32 Best Nerf Guns in 2024 Reviews and Buying Guide

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Choosing the best Nerf gun is no easy task. There are currently eighteen series of Nerf blasters and hundreds of different models to choose from, many of which have been discontinued and are now collectibles.

To make things even more confusing for entry-level Nerfers, Nerf has expanded its product lines to target different age groups and performance varies greatly between series.

If you’re buying a Nerf gun as a gift or to battle your friends, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying a blaster that has at least similar performance to the blasters your friends or family will be using.

The Two Main Categories of Nerf Guns You Need to Know About.

There are two main categories of Nerf guns you need to know about if you’re new to the industry. If you’re interested in learning more about all the series before seeing the list, use the navigation menu to skip to an overview of all the series below the list of blasters. Here is an explanation of the two main categories.

Nerf Guns in the Rival Series: This is a series of high-performance blasters designed for older Nerfers ages fourteen and up. The Rival Series performs at a level closer to airsoft and paintball than traditional Nerf products. The blasters shoot Rival Rounds, which are foam balls instead of darts. Generally, Rival blasters have stronger springs and internal mechanisms that allow the blasters to shoot at a higher velocity of around 100 feet per second, compared to standard Nerf guns, which generally shoot around 70 feet per second.

The Rival Series is marketed more for competitive play, which is why you’ll see some blasters come with flags or other accessories to play games like capture the flag. It’s also why most blasters are available in either red or blue, this is so you can easily tell who is on which team.

Traditional Nerf guns: There are many series of blasters that fall under the category “traditional Nerf guns”. Traditional Nerf guns are loved by Nerfers of all ages and are highly collectible. These blasters fire the traditionally shaped dart most people think of when they think of Nerf guns. Performance, appearance, and ammo type varies greatly between the different each series. If you want an in-depth explanation of the differences between each series, refer to the guide at the bottom of the page.

So Blasters in the Rival Series Are More Powerful, Why Wouldn’t Everyone Just Buy Those? 

The first and most common reason is many people purchasing Nerf guns nowadays are doing it for the nostalgia factor and they think the dart firing models are cooler. Also, the traditional style blasters have a lot more accessories available and many people like to customize and modify traditional style Nerf Guns. Lastly, many people are buying Nerf gun for someone under the age of 14 and the traditional style blasters are safer and easier for them to use.

Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For 5 Best Nerf Guns in 2024
IMAGE PRODUCT
Rival Nemesis
  • 100 feet per second velocity
  • Fires Nerf Rival Rounds
  • Tactical rail system
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Strongarm Nerf N-Strike Elite
  • Full Auto fire
  • 200 Rounds of Absolute Destruction
  • Nerf Rival Rounds
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Modulus Stryfe
  • Includes a 6 dart clip
  • Nerf Modulus upgrade kits
  • Good range
VIEW ON AMAZON →
N-Strike Elite Accustrike Series FlaconFire
  • Attractive design
  • Strong and durable
  • Priming indicator on the back of the blaster
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Modulus Longstrike Sniper
  • Single fire bolt action Nerf sniper
  • Fires Modulus Elite Darts
  • 18 official Nerf Modulus Elite Darts
VIEW ON AMAZON →

Here Are the Best Nerf Guns on the Market

 

1. Rival Nemesis

Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K, Blue (Amazon Exclusive)

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My review: The Nemesis pretty much eliminates the worst part of Nerf battles, reloading! With the Nemesis, all you have to do is grab a handful of Rival Rounds, put them in the hopper, and you’re good to go!

The Nemesis is flywheel operated, hopped fed, and fully automatic! Adding to the tacticool factor of the Nemesis there are two sling mounts directly above the barrel, making this great for lefties and righties. Above the sling mount, you’ll find foldable front sights.

The top of the Nemesis has a tactical rail system and opening into the hopper, which holds 100 rounds. One thing some people don’t realize is the motor on the Rival won’t turn on unless the hopper door is closed.

Overall, the Nemesis has a comfortable feel and looks a lot like a P90 submachine gun. The front of the blaster has speed holes that give the front grip a good feel.

While I do love this blaster, I do want to let you know about a few things I wish Nerf would have incorporated.

The rear sights are too wide to actually place accurate shots. They’re fun to use and look cool, but Nerf could have easily made them narrower and more functional.

Another thing is that it only fires full auto, however, once you get used to the trigger you can basically shot semi-auto by just holding it for about a half a second when fully revved.

This is easily one of the best Nerf Rival guns out there right now. However, if you’re a heavy gunner, the next blaster on this list may actually be a better option for you.

It runs off 6 D-cell batteries or the Nerf rechargeable battery pack, which is a lighter gives the Nemesis a little better performance.

It holds 100 rounds and  shoots full auto accurately, has an ambidextrous sling mount.

Key Features

Velocity: Around 100 feet per second
Projectile Type: Fires Nerf Rival Rounds
Recommended ages: 14 and up

 

2. Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K

Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K

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My review: This is easily the most overpowered blaster of all time. The Prometheus is a flywheel operated blaster that holds 200 rounds and shoots full auto accurately.

The only reason I have this blaster listed below the Nemesis is that I personally prefer the ergonomics of the Nemesis, which is designed to be held against your shoulder. This blaster is designed to be carried lower and fired from the hip. This thing is a heavy gunners dream!

It has twice the ammo capacity of the Nemesis and a higher rate of fire. It’s a ton of fun for the person wielding it and an absolute nightmare for their opponents.

Another thing I like about this blaster is it comes with a rechargeable battery that is interchangeable with the Nemesis.

There is a tactical rail on the bottom of the blaster between the two cage-like feet. I’ve never used this rail, but you could attach a bipod or laser light if you wanted I guess.

It comes with a carry handle that can be mounted on either side of the blaster, making it comfortable to carry for right or left-handed shooters.

This blaster has a ton of features, but I think you get the idea and can decide if this is a good option for you or not.

This is one of the most powerful Nerf guns of all time. It fires 8 rounds per second. It also comes with a Nerf Rival rechargeable battery.

Key Features

Rate of fire: Full Auto
Capacity: 200 Rounds of Absolute Destruction
Projectile Type: Nerf Rival Rounds
Velocity: 100 feet per second

 

3. Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike

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My review: I’ve used the Modulus Tri-Strike a fair amount and can honestly say it’s one of my favorite Nerf guns of all times. As soon as you open the box you’ll notice there are three distinct components, hence the name Tri-Strike. You’ll notice a standard magazine fed blaster, foam missile launcher, and four-shot Mega-dart attachment.

The Tri-Strike is manually operated, meaning that none of the components require batteries. The blaster is bolt action and requires you to cock it between shots. Like many single-shot Nerf guns, it does have the slam-fire feature that allows you to hold down the trigger and work the bolt to shoot rapid-fire.

There is a charging handle on both sides of the rifle to work the bolt, so it’s easy to work whether you’re right or left-handed.

To fire the missile launcher, all you have to do is pull the rear stock back and pump it forward. It’s not too hard to operate and even kids shouldn’t have a problem

The four-shot Mega-dart attachment doesn’t have the range or accuracy of the core blaster, but it does give the blaster a cool look and is worth for scenarios where you don’t have time to reload the core blaster.

Overall, this is an awesome blaster that is both powerful and accurate. The missile launcher and four-shot Mega-dart attachment give the blaster a cool look and feel. Whether you’re an adult buying a rifle for yourself or you’re looking for an awesome gift idea, you can’t go wrong with the Tri-Strike Elite.

Capacity: Holds 10 Elite Darts, 4 Mega Darts, and 1 Missile
Customizable with: Nerf Modulus upgrade kits
No batteries required

 

4. Modulus Stryfe (Best to Mod)

Nerf Modulus Stryfe (Amazon Exclusive) , White

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My review: The Stryfe is one of the most popular Nerf blasters of all time, and because of this there are a ton of aftermarket accessories available, so if you’re looking for the best Nerf gun to mod this is a great option. If you ever watch any of the big Nerf channels on YouTube, you’ll notice most hosts say this is what they think is the best Nerf gun of all time.

I recommend purchasing extra darts and an additional clip that holds more rounds. You can buy 18 round clips on Amazon for around 6 dollars.

This is one of the most versatile guns in the Nerf arsenal and one of the best nerf guns to mod.

It has a pretty good range of around 90 feet. It also includes a 6 dart clip, nice grip, and barrel extension.

 

5. Modulus Longstrike Sniper

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My review: The Modulus Longstrike and Centurion (the Centurion is the next rifle on this list) are the two best Nerf sniper rifles on the market right now. There are some older models that I really like, but they aren’t manufactured anymore.

The two biggest differences between these two Nerf snipers are appearance and dart size. The Centurion fires larger Nerf Mega darts.

When shopping for a Nerf sniper, keep in mind they fire foam darts propelled by a spring, so you really aren’t going to be “sniping” anyone. That said, these rifles do have a little better range than most Nerf guns and are designed to have the look and feel of sniper rifles.

The Modulus Longstrike is by the most “tacticool” Nerf sniper manufactured right now, as it comes with a detachable folding bipod, scope, barrel extension, and 3 6-dart clips. One cool thing about the stock is it has slots to store the 2 extra magazines that aren’t being used.

Between this sniper and the Centurion below, I would say the Modulus Longstrike is a more versatile sniper, but the Centurion is more powerful, has better range, and looks more intimidating.

This is the most versatile Nerf sniper out there.

Rate of fire: Single fire bolt action Nerf sniper
Dart Type: Fires Modulus Elite Darts
Comes with: 18 official Nerf Modulus Elite Darts
Capacity: Holds 6 darts

 

6. Nerf Centurion Sniper

Nerf A3700 Centurion Mega Toy Blaster with Folding Bipod, 6-Dart Clip, 6 Official Mega Darts, & Bolt Action for Kids, Teens, & Adults, Gray

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For those of you looking for a Nerf sniper, this Centurion is an excellent option. Coming in at a length of 40 inches (1 meter), it looks intimidating and feels more like a sniper rifle than any product on this list. It also has the longest barrel and is one of the most powerful Nerf guns on the market that does not require batteries. It has a powerful spring and bolt-action priming mechanism that propels Nerf Mega Darts up to an advertised 100 feet. The darts are very soft but do travel very fast and actually make a whizzing noise as they fly by you.

While this is an awesome Nerf gun that I definitely recommend, I want to cover a couple of potential downsides. First, the rifle is fairly large, which can make it hard for small kids to work the bolt on their own. Also, because the lightweight darts do leave the barrel at such a high speed and they aren’t very aerodynamic, this isn’t the most accurate Nerf gun on the market.

Overall, this is a unique Nerf gun that has its place in any collection. It’s a cool gun to leave in strategic positions that call for its long range capabilities. In my opinion, this is the best Nerf sniper rifle out there right now. That said, for those of you buying your first Nerf gun to battle your friends and family indoors, I recommend exploring all your options before pulling the trigger on this rifle.

This is one of the most intimidating Nerf snipers and most powerful Nerf Guns out there.

Range: Good range (around 100 feet)
Rate of Fire: Single shot bolt action
Capacity: Holds 6 rounds

 

7. N-Strike Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster

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My review: The N-Strike Elite Rhino Fire is a Nerf machine gun that’s easily one of the coolest looking Nerf guns of all time. It has two barrels that pump back and forth as the blaster fires.

It comes with two 25-dart drum magazines that look awesome but tend to jam occasionally. The drum magazines jamming is actually the main complaint I hear about this blaster. If you do end up buying this blaster and find you’re having trouble with the drum mags jamming, there are aftermarket magazines you can purchase that jam less but don’t look quite as cool.

I prefer firing the blaster when it’s resting on a table or other structure with the tripod attached. It’s a little large and cumbersome to carry around during battles, especially for kids.

Overall, I think this blaster is a little overpriced, but if you’re a Nerf enthusiast and have the money to spend this is one of the coolest Nerf guns out there! If you’re looking to buy a Nerf gun for a child as a gift, you may want to choose one of the other blasters on this list due to the reliability issues of this blaster.

Its alternating barrels with motorized blasting make it one of the coolest looking Nerf guns of all time.

It comes with a tripod and Includes two 25-dart drums.

Range: Around 90 feet

 

8. N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon

Nerf Mega Mastodon Toy

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My review: The Mastodon is a flywheel powered fully automatic Mega blaster that is a force to be reckoned with. The drum holds 24 of the larger Mega Darts which is pretty insane. This blaster is super fun to use in Nerf wars, especially because the darts whistle through the air and demoralize opponents. I’ve never seen someone fire this thing for the first time without a smile on their face.

As you can tell the blaster is pretty large, so Nerf includes a sling that can be attached to the front and rear of the blaster, making it much easier to carry.

The blaster has two tactical rails on the top for optics and other attachments. tI has a comfortable handle with two pivot points that make the blaster easy to control.

Overall, if you don’t mind carrying around a larger blaster the Mastodon is a ton of fun. It shoots far and I’ve found it to be very reliable. The only real cons I see are the price and size. You can get other full-auto blasters that aren’t in the Mega Series for much cheaper. Also, this thing is hard to lug around in Nerf battles, so if you’re only buying one baster to take on your friends with I probably would go with something a little smaller. That said, if you’re looking to beef up your collection with a heavy hitter this thing is great.

This is an accurate and powerful blaster with a 24-dart capacity. It’s a super fun battery operated full auto Nerf gun.

 

9. Doomlands The Judge Nerf Shotgun

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My review: The Nerf Doomlands The Judge is a spring-powered shotgun with a 30 round capacity. Each shot fires 3 darts, which means you have 10 shots total before you’ll have to reload.

The shotgun is easy to assemble and looks awesome when put together. It’s one of the more intimidating Nerf blasters I’ve seen.

On top of the blaster, there is a tactical rail for an attachment. There is also a sling mount on the front and rear of the blaster.

The priming handle on this blaster is very smooth and does make a distinct cocking sound.

Overall, this is an awesome Nerf gun that I do recommend. It has pretty good range considering it’s a firing 3 darts at a time. If you really wanted to you could load one dart in each section instead of 3 and it would increase the range and power, but that kind of defeats the purpose of it being a shotgun.

If I wanted to nitpick, I could say that blaster is a little unbalanced. It also doesn’t have slam-fire like most single-shot Nerf guns. Honestly, though it takes a while to load 30 rounds as is so the fact that it doesn’t have slam-fire isn’t a big deal.

Bottom line: This is a cool looking Nerf shotgun that shorts 3 darts per shot from its 30-dart revolving drum. It includes 30 official Nerf Doomlands Elite darts.

 

10. Nerf Zombie Strike Doominator Blaster

Nerf Zombie Strike Doominator Blaster

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My review: The Zombie Strike Doominator is cool blaster that will leave your opponents wondering why you never out of ammo. It has four ammo cylinders, so once one runs out you just have to pull the bottom trigger and the cylinders rotate, giving you 6 more rounds.

The only real design flaw I see with this blaster is the same one the RotoFury has. When you pumping to reload there isn’t much space between the handle and the rotating cylinders. The good news is with this blaster you can actually rotate the charging handle to the side and solve that problem completely.

If you’re looking for a gift idea for a kid this will surely be a home run. Although I’m not a huge fan of the color it’s still one of my favorite Nerf guns.

 

11. Strongarm Nerf N-Strike Elite

NERF Strongarm N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster with Rotating Barrel, Slam Fire, and 6 Official Elite Darts for Kids, Teens, and Adults (Amazon Exclusive)

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My review: The Nerf N-Strike Elite Blaster is one of the most popular Nerf guns on the market for many reasons. It’s cheap, reliable, lightweight, accurate, powerful for its size, requires no batteries, and has good range for the money.

Like many single-shot Nerf guns, it does have the slam firing mode feature that allows you to hold down the trigger as you work the slide on the top of the gun, allowing it to shoot faster than standard single shot pump guns.

The cylinder that holds the darts flips to the side so it’s super easy to load. After a quick reload you can just flip the barrel shut and get back in the action.

For those of you looking for a cheap sidearm for your Nerf battles, the N-Strike Elite is almost impossible to beat for the money. It’s accurate, lightweight, powerful for its size, and a bestseller on Amazon.

Range: 75 feet (about 23 meters)
Holds: 6 rounds
Fires: Nerf Elite darts

 

12. N-strike Elite Disruptor

Nerf Disruptor Elite Blaster -- 6-Dart Rotating Drum, Slam Fire, Includes 6 Official Nerf Elite Darts -- For Kids, Teens, Adults

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My review: The N-Strike Elite Disruptor is very similar to the N-Strike Elite reviewed above. This model looks a little fancier and has a few design improvements. One of the biggest differences is this the rotating drum that holds the elite darts is easier to access, which means you don’t have to press the button on the side and flip the drum out to reload it.

Just like the Strongarm, it’s a single fire blaster that’s slam-fire capable. It has a priming handle on the top that is easy to cock between each shot.

Overall, this blaster is very comparable to the Strongarm reviewed above. I recommend purchasing whichever one you think is more visually. This is one of the best cheap Nerf Guns out there.

Range: Around 90 feet

 

13. Rival Artemis XVII-3000

Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000 Red

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My review: Another blaster in the Rival line that I had to add to this list is the Artemis. It fires the same ball rounds as the Nemesis above, but it does not require batteries. It is a pretty impressive single-shot slam-fire capable blaster that has a rotating barrel with 4 cylinder tubes that hold 30 rounds combined.

This is an accurate and powerful blaster that is capable of firing at up to 100 fps. For this reason, it is advanced to wear some sort of eye protection when battling friends and family.

Overall, I have to say I prefer the battery operated Nemesis above, but this is a much more affordable option that offers similar performance.

Velocity: Just under 100 feet per second
Capacity: Holds 30 Nerf Rival Rounds
No batteries required

 

14. Nerf Mega Series RotoFury Blaster

Nerf N-Strike Mega Series RotoFury Blaster

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My review: The Nerf Mega series RotoFury is a reliable blaster with good range. It has a 10 round rotating cylinder that holds the Mega Whistler Darts.

Having a foregrip on the pump mechanism makes the gun easy to hold and shoot quickly. The foregrip, combined with slam-fire capabilities allows you to shoot this blaster very rapidly with easy. My only real complaints about this gun are that you can’t attach a stock and the pump when you pull the pump mechanism back there isn’t a lot of space between the cylinder that holds the darts and my hand, so you can pinch your hand in there if you aren’t paying attention.

Bottom line: This is a great option for anyone looking for a reliable large blaster that shoots MegaDarts. It’s an intimidating blaster that shoots darts that scream through the air and demoralize opponents

Range: Shoots about 90 feet
Rate of Fire: Single-shot pump/bolt
Capacity: Holds 10 rounds
Type of projectile: Mega Whistler Darts

 

15. Nerf N-Strike Mega

NERF N-Strike Mega TwinShock

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My review: The N-strike mega is a very powerful duel shot Nerf blaster that is capable of firing 1 or 2 darts at a time. The darts actually travel so fast they whistle as fly through the air.

Like most single shot pump blasters, it is slam fire capable. Slam-fire, combined with its dual fire capabilities allows to shoot incredibly fast and make it a ton of fun. The downside is that it only holds 10 darts so the fun is short-lived. If you’re using this as your primary rifle, you’re definitely going to want to buy an additional secondary blaster.

Keep in mind that this is a fairly large blaster that may be a little unwieldy for small kids.

Estimated range: Around 85 feet (26 meters)
Rate of Fire: Pump action blaster that fires 2 darts per shot
Capacity: Holds 10 rounds
Ammo Type: Fires Nerf MEGA darts

 

16. Nerf Recon Battlescout

Nerf Modulus Recon Battlescout

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My review: the Recon Battlescout is unique looking pump-action spring-powered blaster that actually has a camera attachment. This is part of the Modulus line, so it does have an N-Strike tactical attachment point for a barrel extension or other accessory. The clip design on this blaster gives it a unique look and feel. The clip holds 10 rounds and fits into the Battlescout horizontally.

On the top of the blaster, there is a tactical rail where you can attach the included 720p camera that can take photos and record videos. It does not come with built-in memory storage so you will need to insert an SD card (not included) before you can actually use the camera.

While this is a cool blaster that you may want to add to your collection, I personally think the 720p camera is a little lackluster. The blaster also does not have slam-fire. So can’t fire quite as fast as some of the other blasters on this list. Unless you’re looking to beef up your Nerf gun collection with unique look guns, I personally feel there are a lot better Nerf guns on this list.

Overall, the Angled foregrip feels nice and the horizontal clip design is unique.

Includes 720p HD camera, is highly customizable, and includes 10 darts.

 

17. Zombie Strike FlipFury Blaster

NERF Zombie Strike FlipFury Blaster -- 2 Flipping 6-Dart Drums -- Fire 6 Darts, Flip, Fire 6 More -- 12 Zombie Strike Elite Darts

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My review: The zombie Strike FlipFurry operates a lot like the Strongarm I reviewed earlier. The priming handle located on the top rear of the blaster is easy to operate and with slam-fire, you can hold down the trigger and shoot rapid-fire. One thing that makes this blaster unique is the second trigger and ammo drum. Once you empty the top drum, all you have to do is squeeze the bottom trigger and the bottom drum will switch to the top.

I’m actually pretty impressed with this blaster. I was very skeptical of this blaster when I first saw it and thought the rotating ammo drum was a little gimmicky and have some issues. After getting my hands on it I can actually say it’s well designed and built. The drums lock into position very well and the second trigger is positioned out of the way and it doesn’t affect your grip at all.

If you’re trying to choose between this and one of the smaller blasters on this list, think about what you’ll be using it for. If you’re looking for a primary blaster, I would go with this one because it holds more darts, but if you’re looking for a secondary weapon to carry on you, I would go with one of the smaller blasters like the Strongarm or N-Strike Elite Disruptor.

 

18. N-Strike Elite SurgeFire

Nerf SurgeFire Elite Blaster -- 15-Dart Rotating Drum, Slam Fire, Includes 15 Official Nerf Elite Darts -- For Kids, Teens, Adults (Amazon Exclusive)

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My review: the N-Strike Elite SurgeFire has a large 15 round cylinder. You might notice that this blaster is designed a lot like the RotoFury. The major difference is this blaster shootsNerf Elite darts, which are smaller than the Rotofury’s Mega Whistler Darts.

One nice design improvement is the larger gap between the foregrip and the drum. The RotoFury doesn’t have a lot of extra space and your hand can get pinched if you’re not paying attention. With this model, you don’t have to worry about that.

It has a front and rear sling mount, along with rail system on the top of the blaster for N-Strike attachments.

Rate of Fire: Single shot blaster with slam fire
Type of Projectile: Nerf Elite Darts
Capacity: Holds 15 rounds

 

19. Nerf Modulus Regulator

Nerf Modulus Regulator (Amazon Exclusive)

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My review: The Modulus Regulator is easily one of the best Nerf guns out there. It’s as tactical as it gets and is one of the only Nerf guns out there with a fire selector switch that allows you to switch between single fire, 3-round burst, and full-auto.

The Modulus Regulator comes with a blaster, detachable stock, detachable carry handle, two-barrel attachments, two 12 round magazines, empty chamber indicator, and instructions.

The stock is well designed and actually has attachment points to hold an extra magazine and the carry handle. I thought the carry handle was kind of pointless at first, but then I realized the handle swivels and clicks into place every 90 degrees. This makes shooting from the hip comfortable.

Attachment points include a front N-strike barrel attachment, front sling attachment point, front rail, rear sling attachment point, top N-Strike tactical rail, selector switches on both sides,

Another unique feature the Regulator has is an empty chamber indicator that flashes red when the magazine is empty. It’s a nice feature, but if your having a Nerf battle at night and does give away your position and there is no way to turn it off except loading a new magazine or waiting 15 seconds.

Overall, the Regulator is a fun blaster and I do recommend it. It fires Modulus elite darts, runs on 4 C-style alkaline batteries, includes two barrel attachments, and has several rates of fire (single shot, 3 round burst, and full auto).

 

20. Nerf Zombie Strike Hammershot

Nerf Zombie Hammer Shot

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My review: This is a tried and true blaster that has been around for a long time. Unlike most Nerf guns that are pump-action, the Hammershot has a hammer cocking mechanism that I think looks and feels awesome. Because you can also work the hammer with one hand this is a super fun gun to dual wield.

For a small spring-powered blaster it has good range. If you’re a serious Nerf collector this is a gun you definitely must-have in your collection.

 

21. Zombie Strike Brainsaw

NERF Zombie Strike Brainsaw Blaster

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My review: The Brainsaw is basically a Nerf chainsaw combined with a Nerf blaster. It has a pull string that makes the front foam saw rotate and make a chainsaw sound effect. It’s a single shot spring powered slam-fire capable blaster. It has 8 barrels that each hold one dart. On the bottom of the blaster, there is a primer that you pull back to cock it. It has a front and rear sling mount and tactical rail on the top for attachments.

Overall, it’s a very unique blaster, but if you’re looking to buy your first Nerf gun to battle your friends I wouldn’t recommend it. The range and accuracy just aren’t there. The front saw is foam but realistically if you go to mele your friends you’re probably going to hit them with the hard plastic as well. That said, if you’re looking for a fun gun to add to your collection, this is really cool blaster.

 

22. Zombie Ripchain

Nerf Zombie Ripchain Combat Blaster

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My review: This is one of the only chain-fed Nerf guns out there. It’s spring powered and pump-action, so it does not require batteries.

One thing that’s nice about the chain is you don’t have to remove it unless you want to. The chain doesn’t take long to remove, but since it’s easy to just front-load the chain that’s what I do.

As far as accuracy and performance, the blaster shoots pretty well. The only problem I’ve found is that the belt feeding mechanism malfunctions from time to time.

Overall, I would recommend this blaster if you really like the look of it and think the belt-fed mechanism is cool. The performance is good, but there are others on this perform better at a similar price point.

Velocity: Fires at a velocity of just under 70 feet per second

 

23. Rampage N-Strike Elite

Nerf Rampage N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster with 25 Dart Drum Slam Fire & 25 Official Elite Foam Darts for Kids, Teens, & Adults (Amazon Exclusive)

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My review: This is one of the most accurate Nerf guns I’ve ever tested. The only reason this blaster does have some bad reviews is that people have problems with the dart drum causing the blaster to jam. I personally haven’t had any issues with it, but this blaster does allow you to use any other clip system.

Overall, being that this blaster holds 25 and shots fast and accurate with slam-fire, I would definitely recommend it.

Range: Has a good range of around 75 feet and comes with 25 Nerf Elite Darts

 

24. N-Strike Elite Accustrike Series FlaconFire

Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series FalconFire

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My review: the Accustrike Series FlaconFire is a spring-powered single-shot pistol. One unique feature of this pistol is that breach loads. To load it, you pull back the breach and load that darts one at a time from the top. On the back of the blaster, there is a priming indicator that lets you know if you’ve primed the blaster correctly.

On the bottom of the pistol, it almost looks like there is a magazine that feeds the darts, but this area is only for storage.

As far as performance the blaster is pretty accurate because the Accustrike darts are well designed. The only downside is the blaster isn’t very powerful. Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s the best Nerf pistol for battles because the rate of fire is so low due to the breach load design. That said, if you’re just looking for a cheap and unique blaster to add to your collection I do recommend it. The fact that its range isn’t great isn’t a big deal to me because it’s designed to be a backup blaster.

 

25. Doomlands Lawbringer

Nerf Doomlands 2169 Lawbringer Blaster

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My review: The Lawbringer is cool Nerf rifle that has a hammer style cocking mechanism that I think looks and feels awesome. It has a 12-dart drum magazine that is easy to load. Unlike a lot of drum mags that you have to flip out to the side to reload, the Lawbringer’s drum is easy to access and doesn’t require you to do so. I also like that the shell of the blaster is clear so you can actually see the trigger mechanism working as you cock it.

It has a top iron sight and two tactical rails on the top. On the stock there are 6 ammo slots on each side, holding twelve rounds total.

The stock is pretty small, so if you’re a larger person or you’re buying this for a little older kid they will probably find it most comfortable to fire from the hip.

Overall, I find this blaster is a ton of fun to use. I like the hammer cocking mechanism a lot and the fact that this has a 12 round capacity is very cool. It has about average range for a nerf gun and is pretty accurate. If you like the look of this blaster and the hammer style cocking mechanism, I would definitely recommend it.

 

26. N-Strike Elite Rev-5

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My review: The N-Strike Elite Rev-5 has been around for a while. It’s a reliable blaster that comes with a removable stock and a barrel extension. The stock actually has a hinge-like attachment point that allows you to fold it into the blaster for storage or if you wanted to use it more like a pistol during battles.

The only cons I see with this blaster are the stock is flimsy and feels cheaply made.

Overall, this is a decent blaster but I feel there are much better options on this list, which is why this blaster is towards the bottom of the list.

Bottom line: This is a classic Nerf gun that has a four-pound spring for long-range shots. It’s durable, accurate, and includes barrel/silencer, and foldable stock.

 

27. Rival Phantom Corps Helios

Nerf Rival Helios Outdoor Blaster

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My review: The Helios is a great entry-level blaster in the Rival series and is the successor of the Rival Apollo. For around 20 bucks this thing a pretty incredible value. I’m not a huge fan of how it looks but it does get the job done. It has a sling mount on the top and just behind that, there is a tactical rail for attachments.

Unlike a lot of blasters in the rival series that require batteries, this blaster is spring powered. The charging handle is removable and can be placed on either side of the blaster to accommodate right and left-handed Nerfers.

On the bottom of the grip, there is a magazine release. The included magazine holds 7 rounds but you can insert magazines from the Zeus. So if you have a Zeus the magazines are interchangeable or you can purchase extra 12 round magazines separately.

The blaster comes with two indicator flags and has a flag mount on the rear of the blaster where you can attach the flag and indicate what team you’re on.

If you’re buying this as a gift for a kid, keep in mind this blaster is pretty powerful and rounds do sting a little upon impact. If you’re buying a set of blasters to battle with you may want to include Rival Masks.

Velocity: Fires at about 100 feet per second (30 meters per second)

 

28. N-Strike Elite DoubleBreach

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Although this looks like a sawed-off shotgun, it actually only shoots one dart at a time. Personally, I’m glad it only shoots one dart at a time because it makes each shot more powerful. For a Nerf gun that looks like a shotgun and shoots fairly large darts, this thing as some serious range and the darts actually whistle as they fly towards your opponents.

It’s a single shot spring powered blaster with slam-fire that is pump-action primed. There is a manual breach on the side of the blaster where the Nerf Mega darts are loaded.

There is a sling mount on the front and a rail system on the top for N-Strike optic attachments.

On the side of the blaster, there is a dart holder that holds 4 Mega darts. The darts are on the same side as the breach which is very convenient for speed reloads. With the darts on the side, this blaster looks awesome.

Bottom line: It’s a solid pump-action Nerf gun that fires up to 90 feet.  It shoots Mega Darts that Whistle as they fly through the air.

 

29. Nerf Elite 2-in-1 Demolisher

Nerf Elite 2-In-1 Demolisher

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My review: This is a solid 2-in-1 package that features a battery-powered semi-auto blaster along with a fixed missile launcher. The blaster includes a stock and has a lot of attachment points, including N-strike attachment points on the front, side, top, and rear where the stock attaches. The stock also has a missile attachment point where you can slide in a spare missile before battling. To shoot the missile, you have to pull out the grey handle below the launcher and press it back in quickly.

One thing I was worried about when I first saw this blaster was that the missile would fall out when battling, but it is well designed and fits very snug in the missile launcher. It’s pretty easy the missile travels surprisingly far.

The only downside I see is the velocity of the blaster is a little less than the spring-powered Elite blasters. It still has good rage the fact that it’s semi-auto makes up for it.

Bottom line: this is a cool motorized blaster with a pump-action missile attachment, 10-dart banana clip, and fires both darts and missiles.

 

30. N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon

Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon

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My review: The Bulldog was released in 2019 and is a Mega blaster fires one date at a time. The Bulldog comes with the improved Accustrike Mega Darts, which are more accurate than the standard Mega Darts.

The Bulldog has a smart AR system that allows it to sense when there is a dart in the barrel, so if you wanted to load one dart at a time you could and the blaster would normally.

The sight on the top is a grenade launcher style sight with arrows that represent different distances. The side of the blaster has ammo slots to carry extra darts.

One cool feature is the blaster can actually collapse when not in use. When you pull the stock it extends and the sight pops up.

Overall, I feel like this blaster is pretty good. I’m not a huge fan of how it looks, but it’s visually appealing you may want to add it to your collection. The fact that it’s so small and shoots Mega Darts is cool.

It has an extendable stock, comes with 6 mega darts, and has a flip-up grenade style sight

 

31. Vortex Pyragon Blaster

Nerf Vortex Pyragon Blaster

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My review: One thing to keep in mind about the Vortex series is that this series of blasters fire discs are designed to fly at a lower velocity than dart blasters. They glide through the air almost like a frisbee, which allows them to travel as far as some darts even though they travel slower.

One thing that’s nice about at blaster that fires thin Vortex discs is the magazines can fit a lot of them. This particular blaster holds 40 discs that are easy to load through the top of the magazine.

It has an N-strike compatible rail on top. It does have an N-strike attachment point on the rear of the blaster to attach a stock, but it does not come with one.

Bottom line: This is a unique Nerf gun that shoots Vortex Discsfrom it’s 40-disc drum magazine. It has slam-fire, which allows for rapid firing.

 

32. N-Strike Elite Mega CycloneShock Blaster

Nerf Cyclone

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My review: The N-Cycloneshock is a pretty cool little blaster that has a 6 dart drum magazine. There is a tactical rail system on top for an optic or other accessories.

One comment I always hear about this blaster is that it shoots far. It’s also cool how the large Mega darts whistle as they fly through the air.

Overall, it’s a solid blaster that is reliable and has pretty good range. The cylinder doesn’t pop out like on some models, but it’s not an issue because the cylinder slots are easy to access.

It has a comfortable handle and overall is a solid blaster. In my opinion, this blaster completely blows the older N-Strike Elite Mega Magnus out of the water.

The bottom line is that this is a good blaster for the money. It has a rotating 6-dart drum and shoots far.

Understanding the Different Nerf Series

Rival Series: This is a Series of high-performance blasters geared to 14 to 20-year-olds.

blasters in the Rival Series fire “high impact” medium density foam rounds that are roughly 1” in diameter. The blasters in the series fire at velocities between 85 to just over 100 feet per second, which is about 20 to 30 feet per second faster than standard Nerf Guns. Due to the fact that these blasters are more powerful, Hasbro sells Nerf Rival masks that they recommend Nerfers use when battling. Generally, blasters in the Rival series are more expensive and a little harder for kids to operate. That said, the additional cost and other downsides are easily forgotten when shooting and battling with blasters in Rival Series, as they are a ton of fun!

The blasters in the rival series have mechanical safety mechanisms that must be disengaged before the acceleration trigger or firing trigger can be pulled.

Because the blasters in the Rival Series are more powerful, it is generally advised to wear a face mask or safety glasses while battling.

Fun fact: all blasters in the Rival Series are named after figures in Greek mythology.

  • Hasbro has stated that the Nerf Rival is aimed at a target audience of 14 to 20-year-olds.

N-Strike Elite: This is basically an upgraded version of the standard N-Strike Serie. Blasters in this series utilized a more efficient Direct Plunger Tube System instead of a Reverse Plunger Tube System. Basically, what that means is the spring mechanism in this series is more powerful and allows the blasters in this series to shoot farther than blasters in the standard N-Strike series. Blasters in this series shoot between 75 to 90 feet, compared to blasters in the standard N-Strike series which only shoot around 35 feet.

N-Strike Modulus: This series is all about being tacticool, which means blasters are highly customizable and all blasters released under this series have parts that are interchangeable. Some blasters in this series can even be attached to other blasters and double as attachments.

N-Strike Mega: Blasters in this series fire a larger Mega Dart. Blasters in this range have ranges. Although the darts are much larger, they have about the same range and don’t feel much different when you’re hit by them. Blasters in this range typically have a lower ammo capacity, but they do have a more intimidating look and oftentimes you can actually hear the darts whistle as they travel through the air.

Alpha Strike: Blasters in this series have a typically yellow and orange color scheme. This series is more about value than looking cool or having attachments. These blasters are usually very cheap and do not have any attachment points like tactical rais, barrel extensions, etc.

Zombie Strike: The zombie strike is all about slaying zombies. Blasters in this line have a distinct look and unique accessories like saws. This line is geared more towards looks than it is actually battling in Nerf battles, although they certainly could be used for that purpose.

Doomlands 2169 Series: The Doomlands series is a futuristic series that is geared towards post-apocalyptic survival in the year 2169. The blasters in this series fire an orange dart that performs almost identical to Nerf Elite darts

Other Series: For a full list of Nerf Series check out the Nerf Fandom Website here.

Another important note: The reason I wanted to explain the two different types is that you’ll probably want to buy Nerf Guns that fall into one category or the other. For example, if you’re buying Nerf guns as gifts for two boys you know, you don’t want to buy one a blaster in the Rival Series and the other a blaster in a different series because there is a big performance difference and the Nerf Battle would be unfair.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Nerf guns.

What are the best Nerf darts?

I really like Accustrike darts, although they have a slightly slower velocity (about 2-3 feet per second). The next best darts are the suction cup darts. Nerf Elite darts aren’t all that accurate, so if you’re planning on buying a blaster that comes with Elite darts, you may want to consider picking up some Accustrike darts.

What is the most accurate Nerf gun?

I’ve found the Rival Nemesis to be very accurate. As far as traditional Nerf guns, the primary blaster on the Modulus Tri-Strike, the Modulus Longstrike, the Rampage N-Strike Elite, and the Centurion are some of the most accurate Nerf guns I’ve tested. Some of the most accurate Nerf darts I’ve tested are the Accustrike darts. If your blaster accepts Nerf Elite Darts then it can fire the more accurate Accustrike darts.

What does FPS mean?

FPS stands for feet per second. Say you see a Nerf gun rated at 30FPS, that means the dart or Rival round will travel 30 feet in 1 second. When you see a Nerf gun rated at a certain FPS, that is the speed the dart will fly when it initially leaves the blaster. As the projectile flies through the air it will slowly lose velocity and travel at a slower speed. Generally, Nerf Rival blasters fire rounds at a higher FPS, which is why it’s recommended to wear eye protection.

What does NERF stand for?

Nerf stands for “non-expanding recreational foam”.

What are Nerf darts made of?

Nerf darts are made of a polyester resin that reacts with another compound in the presence of CO2, resulting in a light polyurethane material. Nerf darts are super light, which allows them to fly at high speeds but not cause any serious if they hit a human (unless they hit delicate areas like the eye). Fun fact: there were almost 450,000,000 Nerf darts made last year.

What is the most powerful Nerf Gun?

As mentioned at the top of the page, Nerf Rival blasters are more powerful than traditional Nerf guns. In terms of capacity and rate of fire, the Rival Prometheus is probably the most powerful Nerf gun. As far as traditional Nerf guns that are currently being manufactured, The Mega Mastodon is the most powerful.

What is the best Nerf Sniper?

Throughout the years, Nerf has released a number of snipers. As far as traditional style Nerf guns that are currently being manufactured, I personally think the Centurion is the best and the Modulus Longstrike is a close second. This answer is very subjective, as it really comes down to personal preference.

What is the best Nerf Rival gun?

This also comes down to personal preference, the Nemesis is my favorite, but in terms of overall firepower, the Prometheus actually holds more rounds and shoot faster than the Nemesis. If you’re looking for maximum firepower and don’t mind a blaster you fire from the hip, I’d go with the Prometheus.

How many Nerf guns are there?

There are literally hundreds of Nerf guns. Many of them have been discontinued, but you can view the full list of Nerf Guns here.

What is a Nerf gun?

I know almost all of you probably know this already, but just to be thorough I wanted to make sure I had it on the page.

Nerf is a toy brand created by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. Nerf guns are toy guns that shoot a variety of foam-based projectiles including darts, discs, and round Rival rounds. Their slogan is “It’s Nerf or Nothing!”.

Is water bad for Nerf guns?

Yes. If Nerf guns are in contact with water for a long time, they can end up getting rust on the metal hardware.

It will also clog the gun with water, thus damaging the blaster.

How long do Nerf guns last?

Nerf guns can last years with proper use and care. But if they are used roughly and not taken good care of, their life span can reduce considerably.

It is a mechanical tool, so some parts may wear out earlier than others.

Why do Nerf guns stop working?

f the O-ring seal fails, the nerf may stop working. If the trigger is jammed, the bullet won’t be fired. Broken catch or loose catch spring is also one of the reasons, nerf guns stop working.

How do you fix a Nerf gun bullet?

Put all the old darts or bullets in a paper bag or cloth bag. Use the dryer on low setting and blow-dry the bullets directly into the bag. It will remove the moisture from the darts and nerf bullets will be as good as new.

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