February is almost upon us and the blaster scene is lighting up with new blasters reveals from Hasbro. Even as i began to write, 3 more blasters were unveiled, making it really hard to keep up with the onslaught of information. I’ll make this post the ‘official’ one having all the product info and prices once Hasbro puts up the PR package on their website, and continue to update it as more products are revealed from Hasbro, Buzz Bee and hopefully BOOMco (fingers crossed).
[18/2/2017 Update] Hasbro’s PR toolkit is out so this post now includes all the official images, prices and product descriptions, along with a few unseen blasters.
Before we get to the newly released stuff, let’s just cover the old yet not actually old leaks and releases. The Rival Nemesis was leaked on Instagram, and promptly acquired by Drac. Opinion is currently split on whether it’d be the ‘game changer’ in HvZ and other formats, as most of the previous contenders for the title failed to leave a mark(namely the Raider, Stampede, Rapidstrike), but its mostly positive (I’ll have a future post discussing the Nemesis). In other news, Nerf Nitro, a new line of blasters that shoot foam cars was revealed by Wired. I Â have little interest in blasters shooting foam cars other than the market strategy they imply; Hasbro is trying to go up against Mattel’s hugely successful Hot Wheels, a franchise embedded deep in the nostalgic hearts of kids and adults around the world. One thing that’s sure to happen is that Mattel will lose some, if not a lot, of the Toy Car shelf space.
Coming to the even newer releases, we have a rather impressive lineup of blasters that fill a lot of demands of the NIC. Let’s dive right in!
N-Strike Elite Accustrike
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE RAPTORSTRIKE Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Practice honing your skills and hitting your mark with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE RAPTORSTRIKE blaster. This clip-fed blaster with pop-up sight, adjustable stock and bipod helps players line up their shot and to aim with precision and confidence. Includes two six-dart clips and 18 ACCUSTRIKE series NERF darts. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com
There’s little doubt concerning the increased accuracy of the Accustrike darts compared to their ‘elite’ brethren . However, the blasters that have been released so far are generic in their functioning and have failed to bring anything new to the table. This trend unfortunately continues with the Raptorstrike. It is an aesthetically pleasing blaster, it does have the cool magazines, and it does act as the successor to the Longstrike, but at the end of the day, its a mag-fed bolt action blaster. Not that there’s anything wrong with it; I’ll happily buy it based on looks alone. The Accustrike aesthetics have really hit it off with the community and the Raptorstrike is a welcome, if not a game changing, addition to the Accustrike line.
NERF REBELLE COMBOW Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Fall 2017)
The NERF REBELLE COMBOW blaster lets fans play with double the power and double the fun. Featuring ACCUSTRIKE series NERF REBELLE darts designed for increased accuracy, and boasting a 2-in-1 blaster and bow design, the COMBOW blaster is ready to make its mark! Includes eight ACCUSTRIKE series NERF REBELLE darts. Available at select major toy retailers and at HasbroToyShop.com.
No picture as of now but I’ll put one up as soon as i find one. Its basically a combined bow+ hammer action blaster.
Nerf RIVAL
NERF RIVAL NEMESIS MXVII-10K Blaster
(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $99.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Dominate blaster battles with the NERF RIVAL NEMESIS MXVII-10K blaster. This blaster has a colossal 100-round capacity to outlast the competition! The fully-automatic NEMESIS MXVII-10K blaster features the first ever easy load hopper for high-speed reloads, and is compatible with the Nerf Rival rechargeable battery pack (sold separately). Includes 100 NERF RIVAL foam rounds. Requires 6 D batteries, not included. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
Mega Twinshock
NERF MEGA TWINSHOCK Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Experience double-barrel MEGA blasting power with the NERF MEGA TWINSHOCK blaster! The pump-action blaster shoots two MEGA darts at a time, sending darts flying up to 90 feet! Want to shoot one dart at a time? The TWINSHOCK blaster has a single-fire option. Includes 10 MEGA whistler darts. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyshop.com.
The Twinshock is another ‘fan-service’ blaster that the community had been asking for a long time. I see it serving as a special support in breaking down Mega-only walls and in securing VIP kills. This was first leaked and reviewed by Hartley Ju Nerf, who seems to be  adept in getting blasters very early. The Twinshock, along with the rest of the newly released blasters, bears testimony to the fact that Hasbro listens to the community and make sure it reaches out to both the dominant child market and the enthusiast market.
ModulusÂ
NERF MODULUS REGULATOR Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Bring the power of three firing modes with one epic blaster! The NERF MODULUS REGULATOR blaster features singlefire, burst-fire, and fully motorized blasting power. The REGULATOR blaster is customizable and compatible with accessories within the MODULUS system, sold separately, so fans can build their blasters and have the ultimate blasting experience. Includes two 12-dart clips and 24 MODULUS darts. Requires 4 C batteries, not included. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyshop.com.
I don’t think I’ll get tired of saying ‘fan-service’ in this year’s blaster releases. Another highly requested feature has made it to stock blasters and the NIC is, well, excited? Many modders have raised concern over how over-volting the IR powered select fire mechanism might burn it up, while some have continued to question the reliability of the conveyor belt feeding system. Perhaps the bigger problem that I see right now is that the select fire controls are on the right side. Flicking the Stampede’s on switch has become second nature to me given that its placed right where my thumb rests. For the Regulator, a right handed person would have to use his/her trigger finger to control the select fire switch. The whole issue can be bypassed if there are controls on both the sides, but we can’t see the other side as of now. Other than that, the inverted tac-rail barrel attachments are pretty cool for on-the-go Masterkeys, and the storage stock is a massive improvement from the flimsy Modulus stock. In what it is stock and what it brings to the table, the Regulator is a highly anticipated blaster, and its relatively cheap at about $60.  The utility and the mod potential of the Regulator is open to debate, feel free to discuss in the comments.
NERF MODULUS DAY/NIGHT ZOOM SCOPE Accessory
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Let battles rage all day and night with the MODULUS DAY/NIGHT ZOOM SCOPE accessory! When the sun goes down, simply switch to Night Mode for better vision no matter the time of day. See your target from farther distances with the 5x digital zoom. Upgrade any MODULUS blaster all day, every day. Requires 4 AA batteries, not included. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyshop.com.
Nerf DoomlandsÂ
NERF DOOMLANDS THE JUDGE Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Bring justice to a doomed land with the DOOMLANDS THE JUDGE blaster. With an impressive 30 dart capacity, THE JUDGE blaster can fire three darts at once! This massive blaster is ready for anything the post-apocalyptic wasteland can send its way. Includes 30 DOOMLANDS Elite darts. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyshop.com.
Did you say ‘The’ before saying ‘Judge’? If not, please do so, as the Judge, in all its dystopian unholiness, demands you to. This over-sized apocalyptic monstrosity is one of my personal dream blaster designs realized by Hasbro (Although mine required Sledgefire shells). Its just the sheer intimidation factor that this blaster has that earns it the ‘the’ title, let alone the imposing dynamos, the riveted barrel and just the overall bulkiness of its design. Now if it has slam fire…
Zombie Strike Dreadbolt
NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADBOLT Bow
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Outsmart and dominate the zombie hordes with the ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADBOLT blaster. The first-ever arrow-firing ZOMBIE STRIKE crossbow, the DREADBOLT blaster can take down zombies like never before. Use the detachable scope to line up the target, aim, and fire! Includes five arrows and detachable scope. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyshop.com.
Rebelle arrows are back in action with the third crossbow addition to the Zombie Strike line, and its OK at the very most. The Zombie Strike design peaked with the Slingfire but started to wane with the CrossCut, the Brainsaw and hit an all time low with the abomination that was the Outbreaker bow. The new Zombie Strike shells lack the frugal yet contoured appeal of the earlier blasters and instead choose to just throw in pipes, wrenches, scissors that look craggy and off-putting. And that too for $50? No thanks.
PS: The grey wrench below the bow arms is the priming handle. It pivots down like the Twisted Spinner’s handle.
Alien Menace Voidcaster
NERF ALIEN MENACE VOIDCASTER Blaster
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Fight off aliens with the new ALIEN MENACE VOIDCASTER blaster! The blaster’s unique styling and pump action power gives NERF fans an edge against the intergalactic foe. The VOIDCASTER blaster fires four darts in a row without reloading and has storage for an extra four darts for easy reloading. Includes 8 ALIEN MENACE Elite darts. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com. #\
The Alien Menace line seems to be heading in the right direction as far as aesthetics are concerned. The Voidcaster seems to blend the futuristic and biological aspects pretty well, although wielding a blaster with a rather unorthodox design and trigger (which I guess is the front orange part of the handle) might be ‘alien’ to users. Unfortunately, it seems like the Voidcaster will be the only menace the aliens have to face in 2017. No other blasters were mentioned in the Alien Menace category.
Nerf Nitro
NERF NITRO MOTOFURY RAPID RALLY Set
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2017)
Launch your cars to the sky with the motorized NERF NITRO MOTOFURY RAPID RALLY set. Load the car into the clip, align the high-jump ramp and pull the trigger to let it fly! Set up and customize the obstacles included to achieve epic stunt status and challenge friends! Includes one blaster, one high-jump ramp, one long-jump ramp, nine NERF NITRO foam cars, and twelve obstacles. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
NERF NITRO DUELFURY DEMOLITION Set
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Summer 2017)
Get ready for head to head NERF NITRO competition with the NERF NITRO DUELFURY DEMOLITION set! Grab a friend, build the stunt challenge, and see whose NERF NITRO vehicle will come out on top. Rearrange the obstacles each time for a new challenge! Includes two blasters, two long-jump ramps, two rings of fire, four NERF NITRO foam cars, and eight obstacles. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
NERF NITRO FLASHFURY CHAOS Set
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Summer 2017)
Ready, aim, and fire! The NERF NITRO FLASHFURY CHAOS set has a unique multi-fire option that can launch NERF NITRO vehicles in a flash. Load NERF NITRO vehicles into the blaster and pull the trigger to launch three cars in a row, into the pop-up target. Set includes one blaster, one long-jump ramp, one pop-up target, three NERF NITRO foam cars and six obstacles. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
NERF NITRO LONGSHOT SMASH Set
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Summer 2017)
Build long-distance jumping stunts and send NERF NITRO cars soaring with the NERF NITRO LONGSHOT SMASH set! Send NERF NITRO vehicles roaring at full speed towards the ramp and watch them fly. Set up additional obstacles for an even greater challenge! Includes one blaster, one long-jump ramp, two NERF NITRO foam cars, and four obstacles. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
NERF NITRO THROTTLESHOT BLITZ Assortment
(Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Summer 2017)
Go full throttle! The NERF NITRO THROTTLESHOT BLITZ is a single shot blaster that sends NERF NITRO vehicles racing into amazing stunt action. Includes one blaster, one NERF NITRO foam car, and two obstacles. Available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com.
Well, that does it for this time. I’ll be further updating this post if more content pops up, and there will be a separate post for Buzz Bee, Zuru and hopefully BOOMco releases. Till then. have a great time!
Delta Nerf 