Best Nerf guns 2024: Dominate the backyard battlefield

With the warmer weather approaching, it's time to start dusting off the best Nerf guns. Besides being perfect for backyard shenanigans during the Spring/Summer break, Nerf blasters also provide a welcome time-out from screens.

Because working out what the best Nerf guns are can be tricky (there are so many options these days, and that's not including the many knock-offs), we've rounded up all of the Nerf blasters we'd recommend. We've also tasked our bargain-hunting software with finding offers whenever possible, and the retailers with the lowest prices will be displayed beside each item. While those offers tend to be better as we approach Fall and Winter, discounts are still available at other times of year. After all, and unlike the best water guns, Nerf blasters are good to go at any time of year.

This list isn't set in stone, either. With new Nerf guns hitting shelves every few months or so, we'll be adding in new models as soon as we've been hands-on. We'll also be sure to float old favorites you might have missed back to the surface, so keep an eye out!

Best Nerf guns - quick list

Want to get to the good stuff as quickly as possible? No problem - you'll find an overview of the very best Nerf guns below. If you'd like more info on each blaster, simply click the relevant link.

Best Nerf gun overall

On paper, the Gelfire Mythic shouldn't work. Biodegradable ammunition you don't need to clean up sounds too good to be true, and 'water-hydrated rounds' feel like a recipe for disaster. But in reality? This is one of the best Nerf guns we've ever used. It's not even a contest.

That's because the blaster makes good on its promises. As we mentioned in our review, it's "a mechanical marvel that changes the game" with ammo that goes far beyond our expectations. Simply drop these tiny orange grains into a bucket of water, leave them for a couple of hours, and come back to find a tub of pellets that are sturdy enough to handle but will safely disintegrate after being fired. Seriously, they don't leave any sort of mess and help you avoid the dreaded dart pickup following a backyard battle.

That alone helps the Pro Gelfire Mythic feel like the start of something big, but its other features elevate it even further. Besides being powered by a rechargeable battery that slots into the handle, it comes with a single-shot or semi-auto firing mode, remarkable range, and the ability to spit out 10 rounds per second. Oh, and you won't need to shop for bonus ammunition anytime soon either - there are 10,000 in the box.

• Read more: Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic review

Best cheap Nerf gun

Don't be fooled by this Nerf blaster's size; it packs a punch and toes the line well between cost and good old-fashioned fun. The revolver-style Commander RD-6 is cheap yet surprisingly accurate option, and it can unleash a satisfying barrage of darts in one go once you've pulled back the priming slider. (Refreshingly, it isn't a one-shot wonder.)

Plus, it has versatility to spare. Tactical rails allow you to add numerous accessories should you want to upgrade down the road, and you can clip on everything from scopes to better grips if you have the budget or inclination. You can even add a shoulder rest if you want to level up what is already one of the best Nerf guns. When combined with its cowboy-esque loading mechanism, it's a solid all-rounder.

Alright, so it only carries six darts at a time. But that makes picking them up again less of a chore, we suppose. An impressive range of 27 meters means you'll be able to hit foes from ages away while they're still underestimating your blaster, too.

Best Nerf gun for younger kids

Because they're smaller, lighter, and easier to use than other Nerf guns, the Nerf Elite Jr. blasters are ideal for children aged six and up - and the Rookie Pack is definitely top of that pile. For a start, it's crammed with value; along with a load of spare darts, this set contains targets to practice on.

Naturally, the blaster isn't so bad either. Called the 'Rambler', it beats other Elite Jr. equivalents in terms of functionality... and fun. To begin with, it can carry more darts at once than any other Elite Jr. toy. Along with less reloading, this means your kid can lay down a blistering rain of ammo thanks to the low pull-force on display here. 

In addition, the Rambler is simply cooler to use than the others. Lining up your shots with the oversized but still-useful scope is a blast, and getting into a rhythm with its pump-action mechanism is oddly satisfying.

Best Nerf gun for pros

Looking to take your Nerf battles to the next level? Hyper is tailor-made for the competitive scene and will provide a more powerful, precise blaster. And thanks to foam pellets thrown at dizzying speed by a motorized system, it can outshoot many of the best Nerf guns.

While other blasters feature battery-powered mechanisms, this takes things to the next level. As well as rounds that fire at 110 feet per second, it provides enormous, easy-reload ammo hoppers to help you stay in the game for longer. Tactical rails leave you space to store extra rounds, too.

Basically, this is more of a grown-up Nerf blaster for tournament play and Nerf Arena. If you want a good all-rounder to see you through such intense competitions, the Mach 100 is an excellent choice.

The best long-range Nerf gun

If you prefer to keep your foes at a distance, the Ultra Pharaoh is a dream come true. Offering a staggering range of up to 120ft, it's the ultimate sniper rifle from Nerf.

As the poster-child of Nerf's Aerofin Ultra foam darts, this blaster is able to shoot farther than anything that's come before it -  very little can match the Pharaoh in terms of sheer distance covered. Thanks to a bolt-action system, it's also pretty gratifying to reload.

Festooned with gold embellishments that compliment the orange, black, and white design nicely, the Pharaoh is a handsome beast too. When combined with those impressive new darts, it's got performance and looks nailed down. 

Best modular Nerf gun

If you can't decide which Nerf blaster to get, why not opt for one that can do it all? Starting out as a pistol and scaling up to a full-size assault rifle, the Retaliator has four configurations for greater personalization. It's the pièce de résistance of modular design and is one of the best Nerf guns thanks to that 'more is more' mentality.

Thanks to a range of 27 meters, this utility doesn't come at the expense of performance. It's capable of holding its own in a Nerf battle, and the presence of a tactical rail allows you to add your own scopes as well.

Although it's harder to find nowadays than it once was, the effort is worthwhile. And luckily enough for us, the Retaliator relies on Elite darts that are widely - yet cheaply - available. Want to stock up on extra ammo? You'll be able to buy them in bulk at a very low cost.

Best Fortnite Nerf gun

Blending one of the most popular video games of all time with one of the most beloved toy brands, this Nerf blaster is ideal for fans of either. That's because it's not just a cool Fortnite crossover; it's an excellent Nerf gun in general.

Based on the Fortnite Assault Rifle, this blaster has all the personality of that series thanks to oversized proportions and a bright, here-I-am color-scheme. However, it's what's inside that really impresses. The AR-L features a motorized mechanism that will fire darts faster than normal, making it a very cool piece of kit if you can keep it stocked with batteries.

Elsewhere, the AR-L offers utility thanks to flip-up sights that go with a stock for bracing against your shoulder and a 10-dart clip for quick reloading. It's comfortably a front-runner for any list of the best Fortnite Nerf guns as a result.

Best Minecraft Nerf gun

The Pillager's Crossbow isn't what we expected it to be. If anything, it's better. Even though it looks clunky and imprecise, this is a powerful blaster with enough range to give you a fighting chance in soft-play battle.

Despite being based on the Minecraft weapon, Nerf's latest crossbow carries three Elite darts that can be fired one after the other in quick succession - simply pull back the lever, squeeze the trigger, and watch your ammo catapult itself across the room at surprising speeds. When we went hands-on with this Nerf gun, we were averaging distances of about 20 meters per shot.

Sure, it's not the easiest blaster to aim thanks to a lack of sights. And yes, other crossbows from Nerf (like 2014's Zombie Strike Crossfire Bow) come with a slightly greater capacity. But this newcomer will have your opponents on the run in short order nonetheless.

• Read more: Nerf Minecraft Pillager's Crossbow review

Best combi-Nerf gun

Want maximum flexibility to go with value for money? This option is perfect for hot summer days outside. Bringing together Nerf and its Hasbro-owned sibling, the Super Soaker, this option shoots water from a 40floz tank while also firing Nerf darts from a barrel at the top. It's the best of both worlds.

Helpfully, the DartFire uses cheaper Nerf Elite darts as well. These are the standard ammo-type for most of the best Nerf guns, so you should have no trouble finding and stocking up on these foam bullets in bulk.

The Super Soaker part of the DartFire is no slouch either. Powered by a 40-fluid ounce (1.1 liter) capacity, it's capable of shooting water up to 38 feet during a battle. Considering this blaster's price, that's not bad going.

Cheap Nerf darts

Getting your hands on the best Nerf guns is just half the battle. If you want to stay in the game for as long as possible, it's important to stock up on as much ammo as you can carry. 

To help you prepare (and avoid the ignominy of having to pause the game and pick up your ammo in the middle of a firefight), we've broken down what Nerf darts there are. We've also got the lowdown for you on what blasters they're compatible with, along with the cheapest prices for each of them.

You see, it's important to make sure you have the right dart for the right blaster - some aren't compatible. As an example, some utilize round pellets while others rely on long-range darts that fly further than others. While some of them are interchangeable, many aren't.

For more, be sure to take a look at our guide to getting cheap Nerf bullets. As for a quick explainer, here you go:

• Nerf Elite: Bog-standard Nerf darts. They're compatible with almost everything that isn't an Ultra, Hyper, or Rival blaster.
• Nerf Ultra: New Nerf darts that fly further than others. Only compatible with Nerf Ultra blasters.
• Nerf Hyper: Because they're pellets rather than darts, these won't work in anything that isn't a Hyper blaster.
• Nerf Rival: Another set of pellets that will only fit Rival blasters (they're bigger than Hyper pellets, so won't work on those either).
• Nerf Gelfire: This entirely new invention differs from all of the above - the rounds are water-hydrated, so start out tiny and get bigger. Only compatible with Gelfire blasters.

Best Nerf guns - FAQ

Able to fire at a rate of 110 feet per second, the Mach 100 is an absolute monster that is quicker and more precise than most rivals. You can get off-brand alternatives that can potentially outstrip it, of course, but no official Nerf gun can compare to this Hyper model. Just bear in mind that it fires foam pellets rather than darts.

Looking for more ways to stay entertained? Don't forget to check out the top board games for kids or these board games for families.