Dragon Multiball is a recurring fight against Rath the Relentless in Stern’s Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye. Spell DRAGON at the three-bank, start the battle at the right orbit or side ramp, and hit Rath enough times before too many balls drain.
The important twist is that your Dragon Multiball level persists through Insider Connected for each character or party member. Beat Level 2 today, and your next normal Dragon Multiball with that character will be Level 3. You must qualify the mode again, but you do not return to Dragon Multiball Level 1 after every game. The level tops out at 10.
Intent Sentence: This article helps Dungeons & Dragons pinball players understand how to qualify, complete, score, and progress through Dragon Multiball, so they can approach Rath with an actual plan instead of simply flailing eight pinballs at him.
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What Is Dragon Multiball?
Dragon Multiball is the game’s recurring boss fight against Rath the Relentless, the large dragon positioned at the back of the playfield.
On the Premium and Limited Edition models, Rath is an elaborate mechanical toy capable of moving, reacting to shots, holding balls, and launching balls back toward the player. Stern describes Rath as a multi-axis animatronic mech with omnidirectional impact detection.
The mode is intentionally accessible at lower levels. You do not need to complete half the campaign or survive a lengthy wizard-mode qualification. However, Dragon Multiball becomes more demanding as your saved Dragon Multiball level increases.
That progression is what separates it from a normal Stern multiball.
How to Qualify Dragon Multiball
Hit the three standup targets underneath Rath to advance the D-R-A-G-O-N letters.
Under the current rules:
- The first Dragon Multiball qualification of a game spots letters after repeated completions of the three-bank.
- Later qualifications during that same game become more demanding.
- A Critical Hit can also advance Dragon Multiball when the feature is eligible to progress.
- Once DRAGON is completed, Dragon Multiball lights at the right orbit and the side ramp.
- The side ramp is only available as a start shot when another mode is not already running.
Stern has revised Dragon Multiball qualification several times since release, particularly for higher-level characters. That makes current code important. As of July 2026, Stern lists version 1.01.0 for the Premium and Limited Edition models.
Does Dragon Multiball Reset Every Game?
The qualification resets, but the Dragon Multiball level does not.
Suppose your character is currently on Dragon Multiball Level 2:
- You qualify and start Level 2.
- You defeat Rath.
- That character’s Dragon Multiball progression increases to Level 3.
- Your game eventually ends.
- During your next standard logged-in game, you must spell DRAGON again.
- The multiball you start will be Level 3.
Your current Dragon Multiball level is saved per party member through Insider Connected and can rise as high as Level 10. Defeating Rath advances the level by one.
This means you do not need to beat Levels 1, 2, and 3 during the same game. You can defeat one dragon per game and gradually work your way toward Level 10.
What Happens When Dragon Multiball Starts?
Dragon Multiball begins with:
- Six balls on the Pro
- Eight balls on the Premium and LE
- An unlimited ball-save structure for the duration of the battle
- One additional shield use immediately awarded to the player
“Unlimited ball save” is slightly misleading if you interpret it like a conventional multiball. Drained balls are returned, but the drains still matter.
Think of the mode as a race:
- You are trying to reduce Rath’s health by hitting him.
- Rath is trying to defeat you by forcing enough balls to drain.
- Each drain moves the battle closer to failure.
- Your jackpot values also decline as the number of remaining allowable drains decreases.
You cannot simply wait forever under an unlimited ball save. Rath eventually wins if you do not finish the fight.
How to Damage Rath
The basic attack sequence is:
- Hit the three-bank beneath Rath.
- Rath lowers his head or becomes vulnerable.
- Hit Rath before he raises his head again.
- Repeat until the remaining DRAGON letters are cleared.
Stern revised the mode so the illuminated DRAGON letters function as Rath’s remaining health indicator. If four letters are blinking, Rath needs approximately four more qualifying hits.
The Dragonborn character Ardor receives an advantage by reducing the number of shots required to defeat the dragon.
The practical strategy is not simply to keep every ball moving. Try to use one ball to expose Rath at the target bank, then send another ball into him while he is vulnerable. At low levels, uncontrolled flailing may work. At higher levels, aimed shots become considerably more important.
What Changes at Higher Dragon Multiball Levels?
Dragon Multiball progresses to a maximum of Level 10, but not every level introduces a completely different ruleset.
The main progression is that Rath becomes harder to defeat. The game can require more damage while making qualification and ball management less forgiving.
Two specific Premium and LE changes occur at major milestones:
Level 3
Beginning at Level 3, the trough behind Rath can hold some balls during the battle. This reduces the number of balls flying around simultaneously and gives the player a better chance to aim.
That may sound like assistance, but it also shifts the mode away from random success. With fewer balls freely ricocheting around the playfield, you increasingly need to create deliberate openings and attack Rath yourself.
Level 6
Beginning at Level 6, scoring the Super Jackpot on Premium and LE becomes more involved. You must move Rath away from the upper loop and then shoot the loop before his position resets.
The mode gradually changes from an accessible spectacle into a proper boss battle.
How Jackpots Work
During Dragon Multiball, flashing major shots award jackpots.
Each jackpot shot can progress through three values:
- Yellow: 1X
- Orange: 2X
- Red: 3X
Collecting the initial 1X jackpot at every required shot lights the Super Jackpot at the upper loop.
The base jackpot value depends on how many drains remain before Rath wins:
Jackpot value = remaining drains × 250,000 points
For example, with 10 drains remaining, a base jackpot is worth 2.5 million points. As balls continue to drain, the jackpot value falls.
This creates a useful strategic tension. Early in the battle, jackpots are at their most valuable, but you still need to keep damaging Rath before the mode slips away from you.
How the Super Jackpot Works
The Super Jackpot begins at:
- 3 million points
- Plus 500,000 points for each Dragon Multiball level
- Plus the combined value of jackpots already collected during the battle
The Super Jackpot also:
- Adds one shield use
- Damages Rath
- Deals damage equal to the current Dragon Multiball level, capped at six hits
At higher levels, the Super Jackpot becomes more than a score shot. It can provide a substantial portion of the damage needed to finish Rath.
Should You Use the Shield During Dragon Multiball?
Yes, but not automatically for every center drain.
Because drained balls are returned, saving one random ball early in the battle may not be worth spending a shield charge. The better use is when:
- Rath is close to winning.
- You are close to defeating Rath.
- The ball is heading directly between the flippers.
- Saving the ball preserves a high jackpot value.
- You are lining up the final attack or Super Jackpot.
Dragon Multiball awards one shield use when it begins, which gives you some freedom to use the physical shield during the fight.
The shield cannot rescue an outlane drain, so do not press the action button simply because the multiball looks chaotic. Save it for a clear center drain that meaningfully affects the battle.
What Happens If You Defeat Rath?
Defeating Rath immediately transitions into Town Celebration Multiball using the balls still in play.
During Town Celebration:
- The two orbits, side ramp, and right ramp award jackpots.
- Each jackpot is worth 500,000 points multiplied by the number of jackpots collected during Dragon Multiball.
- Collecting all four lights a Super Jackpot at the side loop.
- The Super Jackpot is worth four times the Town Celebration jackpot.
- The celebration ends when play returns to one ball.
- Your next eligible purchase from Fizmo in that town is discounted by 50%.
This means your Dragon Multiball jackpot count matters even if your immediate priority is defeating Rath. More jackpots during the battle make Town Celebration substantially more valuable.
What Happens If Rath Wins?
If enough balls drain before you deal the required damage:
- Rath wins the battle.
- The flippers are disabled.
- The balls in play drain.
- Your party remains in the same town.
- A ball is returned to the shooter lane and normal play continues.
Failing Dragon Multiball does not end your campaign, delete your character, or reset your character level. You simply fail that attempt and can qualify the mode again later.
A Simple Dragon Multiball Strategy
For most players, the best approach is:
- Do not panic at the start. Eight balls make the Premium and LE look more chaotic than they really are.
- Watch the DRAGON health display. Know how many hits remain.
- Hit the bank, then attack Rath. Random shots are less reliable at later levels.
- Collect early jackpots while their value is high.
- Use Critical Hits when available. They can help advance an attack or lit shot.
- Preserve the shield for important center drains.
- Prioritize finishing Rath when his health is low. Town Celebration is guaranteed only if you win.
- During Town Celebration, collect the four jackpots and finish at the side loop.
At lower levels, Dragon Multiball is a spectacle. At higher levels, it rewards controlled shooting and understanding Rath’s movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum Dragon Multiball level?
Dragon Multiball tops out at Level 10 for each saved party member.
Does Dragon Multiball return to Level 1 after every game?
No. The current level is saved through Insider Connected. You must qualify the mode again, but the next battle continues at the saved level.
Do I have to beat multiple Dragon Multiball levels in one game?
No. Defeating one level and ending the game still preserves the advanced level for that character.
How many balls are used?
Dragon Multiball uses six balls on the Pro and eight on the Premium and LE.
Does failing Dragon Multiball hurt the campaign?
No. Your party stays in the current town and normal play resumes after Rath’s victory sequence.
Is the mode easier with Ardor?
Yes. Ardor, the Dragonborn, reduces the number of shots required to defeat Rath.
Final Thoughts
Dragon Multiball initially looks like a straightforward bash-the-dragon feature, but it has more structure than the flying pinballs suggest.
The persistent level is the key. You are not replaying the exact same easy multiball every game. Rath gradually becomes a recurring boss tied to your character progression. Early battles are welcoming and theatrical. Later battles demand more intentional bank shots, better ball management, and smarter use of the shield and Super Jackpot.
And when you beat the current level, you are not finished. Rath will be waiting at the next one.