The Empire Strikes Back pinball rules and strategy

Complete the six flashing Rebel targets to light the return lanes, spinners, and pop bumpers. Use the right flipper to move the lit starship lane and complete all four for Bonus X. Roll through a flashing return lane to light Dagobah or Bespin. Build the left drop-bank value before collecting lit Dagobah; repeat Bespin collects toward its increasing award and Extra Ball.

The goal

Light the return lanes first, then use lane change to finish the starship lanes and grow Bonus X. Favor the left drop bank and Dagobah route because the planet collects both the bank value and bonus; take Bespin when its return lane and planet are safely available.

  1. Complete all six flashing Rebel targets to light the ball-return lanes, spinners, and pop bumpers.

  2. Use the right-flipper lane change to complete all four starship lanes and raise Bonus X.

  3. Complete the three left drop targets to build their award, then roll through the flashing Dagobah return lane to light Planet Dagobah.

  4. Shoot Planet Dagobah while lit to collect the left drop-bank value plus the current bonus.

Need to know
Light Features
Complete all six flashing Rebel targets.
Raise Bonus X
Complete the four starship lanes; move the lit lane with the right flipper.
Light a Planet
Roll through its flashing ball-return lane.

Machine setup

  • Test the six flashing Rebel targets and lamps, all four starship lane switches and lane change, both return lanes, both planet switches and lamps, the three left drops, the right drop, both spinners, pop bumpers, and the ball-exit gate.
  • Confirm three- or five-ball play, Extra Ball and Special conversion, lane-change response, target-bank carryover, and the current replay thresholds before choosing a scoring route.
Sources and references
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The Empire Strikes Back playfield

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