Best Nerf Assault Rifles – Top 5 Worth Buying

If you’re serious about Nerf, you already know that you will need an assault rifle in your collection in order to play serious Nerf games.

They’re generally lightweight, reliable, and are able to shoot bullets at a very rapid speed.

Before you purchase your first assault rifle, however, take a look at our buyer’s guide and some of our suggestions to get an idea of what you should be looking for.

Here are the five I will cover in this article: 

1.  Nerf Modulus Regulator Blaster (Top Pick)

2. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster (Best Value)

3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster (Great Range)

4. Nerf Rival Khaos MXVI-4000 Blaster (Most Powerful)

5. Nerf Doomlands Impact Zone Desolator Blaster (Easiest to Use)

Best Nerf Assault Rifles - Top Picks

Our Top Pick
Nerf Modulus Regulator Fully Motorized Blaster
9.7
  • Nerf modulus regulator blaster with switchfire technology for 3 firing modes: single-fire 1 dart per
  • Fully motorized nerf blaster, 2 clips and 24 darts: this nerf automatic blaster includes 2x 12-dart
  • Includes nerf accessories: includes 2 attachable barrel-scopes that can be used as extension barrels
  • Storage stock: with 2 clips included, you can load 1 clip into the dart blaster and store the second
  • Fun kids outdoor toys: nerf toys for boys and girls can be used for indoor or outdoor games for kids
  • Great gifts for boys and girls: electric nerf blasters are awesome toys for kids and teens to enjoy
Best Value
NERF N-Strike Hyper Fire Blaster
9.5
  • Take aim with the HyperFire blaster and challenge opponents with ultimate speed!
  • It is the fastest motorized Nerf dart blaster unleashing 5 darts per second to rain down a deluge of darts onto targets! With its 25-dart drum, this Nerf N-Strike Elite blaster brings impressive firepower to the battle.
  • It fires darts up 90 feet (27 meters).
  • Press the acceleration button pull the trigger and let the rapid-fire action begin!
  • Comes with 25 Elite darts. 
Easiest to Use
NERF Desolator Doomlands Blaster
9.1
  • Motorized blasting: make an impact with the nerf doomlands desolator toy blaster as you shoot 10 darts
  • Fire 10 darts in a row: the desolator nerf blaster comes with a 10-dart clip so you can fire 10 dart
  • Includes 10 nerf darts: includes 10 official nerf doomlands elite darts that are tested and approved
  • See inside the blaster: look through the clear area on this doomlands nerf blaster to see the inner
  • Power up and pull the trigger: power up the motor with the acceleration button and pull the trigger

Best Nerf Assault Rifle Buyer’s Guide

Best Nerf Assault Rifle

Think about the following factors when shopping for your assault rifle:

1. Speed

Speed is both a good thing and a bad thing to have during a Nerf battle. For example, let’s imagine that you have run into an enemy.

The person who is quicker to shoot their bullets is going to be the winner, and an assault rifle will help you be the one to achieve this.

On the other hand, let’s imagine that you are trying to shoot a target on the other end of the field.

Unfortunately, your rapid fire gun has just run out of ammo after a particularly harrowing encounter. 

If your gun is difficult to reload, you are in a position where you can easily be attacked and you will not be able to defend yourself unless you have another weapon at the ready.

Search for an assault rifle that has either a large ammo capacity and a rapid fire rate or a smaller ammo capacity and a rapid fire rate that can be controlled.

This will prevent you from wasting ammo that you don’t have or spending all of your time reloading rather than playing.

2. Range

If your assault rifle can rapidly launch bullets but can only do so at a range of about 5 feet, it’s of no use to you.

Make sure that your assault rifle meets the minimum range of at least 75 feet or more. This will help you attack opponents both near and far in almost any environment.

Even if you suspect that you won’t need to use your gun for long-range attacks, it’s still recommended that you purchase a blaster that is supposed to reach long distances.

Some blasters do not ever reach their maximum length. However, the power needed to launch a dart that distance will still be there and you will need it in the event that the range isn’t met.

3. Weight

Some assault rifles are monstrous due to the number of features on the gun and the type of batteries they require in order to operate them.

If you can handle heavier guns without getting tired during a game, you can skip this section.

If you can’t handle weight as much, make sure that you purchase an assault rifle that you will be able to carry for long periods of time without getting tired.

Some guns will even offer shoulder supports, straps, and handles to help you better support the weight of the gun.

Look for these features if you insist on getting a heavier assault rifle.

4. Ammo Capacity

As mentioned above, ammo capacity is an extremely important feature in an assault rifle.

Rapid fire weapons are not very helpful if you can only hold six bullets at a time and need to reload your weapon by hand once you’ve run out of bullets.

Seek out an assault rifle that either has a large drum or comes with its own ammo clip.

While ammo clips do have limits, they can be prepared prior to battling and are quicker to reload.

A large ammo drum is also useful because it will provide you with the ammo capacity you need and can usually be reloaded by hand quickly.

I know of no semi-automatic gun that requires you to manually reload your bullets into a barrel, so finding an assault rifle that can do the above shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

5. Accessorizing

Accessories could make or break your chances of winning a Nerf battle.

If the only things you have for your gun are the accessories that it came with, which probably was next to nothing, you are going to have a difficult time doing simple things such as aiming and reloading.

Look for a gun that is compatible with most of the Nerf accessories on the market as well as third-party accessories.

Having scopes, extra ammo clips, and storage stocks can be a great deal of help to you in the midst of a battle.

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Our Top Pick
Nerf Modulus Regulator Fully Motorized Blaster
9.7
  • Nerf modulus regulator blaster with switchfire technology for 3 firing modes: single-fire 1 dart per
  • Fully motorized nerf blaster, 2 clips and 24 darts: this nerf automatic blaster includes 2x 12-dart
  • Includes nerf accessories: includes 2 attachable barrel-scopes that can be used as extension barrels
  • Storage stock: with 2 clips included, you can load 1 clip into the dart blaster and store the second
  • Fun kids outdoor toys: nerf toys for boys and girls can be used for indoor or outdoor games for kids
  • Great gifts for boys and girls: electric nerf blasters are awesome toys for kids and teens to enjoy
Best Value
NERF N-Strike Hyper Fire Blaster
9.5
  • Take aim with the HyperFire blaster and challenge opponents with ultimate speed!
  • It is the fastest motorized Nerf dart blaster unleashing 5 darts per second to rain down a deluge of darts onto targets! With its 25-dart drum, this Nerf N-Strike Elite blaster brings impressive firepower to the battle.
  • It fires darts up 90 feet (27 meters).
  • Press the acceleration button pull the trigger and let the rapid-fire action begin!
  • Comes with 25 Elite darts. 
Easiest to Use
NERF Desolator Doomlands Blaster
9.1
  • Motorized blasting: make an impact with the nerf doomlands desolator toy blaster as you shoot 10 darts
  • Fire 10 darts in a row: the desolator nerf blaster comes with a 10-dart clip so you can fire 10 dart
  • Includes 10 nerf darts: includes 10 official nerf doomlands elite darts that are tested and approved
  • See inside the blaster: look through the clear area on this doomlands nerf blaster to see the inner
  • Power up and pull the trigger: power up the motor with the acceleration button and pull the trigger

The Top 5 Best Nerf Assault Rifles

Best Nerf Assault Rifles

The Nerf Modulus Regulator Blaster is one of the most unique assault rifles that Nerf has to offer.

This blaster allows you to choose between three different firing methods.

The first firing method gives you the option to fire single shots rather than rapid firing your bullets. The second option is called burst-fire and allows you to shoot several bullets at once.

The final option is called continuous-fire and allows you to rapid fire all of your bullets at once.

Along with this feature, the blaster comes with a variety of accessories including two detachable scopes, a storage stock, a swivel handle to help you grip the gun, and two dart clips that can hold up to 12 darts each.

This gun is a little more expensive than others at around $60.

There are very few reported problems with this gun. However, one thing that should be mentioned is that it does take four C batteries in order to operate.

This could become expensive down the road if you frequently use your Nerf guns. If you don’t mind the batteries, though, then this is a great gun for you.

Sale
Nerf Modulus Regulator Fully Motorized Blaster, 3 Firing Modes, 2X 12-Dart Clips, 24 Nerf Elite Darts, Nerf Full Auto Blaster, Kids Outdoor Toys (Amazon Exclusive)
  • NERF MODULUS REGULATOR BLASTER WITH SWITCHFIRE TECHNOLOGY FOR 3 FIRING MODES: Single-fire 1 dart per trigger pull, burst-fire several darts per trigger pull, or continuous-fire all the darts
  • FULLY MOTORIZED NERF BLASTER, 2 CLIPS AND 24 DARTS: This Nerf automatic blaster includes 2x 12-dart clips and 24 Nerf Elite foam darts. Requires 4x 1.5v C alkaline batteries (not included)
  • INCLUDES NERF ACCESSORIES: Includes 2 attachable barrel-scopes that can be used as extension barrels or targeting scopes, and an attachable swivel handle to stabilize your aim
  • STORAGE STOCK: With 2 clips included, you can load 1 clip into the dart blaster and store the second clip in the stock to keep it nearby for reloads. The swivel handle also stores in the stock
  • FUN KIDS OUTDOOR TOYS: Nerf toys for boys and girls can be used for indoor or outdoor games for kids!

Things We Like:

  • Three Different Blasting Options

  • Comes With Two Scopes

  • Comes With Swivel Handle to Help You Grip the Gun

  • Comes With Storage Stock for Additional Ammo Storage

  • Uses Dart Clips for Easier Reloading

  • Good Ammo Capacity

  • Can Be Modified to Hold More Ammunition

  • Has Blinking Light that Lets You Know When You Are Out of Ammo

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


Best Nerf Assault Rifles

The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster is a great option for those who want an assault rifle that is uncomplicated and easy to use.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster uses a bullet drum that can hold up to 25 foam darts that can be launched up to 90 feet, and is able to fire darts at a rate of five darts per second when the gun is running on fresh batteries.

This model can be found online for around $35.

This gun has two obvious downsides. The first is that it requires four D batteries to operate and it drains them fairly fast, which means you will have to be investing more money in the gun down the road.

The second downside is that the gun shoots bullets quickly and will empty the drum within seconds.

You may have to invest in additional drums if you intend to use this gun as your main blaster for Nerf wars.

However, this gun doesn’t have any apparent design flaws and is a good assault rifle for both experienced and inexperienced Nerf players.

NERF N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster - Amazon Exclusive
  • Fires up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries
  • 25-dart drum
  • Fires darts up to 90 feet (27 meters) and comes with 25 Elite darts
  • English (Publication Language)

Things We Like:

  • Good Ammo Capacity

  • Long Range Works Well for Indoor and Outdoor Use

  • Affordable Price

  • Fast Launching Capabilities

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


Best Nerf Assault Rifles

For those of you who need a lighter assault rifle than the ones previously mentioned on this list, you should consider purchasing the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster comes with a clear ammo clip that can hold up to 18 foam darts, is capable of shooting darts up to 75 feet, and has a collapsable stock that can increase or decrease the length of the gun.

This one is on the higher end of the price spectrum and can be found for about $65.

Jamming has been known to occur with this blaster, especially if you try to shoot it without first holding down the acceleration trigger.

This model also needs four C batteries to function.

However, if you are careful with the gun and you don’t mind buying batteries, this gun is definitely one that you will want to think about buying.

Sale
Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster (Colors may vary)
  • High quality toys for children all ages
  • Made using safe materials
  • Tested for quality and durability
  • The Rapidstrike CS-18 blaster holds 18 Elite Darts
  • Acceleration Trigger powers up the motor for rapid firing

Things We Like:

  • Clear Ammo Clip Lets You Know When You Are Running Out of Ammo

  • Long Range Works Well for Indoor and Outdoor Use

  • Collapsable Stock Helps Increase or Decrease Length

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Requires Batteries to Operate

  • Jamming Has Been Known to Occur

  • Somewhat Expensive


The Nerf Rival Khaos MXVI-4000 Blaster is for those who are serious about Nerf gaming and who do not mind a major change in ammunition.

This assault rifle uses high-impact foam ball rounds rather than foam bullets, has a magazine that is capable of holding up to 40 of these foam ball rounds, and is capable of firing these rounds at a speed of 100 feet per second.

You can find this model online for around $56, which is a pretty decent price considering the gun’s quality.

This gun performs well and = does not appear to have any issues with functionality.

However, due to its size, speed, and its need for six D batteries, this is not a gun that is recommended for children; however, if you are considering purchasing it for an adult who is serious about Nerf battles and performance, this is the gun you should buy.

Nerf Rival Khaos MXVI-4000 Blaster Toy, Blue
  • N-Strike Elite blasters and Elite darts deliver the ultimate in blaster performance
  • Mega Series blasters feature Mega Whistler Darts that scream through the air
  • Defend against a zombie invasion with Zombie Strike blasters
  • Ignite the night with Fire Vision sports gear that glows when thrown
  • Raise your game with the Pro-Grip Football and Nerfoop basketball set

Things We Like:

  • Speed in Both Launching and Distance

  • Good Ammo Capacity

  • Magazine Holds More Ammo Due to Ammo Type Change

  • Great Price for Gun

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Requires Batteries to Operate

  • Rather Heavy and Large, Which Can Make It Difficult to Carry Around During Nerf Battles


Best Nerf Assault Rifles

The Nerf Doomlands Impact Zone Desolator Blaster is great for those who want a simple assault rifle that requires little extra work to operate it.

The Nerf Doomlands Impact Zone Desolator Blaster has a cool arctic design, comes with its own custom darts that match the gun’s exterior design, and has a transparent ammo clip that shows you when you have run out of ammo.

You will be able to find this blaster for about $30 online.

There is virtually nothing wrong with this gun. The only problem that one could think of would be the fact that it takes four AA batteries, which can be seen as an improvement compared to some of the other guns on this list.

If you just want an assault rifle that works well, choose the Nerf Doomlands Impact Zone Desolator Blaster.

NERF Desolator Doomlands Toy Blaster with 10-Dart Clip and 10 Official Doomlands Elite Darts for Kids, Teens, and Adults, Multicolor
  • MOTORIZED BLASTING: Make an impact with the Nerf Doomlands Desolator toy blaster as you shoot 10 darts rapidly with motorized blasting
  • FIRE 10 DARTS IN A ROW: The Desolator Nerf blaster comes with a 10-dart clip so you can fire 10 darts in a row before it’s time to reload, and it has 2 tactical rails for accessories (not included)
  • INCLUDES 10 NERF DARTS: Includes 10 Official Nerf Doomlands Elite darts that are tested and approved for performance and quality and constructed of foam with flexible, hollow tips
  • SEE INSIDE THE BLASTER: Look through the clear area on this Doomlands Nerf blaster to see the inner mechanism and watch it in action when you fire the blaster
  • POWER UP AND PULL THE TRIGGER: Power up the motor with the acceleration button and pull the trigger to fire each dart from the Doomlands Nerf Desolator blaster

Things We Like:

  • Easy to Operate
  • Transparent Ammo Clip Allows You to See When You Need More Ammo
  • Affordable Price
  • Cool Design
  • Custom Darts

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

Out of these five blasters, we highly recommend that you purchase the Nerf Rival Khaos MXVI-4000 Blaster. Despite its price, it is a very high-quality gun that will be helpful to you in almost any setting and will last a while with its magazines.

If you need a more budget-friendly option, you should purchase the Nerf Doomlands Impact Zone Desolator Blaster instead.

Jeremy A
Dart Dudes

About the Author

Jeremy is the founder of Dart Dudes, the leading resource for parents looking to pick up a Nerf toy for a child. He grew up with his four brothers and two sisters where there was always a Nerf war taking place.

With a focus on safety, Jeremy has helped thousands of parents help chose the right Nerf toy for their kids or grandkids. He lives in California with his wife and family. Learn more about me. - You can email me jeremy@dartdudes.com