By: Jeremy Alden
Nerf Rival blasters offer some of the most powerful entries in the Nerf universe. However, even in lines like these, many newcomers are going to be looking for weapons that offer them the ability to try this new weaponry out for themselves before they dive deeper into the series.
In this regard, the Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 is an excellent weapon for beginners who want to see the performance of Nerf Rival weapons for themselves. But what exactly does the Apollo have to offer, and is it the right weapon for you?
If the Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 has come into your crosshairs, let’s take a closer look at this weapon before you pull the trigger and buy it!
Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 Blaster Review
- Spring-action blaster comes with 7 high-impact rounds
- Easy-load magazine holds 7 rounds
- Choose red or blue blaster to battle as red team or blue team
- Blaster has a trigger lock and tactical rail
- Includes blaster, 7 rounds, magazine, and instructions
- Nerf Rival blasters feature superior accuracy and unleash high-impact rounds at a velocity of 100 fps (30 mps).
- Whether the competition is a 1-on-1 battle or a squad-sized skirmish
- Nerf Rival blasters bring exciting intensity to the action.
- Choose which side to battle on by gearing up with either the Red or Blue version of the Apollo XV-700 blaster (each sold separately).
Style and Design
It’s important to remember that in the Nerf Rival series, the color of your blaster determines which team you find yourself on.
Therefore, you’re going to find the Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 offers blasters in two different colors: blue and red. (This is something that remains constant across the series, unless you are looking into a specialty blaster or a blaster within the Nerf Rival Phantom Corps lineup.)
Both options provide you with a sleek yet gritty blaster that is compact enough to carry around your chosen combat environment yet large enough to still be intimidating to your enemies. To get a good idea of the size of this blaster, think of a similar product like the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster.
The Apollo has a smaller frame but an extended back, so it will be similar to holding another handheld blaster (which should give you a better overview of operability if size is a concern).
Overall, the Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 is a good-looking weapon for those who need an introduction to the series.
Ammo Capacity
The Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 offers a tame ammo capacity in comparison to some of the other blasters in this line, providing users with seven high-impact foam rounds per clip.
As we stated above, this would be an excellent side weapon or basic weapon for some users. However, ammo capacity can be a concern, so this is something to keep in mind if you’d rather use a blaster that has more ammo to offer.
A lot of Nerf enthusiasts like the Helios over the Apollo, so we whipped up a comparison article.
Firing Style and Range
While many Nerf Rival weapons utilize automatic or semi-automatic firing, the Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 actually uses a priming mechanism to prepare your foam rounds. This comes in the form of a small curved piece at the top.
All you have to do is pull this piece to prime your weapon to fire and shoot when you’re ready. As it is with the rest of the series, you can expect this weapon to perform to the series standard, which means that you can expect your high-impact foam rounds to fire at a velocity of 100 feet-per-second. The Nerf Rival range is 85-120 feet
Additional Features
The Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 offers a basic body and a simple experience. However, there are a few minor features that should be pointed out when discussing this blaster.
- Spring-action blaster comes with 7 high-impact rounds
- Easy-load magazine holds 7 rounds
- Choose red or blue blaster to battle as red team or blue team
- Blaster has a trigger lock and tactical rail
- Includes blaster, 7 rounds, magazine, and instructions
- Nerf Rival blasters feature superior accuracy and unleash high-impact rounds at a velocity of 100 fps (30 mps).
- Whether the competition is a 1-on-1 battle or a squad-sized skirmish
- Nerf Rival blasters bring exciting intensity to the action.
- Choose which side to battle on by gearing up with either the Red or Blue version of the Apollo XV-700 blaster (each sold separately).
The first feature is the trigger locks that are featured on the blaster. These are important for all Rival series blasters.
However, these are especially important for the Apollo given that you only have seven shots in your clip. These trigger locks prevent you from accidentally firing any precious round while you’re on the move.
The second feature that is important to highlight is the tactical rail. Although most Nerf users are accustomed to this being an extra space for scopes and other items, this rail is invaluable when it comes to extra storage for clips.
With another clip on your weapon, you can easily access your next clip when you find that you need to reload.
- You Might Like: Best Nerf Rival Ammo - (On the Cheap!)
What We Like
Basic Design: While new features can be exciting, they can also be overwhelming if they are too tightly packed onto the same body. The Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 offers a basic body and a straightforward experience for those who want a no-fuss blasting experience.
Great Speed and Range: One of the most notable advantages of the Nerf Rival series is the fact that the high-impact foam ammo flies farther and faster than traditional Nerf darts. Even with a smaller blaster like the Apollo, this rule still applies!
Features Designed to Preserve Ammo and Improve Reloading Time: When it comes to weapons that have lower ammo capacities (and those that rely on clip systems to reload your weapon), having a blaster that makes it easy to reload and prevents you from wasting ammo is key to a great experience. Fortunately, with the trigger lock and tactical rail on this blaster, Nerf has built the Rival Apollo to serve the user as best as possible
What We Don’t Like
No Team Flexibility: This isn’t so much a problem with the blaster as the Nerf Rival series was designed to be separate into teams.
That said, with products like Nerf Rival Phantom Corps blasters on the market that can help users switch teams when they want to, it’s hard to purchase a blaster that will automatically place you on one team before you know who you’re playing with.
This is just something to keep in mind when you are looking into purchasing this blaster or any other blaster in the series that only offers two types of Nerf blaster colors.
Nerf Rival Apollo XV-700 Blaster Review: Our Verdict
So, where does the Nerf Apollo XV-700 stand? Although this blaster may not be as focused on performance or power as some of the other Nerf Rival series blasters, this may be the perfect option for those who want to dip their toes into the series and see what it has to offer.
- Spring-action blaster comes with 7 high-impact rounds
- Easy-load magazine holds 7 rounds
- Choose red or blue blaster to battle as red team or blue team
- Blaster has a trigger lock and tactical rail
- Includes blaster, 7 rounds, magazine, and instructions
- Nerf Rival blasters feature superior accuracy and unleash high-impact rounds at a velocity of 100 fps (30 mps).
- Whether the competition is a 1-on-1 battle or a squad-sized skirmish
- Nerf Rival blasters bring exciting intensity to the action.
- Choose which side to battle on by gearing up with either the Red or Blue version of the Apollo XV-700 blaster (each sold separately).
With a sleek, easy-to-use body, features that are included to help you preserve your ammo and reload when you need to, and a reputation for having no problems in regards to functionality, the Nerf Apollo XV-700 is a blaster that we definitely recommend trying if you’re just approaching the series!
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
You may like my other Nerf Blaster Reviews
