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Reviews of the seven best full-auto Nerf blasters, based on performance, magazine capacity, overall design, and the machine gun factor.
Fully automatic Nerf blasters are the ones with the muscles and the intimidating looks, designed not only to win battles but also to have loads of fun with.
However, Nerf machine guns are not always the most practical blasters and also need batteries to operate. But as a Nerf fan, you should have at least one of these flywheel-powered blasters with acceleration triggers in your collection.
Keep reading, as I am going to share the seven best fully automatic Nerf machine guns you can buy today.
Top 7 Nerf Machine Guns:
What Is a Fully Automatic Nerf Gun?
Fully automatic Nerf guns are battery-powered blasters that can continuously fire ammo by simply holding down the trigger. They are also referred to as motorized or machine Nerf guns.
The internal system, a flywheel, powered by batteries, takes care of the actual firing, as long as you keep the trigger pressed.
The flywheel needs to be engaged before you can start firing, which typically happens with a separate acceleration trigger or a simple on/off button.
As you can imagine, the performance of a full-auto Nerf gun relies heavily on the efficiency of that internal flywheel system.
Rounds per Second
One way to judge how well a full-auto Nerf blaster performs is by looking at how many rounds it can fire in one second. And Nerf has come a long way in that regard.
Back in the day, if a blaster could hit 2 or 3 darts per second, that would be phenomenal. However, today, expectations are a lot higher, and that’s very much thanks to the Rival series.
If you’ve read my list of best Nerf Rival guns, you will know that blasters in that series are all about performance.
The Rival Nemesis, for example, can fire five rounds per second, and the Rival Prometheus tops that with a staggering eight rounds per second. Wow!
Firing Capacity
Okay, so if these blasters can fire so quickly, don’t you run out of ammo just as fast?
Yes, and that leads to another criterion you should pay attention to when buying a new fully automatic Nerf gun: the firing capacity.
You will find that most full-auto Nerf blasters come with a large magazine. This is essential because otherwise, you’d be finished shooting in a matter of seconds.
But there is a massive difference between a capacity of 20 rounds and a capacity of 200 rounds. The Prometheus, for example, holds 200 High-Impact rounds, which is fantastic. But with eight rounds per second, that is almost a necessity.
The Nemesis holds 100 rounds, which is also very generous, and will keep you firing for a minute or so before you need to re-load.
Batteries
The biggest drawback of Nerf machine guns is that they need batteries. Not only that, but they typically use a lot of battery power.
That’s why it’s important to not only check how many batteries they need, but also to make sure you get high-quality batteries that can last for a long time.
It’s also good to point out that the Prometheus, for example, comes with a rechargeable battery, which is lighter than a set of regular batteries and much more efficient.
What About Semi Automatic?
Note that there is also such a thing as semi-automatic Nerf guns, which are very different from full-auto blasters.
A semi-automatic Nerf gun can only fire once when pulling the trigger. It doesn’t keep firing as fully automatic blasters do.
There are also blasters that are both semi and full-auto guns. For example, the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic has a select-fire function, which allows you to switch between semi and full-auto firing.
Top 7 Nerf Machine Guns
Here we go, my favorite seven fully automatic Nerf machine guns. Blasters that are robust, intimidating, powerful, and a lot of fun to play battles with.
1. Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K
Let’s kick off with the Nerf Rival Nemesis, which also tops my list of best Nerf guns ever made. Like so many other Nerfers, I am a massive fan of the Nemesis for various reasons.
The Nemesis was first released in 2017, and at the time, it was quite a revolutionary Nerf blaster. With incredible performance, a huge magazine, and excellent ergonomics, the Nemesis quickly established itself as a fan favorite.
One excellent feature of the Nemesis is its magazine, which isn’t a standard Nerf magazine. It’s a hopper system that allows you to quickly throw in Rival High-Impact Rounds, and the hopper will push the rounds to the front of the blaster, ready to be fired.
Operating the Nemesis is quite a unique experience, and I have yet to meet a Nerf enthusiast who doesn’t like this blaster. The Nemesis sits comfortably in the arms, and with such a large magazine and excellent performance, it’s still the best full-auto Nerf gun in my books.
Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K | |
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Year: | 2017 |
Series: | Rival |
Ammunition: | High-Impact Rounds |
Firing capacity: | 100 |
Batteries: | 6 D-batteries |
More info: | Nerf Rival Nemesis review |
2. Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K
The Prometheus is another Rival blaster that quite literally outperforms any other Nerf blaster out there. The Prometheus is slightly over-the-top, but it’s so much fun. It’s also a blaster that isn’t for everyone.
Like the Nemesis, the Prometheus has a hopper-style magazine that is both convenient and efficient. But if you thought the Nemesis had a high firing capacity, the Prometheus doubles down on that with a capacity of 200 High-Impact rounds.
It also outperforms the Nemesis when it comes to rounds per second. With a fully loaded magazine, the Prometheus can achieve eight rounds per second, which is just incredible.
As you can tell, the Prometheus needs to be held with both arms at the hip, which is different from other Nerf blasters. This is, however, more ergonomic than it may seem because this fully automatic blaster isn’t all that heavy.
Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K | |
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Year: | 2018 |
Series: | Rival |
Ammunition: | High-Impact Rounds |
Firing capacity: | 200 |
Batteries: | Rechargeable battery |
More info: | Nerf Rival Prometheus review |
3. Nerf Ultra Select
The relatively new Nerf Select is a fully automatic, flywheel-powered, magazine-fed blaster in the Ultra Series. While the Ultra series hasn’t been the most successful so far, the Ultra Select is one of the better blasters in that range.
Ultra blasters shoot with Ultra darts, but the Nerf Ultra Select comes with 10 Ultra darts and 10 AccuStrike Ultra darts. The newer AccuStrike Ultra darts are designed to be more accurate than the original Ultra darts. Regarding performance, the firing velocity and distance with the Ultra Select are pretty reasonable, although not outstanding by any means.
The biggest drawback of the Ultra Select is the small firing capacity of only ten darts (per clip), especially compared to the Nemesis and the Prometheus. The Select does come with two sets of magazines and darts, though, and both magazines are attached to the blaster at the same time. Loading the magazines, and switching between them while using the blaster, is an easy process.
Nerf Ultra Select | |
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Year: | 2021 |
Series: | Ultra |
Ammunition: | Ultra Darts |
Firing capacity: | 10 |
Batteries: | 6 C-batteries |
4. Nerf N-Strike Mega Mastodon
The N-Strike Mega Mastodon is a fully automatic, flywheel-powered blaster with an integrated dart drum that can hold 24 darts. This blaster is one of the largest Nerf guns ever made, and for that reason alone, it deserves to be part of your collection.
The Mastodon requires six D-batteries to operate, and those batteries do make this weapon noticeably heavier. The firing capacity of 24 darts is generous but not as generous as some of the other fully automatic Nerf guns on this list. That said, the Mastodon is one of the best performing Nerf Mega blasters and is just heaps of fun to shoot with.
As you can tell from the picture above, you need to hold the Mastodon at the hip via the handle at the top, which adds to the fun factor. Overall, the Mastodon is a fantastic blaster that performs well and looks great.
Nerf N-Strike Mega Mastodon | |
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Year: | 2016 |
Series: | Mega |
Ammunition: | Mega Darts |
Firing capacity: | 24 |
Batteries: | 6 D-batteries |
5. Nerf Rival Perses MXIX-5000
The third Rival blaster on this list is the Perses, a compact flywheel and conveyor blaster with a firing capacity of 50 High Impact rounds. The Perses also comes with a convenient hopper system, which works very well without any jams or malfunctions.
The Perses has a compact, comfortable, and lightweight design, which is refreshing compared to the Nemesis and the Prometheus. It also performs really well, with a smooth and fast firing mechanism.
Like other blasters in the Rival series, the technical setup of the Perses includes a primary trigger, a trigger lock, and an acceleration trigger. That, combined with the hopper, results in a very decent rate of fire and firing velocity.
If you’re looking for a high-performing, fully automatic Nerf blaster that isn’t as bulky as some of the other ones, the Perses is an excellent choice.
Nerf Rival Perses MXIX-5000 | |
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Year: | 2019 |
Series: | Rival |
Ammunition: | High-Impact Rounds |
Firing capacity: | 50 |
Batteries: | Rechargeable battery |
More info: | Nerf Rival Perses review |
6. Nerf Hyper Mach-100
I thought long and hard about including the Nerf Hyper Mach-100 on this list of best Nerf machine guns, and ultimately decided that it does deserve a spot.
The Nerf Hyper series has received both some love and a bit of hate from Nerf fans, and I am somewhere in the middle. The Nerf Hyper Mach-100, however, is one of my favorite blasters in the Hyper series.
Like Rival, blasters in the Hyper series fire with rounds, but Hyper rounds are significantly smaller than Rival rounds. Hyper blasters also don’t shoot as accurately as Rival blasters generally do. As you can tell from the photos, the Mach-100 is essentially the Hyper version of the Rival Perses, but it doesn’t perform as well. The Mach-100 is arguably more kid-friendly than the Perses.
All that said, the Hyper Mach-100 has a lot to offer. It features an integrated hopper that can carry 100 Hyper rounds. Firing with the Mach-100 is a lot of fun, but it may not be the most ergonomic blaster.
Nerf Hyper Mach-100 | |
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Year: | 2021 |
Series: | Hyper |
Ammunition: | Hyper Rounds |
Firing capacity: | 100 |
Batteries: | 6 D-batteries |
7. Nerf N-Strike Modulus Regulator
The Nerf N-Strike Modulus Regulator is quite a unique blaster in the sense that it is considered both a semi-auto as well as a full-auto Nerf blaster.
That’s right, the Regulator has a select-fire feature that allows you to alternate between semi or fully-automatic firing modes, and you can even do three-round bursts. It’s a unique feature that really makes this blaster stand out.
Another drawcard for the Regulator compared to other blasters on this list is that it offers endless customization options, which is what the Modulus series is all about.
The Regulator comes packaged with a storage stock, two barrel scopes, two 12-dart clips, and 24 Modulus Elite darts.
Nerf N-Strike Modulus Regulator | |
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Year: | 2017 |
Series: | N-Strike Modulus |
Ammunition: | Elite Darts |
Firing capacity: | 12 |
Batteries: | 4 C-batteries |
Final Thoughts
There you have it, my seven favorite full-automatic Nerf guns you can buy today.
I acknowledge that the top two spots are held by Nerf Rival blasters, and many may disagree, but I really do think the Nemesis and the Prometheus are still the two best full auto Nerf guns you can get your hands on.
We all know that these types of lists will always be subjective, as everyone has different opinions, which is fine. But I am confident most of you will agree with the above top seven.
If not, do let me know which ones are your favorites, and I’ll happily share my thoughts, and I may even include them on this list.
Last updated: January 21, 2024
Ultra Speed.
Yes, the Speed is a great blaster, but I think the Ultra Select is better.
Is the nerf ultra 2 full auto?
Hi Korbyn, the Ultra 2 is a semi-auto blaster, and the Ultra Select is a full auto.
Hi Thomas,
I did a quick Google search on Best Nerfs and I landed here! I appreciate your clear and concise opinions on the Nerfs! It did not take me long to decide on my 1 of 2 Nerfs needed for Christmas; Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K. My kid will think I am the coolest on Christmas Day :).
I saw your response to a comment on the Regulator so I am now torn between Regulator vs Prometheus. Please write and give feedback on the Regulator pros/cons.
Hi Marcy,
If you’ve already decided on the Nemesis (good choice!), it might be a good idea to purchase the Regulator instead of the Prometheus as the second blaster. I do prefer the Prometheus, but if you already have a Rival blaster, maybe a blaster in the N-Strike Modulus series will add a bit of variety. The Regulator is great, and the three firing modes feature is quite fun.
The Regulator is also cheaper than the Prometheus, if that’s something to consider. Either way, both blasters are a lot of fun, and I’m sure your kid will appreciate both!
Hi Thomas,
While I agree that these seven Nerf blasters are good, I genuinely believe leaving the Regulator out of this list is criminal.
Honestly, the Nemesis, Perses, and Prometheus do the exact same thing. Only difference is capacity. The truth is the Nemesis was eclipsed by the Prometheus by its capacity and rechargeable battery being included. You need to mod it to get it to perform at its peak. The Modulus Regulator did a couple of things differently, including select fire and a belt pusher for a dart blaster. IMHO, you could have omitted the Prometheus and replaced it with the Regulator.
Hi Santiago, all valid points.
When I first wrote this article, the Regulator was actually on my reserve list. It’s a fantastic machine, and that select-fire feature is indeed very clever. It does have its flaws though, but yeah, overall, it’s a great blaster.
However, I’m biased toward Rival, and I really do like the Prometheus for what it is; a fun, well-performing machine with a ridiculous stock capacity. That said, I do agree that the Regulator deserves a mention, and I may change my mind and include it in the list next year.
Thanks for commenting, Santiago!