What Is Hold & Spin (Fire Link)? The Slot Mechanic Explained
Hold & Spin — also called Fire Link, lock-and-respin, or “respin” bonuses — is one of the most popular modern slot features. Here’s how it works and how to make the most of it.
What is Hold & Spin in slots?
Hold & Spin is a bonus where special symbols (in Ultimate Ark Link, fireballs) lock in place and trigger a set of respins. While they’re locked, the rest of the grid keeps spinning to catch more. Each new symbol that lands locks too and usually resets the respin counter, so a hot streak can keep the feature going.
How does the Fire Link / lock-and-respin feature trigger?
Typically you need a minimum number of the special symbol on screen at once. In Ultimate Ark Link, landing 6 or more fireballs on the 5×4 grid starts the Fireball Hold & Spin. Every fireball already on screen locks, and you begin with three free respins.
How free spins (respins) reset
This is the heart of the feature. You start with a few respins; each time a new symbol locks, the respin count resets to the maximum. Miss on every position and the count ticks down. The bonus ends when respins reach zero — or when the grid fills.
Symbol values and jackpots
Each locked symbol carries a credit value, and some carry jackpots. Filling more of the grid means more locked values added together at the end, which is why a long Hold & Spin can pay big.
What makes Ultimate Ark Link’s version different: unlocking rows
Above the base grid sit four locked rows. As you collect more fireballs you unlock them one by one — each unlock opens five fresh slots and resets your respins. Fill the entire expanded grid to win the Ascendant grand jackpot. See the full bonus guide for the exact thresholds.
Tips to get the most from Hold & Spin
- The feature is variance-heavy — most value comes from the rounds where respins keep resetting.
- Unlocking rows is the multiplier: more open slots = more fireballs = bigger totals.
- Because Ultimate Ark Link is provably fair, you can verify any bonus result afterward.