BuffaloAscensionvsBuffaloLink:WhichSlotMachineShouldYouPlay?
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Buffalo Ascension | Buffalo Link |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Aristocrat | Aristocrat |
| Mechanic | Accumulator | Must-Hit-By |
| Risk Level | High | High |
| Trigger Display | — | Play at 1,600+ on the counter |
| Recommended (when to sit) | — | 1600 |
| Exit Rule | — | It is recommended to simply avoid checking this game due to the large swings of non-profitable payouts, unless you have a rare find with the #'s in 1600+. |
| Summary | Machine details and feature overview for on-floor identification. | You'll run into Buffalo Link in nearly every casino — it's one of the most widely placed slots around. The machine is volatile, mixing classic all-ways-pays play with a Hold & Spin bonus, and the advantage-play angle comes down to its must-hit-by progressive. |
Buffalo Ascension
- Manufacturer
- Aristocrat
- Mechanic
- Accumulator
- Risk Level
- High
- Trigger Display
- —
- Recommended (when to sit)
- —
- Exit Rule
- —
- Summary
- Machine details and feature overview for on-floor identification.
Buffalo Link
- Manufacturer
- Aristocrat
- Mechanic
- Must-Hit-By
- Risk Level
- High
- Trigger Display
- Play at 1,600+ on the counter
- Recommended (when to sit)
- 1600
- Exit Rule
- It is recommended to simply avoid checking this game due to the large swings of non-profitable payouts, unless you have a rare find with the #'s in 1600+.
- Summary
- You'll run into Buffalo Link in nearly every casino — it's one of the most widely placed slots around. The machine is volatile, mixing classic all-ways-pays play with a Hold & Spin bonus, and the advantage-play angle comes down to its must-hit-by progressive.
When to play each
Buffalo Ascension
Sit when: the banked counter another player left is close to the trigger — the number is in the guide.
Read the Buffalo Ascension guideBuffalo Link
Sit when: 1600
Exit: It is recommended to simply avoid checking this game due to the large swings of non-profitable payouts, unless you have a rare find with the #'s in 1600+.
Read the Buffalo Link guideBoth guides
Aristocrat
Buffalo Ascension
Machine details and feature overview for on-floor identification.
View full guide
Aristocrat
Buffalo Link
You'll run into Buffalo Link in nearly every casino — it's one of the most widely placed slots around. The machine is volatile, mixing classic all-ways-pays play with a Hold & Spin bonus, and the advantage-play angle comes down to its must-hit-by progressive.
View full guide
Common questions
Neither machine is universally better — it depends on the state you find on the floor. Buffalo Ascension is a Aristocrat Accumulator game, while Buffalo Link is a Aristocrat Must-Hit-By game. Read each machine's trigger value before you sit down: whichever is closer to its play-at threshold is the better play right now.
Exact trigger values for Buffalo Ascension and Buffalo Link are available in the full guides. Sign up to see the specific thresholds, counter readings, and when to sit for each machine.
Both Buffalo Ascension and Buffalo Link are commonly placed on US casino floors. Use our venue map at /casino-map to filter casinos by manufacturer (Aristocrat) and see which floors carry recent installs.
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