My Nerf Doomlands Desolator Review

By: Jeremy Alden

There always seems to be at least one weapon that is a complete outlier in each Nerf series. While most blasters will feature similar elements, we can almost guarantee that one blaster deviates from the standard design and functionality formula that the other guns rely on. In the Nerf Doomlands 2169 series, the Nerf Doomlands Desolator is this blaster.

Because of this, however, the Desolator is arguably one of the more unique and desirable weapons in the Doomlands universe, boasting features that you aren’t going to be able to find on other weapons in this line.

Nerf Doomlands Desolator Review

If you’re looking for a Doomlands blaster that embodies the theme of the series while providing you with some of the traditional functionality that you would expect from other blasters, read more below to find out how the Nerf Doomlands Desolator measures up to other products!

Style and Design

As we stated above, you aren’t going to get what you would normally expect from the Doomlands series in the Desolator.

Leaving the completely orange design in the dust, the Desolator instead minimizes its orange color scheme to the front section of the blaster and makes the rest of the weapon snow-white with black elements scattered throughout.

Why?

Well, the Nerf Doomlands Desolator is supposed to be a part of the line that explores a winter wasteland that developed as a result of the asteroid impact that occurred in the storyline.

Although it is completely different from the rocky wasteland that we would expect to encounter with the other blasters in the line, we like the change and think that it is great that they expanded their line to envision other environments.

What we also like about the design of this weapon is that they still managed to incorporate transparency into the blaster. Instead of being near the trigger like it normally is, they decided to shift it towards the front, focusing on the clip system instead.

If you’re looking for a very unique Doomlands blaster that is sleek and light, you can’t do better than the Desolator.

Darts - Ammo Capacity

Many of the Doomlands blasters are manual, which can be great for control but not so great for reloading. Fortunately, the Nerf Doomlands 2169 Desolator comes with a clip system that is capable of holding up to 10 darts at a time.

While this is still a relatively low ammo capacity, we still love all blasters that feature a clip system as you can easily release your empty clip and reload a fresh clip in a matter of seconds.

Firing Style and Range

Being a motorized blaster, the Desolator is easy to use. Just hold down the acceleration trigger located directly under the firing trigger, then hold down the firing trigger to release your darts in the direction of your enemies.

This blaster doesn’t get the best range, so you can only expect your darts to fly approximately 50 feet.

If you’re looking for an automatic weapon that will allow you to effectively eliminate your opponents when you are getting close and personal, this is a great weapon to carry into battle.

If you are looking for something you can fire at far ranges, however, this may not be the best weapon for you.

Extra Features

This weapon doesn’t necessarily have extra features, but there are a few sections that we would like to single out and applaud on this weapon. The first set of features that we appreciate are the extra tactical rails that are featured on the body of the Desolator.

While this blaster could be considered far more effective than other Doomlands weapons, it is also far more plain. The tactical rails give users the opportunity to add accessories that will make the gun more efficient when it is used in battle.

The second feature that we like is the shoulder stock. Make no mistake, this gun looks small in pictures but it is rather large when you encounter it.

The shoulder stock helps you to steady your aim and fire more accurately at your enemies, which makes a massive distance when you increase the distance between you and your opponents.

Overall, while there are not a lot of extra features, these two additions are very important to this blaster’s functionality.

What We Like

• Motorized Blasting - We don’t believe that motorized blasters are necessarily any better than manual weapons, but they do make the act of firing and reloading far easier.
  
  
Being one of the few motorized blasters in the Nerf Doomlands series, we really like that Nerf decided to add this feature to the Desolator.


• Transparent Clip - There’s nothing worse than unleashing all of your darts upon your enemies, only to hear that dreadful click when you find yourself surrounded by enemies.
  
  Trying to keep track of your darts as you fire them is a difficult task, and it isn’t something that you should have to do when you are focused on survival.
  
  The good news is that the Desolator decided to use transparency on the clip rather than the trigger, which means that you can see how much ammo you have before you begin firing. Trust us, this feature will pay off when you begin using the weapon in battle.

• Fair Ammo Capacity - Of course, we love guns that have 25+ darts in their clip system as this gives you more firepower when you charge headfirst into war. Still, having 10 darts in your clip is a good number and the small clips make it easier to reload.
  
  
• Doesn’t Have a Reputation for Jamming - A lot of motorized Nerf guns tend to jam. After all, when you are quickly shooting darts out of a plastic weapon, something is bound to get tangled up.
  
  While this is still something that you may encounter while you are using the Nerf Desolator, the good news is that it doesn’t have the reputation for jamming that most other motorized blasters do.
  
  
• Fun New Design - There’s nothing like a blaster that completely reinvents itself. Although it does not have a wild design or a massive change in features, it is still a refreshing change and one that puts a unique spin on the story that surrounds the Nerf Doomlands 2169 series.
  
  If you want something that is one-of-a-kind, the Nerf Desolator is a great choice for this reason alone.

What We Don’t Like

• Lacks Range - The only complaint that we have with this blaster is the lack of range. Although 50 feet isn’t the worst range that you can get (and it is still usable for mid-range attacks), there are motorized blasters in the N-Strike Elite range that can reach distances of up to 90 feet.
  
  If you like this blaster for its look and feel, don’t let the range prevent you from making the purchase. If you are looking for a blaster that can shoot opponents from farther distances, however, this isn’t the best choice.

Nerf Doomlands Desolator Review: Our Verdict

We are a fan of the Doomlands series as a whole and that is no exception when it comes to the Nerf Doomlands 2169 Desolator blaster.

While this motorized weapon doesn’t come packed with the range that you would typically expect, it is highly efficient and manages to differentiate itself from its competition through useful features like transparent clips and a built-in shoulder stock.

If you want a fun blaster that gets the job done, the Desolator will certainly find a home in your arsenal.

Related Links & Other Doomland Reviews:

Nerf Doomlands 2169 Negotiator Blaster Review

My Nerf Doomlands the Judge Review

The 6 Best Nerf Doomlands Guns

Nerf Doomlands 2169 Lawbringer Blaster Review