The Shadow pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
The goal
Use either ramp to choose a Scene, then shoot Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp.. Complete all four ramp-diverter rings for A four-way ramp combo doubles the Vengeance awards. A full doubled completion can score 100 million.. Lock three balls at the Sanctum for Shadow Multiball, or complete K-H-A-N and shoot the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. for Khan Multiball. Scene points are paid in end-of-ball bonus.
How to start a Scene
Shoot either ramp to change the flashing Scene. When the Scene you want flashes, shoot the Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. saucer.
- For Escape Underwater Doom, shoot both ramps, the Shows Left orbit on the The Shadow playfield. The orbit entrance is on the far left, beside the left ramp., the Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield., the Shows left ramp on the The Shadow playfield. Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the left ramp., then Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. for the final award.
- For Discover Hotel Monolith, hit the Sanctum wall three times and lock a ball there, then make the flashing major shots.
How Scene points are awarded
Scene points are held in end-of-ball bonus instead of being added immediately. Let the ball drain normally to collect them; a tilt loses the entire bonus.
How to start Vengeance
Shoot each ramp through both diverter exits. Press that ramp's blue cabinet button to choose its inner or outer return; lighting all four rings starts A four-way ramp combo doubles the Vengeance awards. A full doubled completion can score 100 million..
How to start Shadow Multiball
The first Shows Sanctum lock on the The Shadow playfield. The first lock is already lit. For later locks, hit the wall until Lock lights, then shoot the Sanctum to lock. Later multiballs require more wall hits. The hidden-magnet wall and lock are in the upper center, to the right of the Battlefield. is lit. Shoot the Sanctum wall to lock the first ball. For later locks, hit the wall until Lock lights, then shoot the Sanctum to lock. Later multiballs require more wall hits; the third lock starts Shadow Multiball.
- Collect five Jackpot credits at the Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield., then shoot the lit Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. for the 100-million Super Jackpot. Doubled and tripled Jackpots count as two and three credits.
How to start Khan Multiball
Complete K-H-A-N through the inlanes and outlanes. Use either ramp and its blue cabinet button to feed missing inlane letters. Shoot the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. while Khan Multiball is lit.
- During multiball, make the Shows Left orbit on the The Shadow playfield. The orbit entrance is on the far left, beside the left ramp., Shows left ramp on the The Shadow playfield. Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the left ramp., Shows Battlefield on the The Shadow playfield. The paddle-controlled upper playfield occupies the upper-left corner., Shows right ramp on the The Shadow playfield. During Khan Multiball, collect the left orbit, left ramp, Battlefield, right ramp, and upper loop Jackpots., and Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield. for Jackpots. After all five, hit the moving lit Shows Battlefield target on the The Shadow playfield. Then hit the moving lit Battlefield target for the 100-million Super Jackpot. for the Super Jackpot.
Need to know
- Main route
- Lock three balls at the Sanctum for Shadow Multiball.
- Long goal
- Play all six Scenes; the Scene requirement lights when the last one ends, including by draining. You do not have to win every Scene.
- Safer fallback
- Scenes: Choose Scenes when Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. and the called shots are safer than repeated Sanctum hits.
In The Shadow, ramps select Scenes, three Sanctum locks start Shadow Multiball, and K-H-A-N through the return lanes lights Khan Multiball at the side saucer. Use the Sanctum route for five upper-loop Jackpots and the side-saucer Super Jackpot. Complete six Scenes, both Multiballs, and Battlefield to qualify Final Battle.
The goal
Lock three balls at the Sanctum for Shadow Multiball.Score five upper-loop Jackpots and the side-saucer Super Jackpot.Then complete K-H-A-N and start Khan Multiball at the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop..
- Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the Shows left ramp on the The Shadow playfield. Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the left ramp.. If you do not want that ramp shot, use the Shows Left orbit on the The Shadow playfield. The orbit entrance is on the far left, beside the left ramp. to begin the two-way combo.
Skill shot rule details
- Skill shot: The left blue button selects points or a random award at the Shows left ramp on the The Shadow playfield. Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the left ramp..
- Shoot the Sanctum wall to take the first lit lock. For later locks, hit the wall until Lock lights, then shoot the Sanctum to lock. Later multiballs require more wall hits. The third lock starts Shadow Multiball.
Sanctum lock setup details
- Shows Sanctum lock on the The Shadow playfield. The first lock is already lit. For later locks, hit the wall until Lock lights, then shoot the Sanctum to lock. Later multiballs require more wall hits. The hidden-magnet wall and lock are in the upper center, to the right of the Battlefield.: The first lock is already lit. For later locks, hit the wall until Lock lights, then shoot the Sanctum to lock. Later multiballs require more wall hits.
- During Shadow Multiball, shoot the Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield. for Jackpots. Lock one ball in Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. or the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. to double the next Jackpot; lock one in each to triple it.
During Shadow Multiball, shoot the upper loop for Jackpots.
- The doubled or tripled value lasts for one Jackpot or 10 seconds. The locked balls then return to play.
- Collect five Jackpot credits at the Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield., then shoot the lit Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. for the 100-million Super Jackpot. Doubled and tripled Jackpots count as two and three credits.
Collect five Jackpot credits at the upper loop, then shoo…
- Locking a ball in Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. doubles the Super Jackpot for 10 seconds.
- Complete K-H-A-N in the inlanes and outlanes. Use either ramp and its blue diverter button to feed a missing inlane letter, then shoot the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. to start Khan Multiball.
Complete K-H-A-N in the inlanes and outlanes.
- Each completed K-H-A-N set also raises Bonus X. The Khan Multiball start can time out after repeated starts, so collect the lit Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. promptly.
- During Khan Multiball, collect the Shows Left orbit on the The Shadow playfield. The orbit entrance is on the far left, beside the left ramp., Shows left ramp on the The Shadow playfield. Before plunging, press the left blue button to choose points or a random award at the left ramp., Shows Battlefield on the The Shadow playfield. The paddle-controlled upper playfield occupies the upper-left corner., Shows right ramp on the The Shadow playfield. During Khan Multiball, collect the left orbit, left ramp, Battlefield, right ramp, and upper loop Jackpots., and Shows Upper loop on the The Shadow playfield. The upper-flipper loop is behind the left ramp, near the center-left of the upper playfield. Jackpots. Then hit the moving lit target on the Shows Battlefield on the The Shadow playfield. The paddle-controlled upper playfield occupies the upper-left corner. for the 100-million Super Jackpot.
During Khan Multiball, collect the left orbit, left ramp,…
- Lock one ball in Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. or the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. to double the next Jackpot. Lock one in each to triple it.
Builds toward: Final Battle
- Play all six Scenes; the Scene requirement lights when the last one ends, including by draining. You do not have to win every Scene.
- Shoot the Shows upper-left drop target on the The Shadow playfield. Shoot the upper-left drop target to open the Battlefield, then shoot the lane behind it. to open the Shows Battlefield on the The Shadow playfield. The paddle-controlled upper playfield occupies the upper-left corner., then shoot the lane behind it. Use the paddle to make 30 yellow-target hits, then send the ball through the Shows top drop targets on the The Shadow playfield. Use the paddle to make 30 yellow-target hits, then send the ball through the top drop targets to defeat Khan. to defeat Khan.
- Complete K-H-A-N in the inlanes and outlanes, then shoot the Shows Side saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The side saucer is behind the left ramp and beside the upper loop. to start Khan Multiball. Play one Shadow Multiball and one Khan Multiball; each lights its Scarf inlay when it ends.
- Shoot Shows Start Scene saucer on the The Shadow playfield. The mode-start saucer is on the upper-right side beside the right ramp. to begin Each required shot scores 10 million. Completing the full grid awards 1 billion.. Keep the five-ball multiball alive and complete all 27 required shots.
Final Battle scoring details
- Each required shot scores 10 million. Completing the full grid awards 1 billion.: Each required shot scores 10 million. Completing the full grid awards 1 billion.
Sources and references12 references12 source links and outbound references.
- PinballCards
- Kineticist The Shadow tournament guide
- PAPA tutorial with Bowen Kerins
- Bowen Kerins at PAPA 16 World Pinball Championship
- The Shadow rulesheet
- PAPA rules archive
- Early upper-loop flip technique reference
- Sanctum return technique reference
- Phurba return control technique reference
- Battlefield paddle edge technique reference
- Physical caution reference
- Physical caution reference