Avalon Gold packs a lot in and despite its high variance it feels like there is rarely a spell where things slow down. This is helped in part by the fact that the game is using Cascading Wins so every winning spin is followed by explosions as winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in. And in this case, as in other ELK slots, another row is added to the reels.
Reel set expanded to 7 rows highWilds and Expanding Wilds
All the while, wilds may drop on the grid to help you complete Win Lines. In a clever and innovative twist, they sometimes appear behind a standard symbol. In this instance you know they are there because you see a gold frame around the covering symbol. If the symbol they sit behind forms part of a win then they expand upwards to fill any space created in the latest Cascade. This can lead to wilds expanding 3 or 4 rows upwards to help form wins.
Mystery Boxes With Supernatural Powers
Fun stuff, but without doubt our favourite feature of Avalon Gold is the Mystery Boxes. ELK have produced a really special symbol here, one that looks like it has supernatural qualities thanks to the pentagram on its exterior and the way it animates when it activates.
Things you need to know about these boxes are that initially they simply drop onto the reels and sit there. They won’t move until either the game round ends or at least five are visible anywhere on the grid. Once five or more are in sight, they activate. Worst case scenario here is that they all reveal an identical symbol from the paytable or a wild.
5 extra wilds? No problem! But best case is one of the following features. You’ll know if it’s coming because the pentagon glows and spins before revealing your bonuses. Each box will open in order to reveal a different bonus:
- if it’s a coin like a 5x then it’s a standard win;
- if it’s a multiplier, then that multiplier is applied to the total value of coins so far;
- if it’s a swiper, then 10 is added to the value of the last coin to be revealed by adding a ‘1’ in front of it. So, if it was a 5, it becomes a 15.
- if it’s a Collector is revealed, then it collects the value of ALL the coins revealed so far and reactivates them;
- if it’s a re-drop then it triggers another drop in which the Mystery Boxes are guaranteed to re-open.
It might not sound like much but picture a grid with 10 or 15 of these boxes on it, each revealing coin wins, multipliers and swipers. Then after a big win, they all re-activate and the feature starts up again. That’s where Avalon Gold can really deliver!
Up to 25 Free Spins
Something like this is possible in the free spins round, triggered by landing 3, 4, 5 or 6 scatters to get you 10, 15, 20 or 25 free spins. You can see highlights from our free spins round with 15 free spins below.
15 Free spins from 4 scattersTo give you a better chance of winning, mystery boxes stick between free spins until they are activated. And a ‘Safety Level’ is active. This effectively locks the number of rows in play at the level set in the last avalanche sequence. So, if you had 5 active rows from your first spin, your second spin starts at five active rows again.
Mystery boxes opening up in the free spins roundIncredibly, the game also allows re-triggers. So you can land another 6 scatters for another 25 free spins.
And that’s your lot – Avalon Gold packs a real punch. It’s kind of relentless, but never boring.
