Online slots in recent years thanks to their convenience, huge selection, and potential for big payouts when you play slots online, you’ll notice many games have special features like locked and unlocked symbols. But how exactly do these work?
Locked and unlocked symbols
Locked and unlocked symbols are special features found in some online slots. Locked symbols stay in place for subsequent spins after they land on the reels. Unlocked symbols do not remain locked in place, instead disappearing after each spin like normal slot symbols.
Games with locked symbols allow you to more easily winning symbol combinations across multiple spins. Since the locked symbols remain on the reels, if you get close to a win, those same symbols will stay locked in place and give you another chance to complete the combination on your next spin. Unlocked symbols offer temporary help in forming wins, but since they don’t remain on the reels, they are less powerful than locked symbols. However, getting an unlocked symbol when you need it to complete a payline can still be beneficial.
When a locked symbol lands on the reels, it will stay in that same spot for a predetermined number of spins. The number of locked spins may vary based on the game, but it’s usually between 2 to 4 spins. For instance, if you get a locked wild symbol, that wild will remain locked in its spot for the next 3 spins after you originally got it. It gives you 3 more chances to use that wild to complete winning combinations.
Often, when a locked symbol appears, any winning combinations using that locked symbol will pay out extra-large rewardsClick here for more info. This varies by game, but locked symbols generally pay 1.5x to 3x the normal amount when part of a win. Locked symbols can be incredibly useful when you’re close to a big win, but just need 1 or 2 more symbols. With the locked symbols staying in place, you stand a much better chance of hitting that elusive win.
Tips for using locked and unlocked symbols
Here are some tips to make the most of locked and unlocked symbols when you encounter them in online slots:
- Prioritize games with locked wild symbols. Having wilds locked in place is extremely valuable for completing wins over multiple spins.
- Take advantage of unlocked scatter symbols when they appear to get scatter payouts for that spin.
- Try to fill the reels with as many locked symbols as possible. The more that are locked in, the easier it will be to hit big wins.
- Pause the autoplay if you get helpful unlocked symbols so you can manually spin next and take advantage of them.
- Bet higher when you have lots of locked symbols to maximize your payout potential over those spins.
- Look for slot titles where locked symbols remain locked for many spins, like 8 to 10 spins. More locked spins mean more chances at wins.
- Play bonus features to completion when you have many locked symbols to take advantage of their help in hitting larger bonuses.
Locked and unlocked symbols add excitement and big win potential to online slots. Now that you know how both work, you can develop strategies using these special symbols to unlock the biggest slot payouts. Just remember – when you see those locked wilds hit the reels, get ready for some heart-pounding spins!