What makes Rise of Merlin different
Rise of Merlin is a 5-reel, 20-payline pokie by Play’n GO, released in 2019. Unlike the Book-genre titles from the same provider, Rise of Merlin uses randomly placed Mystery Wilds in the base game and an expanding Wild with additional random Wilds in its free spins round.
The game features a stylised Arthurian fantasy setting with Merlin as the central character.
Mystery Wilds in the base game
During any base game spin, Merlin can appear above the reels and transform 1–5 random symbols into Wild symbols before the spin result is evaluated. The number of Mystery Wilds added varies randomly — one Wild is more common, five is rare.
This feature occurs randomly without a trigger requirement and provides the main source of base game variability.
Free Spins
Three or more Orb scatter symbols trigger 10 free spins. During free spins, two Wild mechanics activate simultaneously:
- Expanding Wild — Merlin himself becomes a Wild symbol that expands to cover his full reel when he lands
- Random Wilds — before each free spin, 1–3 random symbols are converted to Wilds (similar to the base game Mystery Wild, but at higher frequency)
The combination of a full expanding Wild reel plus additional random Wilds across the other four reels can produce substantial coverage across 20 paylines.
Landing 3+ scatters during free spins adds 10 more spins.
RTP and volatility
Play’n GO publishes 96.51% RTP. Rise of Merlin is high-volatility. The Mystery Wild in the base game provides occasional larger base wins not found in simpler high-volatility titles, but the free spins round is still where the majority of value is concentrated.
What it costs per hour
At NZ$0.40 per spin and 400 spins per hour: NZ$160 wagered × 3.49% house edge = approximately NZ$5.60 expected loss per hour.
### Q: How many Wilds can be active during a free spin?
A: During free spins, up to 3 random Wilds are added before the spin, and the expanding Merlin Wild can cover an additional full reel if he lands. In theory, a single free spin could have 4–5 positions covered by random Wilds plus a full reel of expanding Wild — though this level of Wild coverage is statistically uncommon.
### Q: Is Rise of Merlin part of the Book genre?
A: No. Rise of Merlin does not use an expanding special symbol triggered by a Book Wild/Scatter combination. Its free spins mechanic is random Wild placement plus expanding Wild — a different structure from Book of Dead or Legacy of Dead. Both genres are Play’n GO products but with distinct bonus mechanics.
### Q: What is the difference between Mystery Wild and a standard Wild?
A: A Mystery Wild is a standard Wild symbol added to the grid by the Merlin animation before the spin resolves — the reels spin and show their outcome, then Merlin’s Magic overlays selected positions with Wilds, and the win is recalculated with those Wilds in place. The Wild substitutes normally for all symbols in the resulting evaluation.
Playing Rise of Merlin at NZ casinos
Rise of Merlin returns 96.51% over the long run — well above the 78% minimum return required at NZ land-based pokies venues. At the NZ$0.10 minimum bet, the 3.49% house edge produces an expected hourly loss of approximately NZ$1.40 at 400 spins. At the NZ$100 maximum bet that rises to approximately NZ$1,396. The 20-payline structure provides a wider base of winning combinations than 10-payline games, and the Mystery Wild in the base game means any spin can receive additional Wild coverage before the result is evaluated.
High volatility in Rise of Merlin is moderated slightly by the Mystery Wild base game feature. Unlike games where the base game is essentially a holding pattern between free spins triggers, Rise of Merlin provides genuine base game variance through Merlin’s random Wild additions — occasional large base game wins from 3–5 Mystery Wilds aligning with high-paying symbols on 20 lines. Free spins still account for the majority of the game’s significant return through the combination of expanding Wild reels and additional random Wilds each spin, but the base game is more eventful than in typical Book-genre titles. Sessions without free spins triggers can still produce noteworthy outcomes from base game Mystery Wild events.
The 5,000x maximum win requires the expanding Merlin Wild plus multiple random Wilds to combine with the highest-paying symbol across all 20 paylines during free spins — a statistical edge case. At NZ$0.10 per spin it represents NZ$500; at NZ$100 it represents NZ$500,000. Expected hourly cost at the NZ$0.10 minimum is approximately NZ$1.40; at NZ$0.40 approximately NZ$5.58.
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Q: What is the RTP of Rise of Merlin?
A: Rise of Merlin has an RTP of 96.51%. This means for every NZ$100 wagered over many sessions, the game returns an average of NZ$96.51 to players and keeps NZ$3.49 as the house edge. At NZ$0.10 per spin and approximately 400 spins per hour, the expected hourly loss is approximately NZ$1.40. Check the in-game information panel at your specific casino to confirm the RTP setting in use — some casinos apply lower settings.
Q: Is Rise of Merlin available at NZ casinos?
A: Yes. Rise of Merlin by Play’n GO is available at reviewed NZ casinos on this site. Check individual casino reviews for the current game library — availability can change as operators update their game catalogues.
Q: What is the maximum win on Rise of Merlin?
A: The stated maximum win is 5,000x your stake. At NZ$0.10 per spin this would be NZ$500.00. Maximum win figures represent the theoretical ceiling under optimal conditions — they are statistical outliers that occur rarely across millions of spins, not typical session outcomes.