,000. There is no live bonus collect; it scores only when the ball ends.: 49,000 at 5x scores 245,000. There is no live bonus collect; it scores only when the ball ends.

Fallback: Spinner to 20,000

Use this when the Valley rejects, but the spinner is active and the waterfall exit is controlled.

From the right flipper, shoot the spinner.
Use top-playfield nudges to seek a saucer and more bonus advances.
Stop after reaching the next Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. threshold if the bumper or waterfall return becomes unsafe.

Alternative: Golden Cliffs

Use this after bonus is established and the ball is already in the top area.

Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. the ball into the upper-left Golden Cliffs saucer.
Golden Cliffs scoring details
- It starts at 2,000 and rises by 2,000 per visit to a 20,000 maximum. Its value holds between balls.: It starts at 2,000 and rises by 2,000 per visit to a 20,000 maximum. Its value holds between balls.
Keep the ball in the upper area for another saucer visit when a 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. is sufficient.

Alternative: Sequential PARAGON

Use this only when the letters advance in order or Valley hits also spot letters.

Collect letters at the upper-right PARAGON saucer.
Complete PARAGON to light Special at the PARAGON saucer. Shoot the saucer again to collect 25,000 plus the configured Special award.

Builds toward: 245,000 maximum bonus

Lock in the 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 Reaching 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 makes that base value the starting bonus on every later ball. thresholds.
Reach 5x through the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x..
Keep shooting the The inline drops add bonus. The third target gives 2x, the fourth gives 3x, and the saucer behind them gives 5x. or the spinner until base bonus reaches 49,000. Do not tilt.

Shot techniques

Shoot a target on the same side as the active flipper, often from near the flipper base and behind the nearby slingshot.Test a left-flipper Shoot a target on the same side as the active flipper, often from near the flipper base and behind the nearby slingshot. from the tip. Use it only when it reaches the inline targets without entering the Beast's Lair.
Gentle 5x lobTransfer the ball to a flipper tip. Lob it softly into the saucer behind the inline drops. A hard shot often rejects.
Upper-left flipper diverterHold the upper-left flipper as a Valley return arrives. Guide the ball away from the left sling and toward the right flippers.
Release a raised flipper at contact so the ball loses speed and gently rolls up the flipper, often giving you a chance to cradle it.Use a Release a raised flipper at contact so the ball loses speed and gently rolls up the flipper, often giving you a chance to cradle it. instead of a Time the end of a flipper stroke to meet the incoming ball and cancel its momentum into a cradle. on a fast Valley return. Do not Hold a raised flipper so a slow ball settles against it, giving you time to plan your next move. on the lower right flipper.
Flutter control into 5xOn a fast lower return, use a short flip-and-release to remove speed without stopping the ball. Continue directly into the Valley drop route when the return line is clean.

Physical cautions

The lower-right scissor flippers can drain the ball between them.Keep both flippers down when possible. Use quick flips and drop catches. Do not Hold a raised flipper so a slow ball settles against it, giving you time to plan your next move. on the lower right flipper.
The center Advance Bonus target is a direct center-drain risk.Do not aim at it. Advance bonus through the Valley, spinner, and natural top action.
A hard 5x saucer shot can hit the plastic and reject at high speed.Use a gentle lob. Be ready for a fast return when the shot rejects.
The waterfall exit can reach either flipper, a sling, or the center drain.Read its first exit before using the spinner fallback. Stop if the exit is not predictable.
The Beast's Lair replaces the left outlane and is difficult to escape.Avoid shots that arc left. If the ball enters, use small rightward and upward nudges and the upper-left flipper to find the escape passage.
A hard, centered Bally drop-target hit may not lower the target and can return fast.Use a softer or slightly off-center hit. Prepare for a faster return after a brick.

Sources and references

Contribute to this ruleset!

Recently viewed

The goal

Alternative route: Spinner to 20,000

The goal

Fallback: Spinner to 20,000

Alternative: Golden Cliffs

Alternative: Sequential PARAGON

Builds toward: 245,000 maximum bonus

Machine setup

Playbooks

Pinball tournament study pack

Paragon pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

The goal

Alternative route: Spinner to 20,000

The goal

↪Fallback: Spinner to 20,000

↔Alternative: Golden Cliffs

↔Alternative: Sequential PARAGON

◆Builds toward: 245,000 maximum bonus

Playbooks

Fallback: Spinner to 20,000

Alternative: Golden Cliffs

Alternative: Sequential PARAGON

Builds toward: 245,000 maximum bonus