Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage Premium Pinball Machine

The Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage Premium, where three decades of pinball heritage meets Steve Ritchie's most ambitious Black Knight yet. This is the third game in the Black Knight lineage, the first since 1989, and the tier collectors actually chase.

Designed for the home game room buyer who wants the complete version of a modern classic. Stern is no longer manufacturing this title, which means the machines in circulation now are all there will ever be.

Stern Pinball: The Industry Leader

Stern Pinball is a leading name in the pinball industry, renowned for its innovative designs and high-quality machines.

Founded by Gary Stern, the company has a long-standing reputation for combining classic pinball gameplay with modern technology. 

They are famous for their unique themes and collaborations with iconic franchises, delivering immersive experiences to fans and collectors alike.

Their commitment to craftsmanship and detail ensures that every machine is not just a game, but a work of art, making Stern a beloved brand among pinball enthusiasts worldwide.

The Upper Playfield: What Makes the Premium the Version Most Players Want

The Premium adds a complete second, upper playfield above the main level, with its own full-size flipper, an orbit lane, a dedicated target and a three-ball catapult multiball lock. The Pro has none of it.

That upper playfield fundamentally changes how the game plays. Shooting up into it opens a distinct physical layer of the machine, and trapping all three balls in the catapult lock triggers multiball from a different vantage point entirely. It is not a cosmetic addition; it changes routing, strategy and the pace of every session.

The Premium also runs three flippers against the Pro's two, the third being the upper playfield flipper itself. If the upper playfield is the reason you are choosing this tier, that is the correct instinct.

It is the version most players want, and the manual confirms it: the driver reference lists a dedicated U/P Right Flipper and a full Upper Flipper Bat Configuration assembly section that does not exist anywhere in the Pro documentation.

Thirty Years Between Games, One Designer for All Three

Steve Ritchie designed the original Black Knight in 1980, Black Knight 2000 in 1989, and this machine in 2019. No other pinball series of this era can claim a single designer across all three entries, separated by nearly four decades.

Ritchie also provides the voice of the Black Knight himself, as he did on the originals. That is not a sample or an impression; it is Ritchie in character, recorded for this game, delivering the same presence that defined the character in 1980.

The soundtrack comes from Scott Ian of Anthrax, written specifically for the game. The combination of Ritchie's design, Ritchie's voice and Ian's original metal score gives this machine an authorship that very few pinball titles can match.

Kevin O'Connor's Swordsman Artwork

The Premium wears the "Swordsman" art package, hand-drawn in full-colour high-definition by Kevin O'Connor. It runs across the backglass and the cabinet sides as one cohesive design.

The Pro carries O'Connor's separate "Castle" package. Both are original works by the same artist, genuinely different designs rather than one being a lesser version of the other. The Swordsman package is exclusive to the Premium tier.

A Limited Edition exists with its own third art package, "Battlefield", along with gloss black and gold metalflake armour and trim. That edition is a separate machine; none of its gold hardware or metalflake finish appears on this one.

Powder Coated Steel Armour and Black Wrinkle Finish Hardware

The Premium includes a powder coated steel bottom arch, with black wrinkle finish side armour, hinges and lockdown bar. The Pro ships with standard armour.

Black wrinkle powder coat is a harder, more textured finish than painted steel. It resists scuffs from ball launches, coins and general game room contact better than a smooth surface, which matters on a machine intended to see regular play over many years.

The Custom Black Knight Toy with Motorized Flail and Speech-Synced Helmet

At the centre of the playfield sits a custom interactive Black Knight figure with a motorized flail and shield. The helmet contains LEDs for the eyes, and the speech sync ties the figure's movements to Ritchie's voice lines as the game runs.

The result is a toy that participates in the game rather than decorating it. The Black Knight reacts to what is happening on the playfield, which keeps it compelling across hundreds of plays in a way that a static figure cannot.

This feature is shared with the Pro and is not a Premium exclusive. It is, however, one of the strongest reasons to own any tier of this title.

Magna-Save: A Black Knight Signature Since 1980

Magna-Save is a user-controlled interactive magnet on the playfield, activated by the player to deflect a ball heading toward the drain. It originated on the first Black Knight in 1980 and returns here as a direct callback to the original design.

In play, it gives the experienced player an active defensive tool that the game does not hand out freely. Timing it correctly saves a ball that would otherwise be lost; mistiming it does nothing. The skill ceiling it creates is deliberate and very much a Ritchie design choice.

Magna-Save is shared across all three tiers of Sword of Rage and is one of the defining mechanics of the Black Knight franchise.

3-Bank Timed Resetting Drop Targets and the Action Button

A three-bank drop target set sits on the playfield and resets on a timer rather than waiting for the player to complete a sequence. Hitting the targets charges the sword mechanic, activated through the action button on the lockdown bar.

The timed reset creates genuine urgency. A player who clears the bank slowly enough will watch it reset before the charge completes, which forces deliberate target selection rather than casual shooting. That is the kind of design detail that extends the game's longevity at home.

Twenty-Six RGB Shot Indicators and a Full LED Playfield

The Premium runs 26 RGB LEDs that indicate shots by colour across the playfield. The Pro runs 24. The two-LED difference is a flyer figure rather than a headline, but it reflects the additional lighting requirements of the upper playfield area.

The full LED playfield means the game is visually active and responsive to every shot, with colour changes tied to game state rather than a static lighting scheme. Under bar lighting or in a dimmed game room, the effect is genuinely striking.

SPIKE 2 Electronics Platform

This machine runs on Stern's SPIKE 2 electronics platform. That is the platform confirmed in the service and operation manual for this title. It is not SPIKE 3.

SPIKE 2 handles all game logic, display output, sound and solenoid control through a distributed wiring architecture that simplifies service. For an owner doing their own maintenance, that means fewer harness connectors to trace when something needs attention.

Coin-Op Configuration for Operators

The machine configures for coin operation or free play through the operator menu. Collectors running it at home typically set it to free play. Operators placing it on route can enable coin-op, set pricing and review earnings data through the same menu system.

The SPIKE 2 platform supports standard operator accounting functions. For a venue adding a sought-after modern classic to a game room floor, a Steve Ritchie title with a recognisable name and a compelling upper playfield draw is a strong performer at any price per play.

Premium or Pro: What the Upper Playfield Changes

The Pro is a good machine and the less expensive way into this title. It carries the same Black Knight toy, Magna-Save, drop targets, Ritchie voice work, Scott Ian soundtrack and SPIKE 2 electronics. The cabinet envelope, weight, shipping box and power draw are identical figure for figure between the two models.

What the Pro does not have is the upper playfield. No second flipper, no orbit lane, no catapult multiball lock. It also runs two flippers to the Premium's three, standard armour rather than the powder coated black wrinkle finish hardware, and O'Connor's "Castle" art package rather than "Swordsman".

The Pro also carries two Skeleton Lane spinning targets where the Premium carries one, a direct result of the different playfield layouts.

The Premium is the version most players want, because of the upper playfield. That is the honest summary. If budget is the deciding factor, the Pro delivers the core Sword of Rage experience. If the upper playfield is what you are after, this is the machine.

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Product Specifications

What's Included in the Package?

• Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage Premium Pinball Machine
• Four legs with leg bolts and leg levelers
• Six standard pinballs, packed in the cash box
• Plumb bob and backbox bolts, packed in the cash box
• Keys, in the coin door
• Service and operation manual

Technical Specifications

Players: 4

Balls: 6 standard pinballs

Flippers: 3 (left, right, and upper playfield right)

Display: Full colour LCD in the backbox

Electronics Platform: Stern SPIKE 2

Power (North America): 120 VAC nominal, 60 Hz. 360 W at 3 A nominal, 540 W at 4.5 A peak (under 100 ms), 70 W at 0.6 A in attract mode. Line voltage range 90 to 250 VAC.

Circuit Loading: 3 A nominal draw. A standard 15 A household circuit supports up to 5 machines.

Frequency Note: A North American 60 Hz game will not operate correctly on 50 Hz power, and the reverse is also true.

Operating and Storage Temperature: 32 F to 104 F (0 C to 40 C)

Humidity: 5 to 95 percent relative humidity, non-condensing

Assembled In: Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA

Coin-Operated: Yes, configurable for coin-op or free play

Minimum Room Dimensions Required (H x W x D): 80 x 36 x 84 in (203 x 91 x 214 cm)

Product Dimensions (Installed)

Shipping Dimensions

Embrace the game with all you need, right out of the box. Let the competition begin!

Assembly

Assembling the Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage Premium is a straightforward process that typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes.

The machine arrives crated with the backbox folded down for shipping. Setup involves unboxing the game, attaching the four legs with the included leg bolts and adjusting the leg levelers, then raising and securing the backbox. The six balls, plumb bob and backbox bolts are packed inside the cash box and will need to be retrieved and installed.

Stern's service and operation manual (included with the machine) covers the full setup procedure with step-by-step instructions. At least two people are required to safely move and manoeuvre the game into position. Tools needed for assembly, such as a wrench for the leg bolts, do not ship with the machine and will need to be sourced separately.

Feel free to read through:

• Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage LE / Premium Service and Operation Manual
• Stern SPIKE System Manual
• A video how to assemble the machine