Ways of the Qilin: A Practical PG Soft Guide to Gameplay, Features, and Scoring
If you like slots that don’t feel like “spin…nothing…spin…nothing,” Ways of the Qilin is built to keep things moving. It uses a “ways to win” grid (up to 46,656 ways) with cascading wins, meaning every time you hit a winning combo, those symbols disappear and new ones drop in for a chance to chain more wins.
It’s a PG Soft title with a classic lucky-beast theme (the qilin is a legendary Chinese creature tied to good fortune). And if you’re building a hub of PG Soft game guides, you’ll probably want to connect this content to your main provider page early—like this: PG Soft.
“Ways of the Qilin is all about momentum—cascades + wild upgrades + a multiplier that keeps climbing.”
Quick Stats Snapshot
Numbers may vary by casino/operator settings.
How “Ways” Works
Ways to Win (plain English)
Instead of fixed paylines, the game counts Ways: you win when matching symbols land on 3+ adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel.
That means you’re not hunting for a single line pattern—your job is to fill the grid with repeats and let the math do the rest.
Adjacent Reels Rule
The key phrase is “starting from reel 1”. If you have matching symbols on Adjacent Reels 2–4 but nothing on reel 1, it doesn’t count as a win.
Why Ways Fluctuate
Some symbols can appear in different “sizes” (covering more than one position), so the number of possible ways can range from lower counts up to that 46,656 ceiling.
“Think of it like the grid breathing—sometimes tight, sometimes wide open.”
Step-by-Step: How to Play
Set your bet
Adjust your coin size and bet level to match your bankroll strategy before starting.
Spin & Match
Watch for 3+ adjacent reels matches from left to right to trigger a payout.
Cascades
Winning symbols vanish, allowing new ones to drop for consecutive wins in one spin.
Frame Upgrades
Track silver/gold frames; winning with these transforms symbols into powerful Wilds.
Free Spins
Aim for 4+ Scatters to trigger the Free Spins mode with increasing multipliers.
Your first few spins should be about pattern recognition:
- Are you hitting small wins that cascade into extra drops?
- Are silver-framed symbols showing up often enough to matter?
- How frequently are you seeing 4+ scatters (the Free Spins trigger)?
This game rewards patience because the exciting stuff tends to come from chains—wins that lead into more wins.
Cascading Wins (Why It Feels “Fast”)
Whenever you land a win, the winning symbols explode/vanish and new symbols drop to fill the empty spaces. This repeats until no new win forms.
That’s why your “one spin” can turn into a mini sequence.
How this affects Volatility?
Cascading mechanics typically pair with progressive multipliers in PG Soft games, increasing the potential for massive "Chain Reactions" that boost the game's overall excitement and volatility rating.
Wilds-on-the-Way
This feature is basically an “upgrade path” for symbols. First you notice a silver outline. If that symbol participates in a win (thanks to cascades, it often will), it upgrades to gold—and if you can hit again while it’s gold, it can pop into multiple wilds.
That’s where the game can suddenly feel like it goes from “okay” to “whoa.”
“Silver is a hint. Gold is a warning. Wilds are the payoff.”
Free Spins: Trigger + Multiplier Logic
Land 4 or more Scatter symbols (either on one spin or within a cascading sequence) to trigger Free Spins.
You typically start with 5 free spins. During the trigger, Scatters can also add extra spins (commonly shown as +1 to +3) and/or boost your starting multiplier.
Free Spins begin with a multiplier (often x1), and each win increases the multiplier. So if you get a chain of cascades during Free Spins, the multiplier can climb quickly.
“+spins or +multiplier”
“Scoring” Explained: Payouts Without the Confusion
Let’s translate “scoring” into slot language: your payout depends on Symbol Value, Adjacent Reels, Ways to Win, and Multipliers.
Symbol Value
Higher symbols pay more. Lower symbols pay less. (This is standard, but always check the in-game paytable because exact values can vary by version/operator.)
Adjacent Reels Count
3 reels = win possible. 4–6 reels = usually bigger wins. Connections must always start from the leftmost reel.
Ways Multiply Wins
Because this is ways-based, you can land the same symbol in multiple spots across the grid and rack up multiple “routes” at once—especially when the grid opens up toward higher ways.
Multipliers (Mainly in Free Spins)
In Free Spins, every win can push the multiplier higher, which is why the bonus round is where the biggest moments happen.
Do I need paylines?
Do wins need to start on reel 1?
Why did I hit “many wins” in one spin?
RTP, Volatility & Real Play
RTP (Return to Player) is commonly listed around 96.69% for Ways of the Qilin. That’s the theoretical long-run return, not a promise for your session (your results can swing wildly).
Volatility is often described as medium by reviewers/data sources—meaning you can get steady smaller hits, but the “wow” sessions usually come from strong Free Spins sequences. (You may see some sites label it differently depending on how they score volatility, so treat it as a guideline, not gospel.)
Strategy Tips (That Don’t Pretend You Can “Beat” RNG)
No strategy changes randomness—but you can play smarter.
Pick a session budget first (and stick to it)
If you’re bonus-hunting, plan for longer sessions (variance is real)
Use consistent bet sizing to understand the game rhythm
Avoid chasing losses with sudden huge bet jumps
Choose Your Gameplay Goal
- Lower bet size
- Longer sessions
- Enjoy cascades & visual flow
- Stable bet size
- Accept dry spells
- Watch for scatter frequency
- Shorter session duration
- Higher bet (Budget allowing)
- Strict stop-loss management
Pros vs Cons (Transparent Comparison)
Expert Insights & Game Mechanics
01 How do you win in Ways of the Qilin?
Match symbols on 3+ adjacent reels starting from reel 1 (ways system).
02 What triggers Free Spins?
4+ Scatters on a spin or within a cascading sequence.
03 What’s the RTP?
Commonly listed around 96.69% (may vary by operator).
04 What’s the max win?
Often cited at 7,106x.
05 What does Wilds-on-the-Way do?
Silver-framed symbols can upgrade to gold on wins, then convert into 2–4 wilds on subsequent wins.