This shouldn’t surprise me as Nerf/Hasbro continues to expand their entertainment licenses by adding Minecraft to their stable of blasters. Some other recent inclusions being Dungeons & Dragons and Aliens, continued work with Fortnite, Halo, the coming Destiny’s Gjallarhorn, and who knows what else. When it comes to licenses, Nerf has a solid foothold right now.
The Enderdragon might be my favorite looking of the bunch, even if it is Yet Another Microshot. I am curious how the hammer performs as well. This is just the beginning so hopefully a classic weapon like the bow will be made in the future.
HASBRO ANNOUNCES NEW NERF LINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINECRAFT
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (November 22, 2021) – Today, global play and entertainment company Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) announced a partnership with Minecraft that brings the world of adventures and limitless possibilities to life with an all-new line of NERF Minecraft blasters. Featuring iconic favorites inspired by Minecraft & Minecraft Dungeons, fans can take their imagination from in-game to real-world Minecraft play.
Minecraft players and NERF fans can purchase the entire block-breaking line of blasters featuring the Minecraft Pillager’s Crossbow and the Minecraft Dungeons Stormlander starting today on Walmart.com. Also available for preorder is a line of Nerf MicroShots featuring the Minecraft Ender Dragon, Minecraft Ghast, and Minecraft Guardian.
“Minecraft inspires and values creative and imaginative play, much like the NERF brand, and we can’t wait for fans worldwide to get their hands on this exciting collaboration,” says Adam Kleinman, SVP & General Manager of NERF. “Partnering with a gaming giant like Minecraft lets us expand on the infinite fun of the game in the real world with active, adventurous battles NERF is known for.”
Show us how you defend yourself against creepers, zombies, or skeletons in style with the NERF Minecraft line of blasters using #NERFMinecraft. For more information or to purchase the all-new NERF Minecraft blasters, head to Walmart.com.
Hasbro Pulse Con revealed the Halo Needler as the next item available through Nerf LMTD! Good times, 6 AA batteries, ammo tracking, and a speedswarm mechanism. I took some screen grabs during the presentation, see below.
I have some thoughts, but will save those for now. In the meantime, enjoy the news!
Beware the pink must, as they say.
NERF LMTD HALO NEEDLER
(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $99.99/Available: August 2022)
The NERF LMTD HALO NEEDLER blaster captures the look of the blaster from the HALO video game franchise! Imagine yourself as one of the Banished or Covenant and get ready to battle the UNSC! This NERF dart blaster recreates the blaster’s distinctive design with flexible needles that light up when you grip the handle! Fire the darts and watch the needles go dark to simulate how they launch from the blaster in the game. Other light-up accents add to the exciting visual presentation. This fully motorized blaster unleashes 10 darts in a row from the rotating, 10-dart drum. Includes 10 NERF ELITE foam darts. Switch to display mode to illuminate the blaster and showcase it on the included stand. Includes a game card with in-game content in the HALO INFINITE game.* Eyewear recommended (not included). Requires 6x AA 1.5v alkaline batteries (not included). Includes: blaster, 10 darts, unassembled display stand, game card, and instructions. Available now for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, GameStop, Entertainment Earth and Big Bad Toystore.
(Ages 8+ / Approx. Retail Price: $1,499.99 / Available Now on KidKraft.com, Walmart, and Wayfair)
Combine the classic KidKraft playset with NERF and you get the KIDKRAFT NERF COMMAND BASE BATTLE FORT – the ultimate site for epic blaster battles! Kids can be in control of the backyard with this action-packed multi-tower playset. Storm across bridges, ladders, and gangplanks to gain the best vantage point. Exit quickly through the escape trap door and stockpile blasters and darts in the battle prep area or pulley crate. With spinning targets to test their skills, kids can plan missions and practice their aim to become a battle expert.
KIDKRAFT NERF GEO STRIKE HEADQUARTERS
(Ages 8+ / Approx. Retail Price: $599.99 / Available Now on KidKraft.com and Walmart)
A top-secret hideout for surveillance, planning and training, the KIDKRAFT NERF GEO STRIKE HEADQUARTERS is a geodesic dome that lets kids spy on the competition with a hidden periscope and then plan their defense. Three entrances allow for undetected advancement and hiding crucial transportation. Walls with stationary, spinning and stacked cup targets give trainees multiple opportunities to practice their aim. Kids can also store blasters and darts inside so they’ll always be ready for battle. But, look out! If the satellite is hit, communication could be lost! Shelter from the elements, the competition (or parents) in this bunker—a beacon of fun in the backyard. Practice, plot and play for hours!
KIDKRAFT NERF SCOUT DEFENSE POST
(Ages 8+ / Approx. Retail Price: $599.99 / Available Now on KidKraft.com and Wayfair)
Brace for battle and defend your territory with the KIDKRAFT NERF SCOUT DEFENSE POST! This elevated fort-like structure has 360-degree fun for backyard battles. Kids can guard themselves with the shield, crawl through the tunnel and hideout inside. Store blasters and darts in handy built-in storage hooks and a mesh bag so they’re ready for battle. Make blaster battles a true challenge with spinning and spring-loaded targets to release the flag when captured! Rock climbing, rope rappelling and belly crawling complete the obstacle course vibe. The backyard becomes a riveting adventure any time you scale the NERF SCOUT DEFENSE POST by KidKraft
Nerfers101 has the goods on an upcoming new series from Nerf! Flipshots, yo. There will be three, and here’s the Flip-8. Check her out on TikTok for additional vids and info!
The NERF Roblox blasters represent some of the most iconic games on the Roblox platform, each with billions of lifetime plays, including ADOPT ME!, ARSENAL, JAILBREAK, MAD CITY, MURDER MYSTERY 2, and PHANTOM FORCES, and will hit U.S. shelves this Fall with additional markets to follow. Each of the NERF blasters will include a code that Roblox fans can redeem for a virtual blaster to equip on their avatar — and use in the game that inspired it!
The MONOPOLY: Roblox 2022 Edition board game lets fans collect and trade popular Roblox experiences while playing the Roblox-inspired version of the iconic board game. Each MONOPOLY game will include a code to redeem for an exclusive virtual item. The MONOPOLY: Roblox 2022 Edition board game is available now for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse for fans aged 16 and older in the U.S. and Canada and at Big Bad Toy Shop.
“We are thrilled to bring NERF Nation and the Roblox community together for the first time with an incredible line of blasters we know they will be clamoring to get their hands on,” said Adam Kleinman, Vice President, NERF Global Marketing. “Our design teams have done a phenomenal job capturing the creativity and essence of Roblox creators and their most immersive, innovative Roblox games in NERF blaster form and we can’t wait to deliver these new items to Roblox fans around the world!”
“Roblox values the incredible contributions of its community of creators, and our partnership with NERF is an ideal way to bring their inspiring creations on the platform to life for millions of Roblox and NERF/MONOPOLY fans to enjoy in the metaverse as well as in real life,” said Craig Donato, Chief Business Officer at Roblox.
Additionally, later this year, NERF will be embracing the power of the Roblox platform and launching its own NERF-branded experience on Roblox for its fans. Details on the launch will be revealed later this spring.
Range: Claim is 120’, observed 50’-60’ BUT, angling of course would increase.
Features: Semiauto firing
Mechanism: Flywheels
Available: Now
Ages: 8+
SUMMARY:
When I first heard about the Nerf Ultra One I wasn’t sure what to think. 120’ (Rival style ranges? Higher “power” than Elite? What?) but being around blasters for so long I know not to buy 100% into the marketing. And when I saw the Ultra One press copy read that the blasters were for “8+”, that told me how to dial in my expectations. Honestly, Rival is designed for 14+. What would you expect?
The Nerf Ultra One to me doesn’t seem that revolutionary. I reliably hit my target (which you can hear in the video), the Ultra darts don’t seem to have the same wacky flight patterns as Nerf streamline darts, and it achieves better range than Nerf Accustrike.
But it’s a semiauto blaster with a drum you load. Nothing we haven’t seen from Nerf or other brands, and for a first blaster it’s underwhelming. I remember not a lot of people too impressed with the Apollo in the beginning, so the naysayers with Ultra isn’t surprising. Maybe future designs will be more innovative to that end, but that remains to be seen.
Controlling Dart Usage
The “dart DRM” as it’s been called is discussed in the video. I don’t really like that Nerf went with this kind of mechanic to enforce using Nerf darts only, but outside the fandom I don’t think it matters to consumers. I’ve seen a number of non-hobbyist posts about the Ultra One (not just the sponsored ads) that like the blaster. And more casual consumers don’t have a hoard of ammo that won’t work or the myriad of other complaints about the DRM. Hobbyists, arena/mobile party owners, game groups with a communal supply will be affected. I will hazard a guess that most consumers will be outside those populations, buy the Ultra One and an extra pack of ammo, and call it a day.
I had this very conversation in the toy aisle. A mom and her child were trying to find a Nerf blaster to buy. They looked at the Ultra One and remarked at how it was a new blaster. I informed them that the Ultra One would only work with the darts it comes with, so the mom told her child that they would get it on his birthday, with extra ammo. No remarks about how unfair it was, Hasbro market share, stock quotes, nothing. Just a promise to get it as a gift and a pack of ammo.
Different Darts Happens
In addition, PUT THOSE TORCHES AND PITCHFORKS DOWN. Yes, You too. And you. STOP.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HASBRO HAS INTRODUCED NEW AMMO.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HASBRO HAS MADE AMMO THAT FITS ONLY IN CERTAIN BLASTERS.
Back in the 90s, you had micro darts, old school megas, Arrows of Unusual Size, and all sorts of other stuff. Let’s look at some history.
Even before Nerf Ultra, Nerf released streamlines, the original mega darts, rip rockets, whatever the darts were that came with the SM 3000, arrows, Dart Tag Darts (of various incarnations), whistler darts, suction darts, Vortex discs, Mega darts, Elite Streamlines, Accustrikes, Mega Accustrikes, Rival rounds, the list goes on. Every few years they release something new to fire. In the case of Vortex, Mega, and Rival those only fit their specified brands unless otherwise noted. Not just any dart into an n-strike magazine and make it work, and you definitely couldn’t cross other brand ammo in other blasters unless they were front-loading. If Nerf were taking existing ammo off the market, that would be another story. As it stands, the Ultra ammo segment is an addition, not a whole paradigm shift leading to the elimination of everything we already have.
Nerf Rival is also not sold everywhere in the world. I don’t work for Hasbro, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nerf Ultra satisfies demand for a “higher range” blaster in areas where Rival cannot go, such as Australia. Now the range is questionable, but as long as Nerf can make it to other areas with a new segment, that may not matter to most consumers. They’ll just be happy to see the latest Nerf blasters in their stores.
The Ultra One, Where to Next?
Again, I’m glad that Hasbro sent me a sample and saved me the trouble of buying one. The blaster features aren’t revolutionary and the dart type is interesting for something new, but past the first pack of ammo I am not sold on this line yet. Yeah, you can snap the ammo in half and some of it even got gouged by my Dart Rover but it’s not super brittle and in your pocket it’ll keep shape better than current Nerf darts. My favorite segment from Nerf is still Rival, but that’s a different market from Ultra, ultimately.
I recognize that the blaster is made for 8+ and is intended for younger users, like everything else in this hobby. My biggest complaint is the drum and the trigger working with the new dart recognition mechanism. It’s pretty uncomfortable to slam my finger against the trigger when a dart isn’t correct or loaded properly, which happens a noticeable amount of times. When in the thick of a blaster battle or trying to shoot targets, that jolt against your finger from a missing/jammed dart really sucks.
In the end, I can’t give the Ultra One a high recommendation like the Nerf Perses. It looks cool, but needing C batteries, the annoyance of the Nerf-only dart mechanism, and the overall cost are problematic. There are a lot of other great, more reliable blasters out there worth your money, Nerf or not Nerf brand. I would suggest waiting for the Nerf Ultra One to drop in price as a sale (probably Black Friday) before dropping your money on it. And you may not want an Ultra One for any number of reasons, THAT IS TOTALLY OK.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Totally appreciate your coming by and getting through my rambling. Make sure to check me out on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for continued updates, reviews, and other content! Thanks again to Click Click BAMF as well for putting in some work on the video.
Integrated clip (14 shots with the Orbit, 6 shots for the Meteor)
Safety button on both blasters, jam doors
Orbit has sling points
Orbit has a sight
XShot Chaos Counters Other Brands with Low Price and Comparable Performance
XShot made some major moves this week. From Toy Fair 2019 to today, they finally released their own entry in the 14+, advanced range blaster market with the XShot Chaos line, looking to “disrupt” the current market as they claim to have done with dart blasters.
I don’t know if this line will turn the market on its head, but XShot makes a very compelling case with these blasters. At under $20, that is the sweet spot for many purchases, promising performance on par against other blasters that cost considerably more, and with more budget friendly ammo, parents may not want to drop $40 on a Nerf Hypnos, which is the most current pump-action Nerf Rival blaster at this time. (The Helios and Jupiter are bolt/side knob, the Hades is last year and not readily on shelves from what I’ve seen, and the Artemis is mostly out of circulation on store shelves as well.)
As far as a manual blaster to buy goes, the Orbit and Meteor have very strong factors working in its favor to get bought. XShot is certainly working to get the blasters visible to consumers.
It is a bit of a shame that there are only two blasters in this line right now, but the Orbit and the Meteor are a fine start. The Meteor is a fun pistol to handle and use, and as far as I am concerned a pump action blaster is always the way to go.
Loading the Meteor through the handle offers a very different pattern than other brand pistols, and is a welcome change of pace. The Orbit has some questions for me as far as design goes, but firing from the hip with it works just fine for me.
Looking Ahead to the Market and XShot vs…. Everyone Else
In the realm of high impact rounds, the XShot Chaos is a strong contender against Nerf and Dart Zone, strictly speaking on performance. Nerf I would say still has the advantage in marketing, but XShot certainly is taking steps to address that. All this talk of XShot as a low price brand, but Dart Zone Blasters has had mostly comparable/if not better items at competitive prices to XShot and Nerf. They are still chugging away making new product, as XShot is doing, and keeping prices on blasters and ammo low. Buzz Bee is remaining strong in their section of the market with dart blasters thankfully, possibly content to let the other companies battle it out and leave the dart market open just a bit.
Kudos to XShot for their accomplishment at making the Chaos line a reality, and for giving budget-minded folks another choice in the market. It’s still incredibly interesting to see what happens next, and I hope you tune in here to get my take on things.
Thanks, XShot for the samples, and Click Click BAMF for the editing work on the video!
Thanks as well to Wicked Ball Chicago for letting me use your arena! If you are looking to hold a party and live near Lombard, Illinois, check them out!
Batteries: Proprietary Nerf battery (new design, included with charger)
Looking at the Nerf Rival Perses. I dug it. $99 is a hefty tag, but sometimes it’s worth it. And just because the Prometheus is the same price currently, you get a much more mobile blaster that’s easier to move with, aim, and did I mention maneuver? The convenient release on the battery is a super nice piece of design, even though it’s a shame the old Nerf battery packs do not work with it. Thanks for reading this far, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube for more videos!
Thanks, Nerf for the sample, and Click Click BAMF for the editing work on the video!
Foam From Above 