Best Nerf Guns of 2023 (14 Must-Have Blasters Reviewed)

If you want to send your enemies running for the hills with a little brown spot tarnishing their underpants, the Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K will endow fear and much more.

With an innovative ammo system and over-the-top performance, I can easily recommend the Nemesis as the best Nerf gun of 2024. It also made its way to the top of various other lists, including the best Nerf Rival blasters and the best battery-powered blasters.

The Rival Nemesis can rocket foam balls at an insane 90 – 100 fps (or 120 fps if running on a lipo battery. It also has a fire rate of 4 rounds per second and an average range of about 100 feet.

It shoots a unique type of ammo called the High-Impact Rival Round. These tiny foam balls have a porous design (similar to a golf ball) which creates turbulent air around the ball—allowing them to fly faster and more precisely than traditional darts.

The Nemesis has a massive top-mounted hopper rated to hold 100 rounds (but 110 rounds fit without experiencing feeding issues). This hopper is also a breeze to load; dump a handful of balls into the top of the hopper, close the hatch, and continue spraying! You do have to give the blaster a little shake now and then to help the rounds feed, but that’s the only practical drawback of this blaster.

The blaster runs off six D cell batteries, but you can upgrade it with a rechargeable lipo battery—which increases its fps and range, not to mention a great investment over single-charge batteries! It’s also fully ambidextrous and be purchased in two color schemes: Team Red or Team Blue (my favorite).

Overall, the Nemesis is the perfect blaster. It’s lightweight, agile, powerful, accurate, and has a ton of ammo. Unless you’re a small child (or have the pain tolerance of one), you can’t go wrong with this Rival blaster.

The Nerf Pro Stryfe X is one of the best Nerf guns because it combines high performance and premium design for intense Nerf battling. 

This motorized blaster unleashes darts at an incredible 150 feet per second power, giving you lightning-fast firing speed to overwhelm your opponents. The semi-auto firing and acceleration trigger allow you to control the rate of fire and react instantly.

The Stryfe Pro X shoots exclusive half-length Accustrike darts that deliver solid precision at ranges up to 150 feet. The darts’ smaller size increases accuracy and speed. The blaster includes 30 high-performance darts designed for durability and reusability.

Power and convenience are provided by the included rechargeable lithium polymer battery and charging cable. No more buying packs of batteries! The battery is easily removable for charging between battles.

Ergonomic features like the textured grip, compact size, and large handle make the Stryfe Pro X comfortable to wield even during longer Nerf wars. Customization options include a tactical rail, stock attachment point, and compatibility with Nerf mods. Upgrade your blaster to match your battle style!

Experience dart blasting mastery, using the protective eyewear induced, with the Nerf Pro Stryfe X. The combination of accuracy, firing speed, power, and premium design makes this one of the best new Nerf guns available.

If you want to inflict misery on your enemies but not your wallet, the Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander is an easy choice for the best budget-friendly Nerf gun!

Averaging about $13, the Commander is a spring-powered blaster with a six-round rotating cylinder. It comes with 12 Nerf Elite darts (six blue and six orange) but is also compatible with higher-performance waffle head darts.

It’s primed using an easy-to-grab slide on the top of the blaster and fully supports slam firing (hold down the trigger and continuously prime the blaster to rapid-fire darts).

For the price, the performance is very respectable. It shoots standard Nerf Elite darts at about 75 FPS with an average range of about 80 feet. If slam-fired, you can rocket foam at about four darts per second.

The Commander also has a lot of room for upgrades. It has a front barrel lug that can fit any N-strike barrel attachments as well as a mount for a rear stock so you can shoulder the blaster. Also has three tactical rails (one on top and two on bottom) that can be equipped with any N-Strike attachments—such as sights, flashlights, or ammo clips.

Overall, the Elite 2.0 Commander is a fantastic entry-level blaster that will satisfy even the most intense souls (man or child)—without denting your paycheck.

• Read our full review: Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander RD-6 Review (Bought & Tested)

Named after the Greek god who gifted humanity fire, the Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K is among the biggest, nastiest, and most overkill blasters you can buy. This thing is a monster, and I’m sure whoever designed it probably belongs in a straight-jacket—if they’re not already.

The Prometheus has a massive hopper that holds an insane 200 Rival Rounds (small foam balls). Loading the hopper is a piece of cake. Open the top hatch and dump handfuls of balls into the blaster. Slam the hatch close, and you’re ready to fling foam.

It comes in one color scheme (Spec Ops White), which in my opinion, is absolutely gorgeous–like if a Lamborghini and monster truck had a child. But the Prometheus isn’t just a big shiny object that holds a lot of ammo. It’s also insanely powerful.

The Prometheus is fully automatic and can rocket balls at 100 feet per second with a fire rate of 8 rounds per second (making it one of the fastest-firing blasters you can buy). It also has a range of 100+ feet.

And just when you thought it wouldn’t get better, it also comes with a rechargeable lipo battery pack. That’s right; batteries are included!

Overall the Prometheus is just a solid war machine that does several things exceptionally well. It holds a lot of ammo, it fires that ammo really fast, and it makes sure your enemy feels that ammo when it hits them. But above all else, it will leave you with a grin on your face.

The Game Face Trion blaster is a force to be reckoned with, and our pick for the best adult nerf gun of 2024! It has the quality and performance of blasters that cost nearly three times as much.

The Trion is a spring-powered beauty that shoots exclusively half-length darts and is designed in a unique way that allows you to customize the performance using spring spacers.

Without any spacers installed, it can shoot darts at a jaw-dropping 130+ FPS. But, if you want even more power, you can add one spacer for up to 160 FPS or both included spacers for a blazing 200+ FPS.

But the best part, adding and removing these spacers requires no tools and takes no time at all!

Not only is the Trion packed with power, but it also comes with multiple Picatinny rails and cut holes that are M-LOK rail compatible. The front angled grip feels great in hand, but if you want to add your own grip, it can be easily removed to reveal another Picatinny rail.

You can find the Trion in two color schemes: White/green and white/red. Also included with the blaster is a 15-round magazine and 15 half-length darts.

Overall, if you’re in the market for a top-performing foam blaster, the Game Face Trion dart blaster is the way to go!

Are you looking for the perfect nerf gun for your little Fortnite fan? The Nerf Fortnite BASR-L is a fantastic choice for kids.

The BASR-L is light as a feather and packs a big punch—making it easy to carry around, especially during a long day of nerfing. It also has a classic sniper look and is a direct replica of the popular Fortnite weapon.

It comes with a six-round clip that shoots standard Elite darts and is compatible with most other N-Strike mags—such as the larger 12-round mag.

The blaster has a non-magnifying scope that actually works pretty well. But if you want to upgrade it, no problem! The N-Strike rail on top makes it easy to add or replace accessories, so kids can fully customize their blaster to their liking.

The BASR-L shoots at 70 fps and has a range of about 90 feet, so you can plink your opponents at a distance.

One of the standout features of this blaster is its slam fire. You can hold down the trigger, and it will fire as fast as you can prime the handle. Even with a sniper-style design, you’re not at a disadvantage in close quarters. If someone gets close, you can unload on them and surprise them with a barrage of darts!

Overall, the BASR-L is a fantastic choice for kids who want a high-quality nerf gun. With its lightweight design, comfortable ergonomics, and decent fire rate, your child will be the coolest kid on the block with the BASR-L in hand.

If you want enough raw foam-flinging power that the devil himself would cower in fear (while covering his jewels), the Caliburn v4 by Captain Slug is the beast you need—leash sold separately!

Well known for being one of the most powerful Nerf blasters, the Caliburn is a high-quality 3D-printed blaster that can be effortlessly ordered and customized with various color combinations, barrel lengths, and spring strengths.

The performance of the Caliburn depends on the components chosen and the type of darts used. With maxed-out components, it can reach dart velocities of 250 – 300 feet per second—which is nearly four times faster than the average dart blaster.

The Caliburn doesn’t come with magazines or darts but is compatible with various products (such as Nerf N-Strike magazines and darts)—which adds another level of customization to your blaster.

I recommend using Worker half-length dart magazines and Worker Gen3+ Darts for the best performance.

If you’d like to learn more about the Caliburn, customization options, preferred ammo, and magazines, check out our 3D-printed Nerf buyer’s guide.

Overall, the Caliburn is over-the-top madness. But if you’re an over-the-top individual who settles for nothing but the most extreme… well, the Caliburn v4 will certainly not disappoint.

Named after the Greek Titan of destruction and peace, the Nerf Rival Perses MXIX-5000 is an SMG-style blaster that hits like a whip–like a tiny kitten with big claws and a bad attitude.

This compact, lightweight blaster is powered by an included rechargeable NiMH battery (yay, no more battery buying woes!) and has a unique inline hopper that can hold up to 50 High-Impact Rival Rounds.

Reloading is a breeze. Just open the massive hopper window and dump handfuls of balls in. But be careful not to tip the blaster to the side, or you may end up with a floor full of Rival rounds.

The Perses fire rate is its most impressive feature – it can shoot eight rounds per second! But beware of a happy trigger finger cause it’s easy to empty a full hopper in about 6 seconds with a rapid-fire blitz. Rounds can also reach up to 100fps and have an average range of 100 feet.

You can choose between Team Red or Team Blue color schemes and gear up with two sling mounts and a short Rival tactical rail. Plus, lefties rejoice—the Perses is fully ambidextrous!

Overall, if you’re looking for a lightweight SMG-style blaster that will unleash dozens of foam balls at your enemy before they can even blink, the Nerf Rival Perses MXIX-5000 is for you!

Named after “Cronos,” the first greek Titan and father of the mighty Zeus, the Nerf Rival Kronos XVIII-500 will be sure to evoke a deep primordial fear in your enemies.

This spring-powered blaster can hold five Rival Rounds (small foam balls) in its internal magazine and is easy to prime using a hand slide on top.

It has a firing velocity of 90 feet per second and an average range of about 83 feet. Because it is hand-primed fire rate depends on the user, but it’s easy enough to fire all five rounds within four seconds. You can also upgrade the Kronos with a Worker 14KG Spring to significantly improve its performance.

You can find the Kronos in a large variety of color schemes, including

• Team Red
• Team Blue
• Phantom Corps White

The has three small tactical rails (one under the muzzle and two on top) and is ambidextrous with the exception of the safety lock only being assessable to right-handed users.

Overall, the Kronos is the perfect Nerf pistol. It’s cheap, accurate, hits hard, and, best of all, a blast to use.

• Read our full review: Nerf Rival Kronos Review (Bought & Tested)

Get ready to unleash your inner sharpshooter with Nerf Ulta Pharaoh.

With its sleek design—including a fixed scope, bolt-action priming handle, and muzzle brake—the Pharaoh is easily the best Nerf Sniper of 2024.

The Pharaoh has a large 10-dart magazine and only shoots Nerf Ultra darts. This blaster isn’t compatible with standard darts like Nerf Elite darts.

This powerful beauty is one of the only dart-shooting snipers with a dart velocity of over 100 FPS and a range of about 120 feet.

The bolt action is smooth as butter, and the clip-release trigger makes reloading a breeze. It also has one tactical rail on the bottom of the barrel that works with any N-strike attachments.

Overall, the Nerf Ultra Pharaoh Blaster is the ultimate choice for those looking for a powerful and realistic sniper experience. With its fast shooting speed, bolt-action firing system, and large Ultra darts, this nerf gun is sure to impress.

If you can’t hit the backside of a barn and need something more “point and shoot,” the Rival Atlas is the best and most intimidating shotgun foam blaster.

The Atlas shoots two High-Impact Rival rounds at once, meaning double the fun and double the damage! And with a massive magazine holding 12 rounds, you’ll have six shots to unleash in rapid succession.

It delivers a formidable force, shooting both rounds at an impressive 90 feet per second and with a maximum range of 90 feet. And the pump action? Smooth, satisfying, and totally epic. Every pump will make you feel like you’re gearing up for an epic showdown.

You can find this blaster in both Team Red and Team Blue color schemes, and it includes a single Rival tactical rail on top for attachments.

Overall, the Rival Atlas Shotgun is for double the excitement and is perfect for those who hate aiming. But let’s be real, aiming can be exhausting.

Ready, aim, SPLAT! In the booming market of gel blasters, the fully automatic SplatRball SRB1200 stands like a mountain among the competition.

With a whoppin’ 1,200 gel bead capacity in its drum magazine and battery-agitated feeding, you’ll never run out of ammo in the heat of battle.

Loading this bad boy is also a breeze It has a little window on the side of the drum and comes with a small collapsible funnel to help quickly load more beads.

Performance-wise, the SRB1200 is a powerhouse, firing 11 rounds per second at lightning speeds of 210 feet per second. Plus, with a rechargeable battery that lasts for 5000 rounds, you’ll be the last one standing on the battlefield.

Futuristic aesthetics are the cherry on top, with illuminated blue LED strips on both sides of the blaster. It even comes with two stock attachments, safety glasses, and a hefty supply of 6000 rounds of ammo.

Overall, the SplatRball SRB1200 is a true work of art and clearly built with passion. It’s a solid blaster with little to no quirks, top-notch performance, and sleek design. If you’re looking to dive into the world of gel blasters, I can’t recommend SplatRball SRB1200 enough.

Need a tiny but effective dart blaster for close and personal sneak attacks? The Nerf Jolt is the blaster your opponents will never see coming. This pocket rocket packs a punch, and your foes won’t know what hit ’em.

The Jolt has a simple design and is even more simple to use. With a pull of the handle on the bottom of the grip, you’re good to go! The Jolt comes with two Elite darts, but it’s always best to make your shots count, as you can only fire one dart at a time.

Don’t let its small size fool you; this little guy can shoot darts at 50 fps and can reach ranges up to 55 feet. While not a powerhouse, for the size and purpose, it’s still quite impressive.

It can also be found in a variety of color schemes, including orange and elite blue.

Overall the Nerf Jolt is cheap at dirt and even topped our list of the best Nerf guns under $5. It’s perfect for a sneaky attack or for a surprise shot in the clutch.

• Read our full review: Nerf N-Strike Jolt Review (Bought & Tested)

The Xshot Excel Crusher is one of the most exciting, entertaining, and cheapest off-brand foam blasters on the market today. From its cool and unique minigun design to its powerful shooting performance. This war machine is a blast!

One of the standout features of the Xshot Excel Crusher is its awesome ammo system. It uses a long 35-dart belt that can be extended by buying some additional belts. The belts are easy to connect with a little pin pop-out system. Imagine having ten belts and rocketing over 350 darts without ever having to reload!

You can also slamfire this beast by holding the trigger and priming it fast or shoot one at a time for a bit better accuracy. 

Where the Xshot brand shines is that their blasters come with a ton of extra darts! 48 darts are included with the Crusher, so there are plenty of extras. You can even use good old Nerf elite darts, as this baby is fully compatible.

The Crusher’s performance rises above Nerf brand guns that cost much more. It can fire up to three darts per second, making it ideal for taking out multiple targets at once. With an average dart speed of 80 fps, you can easily reach ranges of up to 90 feet.

All the darts launch from one big barrel in the center. However, the outer portion, featuring multiple realistic-looking barrels, spins when you fire.

Overall, the Xshot Excel Crusher is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for a high-performance, off-brand foam blaster. It has a stylish design, comes at a fair price, and is our choice for the best Nerf Minigun!