Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas – What Is This Slot?
Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas is a 6x6 slot game with a pay-anywhere grid from Pragmatic Play. Released on 27 November 2025 for the holiday season, it is a festive edition of the Wisdom of Athena 1000 series. Wins are formed with 8 or more matching symbols on the grid, regardless of paylines - any number of wins can be formed on any spin. The game includes a Tumble feature which removes winning symbols from the grid and adds new symbols to the empty positions from the top of the grid. The locked top row starts with 6 empty positions that progressively unlock with each tumble, up to a total of 15 tumbles in a single spin. Multiplier symbols range from 2x to 1,000x and can land on the grid on any spin. When they are spun during the base game, the multipliers can be added together if there are multiple of the same symbol appearing on the grid. These multipliers apply to all wins on that particular spin. During Free Spins, the multipliers instead form a running total that is applied to all wins throughout the Free Spins round. There is a Scatter symbol that pays for winnings during the base game and triggers Free Spins if 4 or more Scatter symbols land on the grid.
The game's main features are the locked top row, the Tumble feature, Free Spins, and the Multiplier symbols. Each spin starts with the top row of the 6x6 grid locked in place and with empty positions for each symbol. With each tumble of the spinning grid, one position on the top row unlocks from left to right. The Tumble feature removes all winning symbols from the grid and adds new symbols to each empty position created by the removed symbols. The unlocked top row positions receive symbols that are added to the base game to contribute to the player's winnings. Each unlocked position holds those symbols for the remainder of that spin. Multiplier symbols pay out between 2x and 1,000x of the player's total bet. Each of these symbols that lands can combine with other Multiplier symbols to increase the total payout - the total payout is applied to the player's winnings for that particular spin. During Free Spins, the Multiplier values add to a total Multiplier that is applied to the player's wins throughout the entire bonus round.
How to Play Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas
Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas is a game that uses a 6x6 grid with a pay-anywhere system. This means that the winning symbols do not need to be on specific paylines like in other slot games. Instead, to win the player needs to have at least 8 of the same symbol on the screen anywhere. These wins can be any number and any size in any positions on the game screen. Each win pays out based on the number of matching symbols - any number of wins of the same symbol type will pay out the same.
- Set the amount of your bet by using the buttons to increase or decrease the bet. The default bet for the game is $2.00 which has a 20x multiplier. The minimum bet is $0.20 and the standard maximum is $240. An Ante Bet allows for a 25x multiplier with a maximum of $300. A Super Spin bet uses a 200x multiplier with a maximum of $2,400.
- Press the Spin button to play the game. Winning symbols are formed by landing 8 or more of the same symbol anywhere on the 6x6 grid. The winning symbols are paid for based on the total win value. With each winning spin, the Tumble feature is triggered which removes all winning symbols from the grid. The non-winning symbols fall to the bottom of the grid and new symbols are added to the empty positions within the grid. This process of removing winning symbols and adding new symbols to the empty positions continues until there are no more winning symbols on the grid.
- At the start of each spin, the top row of the 6x6 grid is locked in place. The top row includes 6 empty positions for the game's symbols. Each consecutive tumble during that spin will unlock 1 position from the left to the right on the top row. Each unlocked position will receive symbols which contribute to the player's winnings. This process continues until the end of that spin. The locked top row resets to all empty positions after the end of that particular spin.
- Multiplier symbols can land anywhere on the 6x6 grid. Each of these symbols pays out a value between 2x and 1,000x of the total player bet. The values of each of these symbols can be added together if they land at the same time on the grid.
- The Scatter symbol pays for winnings in the base game of Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas. It also triggers the Free Spins round if 4 or more Scatter symbols land on the 6x6 grid.
Bonus Features
Tumble Feature
With each winning spin in the base game, all of the winning symbols will be removed from the grid. The remaining symbols will fall to the bottom of the grid and new symbols will be dropped into the newly created empty positions from the top of the grid. This will happen until there are no more winning symbols on the grid. There is no limit to the number of times that the Tumble feature can be used during a spin. All of the wins from that particular Tumble sequence will be paid out to the player at the end.
Locked Top Row Unlock
Each spin starts with the top row of the 6x6 grid locked in place and with 6 empty positions. Each tumble will unlock 1 position on the top row from left to right. The unlocked positions will receive symbols and contribute to the player's winnings. This will continue until the end of that spin. Once all tumbles have been completed that spin, the top row will reset to fully locked for the next spin.
Multiplier Symbols (up to 1,000×)
The Multiplier symbols can land on any position on the 6x6 grid at any time. Each individual symbol has a random value between 2x and 1,000x. Should multiple of these symbols land at the same time, their values will be added together and used to multiply the player's win for that particular spin.
Scatter Symbol
The Scatter symbol is a festive Athena character that is featured on all reels. It pays for winnings in the base game - regardless of where the winning symbols are on the grid. It also does not disappear with the Tumble feature - it remains on the screen until all the Tumbles from that spin have been completed. Should 4 or more Scatter symbols land on the screen, the player will be awarded Free Spins.
Paytable (at $1.00 total bet, pay anywhere)
| Symbol | 15–30+ | 12–14 | 10–11 | 8–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Coin (top) | $50.00 | $20.00 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| Spartan Helmet | $25.00 | $10.00 | $5.00 | $2.50 |
| Trophy Vase | $15.00 | $6.00 | $3.00 | $1.50 |
| Scroll | $10.00 | $4.00 | $2.00 | $1.00 |
| Red Orb | $7.50 | $3.00 | $1.50 | $0.75 |
| Pink Vase | $5.00 | $2.00 | $1.00 | $0.50 |
| Blue Crossed Swords | $4.00 | $1.50 | $0.75 | $0.40 |
| Purple Shield | $3.00 | $1.00 | $0.50 | $0.30 |
| Green Citrus | $2.50 | $0.75 | $0.40 | $0.25 |
Scatter Symbol Pays (at $1.00 total bet)
| Scatters on Screen | Pay |
|---|---|
| 4 Scatters | $2.00 |
| 5 Scatters | $15.00 |
| 6 Scatters | $100.00 |
Multiplier Symbol Values
| Possible Multiplier Values |
|---|
| 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 8×, 10×, 12×, 15×, 20×, 25×, 30×, 40×, 50×, 60×, 80×, 100×, 150×, 200×, 300×, 400×, 500×, 1,000× |
Free Spins Round – How It Works
If the player lands 4 or more Scatter symbols on the screen at the same time, the Free Spins round will be triggered. During the bonus round, the player will be awarded 10 free spins. The difference between the Free Spins round and the base game is that all the Multiplier symbols that land will be added to form a total Multiplier which will apply to the player's wins during that round.
| Scatters Landed | Free Spins Awarded |
|---|---|
| 4 Scatters | 10 free spins |
| 5 Scatters | 10 free spins |
| 6 Scatters | 10 free spins |
Top Row During Free Spins
During the Free Spins round, the top row will start in the same way as the base game - locked in place with empty positions for each symbol on the row. Tumbles will happen during the bonus round which will unlock the top row just as they do in the base game - the 6 positions unlock after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 tumbles respectively. Once a position on the top row is unlocked during the Free Spins round, it will remain unlocked for the remainder of that round.
Retrigger
Should the player land 3 or more Scatter symbols during the Free Spins round, they will be awarded 5 additional spins - thus re-triggering the bonus round.
Special Bets & Buy Feature
Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas includes two Special Bet modes - the Ante Bet and the Super Spin. Additionally, there are two bonus feature buy options - Buy Free Spins and Buy Super Free Spins. When the Special Bets are active, the bonus feature buy options are disabled.
| Mode | Bet Multiplier | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 20× | Standard play — natural Free Spins frequency |
| Ante Bet | 25× | Chance to win Free Spins naturally is doubled; more Scatter symbols on the reels |
| Super Spin | 200× | The top row of symbols is fully unlocked at the start of every base game spin; the Free Spins feature cannot be triggered while active |
Buy Feature
| Buy Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Free Spins | 100× total bet | Instantly triggers the standard Free Spins feature (top row starts locked, unlocked through tumbles during the round) |
| Buy Super Free Spins | 500× total bet | Triggers the Super Free Spins feature — the top row is fully unlocked from the very start of the round, giving a full 6×6 grid immediately |
RTP & Variance Explained
The base game's RTP is 96.00%. The Ante Bet and the Buy Free Spins modes use the same RTP. The Super Spin has an RTP of 96.53% - 1.5% more than the base game. The Buy Super Free Spins mode has an RTP of 96.49% - also 1.5% more than the base game. The game is rated as the maximum level of volatility. Due to the high volatility of the game, almost all of the potential wins of the game occur during the Tumble feature and the bonus rounds that offer a total combined Multiplier.
| Bet Mode | RTP |
|---|---|
| Normal play (20×) | 96.00% |
| Ante Bet (25×) | 96.00% |
| Super Spin (200×) | 96.53% |
| Buy Free Spins (100× total bet) | 96.00% |
| Buy Super Free Spins (500× total bet) | 96.49% |
Our Verdict
✅ Pros
- The maximum win is 10,000x of the total player bet - the individual symbol values go up to 1,000x; the unlocked top row adds to the depth of each spin's Tumble feature; the Free Spins round includes a cumulative total of all the Multiplier symbols which is applied to each of the player's wins; the Super Spin and Super Free Spins modes have a higher RTP which adds to the player's value when playing them; the Scatter symbols pay for winnings in the base game which adds to the value before the bonus round; the festive Xmas theme for the game offers a fresh look at the game's proven mechanics; a free demo of the game is available to play right away on the site.
❌ Cons
- The base game's RTP of 96.00% is below average for Pragmatic Play games, and the Free Spins mode, the Ante Bet mode, and the Super Spin mode all offer a better RTP; the top row only unlocks with a total of 15 tumbles of the grid which is extremely rare when playing the base game; the Super Spin mode with a 200x total bet is expensive when used for the base game; the Special Bets modes will disable the bonus feature buys which reduces the value of these modes; the maximum win of 10,000x is competitive with other slots but still requires exceptional winnings of Multiplier symbols to be reached.
Wisdom of Athena 1000 Xmas FAQ
The base game, the Ante Bet mode, and the Buy Free Spins mode all have an RTP of 96.00%. The Super Spin and the Buy Super Free Spins have an RTP of 96.53% - 1.5% more than the base game.
The maximum winning value of the slot game is 10,000x the player's total bet. Should the total win of the player reach 10,000x during the game, the player will be awarded the win but any remaining Free Spins will be forfeited.
At the start of each spin, the top row will be fully locked and contain 6 empty positions for the symbols of the game. Each tumble of the grid will unlock 1 position on the top row from left to right. After 1 tumble, 1 position is unlocked. After 3 tumbles, 2 positions will be unlocked. After 6 tumbles, 3 positions are unlocked. After 9 tumbles, 4 positions on the top row will be unlocked. After 12 tumbles, 5 positions are unlocked. After 15 tumbles, the remaining position on the top row will be unlocked. Each unlocked position will hold symbols from that spin for the remainder of that game spin. The top row resets after that spin is completed. During the bonus rounds, once a position is unlocked during that round, it will remain unlocked for the remainder of that round. Additionally, if the player selects the Super Spin or Super Free Spins mode, the top row will be fully unlocked at the start of the game spin.
Multiplier symbols can land on any position of the 6x6 grid during any spin. Each individual symbol has a random value between 2x and 1,000x of the total player bet. If the player lands multiple of these symbols during one spin, the values will be added together to apply to the player's total win for that particular spin. During the bonus rounds, each Multiplier that lands will be added to a total that is applied to each of the player's wins during that bonus round.
Land 4, 5, or 6 Scatter symbols on the screen to trigger the Free Spins bonus round. Additionally, the Scatter symbol will pay for winnings in the base game - 4 Scatter symbols pay $2.00, 5 Scatter symbols pay $15.00, and 6 Scatter symbols pay $100.00 - when the player has a total bet of $1.00. The Scatter symbols do not disappear when the Tumble feature is used.
Each Multiplier symbol that lands during the Free Spins round will be added to a total Multiplier value for the round. That total will be applied to each of the player's wins during the bonus round throughout all of the spins. The total continues to accumulate from the start to the end of the bonus round. Should the player land 3 or more Scatter symbols during the Free Spins round, they will be awarded 5 additional bonus spins which retriggers the Free Spins round.
The Super Spin is a mode that allows the player to place a 200x total bet. When the player activates this mode, the top row of the grid will be fully unlocked on each spin of the base game - giving the player access to the full 6x6 grid from the start of that spin. The player cannot trigger the Free Spins while using the Super Spin mode. The RTP for this mode is notably higher at 96.53% compared to the base game.
To trigger the standard Free Spins feature, the player pays 100x of their total bet. To trigger the Super Free Spins, the player pays 500x of their total bet. For the Super Free Spins feature, the top row of the grid will be unlocked from the start of the bonus round. These buy features will be disabled while any of the Special Bets modes are in use.
Yes, the free play demo is available to play without registering or making a deposit. The player can access all of the features of this game including the Tumble feature, the top row unlock feature, the Multiplier symbols, the Free Spins round, the retriggers of the Free Spins bonus round, the Super Spin mode, the Ante Bet mode, and both buy features.