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Nerf shotguns are a rare but exciting category of blasters. They don’t show up on store shelves very often, which is a shame because they’re a blast to use and usually look fantastic.
In this guide, I’ll explain what truly makes a Nerf shotgun a “real” shotgun (as opposed to just a shotgun-style blaster) and share my picks for the five best models you can buy today.
Spoiler: a real Nerf shotgun is one that can fire multiple darts at once.
What Is a Nerf Shotgun?
It’s worth clearing up what truly qualifies as a Nerf shotgun, because there’s often some confusion around the term.
In my view, a Nerf shotgun is a blaster capable of firing multiple darts or rounds at the same time. That’s the key feature that sets a real Nerf shotgun apart from shotgun-style blasters that only fire one dart per trigger pull.
Bonus points go to blasters that also look the part, with features like a long barrel, a nearly horizontal grip, and that classic shotgun silhouette.
Some blasters, such as the Nerf Rival Takedown, are often called shotguns but technically don’t qualify since they only shoot one round at a time.
Of course, there’s one obvious drawback to real Nerf shotguns: firing multiple darts at once means you’ll run out of ammo much faster.
If you’re not too concerned about firing multiple rounds at once and just want a shotgun-style blaster that feels great to use, here are three excellent options to consider:
- Nerf Rival Saturn XX-1000:
A pump-action blaster from the Rival Edge series that includes a fun target set. It’s smooth to operate and holds 10 Rival Rounds. - Nerf MEGA Fortnite TS:
A pump-action blaster with slam-fire capability. It comes with eight Mega Darts—four load into the clip, and four can be stored in the stock. - Nerf Fortnite Pump SG:
Not the most powerful blaster, but it looks fantastic. This single-shot pump-action model feels like a prop shotgun and is perfect for casual play.
Top 5 Nerf Shotguns
Here are my five favorite real shotguns.
1. Nerf Rival Atlas XVI-1200
We’ll start this list with a blaster from one of my favorite Nerf lines: Rival.
The Atlas XVI-1200 is a pump-action blaster with a direct plunger system that fires two High-Impact Rounds simultaneously through a single barrel. The priming mechanism is smooth and responsive, making each shot feel powerful and precise.
As you can expect with most blasters in the Rival range, the Atlas performs very well, with excellent power, velocity, and firing range. Being able to fire two rounds at once is a lot of fun, but as mentioned above, you are also running out of ammunition much quicker.
As with most Rival blasters, the Atlas delivers excellent power, velocity, and range. Firing two rounds at once adds to the fun, though you’ll burn through ammo faster as a result. Its 12-round magazine isn’t huge, but the strong performance and double-shot feature easily make this one of my favorite Nerf shotguns.
| Nerf Rival Atlas XVI-1200 | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2016 |
| Ammunition: | High-Impact Rounds |
| Shooting: | Two at once |
2. Nerf N-Strike Mega TwinShock
The Nerf TwinShock from the N-Strike Mega series is a unique, heavy-duty shotgun with a distinctive 10-barrel design at the front. It fires two Mega Darts at a time, arranged in five pairs of smaller barrels that give it a bold, unmistakable look.
This pump-action blaster offers three firing modes: single-fire, multi-fire, and slam-fire. That means you don’t have to shoot two darts at once if you prefer single shots. The slam-fire mode, however, is great fun, as it lets you unleash all ten darts in rapid succession.
The priming and firing mechanism on the TwinShock is smooth, reliable, and powerful. Its combination of versatility, solid performance, and sheer fun factor easily earns it a place among the best Nerf shotguns ever made.
| Nerf N-Strike Mega TwinShock | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2017 |
| Ammunition: | Mega Darts |
| Firing: | Two at once |
3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Trilogy DS-15
The N-Strike Elite Trilogy DS-15 is one of the most unique Nerf shotguns ever made, thanks to its use of shells to fire darts.
The name says it all: DS stands for Dart Shell, and 15 refers to the total number of darts it can fire, with five shells stored onboard. The word Trilogy highlights its ability to shoot three darts at once from each shell.
While it might sound complex, the Trilogy is actually very easy to use. Prime the blaster, load a shell into the top, and fire all three darts in a single blast. When you re-prime, the empty shell automatically ejects, making room for the next one.
This shell-loading mechanism, combined with solid performance and a satisfying firing action, makes the Trilogy DS-15 a fun and distinctive addition to any Nerf collection.
| Nerf N-Strike Elite Trilogy DS-15 | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2019 |
| Ammunition: | Elite Darts |
| Firing: | Three at once |
| More info: | Nerf Elite Trilogy DS-15 review |
4. Nerf N-Strike Elite Rough Cut 2×4
The N-Strike Elite Rough Cut 2×4 looks, feels, and performs like a true Nerf shotgun, which easily earns it a place on this list despite its age.
This direct plunger, pump-action blaster can fire two Elite Darts at once and also supports both single-fire and slam-fire modes. It’s smooth to operate and delivers a satisfying shotgun-style firing experience every time.
There are two versions of the Rough Cut 2×4: the original released in 2013 and an improved model that followed a year later. The newer version features upgraded internal mechanics, providing better performance and a smoother firing action overall.
| Nerf N-Strike Elite Rough Cut 2×4 | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2013 |
| Ammunition: | Elite Darts |
| Firing: | Two at once |
5. Nerf Zombie Strike SledgeFire
Rounding out the list is the Nerf Zombie Strike SledgeFire, a true Nerf shotgun that shares a similar firing mechanism with the Trilogy DS-15.
The SledgeFire uses shells to fire three darts at once and comes with three shells included, compared to the Trilogy’s five. It fires Zombie Strike Darts, which are essentially Elite Darts with a different color scheme to match the Zombie Strike series.
While it has been around for quite a while, the SledgeFire remains a classic. It was a groundbreaking blaster when first released and continues to stand out as both a fun shotgun to use and a great piece for collectors.
| Nerf Zombie Strike SledgeFire | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2013 |
| Ammunition: | Zombie Strike Darts |
| Firing: | Three at once |
Last updated: October 7, 2025
I used to have the blue Rough Cut 2×4 until it broke where I could not fix it and I had to throw it away.