5 Best Nerf N-Strike Elite Guns

The Nerf N-Strike Elite series is a series of blasters that provide increased range compared to the early N-Strike series by Nerf.

If you’re interested in purchasing a blaster from the N-Strike Elite series, use the buyer’s guide and suggestions below to help you find the best Nerf Elite gun for you.

Quick Look: The Best Nerf N-Strike Elite Guns

Our Top Pick
Nerf N-Strike Elite: Strongarm Blaster
9.7
  • Fires darts up to 75'
  • Pump the slam fire slide repeatedly while you hold down the trigger for rapid firing
  • Flip open the rotating barrel for easy loading
  • Elite darts work with any elite blaster and most n-strike blasters; sold separately
  • Includes blaster, 6 elite darts and instructions
Best for Nerf Wars
NERF N-Strike Hyper Fire Blaster
9
  • 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. 
Best Value
NERF N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster
9.1
  • Motorized Stryfe blaster's acceleration trigger powers up the motor for blasting
  • Quick reload clip holds 6 elite darts and works with any clip system blaster (sold separately)
  • One-handed blaster fires darts up to 90 feet

Below I will review the following 5: 

1. Nerf N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Blaster

2. Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster

3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster

4. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster

5. Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster


Best Nerf Elite Guns
Our Top Pick
Nerf N-Strike Elite: Strongarm Blaster
9.7
  • Fires darts up to 75'
  • Pump the slam fire slide repeatedly while you hold down the trigger for rapid firing
  • Flip open the rotating barrel for easy loading
  • Elite darts work with any elite blaster and most n-strike blasters; sold separately
  • Includes blaster, 6 elite darts and instructions
Best for Nerf Wars
NERF N-Strike Hyper Fire Blaster
9
  • 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. 
Best Value
NERF N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster
9.1
  • Motorized Stryfe blaster's acceleration trigger powers up the motor for blasting
  • Quick reload clip holds 6 elite darts and works with any clip system blaster (sold separately)
  • One-handed blaster fires darts up to 90 feet

1. Nerf N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Blaster

Best Nerf Elite Guns

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Blaster (read full review here) is the perfect Elite series blaster for both experience and beginner Nerf users.

This mini-blaster can hold up to three bullets in its triangular chamber, can launch your bullets up to 90 feet, uses a simple pulling mechanism at the bottom of the gun to prepare your bullets for firing.

It’s reported to be quite durable as well, which is a bonus if you plan on giving this gun to young children.

Because it is a rather small gun it is definitely not one that you should be using as your main weapon in a Nerf gun battle, but it comes in handy when you’ve run out of ammo and you need to be able to still attack your opponent.

Also, there seems to be no downsides to this gun despite its low cost and its smaller size.

Overall, this is a great gun to own if you are looking into the Nerf N-Strike Elite series.

You can check out the full review of the Nerf N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Blaster here

NERF N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Blaster
  • Micro Triad EX-3 blaster has mega power
  • Blaster knows which barrel is loaded
  • Fires darts up to 90 feet
  • Cocking handle readies your shot
  • Blaster comes with 3 Elite Darts and instructions

Things We Like:

  • Small Size Makes it Great for Stealth Attacks
  • Holds More Ammo Than Other Guns Its Size
  • Long Range Works for Indoor and Outdoor Battles
  • Easy Cocking Mechanism at Bottom of Gun
  • Durable Design
  • Affordable Price

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


Best Nerf Elite Guns

If you’re looking for a basic gun in the Nerf N-Strike Elite series that still holds a decent amount of ammo and is powerful, you should consider purchasing the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster features a rotating barrel that slides out for easier reloading and can hold a maximum of six bullets, a sliding cocking mechanism at the top that is easy to use and allows you to rapidly fire your weapon, and can fire your darts up to 75 feet. 

Some downsides of this gun include the reloading aspect of the gun and the possibility of occasional jamming.

While the reloading is relatively simple for a manual gun, it’s not very fast and can be difficult to do in the middle of a battle.

Still, this is a good gun to have on hand and is powerful enough to use as a primary weapon.

Nerf N-Strike Elite: Strongarm Blaster
  • Fires darts up to 75'
  • Pump the Slam Fire slide repeatedly while you hold down the trigger for rapid firing
  • Flip open the rotating barrel for easy loading
  • Elite darts work with any Elite blaster and most N-Strike blasters; sold separately
  • Includes blaster, 6 Elite darts and instructions

Things We Like:

  • Has a Rotating Barrel That Pulls Out for Quicker Reloading
  • Long Range Works Well for Indoor and Outdoor Battle
  • Holds a Decent Amount of Ammo
  • Affordable Price

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster

Best Nerf Elite Guns

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster is a good option for those who want a pistol-sized blaster with the capabilities of a machine gun.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster has a battery powered motor that enables semi-automatic firing, comes with an ammo clip that can hold up to six bullets, and can fire ammunition up to 90 feet. 

Some people say that the ammo clip is a little loose, so this gun does have a reputation for jamming.

Also, you would need to purchase four AA batteries in order to operate it. If you can overlook these things though, you can yourself a great handgun for war that can be modified for even more blasting.

Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster (Colors May Vary)
  • Motorized Stryfe blaster's Acceleration Trigger powers up the motor for blasting
  • Tactical Rail is compatible with most N-Strike accessories (each sold separately)
  • Quick Reload clip holds 6 Elite darts and works with any Clip System blaster (sold separately)
  • Darts work with any N-Strike Elite blaster and most original N-Strike blasters (sold separately)
  • Blaster comes with Quick Reload Clip, 6 Elite Darts and instructions

Things We Like:

  • Semi-Automatic Firing Needs Only One Hand to Operate
  • Comes With Its Own Ammo Clip
  • Can Be Modified With Larger Ammo Clips to Increase Ammo Capacity
  • Affordable Price for Good Gun
  • Long Range for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


4. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster

Best Nerf Elite Guns

Unlike the previous Nerf N-Strike Elite blasters on this list, this blaster is a huge upgrade.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster is a large, rapid fire blaster that is capable of holding up to 25 darts within its dart drum, can launch up to 5 darts per second when running on fresh power, and can fire the darts up to 90 feet. 

However, this gun has a few more problems than the past few guns. This blaster requires four D batteries to operate, which can be expensive over time and also weighs down the gun.

This gun has also been reported to be awkward to carry and sometimes jams.

However, many people have been satisfied with their purchase so if you want a powerful gun in the Elite series that works well in battle, you should take the plunge and purchase the Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster.

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:

  • Affordable Price
  • Large Ammo Capacity
  • Rapidly Launches Darts in a Matter of Seconds
  • Long Range Works Well for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Awkward to Carry
  • Can Be Heavy Because of Batteries
  • Requires Batteries to Operate

5. Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster

Best Nerf Elite Guns

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster is the goliath of the Nerf N-Strike Elite blaster series.

This blaster is capable of storing up to 144 darts in eight separate ammo clips on its body, uses motorized blasting to rapidly launch your bullets at your opponent, has a rotating ammo rack that helps switch between your ammo clips so you won’t have to manually place your clip into the gun to reload, and can fire ammo up to 75 feet. 

Despite these great capabilities, there are some downsides that you need to know before you purchase the gun. First of all, the gun does run on four AA batteries, which is actually quite small and won’t weigh down the blaster very much, but will still cost money.

The gun itself is rather large and can be difficult to carry around in battle. Also, this gun only comes with a portion of the accessories it needs.

You will need to purchase an additional 4 ammo clips and 120 bullets for this gun.

However, if you are looking for a powerful blaster that is capable of raining down an army of bullets on your enemies, this gun is the best that you are going to find in the Nerf N-Strike Elite blaster series.

Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster
  • Hail-Fire Blaster Holds Up To 144 Elite Darts
  • Blaster Can Hold Up To 8 Quick Reload Clips
  • Elite Darts Work with All N-Strike Elite Blasters and Most Original N-Strike Blasters
  • 24 Elite Darts

Things We Like:

  • Capable of Holding 144 Darts
  • Uses Motorized Blasting to Rapidly Fire Bullets
  • Long Range Works Well for Indoor and Outdoor Use
  • Rotating Ammo Rack Eliminates Need for Manual Reloading
  • Affordable Price for Semi-Automatic Blaster

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Heavy and Difficult to Carry
  • Requires Batteries to Operate
  • Doesn’t Come With All Accessories

Out of these five blasters, we recommend that you purchase the Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster. This blaster is easy to carry, semi-automatic, can be modified to carry even more bullets than it normally does, and will work great for any type of battle.

If this one is a little out of your price range, then you should think about purchasing the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster.

While this one isn’t semi-automatic and doesn’t use ammo clips, it is still a sturdy, reliable weapon for any Nerf gun battle.

Best Nerf N-Strike Elite Guns - Buyer’s Guide

Before you purchase a Nerf N-Strike Elite series blaster, take these things into consideration.

1. Electronic Vs Manual

There are pros and cons to using a Nerf blaster that requires batteries and the same goes for Nerf blasters that require manual operation.

For example, Nerf blasters that use batteries are generally able to carry a lot more bullets in their barrels or clips and are able to spit out bullets much quicker than old-fashioned guns.

However, these types of blasters also tend to use up batteries quickly and will cost you quite a bit of money if you use your Nerf blaster frequently.

On the other hand, Nerf blasters that have pump action or use another type of firing mechanism will let you fire without having to worry about running out of power.

However, these types of blasters aren’t as fast as battery-powered blasters, usually have a smaller ammo capacity, and seem to have more jamming problems.

Make sure that you do your research when comparing Nerf N-Strike Elite blasters that are electronic and manual.

2. Accessories

There are quite a few Nerf N-Strike Elite blasters that have additional accessories.

But, be careful; just because there are additional accessories for the gun doesn’t mean that there are additional accessories WITH the gun.

Some of the blasters from the Elite series come with all of the accessories needed, some only come with a portion of the accessories that can be attached to the gun, and other blasters have the accessories available listed but do not come with any of them.

Before you make any purchases, look into what comes with the blaster. If you don’t need accessories with you gun, this won’t be a problem.

If you do like accessories and you would prefer to save money, make sure that the blaster you purchase comes with the additional accessories that you can add to your gun.

3. Ease of Use

There are some very powerful Nerf N-Strike Elite Series blasters on the market that are tiny and battery-free.

The problem with these types of guns, however, is that they are rather difficult to use during a fight if they are your only type of weapon.

They typically only hold and fire a couple of bullets and even if they are capable of holding quite a few bullets, they are still time-consuming to reload if they don’t use ammo clips or drums.

This doesn’t mean that they aren’t as good as electronic guns, but it does mean that they may put you at a disadvantage during a Nerf gun battle.

Electronic blasters are often easier to use because they shoot faster, have larger ammo capacities, and come with clips that you can keep pre-loaded for easier access during Nerf battles.

Keep these things in mind when you are looking for the right blaster.

4. Size

Blasters in the Nerf N-Strike Elite Series range from pocket-sized guns to guns that require handles to operate properly.

As a general rule, try to make sure that you purchase a blaster that you can carry around for long periods of time.

Unless you need an oversized blaster for powerful assaults during a Nerf war, you will probably need a medium-sized machine gun at most.

5. Variations

This doesn’t apply to the Nerf N-Strike Elite Series as a whole, but rather, only a few of the blasters in the series.

Some of the guns that are available on the market in the Elite series are not the typical blasters that one thinks about when they think about Nerf.

Some of the blasters that are available are actually bows or crossbows.

I wouldn’t recommend trying different variations of blasters unless you already have blasters to fall back on.

Firing these guns can be quite confusing and so can the process of aiming them. If you are willing to try out a new blaster and you have other blasters at your disposal, then you should proceed with caution when purchasing these types of weapons.


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