The Modulus series from Nerf is designed for easy part-swapping modifications, but mod hobbyists don’t stop there. Sanding, adding non-Nerf parts, and even 3D printing new pieces are all part of the fun and appeal of modding your own Nerf guns.
Anyone can sand and repaint their Nerf to better suit their style. What is the best Nerf for modding?
The Nerf N-Strike Maverick REV-6 is widely held to be the best Nerf gun for modding. This particular model is extremely accessible and easy to work with. The exterior is smooth, so you don’t need to worry about sanding and it’s very easy to take apart.
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Top 5 Best Nerf Guns For Modding
You can mod any Nerf blaster, but not all Nerf guns are created equal when it comes to changing things up and reworking the details.
Some models are made to swap out parts, making them a great place to start. However, other Nerf blasters have a ‘blank slate’ appeal because they aren’t jammed full of logos and molded plastic details.
As a huge Nerf fan and a modder, I have played with, taken apart, and changed up more than a few Nerf blasters.
Narrowing it down to the top five was a delightful challenge. However, the blasters below are all ideal candidates in different ways.
1 – Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster – (Best Nerf Gun Mods Ever)
The Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster has some of the best prefab mods ever. However, it also has the distinction of having one of the most popular DIY mod styles around.
The Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster-Sniper is a fan favorite build, and it’s not hard to see why. Nerf sniper-style blasters are top-end pieces, so creating a unique sniper is fun and cost-effective for mod fans.
If you want to try the sniper build for yourself, you can get the Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster from Amazon. The Tri-Strike is a great base model because it already has multiple modes, and it’s highly customizable out of the box.
- 3 WAYS TO BLAST: The Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike blaster has 3 different launchers, giving you 3 ways to blast. Fire Nerf Elite darts, Nerf Mega darts, and a Nerf rocket
- ELITE DART BLASTER, MEGA BARREL, and ROCKET LAUNCHER: Use the bolt-action Elite dart blaster by itself, or attach the included Nerf Mega barrel extension or rocket launcher for more ways to play
- CREATE A SEPARATE ROCKET LAUNCHER: Attach the 2 rocket launcher pieces together to build a launcher that you can use on its own
- INCLUDES 10-DART CLIP, 10 ELITE DARTS, 4 NERF MEGA DARTS, 1 NERF ROCKET: This Nerf toy blaster comes with foam projectiles for all 3 blaster styles, and a removable clip for the Elite blaster
- GREAT GIFTS FOR KIDS: Nerf Modulus blasters are great backyard toys for 8 year old boys and girls. They’ll have fun changing blaster styles as they play. Each sold separately, subject to availability
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I also recommend watching this video from COBBACrazy. He shows off the barrel and other features of a sniper build and explains most of what you need to know to create your own Tri-Strike Sniper.
2 – Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS – (Best Nerf Gun To Mod For Power)
One of the best things about a Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS is that it’s easy to up the voltage if you know a little bit about wiring.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be an electrical engineer to get more power out of the Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS. Moreover, anyone can change a spring out to add a little more force.
Use a stretched-out 52 spring and check out this YouTube video on the subject for step-by-step instructions on what he did to raise the voltage and add power to this model.
The Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS comes with a lot of parts, which means you’ll be taking out a ton of screws, but there’s nothing quite like it for a power-up modification.
- The Nerf N-Strike ECS blaster is one of the most awesome and exciting N-Strike developments released in over 40 years of Nerf brand history
- The first fully automatic Nerf Clip System blaster to date
- A removable shield allowing players to transition to Attack Mode
- The ultimate full auto clip system blaster complete with a Blast Shield, 3 Extended Clips, 1 Quick-Reload Clip and 60 darts
Last update on 2024-04-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3 – N-Strike Maverick REV-6 – (Easiest Nerf Gun To Mod)
The N-Strike Maverick REV-6 is the easiest and most common Nerf gun to mod. Because of the simple exterior, which is mostly smooth, you don’t need to worry about sanding down a million small areas to get paint to stick.
More importantly, this model is easy to take apart.
Especially if you are a beginner looking to get in on the fun of Nerf gun modification, I strongly recommend picking up one or two N-Strike Maverick REV-6’s to work on.
4 – Nerf Modulus ECS-10 Blaster – (Most Customizable Nerf Gun)
There are tons of outstanding Nerf guns to customize at home, but the most customizable out of the box is the Modulus ECS-10 Blaster.
As part of the Modulus series, this blaster is made to morph and change its style to suit the user.
Not only is it simple to rearrange the ECS-10, but there are numerous mod kits with compatible parts. For no-fuss, built-in versatility, it’s hard to beat this blaster.
- MORE THAN 30 COMBINATIONS: The motorized Nerf Modulus ECS-10 blaster includes Nerf accessories to create lots of different play styles. Change the look of the blaster for every Nerf game
- INCLUDES NERF SCOPE, DROP GRIP, DUAL-RAIL BARREL EXTENSION, AND STORAGE STOCK: The removable accessories let you create multiple blaster combinations
- MOTORIZED DART BLASTING: Hold down the acceleration button to activate the motor and pull the trigger to fire a dart. Requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included)
- INCLUDES 10-DART BANANA CLIP AND 10 NERF ELITE DARTS: Fire 10 foam Nerf darts in a row. Store an extra clip in the stock for reloads (additional clip sold separately, subject to availability)
- GREAT GIFTS FOR KIDS: Nerf Modulus blasters are great backyard toys for 8 year old boys and girls. They’ll have fun changing blaster styles as they play. Each sold separately, subject to availability
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4 – Rampage N-Strike Elite – (Best Collectible Nerf Gun To Mod)
With hundreds of Nerf guns to choose from, sometimes the best project is to pick an unusual or collectible blaster to re-create.
In my opinion, the best collectible Nerf gun to mod is the Rampage N-Strike Elite. This model is modern enough to be part of the Elite, which means it already has outstanding long-range firing capabilities.
Plus, it has a powerful twenty-five dart drum.
The overall style of the Rampage N-Strike Elite lends itself to easy modifications. Most importantly, there are no batteries or powered parts, so you don’t need to worry about electronics getting damaged.
- High-capacity 25-dart drum: The Nerf Rampage blaster’s drum holds up to 25 darts and includes 25 official Nerf Elite foam darts giving you plenty of firepower for Nerf battles
- Slam-fire action for rapid dart blasting: shoot a rapid-fire dart Storm at targets with the toy blaster’s slam-fire action feature as you hold down the trigger and slide the handle
- Hand-powered blasting up to 90 feet (27 meters): you're in control as you prime and fire the Rampage Nerf blaster by hand -- No batteries required -- and send darts flying up to 90 feet (27 meters)
- Includes 25 darts: includes 25 official Nerf Elite darts that are designed for distance, tested and approved for performance and quality, and constructed of foam with flexible, hollow tips
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5 – Modulus Long Range Targeting Upgrade Kit & Modulus Day / Night Zoom Scope – (Best Nerf Gun Mod Kits)
Nerf has made plenty of cool Nerf gun mod kits, but they can’t all be the best.
The two most extraordinary mod kits available right now are the Modulus Long Range Targeting Upgrade Kit and the Modulus Day / Night Zoom Scope. Both help give you a better view of the action from a safe distance.
The Long Range Targeting Upgrade Kit comes with three vital mods. The scope gives you a great view, a muzzle extension helps stabilize your shots for long-range, and the bipod legs allow you to complete the sniper look and feel with just three add-on parts.
- N-Strike Elite blasters and Elite darts deliver the ultimate in blaster performance
- Mega Series blasters feature Mega Whistler Darts that scream through the air
- Defend against a zombie invasion with ZombieStrike blasters
- Ignite the night with FireVision sports gear that glows when thrown
- Raise your game with the Pro-Grip Football and Nerfoop basketball set
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
My absolute favorite of all the Nerf gun mod kits only comes with one part, but it’s the Modulus Day/Night Zoom Scope.
This exceptional piece of equipment has a display screen and an infrared mode. Plus, you get up to five times magnification, so you can easily target your opponents.
- Up to 5x magnification
- Infrared mode
- Display screen
- Attaches to Nerf Modulus blaster tactical rails
- Includes scope and instructions.
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Nerf Gun For Modding Buyers Guide
Selecting the ideal Nerf gun to mod is primarily a matter of personal taste and skill level. However, there are a few things to consider whenever you look for a blaster to modify.
I’ll walk you through the most important things to check before buying. Bookmark this page for easy access the next time you’re looking for a new Nerf gun to modify.
1 – Designed For Mod vs Good Raw Material For Modding
There are two easy approaches to finding a good Nerf blaster o modify. First, you can go with a pre-made modifiable Nerf gun that has removable parts.
This is a great way to introduce a friend or even your kids to the wonderful world of custom Nerf. Not only are prefabricated modifiable Nerf guns a ton of fun to rearrange, but the skill required isn’t massive.
Alternately, when you’re looking to DIY every aspect, you need a Nerf gun that is good raw material.
The more small molded details, the harder it will be to sand and paint or add parts onto. Look out for Nerf guns with sleek sides and not a ton of texture, as these will be the simplest to work on.
2 – How Easy To Disassemble
When picking out your Nerf gun to mod, you always have to consider how hard it is to take apart. The more internal machinery and parts it has, the more challenging it will be to disassemble for sanding and painting later.
Plus, it can be a real challenge to get everything back inside correctly if you don’t have much experience. It’s also essential to consider which tools you need to take apart the Nerf gun you want to modify.
3 – Does It Have Electronics
Electronics is either a significant boon or a significant detractor for most people who want to modify their Nerf blasters.
On the one hand, getting all the electronic components in and out of the gun can be incredibly hard to do. Tiny pieces break easily and fixing them isn’t something every modification fan knows how to do offhand.
Alternately, some modders prefer adding more lights or increasing the voltage on their Nerf gun. A basic setup inside with a motor and lights or sounds can make a great jumping-off point for the mechanically inclined.
While you shouldn’t get too far out of your comfort zone too quickly, part of the fun of modding out your Nerf is learning new skills as you go. Don’t be afraid to try something different.
4 – Fine Details
The level of sculpted plastic detail on any given Nerf gun is always something to look at. If you plan to do a lot of painting, then more crevices and small parts mean you’re going to need to spend significantly more time sanding.
However, those little details can also lend themselves to some very cool modifications.
Consider how much time you have to give your project. What is your goal? Do the details on the Nerf gun you’re contemplating lend themselves to your vision, or are they in the way?
More importantly, is the plastic thick enough where the designs are for you to sand them without damaging the integrity of the blaster?
5 – Does It Have Rails
Many modern Nerf guns come with rails already included. Many of the Nerf blasters that aren’t a part of the Modulus line may have rails.
Naturally, you can create your own instead if you prefer. Even when the blaster had rails, to begin with, you can remove and replace them.
Still, preexisting rails make it simple to slide on a scope or other parts. Choosing a model with rails can make the whole process more manageable, but it depends on your design idea.
Pick the blaster you like that fits with your goals and skill level, and you’ll always have fun.