Dragon Maiden Expanding Reels
Every Dragon Scatter in Free Spins makes its reel taller, up to a full 5 x 6 grid.
Dragon Maiden expanding reels are the core of the Play'n GO slot. The game starts on 5 reels and 3 rows with 243 ways. In Free Spins, each Dragon Scatter makes its reel one symbol taller, up to 6 high. When all five reels are full, the grid pays on 7,776 ways in the Golden Free Spins.
Quick Specs
These figures come from Play'n GO's official game page and the in-game rules. The Dragon Maiden overview covers the base rules and symbols.
| Base grid | 5 reels x 3 rows |
| Base ways | 243 |
| When reels grow | Free Spins only |
| What makes a reel grow | A Dragon Scatter landing on it |
| Growth per scatter | +1 symbol |
| Max reel height | 6 symbols |
| Full grid | 5 x 6, 7,776 ways |
| Reward for a full reel | 1 Golden Free Spin |
How the Reels Expand
Reels expand due to scatters, not wins. Every Dragon Scatter that lands during Free Spins adds one position to the height of its reel.
Each reel expands independently. One reel might reach 6 symbols while another stays at 3. A taller reel keeps its height for the entire Free Spins round, so the grid only expands.
- Free Spins start on the standard 5 x 3 grid
- A Dragon Scatter lands and its reel grows to 4 symbols
- More scatters on that reel take it to 5, then 6
- A reel at 6 awards a Golden Free Spin
- More scatters on a full reel add more Golden Free Spins
How Ways to Win Change
Dragon Maiden uses ways to win, not fixed paylines. The total ways equal the product of the symbol count on each reel. This explains why a single taller reel creates many new ways.
Wins still require matching symbols on consecutive reels starting from the far left. Taller reels on the left side boost your chances most, as all winning combinations begin there.
| 3-3-3-3-3 | 243 |
| 4-3-3-3-3 | 324 |
| 5-3-3-3-3 | 405 |
| 6-3-3-3-3 | 486 |
| 6-6-3-3-3 | 972 |
| 6-6-6-3-3 | 1,944 |
| 6-6-6-6-3 | 3,888 |
| 6-6-6-6-6 | 7,776 |
Golden Free Spins: the Full Grid
The expansion truly pays off in Golden Free Spins. These occur after the regular Free Spins finish, with every reel at its maximum height of 6 symbols.
- One Golden Free Spin for each reel that reaches 6 symbols
- One extra Golden Free Spin for each scatter on a full reel
- All Golden Free Spins use 7,776 ways
- Golden wins are added to the Free Spins total
You don't need all five reels at 6 in the regular round. Even one full reel earns a Golden Free Spin, and that spin uses the full 5 x 6 grid.
Expanding Wild in the Base Game
A second expansion feature works outside Free Spins. The Dragon Maiden symbol can randomly turn Wild. When this happens, all Maiden symbols on screen become Wild and can each expand up to 3 symbols high.
| Feature | Expanding reels | Expanding Wild |
|---|---|---|
| When | Free Spins | Base game and Free Spins |
| Trigger | Dragon Scatter | Random |
| What grows | Reel height, up to 6 | Wild, up to 3 symbols |
| Effect | More ways to win | Fills a reel with Wilds |
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Every scatter in Free Spins grows the grid
- Up to 7,776 ways on a full grid
- One full reel already earns a Golden Free Spin
- Expanding Wild adds base game action
Cons
- Reels only grow during Free Spins
- Uneven reels add fewer ways than a full grid
- Reels reset to 3 rows after the round
- High volatility, long dry runs are possible
FAQ
Yes. A Dragon Scatter during Free Spins increases its reel's height by one symbol, up to a maximum of 6. The grid expands from 243 ways up to 7,776.
No. Wins do not affect reel height. Only a Dragon Scatter landing on a reel in Free Spins triggers its growth.
7,776 ways are active when all five reels reach 6 symbols high. Golden Free Spins always use this full-size grid.
No. The increased heights last through the Free Spins and any Golden Free Spins. The base game reverts to a 5x3 grid with 243 ways.
No. The Wild expands randomly to cover up to 3 symbols on a standard reel. Expanding reels add rows in Free Spins when scatters appear.
Yes. The Play'n GO demo includes the complete Free Spins round with growing reels and Golden Free Spins, using virtual credits.
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