Rise of the Phoenix is a Category B3 slot game featuring a unique 3x3 reel configuration with 27 ways to win. Developed by Blueprint Games and distributed through Merkur venues, this mythical-themed slot combines innovative reel mechanics with progressive multipliers and gamble features.
Rise of the Phoenix represents a distinctive approach to slot game design, combining traditional 3x3 reel layouts with innovative progressive mechanics. Originally developed as a Licensed Betting Office favourite, the game has been reintroduced to the Blueprint Games catalogue with refined features and enhanced gameplay elements. The mythical phoenix theme serves as more than aesthetic decoration, with the rebirth concept integrated directly into the core mechanics through the stepping reel system and multiplier progression.
The fundamental gameplay revolves around a 3x3 reel window that provides 27 distinct ways to win. Unlike conventional slots where reels spin independently in fixed positions, Rise of the Phoenix implements a dynamic frame system. Play begins on the leftmost reel set, and when three adjacent symbols form a winning combination, the entire reel frame shifts one position to the right while the reels spin again.
This stepping mechanism continues accumulating wins until either a non-winning spin occurs or the frame reaches the rightmost position. Once either condition is met, the reel set resets to the left side and standard play resumes. This creates a cascading win potential within a single paid spin, fundamentally altering the risk-reward calculation compared to static reel games.
The game utilizes a streamlined symbol set optimized for the 3x3 grid format. Wild symbols play a crucial role, particularly at the £2 maximum stake level where they gain sticky properties. When wilds contribute to a winning combination at max bet, they remain locked in position as the reel frame moves right, significantly increasing the probability of consecutive wins.
The paytable is structured around the 27-way win system, with payouts calculated based on adjacent symbol matches rather than traditional payline configurations. This all-ways approach means that symbol position matters less than symbol frequency, rewarding clusters of matching icons regardless of their specific placement within the 3x3 grid.
Phoenix Spins represent the game's premium feature, accessible exclusively through the gamble mechanism rather than direct triggering during base play. These spins function similarly to the standard game with one critical enhancement: each winning reel position adds a multiplier that increases as the frame steps rightward.
The multiplier progression follows the reel position, starting at 1x on the leftmost set and scaling up to 5x when reaching the final rightmost position. This creates exponentially larger wins compared to base game outcomes, as the same symbol combinations yield five times the payout when achieved on the far-right reel set. The multiplier resets only when Phoenix Spins conclude, not between individual spins within the feature.
The progressive multiplier structure fundamentally changes optimal play strategy during Phoenix Spins. Early wins in the feature carry less value but advance the frame toward higher multiplier positions. Players effectively trade lower immediate returns for positioning that enables larger subsequent wins. This creates a tension between collecting modest guaranteed wins and pursuing the maximum 5x multiplier potential.
The feature's design rewards sustained winning streaks rather than isolated big hits. A single high-value combination on the leftmost reels generates less total return than multiple moderate wins that progress the frame to the 5x position. This mechanic encourages understanding of symbol frequency and probability rather than simply hoping for rare premium symbol combinations.
The ladder gamble system serves as the gateway to Phoenix Spins and enhanced cash values. After any base game win, players can choose to gamble their winnings on a wheel divided into red and green segments. Landing on green advances the player up the ladder toward either improved cash prizes or Phoenix Spins, while red results in loss of the gambled amount.
The gamble presents two distinct collection paths: cash or Phoenix Spins. Players must decide which reward type to pursue before beginning the gamble sequence, as the ladder tracks separate progressions for each option. This creates a strategic decision point where players evaluate whether the multiplier potential of Phoenix Spins outweighs the certainty of enhanced cash collection.
Rise of the Phoenix operates on a distinctive left-to-right progression system where the active reel frame shifts position after each winning combination. Stakes range from 25p to £2, with enhanced features unlocking at higher bet levels. The game is available on Aurora Max and Aurora Max+ cabinets in licensed venues.
The slot implements a ladder gamble system featuring red and green segments, allowing players to risk their winnings for improved cash values or Phoenix Spins. This risk-reward mechanism adds strategic depth beyond the base game, with separate collection options for cash or feature spins.
The red-green wheel operates on predetermined probability distributions that vary based on ladder position. Lower ladder positions typically offer more favorable green-to-red ratios, while higher positions increase risk proportionally to potential reward. Understanding these shifting probabilities is essential for informed gamble decisions, as the expected value changes dramatically across ladder levels.
Experienced players often employ threshold strategies, gambling to specific ladder positions before collecting rather than pursuing maximum values. This approach balances the desire for enhanced returns against the mathematical reality of compounding risk across multiple gamble attempts. The optimal threshold varies based on individual risk tolerance and bankroll management principles.
The Colossal Spin represents a randomly triggered event that can occur at any moment during base play. When activated, a giant symbol expands to cover the entire 3x3 reel window, guaranteeing a winning outcome. This feature bypasses the normal symbol randomization process, instead displaying a single oversized icon across all nine positions.
Because the Colossal Spin fills every position with the same symbol, it automatically creates the maximum possible number of winning combinations for that symbol type. The feature cannot produce non-winning outcomes, making it a guaranteed win event whenever triggered. The value of the win depends on which symbol is selected for the colossal display, with premium symbols naturally yielding larger payouts than lower-value icons.
The random nature of Colossal Spin triggering means it cannot be strategically pursued or influenced by player decisions. Trigger frequency appears consistent across stake levels, though the absolute value of wins scales with bet size. This creates a flat probability structure where the feature contributes equally to return-to-player percentages regardless of stake selection.
The guaranteed win aspect makes Colossal Spins particularly valuable during extended losing streaks, as they provide bankroll relief independent of normal game volatility. However, the feature's random triggering means it cannot be relied upon for consistent returns, functioning instead as variance reduction across long play sessions.
Playing at the £2 maximum stake unlocks enhanced wild behavior that significantly alters game dynamics. At this bet level, any wild symbols that contribute to winning combinations become sticky, remaining locked in position as the reel frame steps rightward. This creates accumulating wild positions that persist across multiple spins within a single frame progression.
The sticky wild mechanic compounds with the stepping reel system to create exponentially increasing win potential. As the frame moves right and wilds accumulate, each new reel position benefits from all previously locked wilds. This can result in situations where multiple wild positions create near-guaranteed wins on subsequent frame steps, particularly when wilds occupy strategic positions within the 3x3 grid.
The £2 stake represents a fourfold increase over the 50p mid-range option, requiring substantially larger bankroll allocation to sustain equivalent play duration. Players must weigh the enhanced win potential from sticky wilds against the accelerated bankroll depletion rate. The feature's value becomes most apparent during winning streaks where sticky wilds compound across multiple frame steps, but offers no advantage during losing sequences.
Optimal bankroll management for maximum bet play typically requires 50-100 times the stake amount to weather normal variance. Players with smaller bankrolls may find better value at lower stakes where base game mechanics provide adequate entertainment and win potential without the premium cost of sticky wild functionality.
Rise of the Phoenix is available exclusively in land-based venues operated by Admiral, Merkur, and associated licensed operators. The game runs on Aurora Max and Aurora Max+ cabinet hardware, which provide high-definition displays and responsive touch interfaces. These cabinets are typically positioned in high-traffic areas within gaming venues due to the game's popularity among regular players.
The Category B3 classification limits maximum prizes to £500, with this cap applying across all features including Phoenix Spins and Colossal Spins. This regulatory framework ensures the game remains within responsible gambling parameters while still offering meaningful win potential relative to stake sizes. Players should verify specific venue rules regarding maximum play duration and stake limits, as individual operators may implement additional restrictions beyond regulatory minimums.
Rise of the Phoenix distinguishes itself through innovative mechanical design rather than superficial theme elements. The stepping reel system creates genuine strategic depth, while the multiplier progression in Phoenix Spins rewards understanding of probability and positioning. The gamble feature adds meaningful player agency, allowing risk-tolerant individuals to pursue enhanced returns while conservative players can collect base wins without additional exposure.
The game's appeal lies in its transparency and mechanical clarity. Players can observe exactly how the stepping reel system functions and calculate the value of multiplier progression in Phoenix Spins. This accessibility makes Rise of the Phoenix suitable for both casual players seeking entertainment and analytical players who appreciate games with clear mathematical structures. The £500 jackpot cap and Category B3 classification ensure the game remains within responsible gambling frameworks while delivering engaging gameplay across all stake levels.
The reel frame starts on the left side of the game window. When you achieve a winning combination of three adjacent symbols, the frame shifts one position to the right and spins again. This continues until you either get a non-winning spin or reach the rightmost position, at which point the frame resets to the left.
No, Phoenix Spins are only accessible through the gamble feature. After winning in the base game, you must choose to gamble your winnings and successfully navigate the red-green wheel ladder to reach Phoenix Spins. They cannot be triggered directly through symbol combinations on the reels.
At the £2 stake level, wild symbols become sticky when they contribute to wins. These wilds remain locked in position as the reel frame steps right, creating accumulating wild positions that significantly increase the probability of consecutive wins during a single frame progression.
The Colossal Spin guarantees a win by filling all nine positions with the same symbol, but the win size depends on which symbol is selected. Premium symbols yield larger payouts, while lower-value symbols produce smaller wins. The feature ensures you win something, but not necessarily a large amount.
The maximum multiplier in Phoenix Spins is 5x, which applies when wins occur on the rightmost reel position. The multiplier increases progressively as the reel frame steps from left to right, starting at 1x and scaling up to 5x at the final position.
After a base game win, you can choose to gamble for either enhanced cash values or Phoenix Spins. The ladder presents a wheel with red and green segments. Landing on green advances you up the ladder toward better rewards, while landing on red causes you to lose the gambled amount. You must select your target reward type before starting the gamble sequence.
Rise of the Phoenix is available at regulated gaming venues operated by licensed providers across the UK and Gibraltar jurisdictions.
Progressive multipliers in slot games increase win values based on consecutive successes or positional advancement. Rise of the Phoenix implements this through its stepping reel mechanism combined with Phoenix Spins feature.
Sticky wilds remain locked in position across multiple spins or reel movements, creating accumulating win potential. This feature requires maximum stake activation in Rise of the Phoenix.
Rise of the Phoenix has been reintroduced to the Blueprint Games catalogue following its success as a Licensed Betting Office favourite.
The game is now available on Aurora Max+ cabinets in addition to standard Aurora Max hardware across Merkur venues.
All Rise of the Phoenix installations have been verified for Category B3 regulatory compliance with £500 maximum jackpot limits.