8 Best Semi-Auto Nerf Guns
Updated 10 February 2021
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Load, cock, shoot, load, cock, shoot. You probably remember this painfully slow strategy used in the Nerf wars of yesteryear. Well thanks to the latest technology, this lackadaisical method of launching foam darts has been left firmly in the past. With advanced semi-auto Nerf guns, a new generation of mini soldiers can blast away zombies, fire multiple darts at once, and snipe from long distances all at incredible speeds without worrying about reloading.
To make sure you’re not the one desperately trying to get your shots away in the heat of battle, we’ve found the 8 best semi-auto Nerf Guns, coming in a range of styles, colors, and designs. What they all have in common are the need for speed and ultimate carnage, so we’ve only used real reviews for our recommendations, to make sure you can trust them not to let you down when you need them the most.
1Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster (Colors may vary)
The Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster is a high-end semi-auto blaster with a streamlined design. It's light in weight and effortless to hold so that users can run from cover to cover without a hindrance. This sleek blaster features motorized firing that can send darts soaring up to 75ft. at a rate of roughly 3.2 darts per second. Compatible with the Mission App Tactical Rail Mount from Nerf (not included), this can be upgraded to better suit specific battles. It comes with a see-through clip so kids can instantly check their ammo while on-the-go. This also includes 18 Elite darts, and all of the darts can fit with ease inside of the clip.
What we love
- There is a secondary switch to rev the motor up which may better help preserve battery life
- Blaster is lightweight and simple to maneuver with
What We Don't Like That Much
- It might take a few seconds to get the motor going, so kids might have to wait before shooting
2Nerf N-Strike Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster (Amazon Exclusive)
For intense Nerf wars, the N-Strike Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster is the perfect choice to send enemies scrambling for cover. It features two alternating barrels that have motorized blasting, and with the removable tripod, it's simple to line up a steady shot. Otherwise, kids can keep hold of the blaster on the mounted handle and fire with a single trigger instead of the double-barrel. Each of the drums can house 25 Elite foam darts. This set comes with 50 darts so each barrel can be completely filled. As it can unleash all of the darts in a row, kids can quickly overwhelm the competition and keep them on their toes. Darts may travel up to 90 feet.
What we love
- Easy to attach and remove the tripod for quick setup
- The motorized function is fast so that all 50 darts can unload in seconds
What We Don't Like That Much
- It might take a few tries to learn how to properly load the darts into the drums
3NERF Modulus Regulator Toy (Amazon Exclusive)
The Nerf Modulus Regulator is a high-performance semi-auto blaster that is ready for any battle. It is designed with SwitchFire technology so it has three modes: single-fire, burst-fire, and continuous-fire. All it takes is a simple flip switch to alternate the modes, allowing kids to change their rate of fire on the fly as they battle it out. This blaster is customizable too since it comes with a swivel handle, a storage stock, and two barrel-scopes. The barrel-scopes are different in length, and they can be used as a targeting scope or as a barrel extension. This comes with two dart clips, each capable of holding 12 darts, and the set comes with 24 total Nerf darts. With the detachable stock, it can even help store a single clip.
What we love
- Simple to customize to suit specific uses
- Has good aiming so darts can fire straight
What We Don't Like That Much
- The blaster may be awkward to hold with one hand if all of the attachments are removed
4Infinus Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Motorized Blaster with Speed-Load Technology
With the Infinus Nerf N-Strike Elite Motorized Blaster, kids can make great use of its Speed Load Technology. This tech allows the blaster to automatically load darts into the drum. So, users can enjoy freely firing and not worrying about having to stop and open anything in order to reload the blaster, making it ideal for non-stop action. The Infinus comes with 30 Elite darts. Thankfully, the fully motorized blaster has a 30-dart capacity drum so kids can fill it up entirely and not worry about where they can stash extra darts in the meantime.
What we love
- The auto-loading function makes it user-friendly and easier to handle
- Well-designed blaster that offers smooth firing with darts that aren't prone to jamming
What We Don't Like That Much
- It seems like the blaster will only work well if official Nerf darts are used at all times
5NERF Revoltinator Zombie Strike Toy Blaster with Motorized Lights Sounds & 18 Official Darts for Kids, Teens, & Adults
The Revoltinator Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster is a powerful Nerf blaster that is ready to take on the zombie apocalypse. This comes built with two tactical rails so that it's attachment-ready, allowing users to customize it as they see fit. There is rapid-fire shooting with this blaster. Simply rev the motor up and get going. It can fire out 18 darts in a row as it comes with an 18-dart clip and enough darts to fit inside. It is one of the 8 best semi-auto Nerf guns that feature cool effects to make it even more fun to use. There is an awesome power shock and sounds emitted from the blaster to fully embrace the role-playing nature of the toy. It comes with 4\four AA batteries too so kids can start playing right away.
What we love
- Design is forgiving to make it easier for young kids to shoot
- Lights and sounds can make it even more exciting for kids to play with
What We Don't Like That Much
- The blaster has a high potential of jamming although it is easy to clear
6NERF Ultra Two Motorized Blaster -- Fast-Back Reloading -- Includes 6 Ultra Darts -- Compatible Only Ultra Darts
The Nerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster is designed to deliver incredibly accurate and fast-firing at a distance. Everything about this blaster is speedy. There is an acceleration button to hold down to trigger the motorized firing function. When it comes to reloading, this features a six-dart cylinder that is open on the back. Meaning, users can merely insert darts quickly while on the battlefield. Also, this keeps them constantly aware of how many darts are left. The Nerf Ultra comes with six Ultra darts as well. These darts are designed for flight and speed. Along with the lightweight foam design, these feature innovative flight tips that help them soar longer distances and can reach up to 120 feet.
What we love
- Well-balanced concerning weight so it’s simple to run around with
- With the open cylinder design, it's easy and quick to load the darts
What We Don't Like That Much
- The motor inside the blaster tends to be rather loud
7NERF Elite 2.0 Phoenix CS-6 Motorized Blaster, 12 Official Darts, 6-Dart Clip, Scope, Tactical Rails, Barrel and Stock Attachment Points
One of the best semi-auto Nerf guns at an affordable price is the Nerf Elite 2.0 Phoenix CS-6 Motorized Blaster. Upgrade-ready, this blaster can be customized so that users are always ready for any type of battle whether it is close-range or far away. There are stock and barrel attachment points as well as five tactical rails. This also has a removable scope to further adapt to the battle. The CS-6 comes with 12 official Nerf darts, and six of those darts can fit inside the clip. With the motorized function, they can rapid-fire one dart at a time. Batteries are required to get the motorized function to work, but when the darts fly out, they are known to reach up to 90 feet for incredible and fast long-range battling.
What we love
- Easy to add attachments to the CS-6 thanks to the various attachment points
- Has rather good accuracy even when the darts are shot from far away
What We Don't Like That Much
- The scope doesn't actually have a function as it appears made just for show
8NERF Modulus Demolisher 2-in-1 Motorized Blaster, Fires Darts and Rockets, Includes 10 Elite Darts, Banana Clip, 2 Rockets, Stock (Amazon Exclusive)
The Modulus Demolisher 2-in-1 Motorized Blaster is one of the 8 best semi-auto Nerf guns that offer multiple ways of firing. With the clip-fed motorized firing, the blaster can unleash several darts in a row. This can quickly fill up the battlefield with several darts. Alternatively, kids can utilize the pump-action blasting function to shoot out rockets too and completely dominate the competition. This comes with 10 Elite darts that all fit into the banana clip. Additionally, the blaster comes with two foam rockets, but only one can be loaded at a time. More fun is found in the customization of the blaster. The stock is removable. When it's on, it can help keep shots steady at long-range, but by removing it, it makes the blaster more compact and maneuverable.
What we love
- The inclusion of the rocket function makes it fun to fire darts and rockets during a battle
- Switching out or adding the stock takes little time so that it won’t disrupt anything
What We Don't Like That Much
- The included rocket function can make the blaster a bit bulkier