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Discover the best Nerf Rival blasters available today, ranked on performance, durability, magazine capacity, design, price, and ergonomics.
Rival blasters are known for their power, sleek yet intimidating designs, and smooth firing mechanisms. They also come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, making the series appealing to a broad range of players.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what I consider to be the seven best Nerf Rival blasters available today and explain what makes the Rival series stand out.
Note that some iconic Rival blasters, such as the Nemesis, Prometheus, and Artemis, have been left out simply because they aren’t available anymore.
| Nerf Rival Gun | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathfinder XXII-1200 | Price |
| 2 | Hades XVIII-6000 | Price |
| 3 | Vision XXII-800 | Price |
| 4 | Takedown XX-800 | Price |
| 5 | Mirage XXIV-800 | Price |
| 6 | Kronos XVIII-500 | Price |
| 7 | Fate XXII-100 | Price |
1. Pathfinder XXII-1200
Released in 2022, the Pathfinder XXII-1200 is a spring-powered, pump-action blaster featuring an integrated shoulder stock, a detachable 12-round magazine, and an adjustable iron sight.
The Pathfinder belongs to an unofficial Rival subseries that introduced a yellow-and-light-blue color scheme and a new type of ammo, Accu-Rounds. These rounds are similar to traditional Rival Rounds but feature larger dimples to improve consistency and accuracy.
One of the standout features is its dual iron sights: an adjustable rear sight that can be moved left, right, up, or down, paired with a fixed front sight above the muzzle. Together, they give the Pathfinder a more tactical feel.
While its performance is not dramatically better than that of other Rival blasters, the Pathfinder delivers solid results. With its sharp design, reliable build, good ergonomics, and reasonable price point, it is a strong option in the Rival lineup.
| Pathfinder XXII-1200 | |
|---|---|
| Sub series: | Accu |
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Pump action |
| More info: | Nerf Rival Pathfinder XXII-1200 review |
2. Hades XVIII-6000
The Hades XVIII-6000, part of the Phantom Corps sub-series, was released in 2018 as a pump-action blaster with both single-fire and slam-fire capabilities.
This blaster features an integrated magazine that holds 60 High-Impact Rounds, giving it impressive capacity. The priming and firing system is straightforward, and reloading is quick and easy, making it a practical choice for extended play.
In design and mechanics, the Hades is quite similar to the Artemis. However, it offers a much larger magazine and a bigger overall frame, making it a more powerful option while still retaining the familiar Rival feel.
| Hades XVIII-6000 | |
|---|---|
| Sub series: | Phantom Corps |
| Mode of fire: | Single and slam fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Pump action |
| More info: | Nerf Rival Hades XVIII-6000 review |
3. Vision XXII-800
The Vision XXII-800 is the second Rival blaster on this list that fires Accu rounds and features the recognizable yellow-and-light-blue color scheme.
This direct-prime blaster features an integrated 8-round magazine that loads quickly right in front of the grip, keeping you moving during a foam firefight.
It can blast rounds at a solid 90 feet per second through a specially streamlined barrel built for peak performance. You get an adjustable rear iron sight that lines up perfectly with a glowing front sight to help you nail those tricky, precise shots.
Complete with a smooth draw-back priming bar and a trigger lock, it’s a sleek and reliable addition to any arsenal.
| Vision XXII-800 | |
|---|---|
| Sub series: | Accu |
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Slide action |
4. Takedown XX-800
The Rival Takedown, released in early 2020, is a pump-action blaster with an internal magazine that holds 8 rounds. Loading is done from the top of the blaster through a small opening revealed during the priming action.
The front pump handle makes priming smooth and firing consistent. Although it is single-fire only, the action feels so natural that it almost invites slam firing.
At first glance, the grip may appear slightly awkward, but it is surprisingly comfortable and works especially well for larger hands. Sturdy, simple, and effective, the Takedown earns its place as one of the more practical Rival blasters.
| Takedown XX-800 | |
|---|---|
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Pump action |
| More info: | Nerf Rival Takedown XX-800 review |
5. Mirage XXIV-800
Released in 2024, the slide-action Nerf Rival Mirage XXIV-800 features a unique two-way loading system.
You can either swap out the entire magazine or quickly top it off through the open breech on the fly. The included magazine works with any standard mag-fed Rival blaster you might already own.
It can fire rounds at a steady 90 feet per second (tested) through a streamlined barrel designed for maximum performance. Topped off with a large front sight for easy aiming and a handy trigger-guard safety switch, the Mirage is a reliable choice for your loadout.
| Mirage XXIV-800 | |
|---|---|
| Sub series: | Accu |
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Slide action |
6. Kronos XVIII-500
The Kronos, released in 2018, is a compact, pistol-style spring-action blaster with an internal magazine that holds 5 rounds.
Reloading, priming, and firing with the Kronos feels smooth and satisfying, which, combined with its sharp design and reliable performance, makes it a standout in the Rival lineup.
Pistol-style Nerf guns may not appeal to everyone, but the Kronos is widely regarded as one of the best in its class. For players looking for a dependable sidearm, it is an excellent choice.
| Kronos XVIII-500 | |
|---|---|
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Slide action |
| More info: | Nerf Rival Kronos XVIII-500 review |
7. Fate XXII-100
The Fate, released in 2022, is a spring-powered, single-shot pistol-style blaster featuring a T-pull priming handle and an adjustable rear sight.
Like the Pathfinder, it belongs to the Rival subseries, features a yellow and light blue color scheme, and uses Accu-Rounds as its ammunition. These rounds are designed for consistency and accuracy, delivering strong performance for their size.
This compact blaster is reliable, easy to use, and fits comfortably in the hand. With an FPS above 90, it performs better than many would expect from a single-shot pistol. The T-pull handle may look unusual, but it functions smoothly, making loading, priming, and firing quick and intuitive.
| Fate XXII-100 | |
|---|---|
| Sub series: | Accu |
| Mode of fire: | Single fire |
| Priming mechanism: | Direct prime action |
| More info: | Nerf Rival Fate XXII-100 review |
About the Nerf Rival Series
The Nerf Rival series was first announced in 2015, with the Apollo XV-700 and the Zeus MXV-1200 being the first blasters in that series.
The purpose of the Rival series (officially written with full caps as RIVAL) was to bring high-performing blasters to market for competitive team-versus-team play. The original Rival blasters were typically available in red and blue color schemes, supporting team play.
Rival Rounds
A new ammo type was designed specifically for the Rival series.
These High-Impact Rounds are not darts. Instead, they are small yellow balls with dimples, similar to golf balls.
The Rival Accu sub-series included a refined ammo type. The Rival Accu-Round is similar to the classic Rival Round, but the dimples are larger, resulting in improved performance.
Naming Convention
You may have noticed the rather interesting names given to Rival Blasters. For example, Artemis XVII-3000 and Prometheus MXVIII-20K.
If the blasters aren’t impressive enough already, then their names certainly are. What’s even better is that these funky names weren’t just randomly chosen.
The names refer to Greek and Roman mythological figures. Prometheus, for example, is a Titan God of fire.
The letters are Roman numerals that indicate the year the blaster was first released. For example, the Artemis was released in 2017, indicated with the Roman number XVII, which means 17.
Some Rival blasters also have an M, which means they’re motorized blasters. For example, the Prometheus is a motorized blaster that was released in 2018. As such, the name includes (M) and XVIII.
But it gets even more complicated. The 3000 bit in the Artemis name means it has a magazine capacity of 30 rounds * 100. The Prometheus, on the other hand, has a capacity of 200, which is 100 * 200 = 20K.
To recap, this is how the Prometheus MXVIII-20K got its name:
Prometheus = Greek mythological figure
M = Motorized blaster
XVIII = The year (20)18
20K = 100 * 200 Rounds
How cool is that?
Safety
The target market for the Rival series was older kids and adults. Rival blasters were never designed for young kids because they are so powerful. Plus, the ammo, High-Impact rounds, is very different from the classic Nerf darts.
The official recommended age for Rival blasters is 14 years and older, which I think is fair enough. That older target audience makes sense, given the power of these blasters and the type of ammo used.
When the Rival series first came out, the blasters weren’t allowed in Australia because they didn’t meet the local toy safety standards. That seems a bit excessive, but it does say a lot about this line of blasters.
But overall, I can honestly say that I find Nerf Rival guns pretty safe. Getting hit by a High-Impact round can certainly be felt, but it doesn’t hurt. To be on the safe side, you can also wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Sub Series
As with other Nerf series, the Rival series of blasters also has a few sub-series. The most notable Rival sub-series are the following:
- Phantom Corps:
A sub-series with blasters that are promoted as non-team-based. Phantom Corps blasters have a black-and-white color scheme to visually separate them from the red and blue Rival models. - Edge:
A sub-series with a focus on precision and target shooting. Blasters in the Edge sub-series have a lime-green color scheme. The Jupiter XIX-1000 is one example. - Curve Shot:
A sub-series with blasters that can shoot in several directions (left, right, and down) via adjustable hop-ups that create a curve effect. - Accu:
A sub-series with a new ammunition type called Accu-Rounds, designed to improve shooting accuracy and velocity. Blasters in this range feature a yellow-and-light-blue color scheme and adjustable sights.
Three blasters in the above list of best Nerf Rival guns are from various sub-series.
The Hades and Prometheus are part of the successful Phantom Corps sub-series, and the Pathfinder is part of the Accu sub-series.
Last updated: March 10, 2026
The Pathfinder is great, but there’s another gun in its series. The Nerf Rival Vision is more accurate and has greater power.
Thanks for the help, this guide really helped me.
I’m looking for a compact rival gun to use against my brother. I already have a Kronos and want something with a bit more ammo capacity. Would you recommend an Artemis or a Forerunner? I am also open to other options. Thanks!
Hey, I would go for the Artemis, way better than the Forerunner. Otherwise, the Pathfinder is great too, with more ammo than the Kronos.
Good, but you have a mistake, as the upgrade of Nerf Rival Saturn is much better than Takedown. It is much bigger, more powerful, and has slamfire.
Hi Kuhan, you’re making a valid point, and many may agree with you.
However, I do actually prefer the Takedown over the Saturn. I like the simplicity, the handling, and the overall look-and-feel of the Takedown.