Pirots app guide

Why the Pirots app game is different from a normal slot

Most slots pay for lines of matching symbols. Pirots does not. ELK Studios built it around a mechanic it calls CollectR: four birds, the so-called Fearful Four, sit on a grid of coloured gems. Each bird collects gems that match its own colour, and each gem collected pays its value. There are no paylines, no ways and no clusters in the usual sense.

That makes the screen behave more like a small puzzle game than a reel slot. A spin drops gems and feature symbols onto the grid, the birds move and collect, and new symbols fill the gaps until nothing more can be collected. Everything is random, so the birds’ routes are not something you steer, but knowing what is happening makes the animations much easier to follow on a phone.

Pirots is not sold as its own app. You open it inside a UKGC-licensed casino app downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Pirots on a phone: layout and orientation

A square grid that grows from 5×5 to 8×8 suits portrait mode well, because the grid can use the full width of the screen. The birds, gem values and the feature meter sit around the grid, with the spin and stake buttons at the bottom. As the grid expands, each cell gets smaller, so a phone of at least six inches makes the later stages of a round easier to read.

Landscape keeps the grid at the centre and moves information to the sides, which can work better on tablets. On a small phone, portrait is usually the clearer choice. Our portrait vs landscape guide explains the trade-offs, and small-screen phones has tips for compact devices.

How to start playing Pirots in an app

1. Open your casino app and log in.
2. Search for Pirots; check the tile credits ELK Studios and that you have picked the original rather than Pirots 2 or a later sequel.
3. Tap the information icon and read the rules page. ELK games explain CollectR and each feature symbol there.
4. Choose your stake. UK caps are £5 per spin for over-25s and £2 for 18–24s.
5. Tap Spin and watch the birds collect. The round continues until no more gems can be collected.
6. Glance at the feature meter between spins; it shows how close you are to the next set of feature symbols.

ELK’s game page lists X-iter, a set of paid modes that raise the cost of each spin in exchange for a higher bonus chance. These buy-in modes are a form of feature buy, which is not offered to players in Great Britain. See our bonus buy entry.

Pirots features: feature symbols, meter and grid expansion

Alongside gems, the grid can show feature symbols that birds collect as they move. ELK lists these effects:

• Upgrades, which raise the value level of gems.
• Wilds, which help birds reach and collect more gems.
• Coin wins, which pay a cash amount directly.
• Transformations, which change symbols on the grid.
• Grid expanders, which add rows and columns up to 8×8.

Collected symbols also fill a feature meter. When it is full, the game awards three chests of feature symbols, which then drop into play. The meter is one of the few parts of Pirots that carries information from spin to spin, so it is worth knowing where it sits on your screen.

Grid expansion matters because a larger grid gives the birds more room and more gems to collect. It is the main reason long rounds can build to bigger results. For a general look at modern slot mechanics, see our mobile slot features guide.

The Pirots bonus game

If the birds collect three bonus symbols in a single round, the bonus game begins. Its key feature is persistence: the grid size, the gem win level and the feature meter all carry over from round to round inside the bonus rather than resetting. A bonus that starts with an expanded grid and upgraded gems therefore has a head start. Our bonus round entry covers the general idea.

Because entry depends on three bonus symbols being collected rather than simply landing, it can feel unpredictable. You may see two collected and the round end. That is normal and is part of the game’s maths.

Pirots RTP of 94%: what it costs you

The published RTP is 94%, noticeably below the 96% or so typical of many slots. Over a long run, that means an average of about £6 kept per £100 staked, compared with roughly £3.50 to £4 on many alternatives. Check the info screen in your app in case a different version is in use; our guide to finding a slot’s RTP in an app shows where.

Volatility is rated medium–high. Many spins return less than the stake, and much of the return sits in expanded grids and the bonus game. At a 10p stake, the 10,000x ceiling is £1,000; at £2 it is £20,000. Those outcomes are very rare. Plan for losing the session budget, and see our volatility page for more.

UK rules that apply to Pirots

• Stakes are capped at £5 per spin for players aged 25+ and £2 for 18–24s, as set out in our UK stake limits guide.
• Autoplay and turbo modes are removed, and every spin takes at least 2.5 seconds.
• X-iter buy-in modes and any other feature buy are not offered in Great Britain.
• Your balance and net position stay on screen.
• Demo play is available only after age verification.

Pirots compared with Pirots 2 and other grid slots

Pirots 2 starts on a bigger grid, swaps gems for amber and adds new feature symbols. Reactoonz and Jammin' Jars use cluster pays rather than collectors and publish noticeably higher RTPs. If the bird mechanic is what appeals, Pirots 2 is the natural next step; if RTP matters more to you, the other two are stronger on paper.

Pirots app pros and cons

Where to play Pirots on your phone

ELK Studios games are carried by a number of UKGC-licensed apps, but check Pirots is in the lobby before you deposit. The apps below publish clear welcome terms; none is linked to Pirots, so read the eligible games list. 18+, terms apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.