Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars – Top 5 Worth Buying

Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

Nerf gun wars require careful planning and execution. If you bring the wrong gun to a match or if you don’t have enough ammo prepared for the battle, you will be toast.

Use the buyer’s guide and the top 5 suggestions below to help you find the best Nerf guns for your Nerf wars.

The five Nerf Blasters That I Review! 

1. Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster (Good Value Pick)

2. Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000 (Most Powerful)

3. Nerf Modulus Regulator (Top Pick)

4. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster (Cheapest Option)

5. Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster (Best Value)

If you are planning a Nerf War for your little one, here are the shirts I recommend

My Top Picks: Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars 

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
  • With SwitchFire Technology choose 1 of 3 firing modes; flip the switch to choose single fire to fire 1 dart per trigger pull; select burst fire to blast several darts per trigger pull; and switch to continuous fire to continuously fire the darts.
  • Load darts into both 12 dart clips insert 1 into the blaster and store the other 1 in the storage stock. Power up the motor by holding down the acceleration button and then let the darts fly! The indicator light blinks to let battlers know the clip is empty.
  • Customize the blaster with the swivel handle to stabilize shots and the 2 barrel scopes that can be used as barrel extensions or targeting scopes.
  • Expand the customizing options with Nerf Modulus accessories and upgrade kits (each sold separately). 
Cheapest Option
NERF N-Strike Hyper Fire Toy
9.5
  • The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster is the fastest-firing Nerf dart blaster.
  • This fully motorized blaster unleashes up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries, so kids can rain down a deluge of darts onto targets.
  • Press the acceleration button, pull the trigger, and let the rapid-fire action begin!
  • The drum holds up to 25 Elite darts, giving battlers plenty of firepower to stay in the game.
  • Take opponents by surprise with the dart-firing speed of the Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster!
  • Blast Elite darts up to 90 feet (27 meters) with the Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster. 
Best Value
Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster
9.1
  • 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
  • Quick reload clip holds 6 elite darts
  • Clip works with any clip system blaster, sold separately
  • Fires darts up to 75'
  • Darts work with any elite blaster and most original n-strike blasters; sold separately
  • Blaster comes with quick reload clip, 6 elite darts and instructions
Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars
Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster is a monstrous machine gun that was designed with one thing in mind: war.

This blaster can hold up to 144 darts on its body, uses a rotating ammo rack to switch through the 8 clips of ammo and launch them up to 75 feet at your opponent, and uses an acceleration trigger for semi-automatic firing. 

However, this gun is not without its faults. It is rather large and difficult to carry, which can be a problem if you find yourself in instant need of it during a Nerf war.

It requires four AA batteries that are drained quickly because of the blaster’s capabilities.

Also, most of the clips that you can attach to the gun and many of the bullets aren’t included with the gun. If you want these extra accessories you will have to purchase them on the side.

Overall, this gun may not be useful in the field, but for those looking for a powerful gun to bombard your enemies with, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster is as good as it comes.

-You might like to read: Best Batteries for Nerf Blasters

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:

  • Lots of Storage to Prevent From Constant Reloading
  • Rapid Fire Capabilities
  • Long Range for Indoor and Outdoor Use
  • Affordable Price for Blaster
  • Rotating Ammo Rack Eliminates Need to Manually Reload

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Not Known for Its Accuracy
  • Drains Batteries Quickly, Which Can Be Costly
  • Doesn’t Include All Accessories Needed for Gun
  • Somewhat Heavy and Difficult to Carry

Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

If you’re not too picky about what type of ammo you use in your Nerf wars, you should consider purchasing the Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000.

The Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000 is unique from other blasters because it uses high-impact, foam ball ammunition instead of the normal foam dart.

It can also shoot its rounds at an impressive 100 feet per second, which allows for more range and accuracy than other blasters. 

Along with these capabilities, this specific model has four rotating barrels that can hold up to 30 of the high-impact, foam ball rounds.

Unlike the previous blaster mentioned in this list, this blaster does not require batteries and instead uses pump action to launch its rounds.

There are very few downsides reported about this gun. Besides the occasional complaint of jamming, this gun works great and is a perfect gun to use in a Nerf war.

Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000 Red
  • High capacity blaster holds 30 high-impact rounds
  • Rotating barrel
  • Easy-load integrated magazine
  • Slam-fire action
  • Includes blaster, 30 rounds, and instructions

Things We Like:

  • Ball Ammunition Increases Performance, Range, and Power
  • Uses Rotating Barrels to Eliminate Need to Reload
  • Affordable Price
  • Great Ammo Capacity

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

If you’re looking for a gun that can rapidly fire at your enemies and make you look good doing it, look no further than the Nerf Modulus Regulator.

The cool thing about the Nerf Modulus Regulator is that it can fire in three different ways.

The first option is single-fire, the second is burst-fire, and the third option is continuous-fire. 

The gun also comes with two clips that can hold 12 darts each, two scopes for your gun, a storage stock, and a swivel handle to improve your accuracy. This blaster is slightly more expensive.

The only downside to this gun is that it needs four C batteries to operate, which can cost you quite a bit in the long run.

Otherwise, this is an awesome option for those who need a reliable gun for their Nerf wars.

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 Blaster Settings

  • Comes With Multiple Attachments and Accessories

  • Has Extra Storage Space in Back of Gun

  • Clips Hold Up to 12 Darts, Which Is Plenty During Battle

Things We Don’t Like As Much:


Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster is a great choice for those who want a portable machine gun.

This blaster has a dart drum that can hold up to 25 darts, can fire up to 5 darts per second when running on fresh power, and can fire darts up to 90 feet.

The only thing required on your part is to work the acceleration and the trigger. 

Like most Nerf machine guns, this one requires four D batteries to operate, which can be costly and will definitely weigh you down.

Some people have also stated that this gun can be a little awkward to hold, especially because of the weight, and that it has a tendency to jam if used incorrectly.

However, if you can overlook these issues, you have yourself a great gun for a Nerf gun war.

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:

  • Rapid Fire Capabilities
  • Good Ammo Capacity
  • Long Range Works for Both Indoor and Outdoor Use

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Can Be Awkward to Carry
  • Slightly Heavy Design
  • Requires Batteries to Operate
  • Known to Jam

Best Nerf Guns for Nerf Wars

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster, unlike the other guns on this list, is a handgun.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that it can’t perform well in a Nerf gun war.

This blaster uses an acceleration motor to help you quickly shoot darts at your opponent and uses ammo clips instead of requiring you to manually reload your gun.

Despite its small size, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster can shoot a bullet up to 90 feet. 

This gun does require batteries to operate. However, this blaster only needs four AA batteries, which is quite an improvement from some of the larger blasters mentioned above.

Another common issue is that the ammo clips can be somewhat loose, causing the gun to jam.

This problem can be fixed with some modifications and, if the ammo capacity isn’t enough, you can modify that as well.

Overall, for a handgun, this blaster has the right type of capabilities to make it great for a Nerf gun war.

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)

Things We Like:

  • Acceleration Trigger Launches Bullet Quickly
  • Gun Uses Ammo Clips Rather Than Requiring Hand Loading
  • Long Range Works for Indoor and Outdoor Use
  • Can Be Modified to Accept More Bullets

Things We Don’t Like As Much:

  • Has Tendency to Jam
  • Requires Batteries to Operate

Out of these five options, we recommend that you purchase the Nerf Modulus Regulator.

Although it is a little more expensive than some of the other options, it comes with quite a few accessories and operates the smoothest out of all of these launchers.

If you need a more affordable option, we suggest you purchase the Nerf Rival Artemis XVII-3000.

You will get the same kind of ammo capacity and power that you’d find in other guns with this blaster.

Nerf Gun Buyer’s Guide

When you are purchasing a Nerf gun with the intention of using it in a Nerf war, here are some qualities that you should be looking for in a blaster.

1. Size

When it comes to Nerf gun wars, size matters. If you are carrying around a blaster that is heavy and bulky, you are more likely to get tired and become an easy target for an opponent.

If you are carrying around one that is too small and lacks sufficient firepower, you are also likely to fall prey to an enemy when you are busy trying to reload your gun.

Try to search for a Nerf gun that fits in between these two extremes and use common sense.

If a gun seems to be too bulky or too tiny to use in a Nerf gun war, it most likely is.

2. Ammo Capacity

As stated in many other guides, the amount of ammo that your gun is capable of holding and launching is an important factor when it comes to battles.

You don’t want to be the person who gets shot because they were caught in the middle of a crossfire while they were trying to reload.

Although smaller guns do have their uses, try to search for a gun that can hold at least 10 rounds in its barrel.

These guns are typically easier to reload because they use ammo clips, which give you an advantage in battle if you already have ammo clips prepared on the side.

If you can find a gun that is easy to use and has a larger ammo capacity, that’s even better.

3. Ease of Use

Some guns have a reputation for jamming and others are just too difficult to operate in tense battle situations.

These are guns that should be avoided at all costs during a Nerf war as they may end up quitting on you or becoming a problem when you need them most.

Look for a gun that has a simple firing mechanism, doesn’t require you to purchase accessories to operate it, and is simple to reload so that you won’t have to waste time during battles.

However, do keep in mind that complicated weapons can have their advantages in battle.

4. Type of Ammunition

Know the primary type of ammunition that you will be using for Nerf wars before you purchase any Nerf blaster

If you and your friends primarily use darts to shoot each other, then almost any Nerf blaster will be okay to purchase.

However, if your friends prefer to use high-impact foam ball rounds, foam discs, or even mega darts, the selection of Nerf blasters that you have to choose from sill significantly decreased.

Keep this in mind when you are searching for Nerf guns and also keep in mind the price of the ammunition that you will be using. Some types of ammo are more expensive than others.

Also keep in mind that each type of ammunition has its advantages and disadvantages.

You can easily bring more power and change up the results of a Nerf war if you use special ammunition.

5. Range

Range is something that is often overlooked but is extremely important when it comes to performance.

Indoor wars, unless they are hosted in an airplane hangar, don’t usually require you to have guns with long ranges because they simply aren’t necessary.

Outdoor wars, on the other hand, will require you to have a Nerf gun that can shoot far distances.

Factors such as wind have a dramatic effect on Nerf gun performance in outdoor environments and you can end up losing the battle over something as simple as launching range.

If you expect to mostly have indoor Nerf gun wars, then you can overlook this section. If you expect to have a lot of outdoor Nerf gun wars, you should aim to purchase a gun that can shoot at least 75 feet.

Most Nerf guns currently on the market shoot well over this length so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem to find a gun that can achieve this.

6. Stealth

Being stealthy is not always an option, but it is something that you should take into consideration when you’re shopping for Nerf guns.

If possible, try to find a blaster that meets all of the above requirements but it also quiet enough for stealth attacks.

7. Customization

For those of you reading this, chances are that you love Nerf and you also love being able to customize your guns. If you can relate to any of the above, make sure that you do your research to find guns that can be customized with both accessories from Nerf and from other vendors.

Accessories such as ammo clips, sights, and handles can give you an advantage in a Nerf war.

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

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