# Iron Maiden Pro Tournament Strategy

**Source:** Stern Pinball  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2018-05-14  
**Duration:** 71m 55s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFrRH1r8iV4

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball hosts an Iron Maiden Pro tournament strategy stream featuring multiple experienced players demonstrating gameplay tactics, mode prioritization, and multiball strategies. The stream covers drop target priorities, Mummy vs. Trooper multiball sequencing, Cyborg Multiball setup, and includes a challenge round where players are assigned specific objectives (Mummy Multiball-only, Trooper-only, etc.). The stream is positioned as educational content for launch party participants, with hints about upcoming LE pick availability and Premium clarity announcements on Stern's Facebook page.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] LE picks for Iron Maiden should be announced soon, possibly on Stern Facebook page 'before you go to bed tonight' — _Stern staff member hints at imminent LE pick announcement during stream; notable caution with 'soon' language and 'no promises'_
- [MEDIUM] Premium clarity announcement coming but 'not this week' — _Stern staff indicates Premium-related news is pending but delayed beyond the stream's broadcast week_
- [HIGH] Iron Maiden launch parties begin May 4th with some exceptions starting a couple days earlier — _Direct statement about launch party timeline; some parties may have started earlier than main May 4th date_
- [HIGH] Cyborg Multiball is the ultimate high-value mode in Iron Maiden that requires accumulating power ramps from other modes — _Multiple players emphasize Cyborg Multiball as end-game objective requiring setup through Flight of Icarus and ramp completion_
- [HIGH] Drop targets are the number one priority for lock progression in Iron Maiden's opening strategy — _Consistent emphasis by all players on drop target sweeping as primary early-game objective before mode selection_

### Notable Quotes

> "My advice for novice would be to start a Mummy Multiball and start Trooper Multiball, and know if you get mode going."
> — **Stern player/coach (likely Mike Vinacore or similar)**, Mid-stream strategy segment
> _Clear beginner strategy guidance positioning both multiballs as foundational objectives for new players_

> "I'm gonna go for the super skill shot. At least you guys didn't put, like, a complete protection on your ball save by shooting that way."
> — **Player demonstrating advanced risk/reward decision-making**, Early gameplay demonstration
> _Illustrates aggressive play style and willingness to risk ball loss for potential positioning advantages_

> "If you get the Cyborg Multiball in here, launch party, I am venturing the guess you're probably gonna win. Just throwing that out there, people might buy you drinks all night."
> — **Stern staff/experienced player**, Late-stream commentary during Cyborg setup
> _Emphasizes Cyborg Multiball as decisive competitive advantage in tournament/party context_

> "Don't ignore your drop targets. Play Flight of Icarus — it's the most explosive mode. So it seems worthless at first, but if you do it right, it's worth the most of all the modes."
> — **Experienced player (likely coach/Stern staff)**, Mid-stream strategy coaching
> _Highlights counterintuitive game design where least obvious mode offers highest value if properly executed_

> "My prediction — Tim will either get first place or last place. That's my prediction. That's my goal prediction."
> — **Stern staff analyzing competitive dynamics**, Challenge round setup
> _Acknowledges high variance and difficulty in predicting outcomes on strategy-constrained challenge plays_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Iron Maiden | game | Stern pinball machine being demonstrated; Pro version featured in this strategy stream |
| Stern Pinball | company | Host of the strategy stream; manufacturer of Iron Maiden; announcing LE picks and Premium clarity updates |
| Cyborg Multiball | product | End-game mode in Iron Maiden that accumulates power jackpot value; requires ramp completion from other modes |
| Mummy Multiball | product | Core multiball mode in Iron Maiden; prioritized early for accumulating value toward Cyborg Multiball |
| Trooper Multiball | product | Secondary multiball mode in Iron Maiden accessed via drop target locks; strategy involves sequencing with Mummy |
| Flight of Icarus | product | Explosive game mode in Iron Maiden that builds power ramps; described as highest-value mode if executed properly despite initial appearance |
| Fear of the Dark | product | Initial mode in Iron Maiden; players debate whether to complete solo or stack into multiball |
| Mike Vinacore | person | Experienced player demonstrating strategies during stream; appears to be Stern staff or associate |
| Tim | person | Competitive player participating in strategy demonstration; assigned loop jackpot objective in challenge round |
| Keith | person | Game designer/staff member; assigned Mummy Multiball-only challenge; mentioned as rule designer for Iron Maiden |
| Lee | person | Participant in challenge round; mentioned drawing task objective from hat |
| Rime of the Ancient Mariner | product | Game mode in Iron Maiden referenced as viable objective during gameplay |
| Tomb Treasure | product | Game mechanic/objective in Iron Maiden; mentioned as important element not to ignore late-game |
| Battle Mode | product | Game mode variant in Iron Maiden; appears as potential challenge objective |
| Backstage Pass | product | Detailed rules document posted on Stern Pinball Facebook page for in-depth Iron Maiden rules reference |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Iron Maiden Pro tournament strategy and mode prioritization, Multiball sequencing and Cyborg Multiball setup mechanics, Drop target lock progression and early-game strategy
- **Secondary:** Iron Maiden launch party timeline and preparation, Educational content for competitive pinball players, Risk/reward decision-making in live tournament play
- **Mentioned:** Stern product announcements (LE picks, Premium clarity)

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Stream is enthusiastic and celebratory about Iron Maiden's design complexity and competitive potential. Players express genuine enjoyment ('This game's fun,' 'it's too much fun'). Some minor frustration with gameplay execution but overall tone is supportive and encouraging. Stern is positioning the game positively for launch with educational streaming content.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Stern implementing educational streaming strategy for launch parties with live gameplay demonstration and strategy coaching (confidence: high) — Stream structure with multiple experienced players coaching on mode selection, challenge objectives, and competitive tactics; explicit goal of preparing players for launch party events
- **[event_signal]** Stern hosting official Iron Maiden Pro tournament strategy stream with experienced players demonstrating tactics for launch parties (confidence: high) — Stream format with multiple players, challenge rounds, and explicit positioning as educational content for upcoming launch parties starting May 4th
- **[competitive_signal]** Early Iron Maiden tournament meta emphasizes drop target prioritization, Mummy/Trooper multiball sequencing, and Cyborg Multiball setup as winning strategy (confidence: high) — Consistent player consensus on drop targets as 'number one priority,' Mummy Multiball early-game focus, and Cyborg as decisive advantage: 'If you get the Cyborg Multiball in here, launch party, I am venturing the guess you're probably gonna win'
- **[design_philosophy]** Iron Maiden designed with high strategic depth including counterintuitive mode value (Flight of Icarus appears worthless but is highest value) and complex multiball sequencing (confidence: high) — Multiple players highlight Flight of Icarus as 'most explosive mode' that 'seems worthless at first,' and extensive discussion of Cyborg Multiball as cumulative end-game objective requiring careful mode planning
- **[market_signal]** Iron Maiden launch parties beginning May 4th with staggered start (some parties beginning earlier) (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'launch parties were gonna be starting on May 4th, but there was a couple of exceptions for a couple days earlier. So most launch parties will be tomorrow and go throughout the rest of the month.'
- **[announcement]** Stern hinting at imminent LE picks announcement and pending Premium clarity updates (confidence: medium) — Stream staff reference to checking Facebook 'before you go to bed tonight' for LE picks announcement, and separate note that Premium clarity is coming but 'not this week'

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## Transcript

sure yeah yeah on facebook.com/sewingpartsonline parties are coming up and you know we want to let people know how to tackle this game and I'll be very curious to hear you know how Keith tackles this and you know we might do some fun games where we're gonna just focus on certain diff you know different strategies and you know hopefully these some key learnings for y'all out there so enjoy I know I will alright let's are playing yes so for me I like to see what the first mode is fear of the dark and others might have different strategies than when I've been playing I like fear of the dark actually in a multiball so I actually don't want to play this by itself I'm gonna go for her mommy he's laughing so I might be choosing parlor tournament mode you know he starts on fear of dogs okay well there you go I like feeling the ball because I but for me both winners are let that you can kind of keep them both going for a little bit all right I don't mind these highlights out if I'm doing something stupid please tell me and or we'll add them all right Oh alright alright let's do a romance so Rime of the Ancient Mariner so on each game I wanna at least get one mummy multiball and one trooper multiball just because he blow up either of them with some brilliant points now what your shirt my strategy when I start is not to worry too much about the outside of the playfield my first thing I want to do is if I have those three drop targets up I want to sweep in the light get as close to lighting my trooper locks right away if I don't do that I'm gonna shoot up the middle for my many arrows I'm gonna hit the captive ball I'm gonna use it up or flipper to hit more drop targets if I can but the drop targets are like my number-one priority but I'm using other stuff in the game to help me get there like that middle ramp I also usually go for the regular skill shot because I'm afraid of the super skill shot no I'm afraid of that one see I guess so you can backhand these drop targets it's almost easier to sweep them so one sweep will light all three of my lives so that's what I want to go for now and if I like Miss I'll hit the center tournament good time we'll try our best to read the chat room I will just quickly say this for people asking about le pics and premium clerics le pics should hopefully be soon I know people hate singing soon but maybe check the stern Facebook page before you go to bed tonight and there might be a present no promises but finale yes premium stay tuned but not this week i strategies very similar to Tim's I'm gonna try to get my locs lid so I'll get my Eddy letters by shooting up the center ramp or the left the left spinner there and then I like to take swats at the cap the ball with those with the little [ __ ] up there because it's pretty safe like the recovery from it's very safe and unlike Tim I always go for the super skill shot well I'm not that successful but the recovery from that or like if I blow it I usually end up getting at least a drop target or come out of it or like that I went way too far I said one more I don't like bring you into multiball is flight of Icarus because you'll block shots and alternating ramps so that is the one mode I will not want to bring the person the nice thing about the multi buzzes you can't bring them in the other - so the thinking is done for you by Keith and its rule design I used to bring it's all on nothing the world's your oyster what do you do I want to get multi balls as quick as possible to build up the power features to get the cyber multiball which would be gigantic so yeah stripping and drop targets hitting on the money that's what I would normally do but since you guys are all doing that I'm just gonna do loop jackpots all day if you really launch event and Logan our kid and you're like alright I'm gonna put up a big score you know just things I could do like a short plunge and try to pick out four revive letters while Paul seems going but since you guys are cowardly of the super skill how about be thy name special yes cuz you're that girl if you just want to get done as quickly as possible did you get a million per second left on the clock so now I gotta try to deflect off a mummy ball into the drops the key here is don't ignore your drop toilets play a vicar's most explosive mode so it seems worthless at first but if you do it right it's worth the leave most of all the motors so when you start this one you usually drop everything and focus on it yes especially if you have a [ __ ] blip for bad times which I do or did so if you had time to Icarus three balls right okay I'm gonna go even though I'd never go for you I'm gonna go for the super schedule at least you guys didn't put fault over off and protested our ball save by training that way I don't believe in ball sitting for super skill as well I'm going for drop target hits revive is also something that's like yeah when do you guys pull the parachute I'm trying to get or my right before Sadler multiball I'm trying to save it I feel like yeah I like sometimes I like having it with my twitch it is flight of Icarus I like having it and then just really going for broke I struggle with that shot so I tend to just look in to revive like my not in yo by missing other shots and don't worry this is brute beer yes we're technically working right now nothing but the finest in my clinic office right who set this thing up yeah this is the first time we're actually playing this thing yeah yeah where it came from it's brutal so right now I have a four ball trooper set up if I can lock this girl oh yeah if you graze it with your third lot all right going into your header lock all right so for those that don't understand he's got two balls locked on trooper mummy multiball slid so he's able to get out of captain fall and lock the trooper it would be a for older trooper deboned we'd not start mommy so now when you're out of trooper then it would be mommy multiple so if you try to fill up your values on stuff before cashing in on super yeah you know whenever you have a super do you go for it yeah shaggy right now I'm trying to light the cannon with so I've mummy lit Rime of the Ancient Mariner ready to mow Ward ready and I need an X to it I want to bring it to X into the tomb award yeah you try to learn that and set or I can try the left spinner or revive them consume or it's still lit for the next follow oh look at this neck and neck I have like nothing well I guess Rime of the Ancient Mariner why not Oh survey and then after that I'm probably just going to try to get the mummy multiball because I'm a mom too exactly be going any large parties what's up I know I'm going tomorrow to a launch party at Logan oh yeah sadly I'm gonna miss it - it breaks my heart instead of going for the jackpots I'm gonna try to just loop jackpot and make sure I want to start to explore in first all right I'm gonna be very risky but okay or I'm just going to alright I've heard from you guys that's what I do all right mommy mama how much is extra ball so now the bolt ranch saw had a ball all right so that's a little different in facebook live view 60 frames I'm given in France probably like a process of down to 12 frames all right so I need at least 85 million to get one boy so I'm gonna try to have an amazing fear the dark mode double spinner you know and that's one thing to always be aware of is when you have 2x or even trying to build it up to 3x in which mode like I think fears fear the dark in flight of Icarus and two modes they even get the bleep Hill going should just lose track 5 I'm gonna say I'm gonna say that for my next game oh yeah I'm in trouble wait I didn't say the Luke rule mafias aren't you need to know what you got to do that's true there's a lot close it down puts me ahead of player 3 I'm gonna try to hit the mini loop first down backing up a trip or gonna lose your now I'm doing a super later alright spear you double to 500 look at the power of yes yeah and that so sheriff Oakes is how you can ball while fear the dark with the multiball in to explore going oh and a soul shard so can you explain those soldiers like one are they live consider beating the mode when you've beaten the mode or consider beating the bone yeah like like fearless difference is twenty million the others are already escaped a load takes a time you get the super Danny jackpots Oh Oh the lucky bats no there's nothing lucky about it you make your luck out of that this games fun this is one good thing I recorded this so I can clip that sweet replay of how I did that spear that are experiencing that is called a wicked shimmy folks rendering this code for you or just chance the chance Carter spotted playing for I won't try my best to answer some questions in the chat when I'm over here my advice for novice would be to start a mummy multiball and start trooper multiball and know if you get mode going water playing then that's like a good base score out all right so this myth is about hitting switches getting the jackpot pretty much as soon as possible and the new rules have the add a ball on the ramps for the pro and on the Tuesday stream we showed how they work on the premium and they give some more enhancements did I get my first Tomb Raider look already I have it - excellent I don't know I'm gonna go left ramp to light the 2x and then no I would have had 30 Millions okay don't ignore the tomb treasure especially be needed to win which they did a DJ did on the pop extreme also around this part of the game I'll look to see like how far behind I am on ramps and then look at you know you know flight of Icarus next and I'll have my ramps it'll help me get to cyborg multiball so going for flight of Icarus to get help you get power ramps to get to cyborg is a good thing to do if you can stack those but I usually don't check my progress until I played a few moments because a lot of them just sort of happen as the ball goes around a multiball now if super similar to it's too many links in the road team alright playmakers time No oh yeah going for nothing but ramps to us more like the crawl of Icarus huh go there we go Wow a tramps left standby time - all right just add more time so we can keep why he did can you add time more than once each other the tip of it it's just an insulin I can hit the orbit flying yeah all right definitely to take out that drops are you light of workerís Neil patience in due time I would like I said monitor this third Facebook channel well I guess depending on where you live it might be a few hooks late but hopefully some good news later tonight's now I need the ramps anyhow to get the next mode here's an army there's a power jacket at once all right I'm going for trooper off for ramps at one orbit up you got four ramps left there we see if I can hit ramps and super multiball I didn't get very far triple-s and I wanted I met your ex going painting I can never get that time Hey am i hitting that cyborg is ready when I come out of here but I'm not gonna train on purpose because this multiball is a lot of guys thank you I don't think you've left any points in the game for anybody else let me send her boom - another thing I would recommend is when you have a chance to hit the bull's eye actually aim for the middle because it can increase your score a lot in a lot of ways when you hit that accurately the left flipper has a better chance of hitting that bullseye have you died they're asking where the ball is supposed to go on a full plunge yeah I'd say a full one isn't necessarily supposed to go all the way around yeah Auto fun the top of your lungs at least get to the top of the hood it might go too far better still all the funds to go all the way around no problem full ones might go around but so now with mommy multiball you have to get a jackpot first before you can add a ball or no selling right from the get-go you're gonna spit both the ramps and then you add a ball and look that question that well maybe not the lunch party all right folks we're gonna play only one more game because we could play for hours because too much fun so a little wrinkle for this game so the first game we kind of played for real and try to show you some of the strategies and you know how to tackle this in a launch party event but just to show you different ways of how you can blow it up on this game hook Tim please thank you for this game there's gonna be four where's the camera for different objectives we're gonna pull out of a hat and whatever you draw that's what we're gonna be doing for that player so Lee so if it's mommy multiball that's that you're tasked with the game you're gonna put as many moment mummy multiball us as possible if you get trooper that's all you're gonna do for the full game Schatz Keith you have honors and make sure you show the camera what you pull for the game oh all right Oh Keith is gonna have to do mummy multiball for the entire game Tim what do you got you check oh I wanted one of my accidently star battle modes so Mike is holding a new battle mode which means I think I am only trooper alright alright remember your task and let's see what our score would be your shirt alright so I am trooper all day every day let's see what I can do I'm going for a break the RAM percentage I actually have not seen that back for more for our last game alright all right I'm gonna try the Tim usually I'd pass it over and shoot from the drafts but I don't like that since I'm only carrying about trooper I am NOT going to use the upper clipper and a box that say there is a telling folks yeah that's right I'll lock one ball for ball two minutes to midnight and this is not a public endorsement on strategy for your launch party so where does Glover wins on this game using this one sole strategy don't feel like I saw Mike Vinick or only do this and I failed and I lost my launch party you don't want to blame Mike 6161 official launch party and I won't say her the I think there was maybe two of them that were yesterday might complain that this stream was a day late actually your launch party was a little early Oh Misha launch parties were gonna be starting on May 4th but there was a couple exceptions for a couple days earlier so most launch parties will be tomorrow and go throughout the rest of the month alright Luke jackpot or fall competition Tilton's pick sofa is finally installed can I go for like super skill and other stuff yeah but like when you're employed this Luke my prediction enter in without looking at the scores Tim will either get 1st place or last place that's my prediction that's my goal predict you know on the choice sometimes well when there's like 40 one zero score that's so much so what what actually lights that Center targets at a ball it drives the cannon and any time you can click the super jackpot or go to the next level you can use the drop targets to light the cannon again cannon can [ __ ] you don't see the shoot directly with the left flipper yeah what's up take you on the bottom directly super oh there's a oh sure there is a backstage pass posted on the skirt and pinball Facebook page with more rules you want to go really in depth with what everything does snack and now is demonstrating the trooper all day strategy together oh yeah for those tuning in Layton I stack locks up Midas trooper drops will I lie to my local I don't I know I don't want to skip it thank you a game just because it's fair the dark sorry I fear the dark my task is one task online and that is trooper thank you Mike Vinick or is that but he's going from down the bottle bones look at that huge bonus to know if the bonus X becomes incredibly big when you're just shooting drop targets all day especially if you can start sweeping them get two awards at once how many letters are in oh come on I'm gonna change my bed I think Mike's got this one I think this balls been [ __ ] up in front of a quail craps finish your answer for cops which probably never happened not cell feeder launch parties try to make the shot all right back to Keith's test which is mummy multiball all day every day so now shooting all three adds another goal ball four Oh call for I comes down all right Who am I kidding I'm betting on keep doing this football three million so he became the best bet you always animal I don't know this rules new I to be determines everyone wait Gretna's gonna get so hard to add a ball oh no come on is that the whole a shot yet what the luck Randall left her happy I got the strobing mummy-ji hi I guess we answer another question everyone that should be it though arrows our background oh you just don't get it if you're adding three balls I think it's safe to say you're having a good mommy multiball and don't get greedy one thing to do shams objective on Luke Luke jackpot loop all day right so I'm not even going through super still shot gun all the way round start a full blonde right it's gonna look like I'm going to sue disco shot and maybe it will or be for punch all right last fall see if I can get one more super multiball gonna be kind of hard it'll be very hard all right my pick to click let's see alright that's right you can watch this entry for later I don't want to because you got your four multiball every points and scores on this will go on to my score doesn't count it doesn't count yeah Mike's going off-script folks I'm sorry oh it's too much fun you can't let it drain I'm not through its top mattifier him I would intentionally drain out and not waste his revised like that one it's gonna be karma if you drink if you what all these [ __ ] he was not like a dog script is purposely yeah actually that could have been you know yeah alright mommy I need something i 2 X 2/3 we love everyone's going Oscar this is what happens when you have live TV folks sorry I can't control the inmates whoops I'm aiming for the captive all at convincing that's like oh I can catch them be fair nobody was assigned team treasures he's like alright I won I'm setting up my cat the boss now yet my money's still on my original pic Jim Jim will either get first or last yes those were some nuclear of the dark animation but not to say that the electronic key 8:50 it might make a return ich ich oh sorry gender you're just stepping on everyone stone you're playing triple multiball you had a great fear of the dark so you're just spitting on MySpace yeah and move jackpot poured salt so if you're taking notes for the launch parties everything can be blown up every mode you have the opportunity yeah you're never out of it if you're like dialed in on the ramps and that's like alright I'm gonna kill this flight of Icarus or if you're dialing on the loops not like Tim right now you can really blow up as you can see Keith is having a very good mummy multiball pose that's all he's the best moans that is why do I bring super sleeves in you've been with all this is your gonna have cyborg lives bunnies this is when I gets really hard to pick up the letters I got to shoot it when it's on one of the first to em mmm mmm yeah the first are sucking em now if you hit it when it's not lit math and half it doesn't do anything right meaning like ah anyway all right so it's not like you ruined your chance and have to light it again nice Oh beautiful environment than anyone else in the world oh not mommy Timmy's getting a little nervous he'll be right back and if you get the cyborgs multiball in here launch party I am venturing the guess you're probably gonna win just throwing that out there people might buy you drinks all night yes or maybe you'll buy people drinks because you just want some while you're in cyborg to ever shoot herb or my life turn your fall soon like that just like that you just answer my question look at that great minds think alike he just executes it's much better that was the most lucrative mummy multiball ever see I thought I would have been the one thing we have to make the mad - I know hopefully by the time the bonus is done oh all right Luke jackpot oh you can do it 500 million in loot checkbox I stand by the ball first or last he's gonna set me up we're doing with spot-on brothers try alright it is risk/reward beds all folks thanks for tuning in hopefully you learned some interesting strategies you're a lot to learn Amy gets you cheaper taller that Mommy multiball loop jackpot multiball you just beat everyone's objective in order to one you're bluffing but uh yeah hopefully we'll do this a little bit more and we all sign off

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: d3db8ea4-6478-444d-b40b-17597b074c57*