Elements: The Awakening Pros & Cons
Elements: The Awakening delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- Four genuinely distinct storm modes — each with different wild behaviour
- Avalanche mechanic extends winning chains without consuming free spin count
- Energy Meter creates a bonus anticipation mechanic throughout base game play
- Low–medium volatility — accessible session structure
- Low minimum bet (€0.20) suits extended low-stakes play
- 2012 release that holds up because the element concept is visually evergreen
- 96.02% RTP is the lowest in this batch
- No storm mode selection — Energy Meter determines which mode triggers
- ~800x max win is modest for a multi-feature slot
- No Buy Feature
- Low–medium volatility limits session highs compared to higher-variance alternatives
Elements: The Awakening Slot Review
Elements: The Awakening launched in 2012 and predates Gonzo’s Quest Megaways by nearly a decade — but it solves the “what happens in free spins?” problem differently. Instead of one free spins mode, it offers four, each named after a natural element: Fire Storm (wilds spread across columns), Air Storm (wilds fall randomly and shift position), Earth Storm (indestructible wilds lasting up to 3 avalanche falls), and Water Storm (wilds expand to cover entire columns). An Energy Meter running beside the reels tracks which storm will trigger based on consecutive avalanche wins — the meter is always building toward whichever element is currently charged. The avalanche mechanic removes winning symbols and replaces them with new ones from above, extending wins. 96.02% RTP, low–medium volatility, 20 paylines, bets from €0.20 to €100.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | NetEnt |
| Release Date | 2012 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines / Ways to Win | 20 Fixed Paylines |
| RTP (Return to Player) | 96.02% |
| Volatility Level | Low–Medium |
| Min Bet | €0.20 |
| Max Bet | €100 |
| Max Win Potential | ~800x Bet |
| Free Falls | 10 per Storm mode — 4 different modes |
| Avalanche | Yes — winning symbols removed, new symbols fall from above |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
The Four Storm Modes Explained
🔥 Fire Storm — Wild Spreads Across Columns 10 Free Falls — Wilds Spread Horizontally Per Fall
The Fire Storm is the most aggressive coverage mode. When a wild symbol lands during a Fire Storm free fall, it spreads horizontally — filling the same row position across adjacent reels. A wild landing on reel 3, row 2 spreads to cover row 2 across all adjacent reels. Across multiple free falls with multiple wild landings, the horizontal spread creates coverage patterns that standard vertical stacked wilds cannot replicate. Fire Storm suits players who want wilds distributed broadly across the grid rather than concentrated in columns.
🌬 Air Storm — Wilds Fall and Shift Position 10 Free Falls — Wilds Land Randomly and Move Each Fall
Air Storm wilds land randomly — any position on the grid — and shift position with each successive avalanche fall. A wild landing on reel 2 in one fall may move to reel 4 in the next. This creates a mobile wild coverage pattern rather than fixed sticky positions. The shifting means the same wild contributes to different payline evaluations across multiple falls, extending its effective coverage over the course of the 10 free falls. Air Storm is the most unpredictable mode and the one that produces the widest variety of session outcomes.
🪨 Earth Storm — Indestructible Wilds for 3 Falls 10 Free Falls — Wilds Persist Through Avalanche Removals
Earth Storm wilds are indestructible for up to 3 avalanche falls. Normally wilds disappear when winning symbols are removed in the avalanche. In Earth Storm, wilds that land remain in position through the next two avalanche removals — contributing to win evaluations on the fall they land and on the two subsequent falls. A wild landing early in the 10-fall sequence participates in three consecutive evaluations before disappearing. Multiple Earth wilds landing across the first few falls create a grid that accumulates persistent wilds throughout the bonus, building coverage with each successive avalanche.
🌊 Water Storm — Expanding Wilds Fill Full Columns 10 Free Falls — Wilds Expand Vertically to Cover Entire Reel
Water Storm is the highest single-event coverage mode. When a wild lands in Water Storm, it expands vertically to fill its entire reel column — all three rows on that reel become wild positions. A full-column wild on reel 3 covers every payline crossing that reel. Two Water wilds on adjacent reels simultaneously creates a two-column wall of wilds across the grid. Ten falls with the possibility of full-column wilds on any or all five reels represents the maximum wild density any Elements storm mode can achieve. Water Storm is the clearest path to the highest individual fall wins within the bonus.
⚡ Energy Meter — Storm Selection Mechanic Avalanche Wins Fill Meter — Determines Which Storm Triggers
The Energy Meter runs alongside the reels and fills based on consecutive avalanche wins. Each element has its own meter segment and the meter tracks which element is closest to triggering. The currently charged element — the one the meter is building toward — determines which Storm mode will activate when free falls trigger. Players cannot freely choose their storm mode — the meter determines it based on how the base game session has progressed. Watching the meter during extended base game sessions and understanding which element is approaching helps set expectations for the incoming bonus type.
Symbol Values & Paytable
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild (Element Orb)
|
10x bet | 50x bet | 150x bet |
|
Fire Symbol (Top)
|
8x bet | 30x bet | 100x bet |
|
Water Symbol
|
5x bet | 20x bet | 70x bet |
|
Earth Symbol
|
3x bet | 12x bet | 45x bet |
|
Air Symbol
|
2x bet | 8x bet | 30x bet |
|
A, K, Q, J (Low)
|
0.5–1x bet | 3–5x bet | 8–15x bet |
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Four Storm Modes — Side by Side
| Storm Mode | Wild Behaviour | Coverage Type | Best Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
|
🔥 Fire Storm
|
Spreads horizontally across same row | Wide row coverage | Wild lands centre row — spreads across all 5 reels |
|
🌬 Air Storm
|
Lands randomly, shifts position each fall | Mobile — unpredictable | Wild shifts into gap-filling position on key falls |
|
🪨 Earth Storm
|
Indestructible for 3 avalanche falls | Persistent — cumulative | Multiple Earth wilds landing early — persist all falls |
|
🌊 Water Storm
|
Expands vertically to fill full reel column | Deep column coverage | Full-column wild on reels 2 and 4 simultaneously |
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose which storm mode triggers?
You cannot choose directly — the Energy Meter determines it. The meter fills based on consecutive avalanche wins during base game play. Whichever element is closest to full when three scatter symbols trigger the free falls determines the storm mode. Watching the meter and understanding which element is approaching helps you prepare for the incoming bonus type, but the selection is driven by base game RNG rather than player input.
What is the difference between Fire and Water storm modes?
Fire Storm wilds spread horizontally — filling the same row across adjacent reels from the landing position. Water Storm wilds expand vertically — filling the entire column of the reel where the wild lands. Fire covers horizontally across the grid; Water covers vertically through a single reel. On a 5×3 grid Water generally produces more per-reel coverage (three positions) while Fire produces more cross-reel coverage. Both use the same 10 free fall count.
How does the avalanche mechanic work in Elements?
Winning symbols are removed from the grid and new symbols fall from above to fill the gaps. If the new symbols create additional winning combinations, those also pay and the process repeats. This chain continues until no new winning combinations form. In the storm free falls, the avalanche mechanic interacts with the storm wild behaviour — in Earth Storm, persistent wilds survive the avalanche removal; in Air Storm, wilds shift position during the cascade; in Water Storm, expanded wilds remain full-column through subsequent falls.
Is Elements: The Awakening still available at Canadian casinos?
Yes. It is an active NetEnt title in the current catalog. Elements tends to appear in the classic or older NetEnt sections of game lobbies rather than featured positions. The €0.20 minimum bet makes it accessible for low-stakes sessions. CAD currency supported at major NetEnt-carrying operators. Search specifically for “Elements The Awakening” or “Elements NetEnt.”
How does Elements compare to Gonzo’s Quest?
Both use an avalanche mechanic. Gonzo’s Quest uses a single free falls mode with a multiplier chain (up to 5x) and a single fixed grid. Elements uses four different storm modes with varied wild mechanics and no multiplier. Gonzo’s Quest has a higher published max win (2,500x vs ~800x) and 96.00% RTP (vs 96.02%). Elements has more free falls variety but a lower win ceiling. For players who have played a lot of Gonzo’s Quest and want a different version of the avalanche mechanic, Elements delivers that directly.
Which storm mode is the best?
There is no statistically superior mode — the RTP distributes across all four. Water Storm is the most dramatic when full-column wilds land early in the free falls sequence. Earth Storm produces the most consistent coverage because persistent wilds remain for three falls. Fire Storm has the widest horizontal spread. Air Storm is the most random and can produce either sparse or dense wild coverage depending on landing positions. Player preference for wild coverage type rather than statistical advantage is the relevant distinction.