Last updated: May 2026. Symbol Upgrade behaviour documented from 12+ bonus rounds across the 300-spin test set, plus replays from verified big-win compilations.
Symbol Upgrade is the mechanic that separates Rise of Egypt from Book of Ra and Book of Dead. Without it, Playson's expanding-wild bonus round would be a competent-but-derivative clone of the Novomatic original. With it, the round has a second variance event — a moment where a mid-tier bonus can transform into a high-tier bonus mid-round. This article unpacks exactly how the upgrade fires, what it does, when you'll see it, and why it's the single most impactful feature on whether a Rise of Egypt session breaks even or breaks the bank.
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What Symbol Upgrade actually does
During the Rise of Egypt free-spin round, one paying symbol is selected as the expanding symbol for the entire bonus. When that symbol lands during a free spin, the whole reel transforms into a column of it.
Symbol Upgrade is a separate mechanic that fires during the bonus. When triggered, it promotes the currently selected expanding symbol UP one tier in the paytable:
| Original expanding symbol | Upgraded to |
|---|---|
| 10 | Jack |
| Jack | Queen |
| Queen | King |
| King | Ace |
| Ace | Scarab |
| Scarab | Anubis |
| Anubis | Eye of Horus |
| Eye of Horus | Pharaoh's mask |
| Pharaoh's mask | (already at top) |
The upgrade applies to all subsequent expansions in the round — so if it fires on spin 3 of a 10-spin bonus, the remaining 7 spins pay at the upgraded tier. Combined with retriggers extending the round further, the impact compounds.
How the upgrade fires
In our test set, Symbol Upgrade triggered in roughly 25% of bonus rounds. The exact trigger mechanism isn't fully documented in Playson's public materials, but observation suggests it fires when:
- A specific in-bonus event occurs — typically tied to a multi-reel expansion or a scatter landing during free spins.
- The RNG passes a check — probabilistic, not deterministic.
What you see on screen: a short animation interrupts the spin sequence. The current expanding symbol on the indicator (top of the reels) glows, then transforms into the next-higher symbol. The indicator updates, and subsequent spins reflect the new selection.
The compound effect
The math here is significant. Compare two example scenarios with a Scarab-tier starting expanding symbol:
Scenario A — no Symbol Upgrade:
- 10 free spins.
- 3 expansions across the round, all paying the Scarab tier.
- Average Scarab single-reel expansion: ~10× total bet.
- Total bonus payout: ~30× total bet.
Scenario B — Symbol Upgrade fires on spin 3:
- 10 free spins.
- 3 expansions across the round (1 before upgrade, 2 after).
- Before upgrade: ~10× total bet.
- After upgrade (now Anubis): ~25× total bet each.
- Total bonus payout: ~60× total bet — doubled.
The upgrade is most impactful when:
- The starting expanding symbol is mid-tier (Anubis or Eye of Horus). The promotion to pharaoh's mask doubles the per-expansion payout.
- The round produces retriggers, extending the post-upgrade portion.
- Multi-reel expansions land after the upgrade.
When the upgrade is most valuable
High-value scenarios:
- Starting symbol is mid-tier + upgrade fires early — the maximum number of post-upgrade spins benefit.
- Starting symbol is Eye of Horus + upgrade fires — promotion to pharaoh's mask puts you in max-win territory if multi-reel expansion follows.
- Starting symbol is low (card-rank) + upgrade fires — turns a dead-feeling round into a mid-tier round.
Lower-value scenarios:
- Upgrade fires on the last free spin — minimal post-upgrade benefit.
- Starting symbol is already pharaoh's mask — upgrade has nowhere to go, the indicator may show the upgrade animation but the symbol stays at top tier.
- Upgrade fires but no expansions occur in remaining spins — bad RNG luck after the upgrade.
The frustrating reality: the upgrade can fire and still produce a modest round if subsequent spins don't include the upgraded symbol on the reels. The mechanic gives you upside potential, not guaranteed payout.
Frequency in detail
In our 12-bonus test set, Symbol Upgrade fired:
| Outcome | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Symbol Upgrade did not fire | ~75% |
| Symbol Upgrade fired once during round | ~22% |
| Symbol Upgrade fired multiple times in one round | ~3% (rare — typically requires retriggered rounds) |
The 3% case is interesting: the upgrade can fire more than once if the round is extended via retriggers. Each fire promotes the symbol up one tier — so a starting Scarab can become Anubis, then Eye of Horus, then pharaoh's mask across a 30-spin retriggered round.
This is the rarest and highest-EV scenario in the game.
Visual cues
When Symbol Upgrade is about to fire, you'll see:
- The current spin completes normally.
- A brief pause before the next spin begins.
- An animation on the expanding-symbol indicator at the top of the reels.
- The indicator's symbol transforms with a glowing effect.
- The next spin starts with the upgraded symbol now active.
The animation is short (~1.5 seconds) but distinct. You'll recognise it after seeing it once. The sound effect is a brief ascending tone — Playson signals the event clearly so you don't miss it.
Why Playson added this mechanic
The Egyptian-themed pokie category was crowded by 2018. Novomatic's Book of Ra had been live since 2005. Play'n GO's Book of Dead launched in 2016. Both were already commercial successes. Playson needed a differentiator.
Symbol Upgrade is that differentiator. It:
- Adds a second variance event to the bonus round beyond just the initial symbol selection.
- Creates upgrade-anticipation during free spins — the player is now watching for two things, not one.
- Rescues low-pay starting selections sometimes, reducing the frustration of getting a Ten or Jack as the expanding symbol.
- Compounds with retriggers to produce the rare max-win rounds.
Without Symbol Upgrade, Rise of Egypt would be essentially a Book of Ra clone with a different paint job. With it, the game has its own identity in the category.
Symbol Upgrade vs other "promotion" mechanics
Several other slot studios have similar mechanics:
| Game | Studio | Mechanic |
|---|---|---|
| Rise of Egypt | Playson | Symbol Upgrade — promotes expanding symbol one tier |
| Solar Queen | Playson | Similar upgrade mechanic, slightly different trigger |
| Wanted Dead or a Wild | Hacksaw Gaming | Symbol multipliers stack across bonus modes |
| Sugar Rush | Pragmatic Play | Tile multipliers grow with cluster wins |
Playson's Symbol Upgrade is conceptually simpler — one symbol moves up one tier when fired. Other studios layer multiple promotion conditions. The simplicity is part of the appeal: it's easy to understand at a glance, easy to recognise when it fires.
What to do when Symbol Upgrade fires
You don't take any action — the game handles it automatically. But your emotional response should be measured:
- If your starting expanding symbol was low and it upgrades to mid — feel cautiously optimistic. The round is now decent.
- If your starting symbol was Eye of Horus and it upgrades to pharaoh — this is the magic moment. Watch for multi-reel expansion.
- If you're already at pharaoh — the upgrade indicator may animate but the symbol stays at top tier. No additional benefit.
The common mistake is conflating Symbol Upgrade with guaranteed big payout. The upgrade gives you upside potential. The actual payout depends on whether the upgraded symbol then expands across the remaining spins.
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Quick FAQ
Can Symbol Upgrade fire in the base game? No — only during the free-spin round.
Can I trigger Symbol Upgrade manually? No — it's RNG-controlled.
Does the upgrade reset between retriggered portions? No — once upgraded, the new symbol carries forward across retriggers.
Can the upgrade fire if my starting symbol is already pharaoh's mask? The indicator may animate but the symbol stays at top tier — no additional payout benefit.
Does the upgrade work on the wild/scatter? No — only paying symbols can be the expanding symbol, and only those can be upgraded.
How is the upgrade probability calculated? Not publicly documented by Playson. Our observation suggests ~25% per bonus round.
Can Symbol Upgrade fire multiple times in one round? Yes, in extended retriggered rounds — rare, ~3% of bonuses.
Why is this mechanic important? Without it, Rise of Egypt would be a Book of Ra clone. The upgrade gives the game its own identity and lifts modest bonus rounds into meaningful ones.
About this Symbol Upgrade breakdown
Mechanic observed across 12+ bonus rounds at the four featured casinos in April-May 2026. Frequency estimates are empirical from our test set. Cross-checked against Playson's product documentation and observable behaviour in demo and real-money modes.
Gambling responsibly. Symbol Upgrade makes bonus rounds feel more exciting, which makes long sessions easier — and longer sessions cost more. Set session timers. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: