Nerf Rebel Ops – Revealed New for 2026

Nerf Rebel Ops went live early this AM on Nerf’s social media! To recap –

Nerf Rebel Ops
DOOM CANNON
DeadEye
AmmoHawk


NERF REBEL OPS DEADEYE
(HASBRO | Ages 8 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $19.99 | Available July 2026 at most major retailers)
Download high-res render at the LINK HERE
Become the main character with NERF Rebel Ops blasters! Each blaster is designed for a different role in battle — choose the character with the ultimate abilities you want for dominating every battle and mission. The NERF Rebel Ops Deadeye blaster gives battlers the ultimate ability of selecting between 3 battle modes: Distance, Damage, and Defense. It’s versatile and modular, so you can adapt your strategy mid-battle. Create 3 different combinations with the 2 multi-use attachments included: a shieldstock that’s both a stabilizing buttstock and a dart deflector shield, and a scope-barrel that’s a visual scope and a barrel extension. The pump-action NERF Rebel Ops Deadeye blaster comes with 30 NERF Elite foam darts and has an 8-dart capacity cylinder. There’s 10-dart storage on the stock for rapid reloads. Eyewear recommended (not included). No batteries required.

NERF REBEL OPS AMMOHAWK
(HASBRO | Ages 8 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $9.99 | Available July 2026 at most major retailers)
Download high-res images at the LINK HERE
Become the main character with NERF Rebel Ops blasters! Each blaster is designed for a different role in battle. Choose the character with the ultimate abilities you want for dominating every battle and mission. The NERF Rebel Ops Ammohawk gives battlers the versatility they need to challenge opponents and go on the defensive. The 2 dartshields can attach multiple ways so you can use your overpowering tactics to crush the competition: Create a menacing profile to challenge opponents with an aggro attitude, or load out a defensive barrier to deflect incoming darts. Each dartshield stores 10 NERF Elite foam darts, allowing battlers to reload quickly. The blaster has front-loading 4-dart capacity and pull back priming. Eyewear recommended (not included). No batteries required.

NERF REBEL OPS DOOM CANNON
(HASBRO | Ages 8 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $44.99 | Available July 2026 at most major retailers)
Download high-res images at the LINK HERE
Become the main character with NERF Rebel Ops blasters! Each blaster is designed for a different role in battle. Choose the character with the ultimate abilities you want for dominating every battle and mission. The NERF Rebel Ops Doom Cannon smashes all battle boundaries with its massive dart capacity and intimidating size. Become the heavy hailfire hero with this blaster that holds a jaw-dropping 60 NERF Elite darts and unleashes them 3 at a time from reloadable supershells. Level up the dart barrage by unleashing all 12 darts fast with slam-fire action. The pump-action blaster includes 5 supershells that each hold 12 darts. Load one shell for firing, and store the other 4 shells on the blaster within easy reach for rapid reloads. Includes 60 Nerf Elite foam darts. Eyewear recommended (not included). No batteries required.

The Doom Cannon is a massive looking beast with shells and shotgun barreling, like a less circular Doomlands Judge. The DeadEye is your long blaster, and the “scope” can turn into a barrel attachment. The AmmoHawk has wing/fin like shield/ammo holder attachment that can give you added protection during blaster battles. Or put you in touch with your inner avian/dilophosaurus.

The most interesting bit isn’t the sheer amount of ammo the Doom Cannon can put out (60 darts total!) It’s that these new blasters are using streamlined ammo. The most recent Nerf release, the One Piece blaster, used streamlines and my understanding is that there were still some preexisting products that, once completed, Nerf would eventually move to N-Series and N1 darts completely. Last year that seemed to be how things went with the Loadout. Now, new line, same streamlines, it doesn’t seem like N-Series is in this year’s lineup or going forward. Hopefully, I’ll get some answers and as I’m here at Toy Fair of course I’ll mention it during my booth tour.

Of the line, this is reminiscent of older lines,  where there was a story and distinct role play available between each blaster. Zombie Strike had some of the best of both. Here, you have the ammo, the modular, and the heavy. There was always at least one blaster that didn’t seem to make sense price wise or tactics wise, but definitely got the attention of the public. The Rhino Fire, the TItan (with the drum, not the rocket launcher), even the Cam-ECS. Each really stood out, had articles in major outlets like Popular Mechanics,  and made for a good image.

Aside from the future of N-Series, there are some other questions – will shells for the Doom Cannon be sold separately? Will accessories for the DeadEye be compatible with older lines? (The N-Series could not use barrels for instance), and why not, can we get the ammo holders for the Ammohawk separately?

So with Nerf sticking with streamlines this year, is Rival still on the table? Conventional knowledge says no, as Rival may still be subject to regulations in other countries that don’t impact streamlines.

The show hasn’t even started! But, once I know anything solid, I’ll post it here and my socials.

New York Toy Fair Previews

(I’ll add more as I find them.)

CRUNCHLABS BY MARK ROBER – HOVER RING BLASTER: Get ready to have a blast with the Hover Ring Blaster. Load, pump and fire the planet’s most mesmerizing projectiles: CrunchLabs’ hover rings, which fly with accuracy and precision, floating through the air effortlessly and gliding with the power of aerodynamics. Working mechanics are on display through a translucent window so kids can see the science, with six hover rings stored on top of the blaster for easy access. Age: 8+; MSRP: $44.99

Moose Toys is going to be at New York Toy Fair, maybe this will be at the booth so I can try it out? Apparently this was at Spielwarenmesse too.

Certainly goes with the larger industry trend of licensed products, and the rings… I need to see more about the rings. Could be Nerf, could be more like that Buzz Bee ring shooter.

The visible internals, foregrip, and NASA style colors make this a very cool product in my book, regardless of the ammo.

Couples Ideas – Valentine’s Day Activities and Gifts!

Romance and dates in 2026 have changed, away from scripted dinner dates and more toward shared and emotionally charged experiences. Couples looking for something that stands out from the normal meet-cute random encounters seek to connect on a physical and emotional level. Remember in the movie, “Speed” where the main characters decide to start dating because of a shared high-tension situation? It’s like that, but without a literal explosive. By moving away from “conventional” dates, you can connect and create memories that are far more visceral through shared sensations and activities as a couple. More Batman and Catwoman, less Harry and Sally.

Target shooting and competitive Nerf/toy blaster battles can be a great ice breaker/date activity to keep things fun, loose, and a little bit safer than other activities. Check out my list of suggested items here –

https://amzn.to/3NdBnkU – Lots of fun to be had, and using my links earns me a commission.

Other Adventurous Date Ideas!

Ziplining

For those who want to literally soar through the air with their date, ziplining has become a premier choice for adventurous couples. It is the ultimate way to face a fear together, as the shared adrenaline rush creates a powerful bonding moment. Gliding over forest canopies or urban skylines provides a unique perspective and a heart-pounding experience that makes for an unforgettable story. You can certainly find one at your nearest Adventure Park.

Hiking

While it may seem simple, hiking remains a staple because of its versatility. Whether you are tackling a challenging vertical ascent or a leisurely woodland trail, being in nature allows for distraction-free conversation. In 2026, many couples are pairing their hikes with “nature journaling” or photography to turn a standard walk into a creative mission. Just remember to Leave No Trace.

Dance Class

If you prefer to move to a beat, a dance class is the perfect blend of physical activity and intimacy. Whether it is a high-energy salsa session or a more technical ballroom class, learning a new physical skill together requires teamwork and non-verbal communication. It is a playful way to “get out of your head” and into your body while enjoying the presence of your partner. If you’re there to vibe and move first, talk later, I suggest finding a silent rave. Sounds quirky!

Paintball

For couples who thrive on a bit of healthy competition, paintball offers a high-stakes, tactical environment. This activity emphasizes strategy and collaboration. Working as a team to navigate an obstacle course and “defeat” opponents (or even each other) is a great way to blow off steam and see a different, more strategic side of your partner’s personality. It’s considerably more expensive, messy, and painful than foam blasters, but the adrenaline release is definitely higher.

Find Me Somebody to Love…

If you made it this far, thanks! Make sure to check out the links below (I do earn a commission if you buy after clicking my links) and hope you find something fun to do and an interesting partner to do it with. Go get’em!

https://amzn.to/3NdBnkU

Deals and Savings Notes Now Live!

Amazon, Target, and Walmart Deals are now live on their respective pages!

There are some Nerf deals on the Nerf Elite Commander 2.0 (one of the better blasters that came out of that line) and other brands across Hasbro. Make sure to check them out and get started early on your holiday gift shopping. (I know, I know, we’re not even past Halloween. We’ll get there!)

WILDER® and HASBRO® Announce New Line of NERF TARGETS AND BATTLE ACCESSORIES Launching July 2025

Wilder®, a leader in innovative play experiences, and HASBRO, a leading games, IP and toy company, are excited to unveil their newest collaboration: NERF® Battle Play Experience Targets and Accessories Line, set to launch in July 2025. The innovative product line reimagines target play- through immersive gaming that combines real-world action with video game-inspired experiences. The line encourages players to use their favorite NERF blaster for single and multiplayer play, and offers themes including zombies, robots, and more.

Unlike traditional targets focused on linear play and scoring points, Wilder®’s new line introduces new dynamic and interactive target elements with:

● Surround-sound ambush scenarios, where enemies attack 360 degrees around the player.

● Zombie swarm attacks that require players to fend off hordes of zombies, but be sure to watch out for granny.

● Arcade-style modes, offering exciting multiplayer tag-team matches and real-time versus battles.

“We’ve had a blast – no pun intended – working with Wilder to take the NERF play experience to

exhilarating new heights with video game-inspired battle targets and accessories to complement

Hasbro’s NERF blasters. Innovation, fun and heart-pounding adrenaline are core aspects of NERF’s

DNA. Pair that with Wilder’s creativity and high energy play, and we have a recipe for success,” said

Bradley Bowman, Senior Director, Licensed Consumer Products, Global Toy of Hasbro.

The Collection

The collection will include the following items:

  1. 360 Battlezone – Immerse yourself in a game of reflex like nothing before. Stand in the center and fight off zombie, dinosaur and robot threats with target SFX sounds all around you. Use all your senses and decide to blast or not blast. Is that sound in the distance just a bird flapping its wings or is it a dinosaur coming to attack you? Stay on guard and hit the red light before the sound stops. Beware, multiple targets might attack and sound at the same time. (Launching July at Amazon, Macy’s and other retailers)
  2. STRIKE ‘N’ SCORE – Get ready for next-level ARCADE GAMING. Experience unique gameplay where you can challenge friends and compete live in head-to-head battles at the same time. Or, play solo and try to beat the timer and your high score! Hit the bullseye for extra time! With 4 exciting game modes there’s endless fun. (Launching July at Target, Amazon, Macy’s & other retailers)
  3. ZOMBIE SPIN STRIKE – Try and stop the endless swarm of zombies before they get to you! Each successful zombie hit splits the target on impact. But be careful, watch out and try not to hit granny! With 3 speed modes, this electronic target is sure not to disappoint. (Launching July at Target, Amazon, Macy’s & other retailers)
  4. BOT ARENA CLASH – Get ready for action! Take down evil robots and drones, rack up points, and race against the clock. Aim carefully – will you hit a Robot or a Drone for extra points? With four interactive game modes, including voice-commanded actions and multiplayer versus battles, the excitement never stops! (Launching July at Amazon, Macy’s and other retailers)

Toy Fair 2025 Preview

New York Toy Fair 2025 is this week! I’m traveling to New York with a schedule full of appointments, ready to see what toy companies are lining up for 2025 and maybe a little bit of beyond. This is a pretty big show, and I’ve been attending since 2011. It’s at this event that I get to speak in person with teams at Hasbro, Dart Zone, and Zing about what to expect for 2025. We see a lot of new product, some product that never gets to store shelves, and rub shoulders with buyers from toy stores and other sectors across the toy industry.

Some interesting notes for New York Toy Fair 2025:


Exhibitors not at this show (according to the Toy Fair website)  

  • XShot
  • NSI
  • MGA Entertainment (there were rumors about them debuting a blaster line themselves)
  • Buzz Bee Toys 

Who WILL be in attendance – 

  • Hasbro
  • Dart Zone
  • Zing Toys

PREDICTIONS:

Hasbro already sent out their preview email, so some stuff to expect would be more Minecraft (some new products are already out on shelves), Super Soakers (because this time of year is usually when water blasters get pushed), and tons more licensed/apparel/lifestyle items. With Hasbro’s new “playing to win” strategy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some midrange/mid cost blasters at this point of the year, and a focus more on sports equipment and other Nerf products licensed out to Franklin Sports and other more general play segments. The visit to Rhode Island last year showed that the blaster space has a lot of rules and regulations in different countries, so why not pivot to more general items that are easier to sell in more countries? Nerf was a ball before a blaster, after all. I have some thoughts on the new strategy, and I’ll go over that on my YouTube.

Nerf Predictions:

More sports/general play toys. We’ll see more N-Series of course, and a few streamline blasters but the focus going forward will be N-Series. I think we’ll see a new license, in addition to the Minecraft and Fortnite blasters. 

Dart Zone I feel is gonna continue to carve out their niche for the direct to consumer crowd, if not improving on already available blasters like the Venom and Stryker, adding more Pro level blasters to the mix. The Buccaneer and the Renegade are already available in Australia, and word has it there’s more on the way still for the non-Pro crowd. Dart Zone does offer some of the best prices on quality blasters that you can get, so I’m excited to get the full rundown and to see what’s next. 

Dart Zone Predictions:

A new license, they’ve done Jurassic World, Stranger Things, what’s one more? They’re due. It looks like they’re teasing an update to the Venom as well. I think the mk III might be the next candidate for an update as well, so a new motorized rifle style blaster could be on the horizon. They were still working on TAG darts, so that hasn’t left the discussion either.

Zing Toys has the license to make Cyberpunk replicas, and BOY DID THEY. Skippy is already available, but they will be BRINGING THE ICONIC ERRATA AS WELL. I believe it was already seen at SDCC, but I’ll be sure to find it at NY Toy Fair as well! Of course, I expect to see more of their bows, the Stik Bots, and other outdoor play toys, but their foray into blasters has been one of my favorite stories to follow. Hope we get an update on Guts as well. I think Hog Wild also falls under their brand now as well, so it’ll be nice to see some kid-friendly products as well.

Zing Predictions:

Maybe they’ll announce new blasters in the works under Cyberpunk, but it’s unlikely as the Errata seems to be the main focus. It’s possible new licenses may want to work with Zing, as they have Cyberpunk now, they did Avatar, and if anyone did a Witcher crossbow, I wouldn’t be mad if it were Zing. 

Of course, we’ll find out soon enough. New York Toy Fair starts March 1, 2025.

Note – If it looks like I have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s because I’m not on any special leak groups or discord servers. Sometimes, I just like to be surprised.

Nerf N-Series | Review | New Nerf 2024

Nerf HQ Visit 2024 – Reviewing the Nerf N Series

The focus of this trip was to learn more about the Nerf N Series. It’s new, thoroughly researched, studied, and even put through an air tunnel. All in the last 2-3 years.

And why? To eventually become the new norm of Nerf blasters. No more “full-length” or “streamline” business, in the 8+ category N Series will become the main focus. The 14+ areas like “Pro”, “Rival”, and “Gelfire” will still be around as they are, but the main younger lines are going to change.

WHAT

The N Series. The N1 darts. New ammo, tested to be more accurate and fire at faster speeds than any previous Nerf dart. Nerf showed the extensive heads, material, and even the air tunnel they used. The dart had to be safe enough to pass a choke test while also surpassing the performance of previous darts. Accuracy and speed (from the FPS view) were the main hallmarks here. And I can understand that. Most of the games I’ve played end up within 50’ or less. I prefer staying at that range. And yes, we can get those long ranges but between objectives and making sure we get our tags or can see where our shots go, being out a hundred feet isn’t a great user experience for me. To call hits, you need to be able to see where you are shooting and who you’re tagging. Faster and more accurate, that’s what will be noteworthy about Nerf N Series N1 darts and blasters.

There is a second part to the creation of the new dart as well. It’s to make Nerf distinctly identifiable. Protect the brand. Nerf, Xerox, and Kleenex are all related in one way, they are brands that have become synonymous with their segment. Toy blasters, whether they shoot arrows or foam, tend to get called “nerf guns”. When Nerf made the Rival line, how long was it until other companies made similar products? Or darts and accessories that were compatible with the “major brand?” Maybe this cut into the bottom line, maybe Nerf would be the ones in trouble when someone had a magazine that broke or darts that came apart from bad glue, or got injured because the darts they used were tipped with solid plastic. All of that would still be referred to as a “Nerf gun did that”. With total adoption of the N-Series and N1 darts, Nerf can always point out if something is their product or not, and no longer be conflated with products not made to their specifications. Sure people can still name every blaster a “nerf gun” in their YouTube videos, but it’ll be less applicable as time goes on.

NEW NERF DARTS AGAIN???

When the Nerf Elite line launched in 2012 (or around then?) the blasters at the time used orange streamlines (which had HUGE inner stems attached to the dart head), sonic darts, some suction, and dart tag darts, which all had bigger dart heads that couldn’t fit in magazines. It was chaos! Mixing in different darts from Buzz Bee and Dart Zone further complicated things. Nerf Elite gave us elite streamlines with longer distances, and shorter dart stems, and led to ammo supplies that began to look less orange and more blue (yes, still orange dart heads, but let’s not be picky). The Stampede and Longshot could still use streamlines, but the new blasters would be optimized for Elite dart usage, and the new ammo outshot the original streamlines, so why use the old stuff anymore? Soon, more and more kids that showed up to meetups were bringing elite blasters, new to Nerf games, or just got a new blaster as a gift and wanted to try it out.

Twelve years later, here we go again.

Hello, Nerf N Series, and your N1 dart.

WHY (Let’s get the knee-jerk reaction first)

That’s a popular question!

WHY –

Make new ammo for seemingly “new ammo’s sake”?

Make your old blasters unusable going forward.

Did they not use already existing darts or bring back darts you have made (I see you, Accustrike fans)

Repeat mistakes you made with Ultra?

And while those are valid concerns, the Nerf team had some pretty solid answers, at least that’s how it sounded to me.

Performance. The N Series darts are said to have higher FPS than streamline ammo, and fire more accurately meaning better groupings. Distance isn’t as much of a factor, because more battles happen in close quarters at home, and that’s where the blasters are getting used. The Nerf team let us test the blasters through a chronograph and in my experience I can attest that FPS numbers for the N Series blasters I tried were improved over the FPS numbers for current stock Nerf Elite blasters. To be more specific, Elite clocked in at 70-72 FPS while the N1 darts hit 85-90 FPS.

And the groupings are definitely closer, too. I liked the Accustrike line because while I did give up some distance my darts all stayed in the same time zone compared to streamlines that would fly in large sweeping arcs. In a way, the Nerf team said they took aspects of Elite, Accustrike, and Ultra, all to influence the N Series darts. They wanted the best firing dart they could manage across the widest audience.

Global availability. Nerf is sold in A LOT of areas worldwide. Singapore, Austria, Germany, Australia, and more. This means that they have a lot of different safety regulations to adhere to to sell blasters, and it’s not just about Kinetic Force or FPS. NOISE is another determining restriction. And Ultra wasn’t just expensive, it was loud. Why don’t blasters have slamfire? They’re too loud. When designing blasters, they need to make what has the broadest appeal across all their US and international markets.

It was always my belief that lines like Ultra (which was 8+) were designed to fill up shelf space where Hyper and Rival couldn’t go, and I wasn’t too far off the mark. Even Mega and Mega XL had difficulties being sold overseas, which is why we’re going to see this shift towards a dart with improvements but is still targeting the 8+ market. Even better, Nerf took some lessons from Ultra and worked to get the prices down. The most expensive blaster of the line is $39.99, and 100 darts in a pack will go for $9.99, more darts will also be included with each blaster.

“Nerf” and everyone else. As someone who’s compiled his own pile of blasters and ammo, a transition period is pretty rough, and that’s what we’re seeing here. But while this looks to be Nerf forgetting about the longtime fans, I don’t see it that way. As I mentioned, this isn’t the first time Nerf has introduced a new ammo type that eventually became the main supply. The transition affects those who have lots of blasters that use streamlines currently, but at the moment there are already so many third-party sources for that type of ammo. I don’t think that particular design is going away any time soon in general, Nerf focuses more on N Series blasters and N1 darts, and other brands will still make full-length darts. But again, this isn’t happening overnight.

There are still a lot of unreleased full-length dart blasters in the market right now. One day we’ll look around toy shelves and Elite streamline dart packs will be gone, the same as what happened with the original N-Strike ammo and mission kits. But that day isn’t here yet. But the N Series is here, and we’ll see it for a while.

WHO

I’ve already touched on who will benefit from the Nerf N Series and N1 Dart. New players and folks who get Nerf for the first time in the 8+ group. They’re going to have one Nerf dart that’s for 8+ (Nerf Rival, Pro, Hyper, and Gelfire are 14+, Mega, Mega XL, and Ultra, are most likely discontinued or greatly reduced in presence) and all across all of Nerf’s global markets there will be one dart that is within regulations for sale. No worrying about grey triggers, or sending only certain products. Every place that sells Nerf will have N1 darts and Nerf N Series blasters. Nerf can reach so much more of their target market than they do now.

WHEN

June 2024

WHERE

Where blasters are sold!

And yes, Hasbro flew me out, put me up in a hotel, and had me tour their headquarters (with some other folks from the internet) to get this First-Look at the N Series. But if I didn’t honestly think this was worth a look, I’d say so, and I would have mentioned it directly to the Nerf team as well. That being said, we’re looking at a new world of Nerf coming up, and between the lower costs per blaster, the increased ammo, the better accuracy, and faster dart flight, I’m here for it. Thanks to the team at Nerf and Hasbro for having me along, I’ll see you all on the field.

Nerf blasters, Foam Blasters, Gel Blasters to 2023 and on to 2024

It’s been a pretty big year for blasters, I think. In recent weeks, layoffs at Hasbro, MGA hiring blaster designers, the increasing number of products on Amazon, Etsy, and beyond, and increasingly compelling products from direct competitors shows a vastly shifting blasterscape than existed a few years ago. It’s a wild time to be into toy blasters right now, Nerf or otherwise.

The Favorites

This isn’t a comprehensive list of all the blasters that came out in 2023. I’m going over some of my favorite blasters from 2023 that I actually tried or got info from. If you don’t see it listed, I either didn’t purchase anything from that company, or they didn’t send me samples. I only have so much I can buy, unless I start crowdsourcing or get views for ad revenue.

Gel Blasting Forward

The past year saw a lot of expansion in different segments. Gel ball firing blasters definitely are a much bigger presence now than they were 10 years ago. Gel Blaster, Faction Battle System, Nerf Gelfire, GelZone, XShot, and so many other Amazon products comprise the number of selections you have. And a couple of products really stood out to me. The Faction Battle System Sentinel and the Nerf Gelfire Raid are two of my favorites this year. The Raid offers a proper scattershot of gel ammo, and the Sentinel is a REMOTE OPERATED turret styled blaster. The Setinel you can place on the ground, leave alone, and control with a remote to aim and fire, as long as you’re within range. I’ve seen so many gravity hopper gel blasters over the years, but I have not seen anything like the Raid and the Sentinel yet. I have seen milsim style gel blasters, ones with a magazine, even select fire and adjustable FPS. But the scattershot (shotgun) function and the remote operated features are what really caught my attention.

Nerf and Other Foam Darts for 2023

Even with gel blasters blastin’, foam blasters are still one of the more accessible mediums. You can play indoors with arguably the least risk to your home, and aside from finding darts in a couch you don’t have to worry about water residue, high FPS related injuries, and so on. That being the case, there were some amazing foam dart blasters this year.

Dart Zone Blasters and Dart Zone Pro

Dart Zone really pushed some amazing boundaries this year. They not only continued product for their high FPS pro line but also delivered the Thunderbolt. The blaster is an amazing piece of kit for under or about $20, fires straight, and has good power out of the box without being a pro labeled blasters. Accessible for all ages.

Dart Zone’s Pro main event was the Omnia Pro. It had a slight hiccup at initial release, but the blaster is only around $60+ and offers high powered firing, rechargeable battery, a choice from single, burst, or fully automatic firing, and is pretty compact. Between the price, the functionality, and the overall less cost of ammo from Dart Zone, the Omnia definitely stands tall in 2023.

Nerf

Nerf had a rough year. The reported sales were down, hence many layoffs in 2023, but the House of Potato still cooked. The Nerf Double Punch was a lot more fun to use than I expected, even with the gimmicky barrel action and dual mag setup. It had decent range stock, and the trigger action was pretty speedy. Yes, it was a free sample but of Nerf’s fulll length dart releases this year it was my favorite.

That’s right, full length. Nerf also finally entered the short dart segment with the Nerf Stryfe X. Upwards of 150+ FPS, USB-C charged battery, and a familiar but revamped Stryfe profile. It’s a good blaster, but the approximately $120 price tag is pretty hefty for what you get. All in all, it’s progress, and the blaster is pretty fun to use. One of the major highlights for Nerf from 2023 for sure.

Buzz Bee Toys

Buzz Bee Toys continues to chug along, and I am HERE FOR IT. Last year the Alpha Auto 72 was definitely one of my favorite overall blasters, and this year the EZ-Fire is another great product. Between including TWO magazines, a ton of (new style) darts, and being a solidly built blaster, the EZ-Fire is incredibly priced to be easy on your budget. Smooth lever action and slamfire, I had no complaints about the blaster at all and it is definitely one worth checking out if you haven’t tried it yet.

Blasting Ahead to 2024

Licensing is going to continue to be HUGE for blasters in 2024. Nerf is still churning out Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox blasters, their in-house brands like Star Wars, Transformers, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Marvel, and GI Joe are always a possibilty as well. If Nerf LMTD continues to 2024, that opens the field even wider (seeing as how we’ve gotten an Aliens, Star Trek, and League of Legends blaster, just to name a few.)

Not to be outdone, Dart Zone and Buzz Bee Toys each released Stranger Things blasters this year. Before, Dart Zone released a Jurassic World pro blaster. Nerf may have plenty of licenses to choose from right now, but the other brands are definitely attracting attention now. Speaking of Nerf, they used to have the Halo license and before that, it was Mattel. The most recent licensee for Halo now will be Gel Blaster.

And while I mention them last, they are definitely not least, Zing, makers of StikBots and a variety of bows, are producing Cyberpunk 2077 gel blasters. And to say I’m EXCITED for those is a SEVERE UNDERSTATEMENT.

Most recently, Zing made Avatar themed bows, so licensed properties are not new to them. And from what I’ve seen, Cyberpunk is in great hands with them.

One other item that’s incredibly interesting but in a fledgling state, MGA is hiring blaster designers. Hasbro’s recent layoffs means a lot of talented people are on the hunt for a new job, and MGA, the makers of minibrands, LOL Surprise, Little Tikes, and many other brands, posted about hiring some of the recently available talent, including blaster designers. It’s still very early to see what this might mean, but ideally a new contender with MGA’s resources would be a very large ripple in the blaster space.

2024 Wish List for Toy Blasters

So with all this new stuff on the way, I can only speculate about the future. A few things I can see coming, but clearly only the toy industry people make more informed guesses. So in 2024 I am kinda hoping for….

Clearly, more licensed products are in the future, but this might also mean more repaints of older blasters just under new IPs. What licenses would I like to see? C’mon Hasbro, give us an actual GI Joe blaster that looks like something from the cartoon, or Optimus Prime’s Cannon.

Functionality wise, I’d like to see a return to multishot features, from any brand.. The Raid is a brilliant step in the right direction. More Mega XL, please! I believe in it!

Foam blasters continue to expand “pro” levels, maybe we finally get a shotgun multishot style in short dart pro level stylings?

A return to more animal shaped blasters. Seeing dinosaurs was great, I wouldn’t mind something like the Manta Ray (I say this practically every year).

Blasters start to adopt a retro style, like Flash Gordon

And that’s all for now, congrats on making it another year with me, let’s goooooooo!

Faction Battle System Gel Blaster – Sentinel | Remote Control Turret | Sentry

Faction Sentinel REMOTE CONTROLLED TURRET

Faction Spectre Gel Bead Blaster

Faction Havoc Gel Bead Blaster

Faction Sentinel Turret Gel Bead Blaster

Faction Skyfire Target Drone

The Faction Gel Bead Blaster line is new to projectiles, but the line comes from Skyrocket toys, and if you remember Recoil, you’ll remember a solidly, built laser tag blaster system that had some amazing app features. Skyrocket made that. 

Recoil wasn’t perfect and didn’t catch on, but Faction is pretty close! There are three blasters to choose from, and a targeting drone to keep things automated and interesting. There is a pistol, a long rifle, a versatile REMOTE CONTROLLED TURRET all to cater to your play style. Each feels very different, whether you’re using one with a gravity hopper, a magfed underside orientation, or setting up a trap for your opponents. Each blaster features a switch to move between single shot, three round bursts, or full auto, and buttons to function with the app.

Yes, the app is what takes gameplay to the next level. In the app you can custom the blaster light color, brightness, blaster name, and the type of game you’ll play. Playing solo, you can use the included beacon target to target shoot and compare scores with other friends on the app, andwhen playing in groups you can make teams while also choosing different game types and rules settings.

hile the app is great, you don’t need it to play. But you will need the app to “unlock” the blaster. When you buy a Faction blaster, you have to connect to the app (with an account) and connect the blaster to download the latest firmware. Past this though, the app is optional for play, and your blaster will still fire after being activated in the app.

There are some sales for Faction going on right now, and the prices for blasters are between $40 & $70. But considering you get the blaster, glasses, ammo, glow in the dark ammo, an integrated glow ammo function, targeting beacon, and charging cords, the cost is on par what I’d expect from a premium product with a lot to offer. You’re paying up front for a gel ball experience unlike a few others out there.

Definitely give these a look while the Faction blasters  are on sale, there are content plans and game ideas com for the future, and I’d like to see what else is planned!