Totem pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Totem is a bonus-building and saucer-collect game. Shoot the top lanes from the left flipper, make full-depth vari-target hits from the right to raise Bonus X, then shoot the right saucer after base bonus reaches 20,000.

The goal

Shoot the top from the left flipper and the full-depth vari-target from the right. Build 20,000 base bonus and at least 3X. Then shoot the right saucer to collect the bonus. At 5X, each full collect scores 100,000.

  1. On the first ball, read the offset flippers and watch one complete exit from the top bumper area.

  2. From the left flipper, shoot the ball to the top lanes and build base bonus.

  3. From the right flipper, make a full-depth vari-target hit for 5,000 and one The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball. advance.

    • The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball.: The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball. reset at the next ball.
  4. Repeat the safer top or vari-target shot until base bonus reaches 20,000 and The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball. reaches at least 3X.

  5. If one required drop remains and its multiplier color is lit, finish that target from the safer glancing angle, then return to the top and vari-target route.

  6. Shoot the right saucer to collect the current bonus.

    • The saucer scores base bonus times Bonus X. It resets base bonus and keeps Bonus X for the rest of this ball.: The saucer scores base bonus times The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball.. It resets base bonus and keeps The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball. for the rest of this ball.
  7. At 5X, rebuild base bonus to 20,000 and repeat the saucer for another 100,000.

Alternative route: Recovery: Top-only bonus route

Recovery pivot: Use this when the vari-target rebound is unsafe.

  1. Shoot up top from either flipper.
  2. Use lanes and random top activity to build base bonus.
  3. Let complete B or C target-and-lane sets advance The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball..
  4. Collect at the right saucer when 20,000 base and at least 3X are ready.
Need to know
Collect Bonus
At 20,000 base bonus, this lit saucer scores base bonus times The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball., resets base bonus, and keeps The multiplier reaches 5X. Both base bonus and Bonus X reset at the next ball. this ball.
Bonus X
A full vari-target hit, a complete six-bank, certain lane-and-target sets, or an outlane advances the multiplier to a maximum of 5X.
Lit drop target
A matching top lane lights its target to score 5,000 instead of 500.

Machine setup

  • Confirm three-ball or five-ball rules and award conversions.
  • Test vari-target depth, right saucer, gates, and offset flippers.
Sources and references5 source links and outbound references.
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Totem playfield

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