Best Nerf Bow and Arrow
- Gary B.
- UPDATED May 17, 2019
- in Outdoor & sport toys
Best Overall
NERF Mega
ThunderBow Blaster
Today’s Nerf guns aren’t like the ones that you had when you were a kid, that’s for sure. They’re so much better! Those hand-held, dart-firing pistols have evolved into some outrageously elaborate Nerf guns bows and arrows. We’ve done some digging and found the best 11 of them, along with some tips to help you find the perfect one for your little warrior.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster
Upgrade Choice
Nerf Dude Perfect Signature Bow

Best Budget Buy
Nerf Rebelle Strongheart Bow Blaster
How to Pick the Best Nerf Bow and Arrow
They all pretty much so the same thing, right? But, it’s the way that they do it that makes each one of our picks stand out above the rest. Here are the key features to consider when you are comparing the different Nerf guns bows and arrows.
1. Recommended Age
You’ll want to take note of the recommended age. We know, we’re always tempted to get them toys made for kids a little older. But, bows and arrows have some considerations to take into account. Each one will require a certain amount of physical strength to maneuver its parts, and there are safety precautions specific for certain ages. The last thing you want is to see their faces fall when they can’t get the arrow to shoot.
2. Type
Pick a target, stalk, aim, and fire. But, what will they be shooting at, and where will they be shooting it? The biggest difference that we found was whether they were shooting darts or arrows. The darts are smaller and softer. And, arrows sometimes seem to travel farther and faster. We were also looking at how many darts and arrows came with the bows. You know those things are gonna get lost!
3. Firing range
You might be looking for one with some power that will fire darts or arrows over 100 feet. Or, you might want something with a little less of a kick. We’ve broken their firing range down into three categories.
- Short-range: less than 50 feet
- Long-range: up to 100 feet
- Ultra-long-range:past 100 feet
4. Rapid fire
Oh, yeah! Rapid fire is over-the-top cool! They don’t all have chambers designed for rapid fire. But, when they do, let the games begin!
5. Size
Think about the size of your child, and the size of the bow. You want them to grow with it, yet still be able to handle it comfortably as soon as they get it.
6. Weight
Along with its size, check out the weight. You’ll notice some differences. You want enough weight to make sure that it’s sturdy, but not so heavy that they will get tired of holding it.
The Winners
#1
Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster
Best Overall
This is like a bow and arrow machine with rapid fire capability. Outstanding! With realistic action, the Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster is flexible, allowing kids to really control the force of the arrow, making it whistle as it glides through the air. It even glows-in-the-dark for some outrageous nighttime action.
- You'll love:
- It comes with 10 darts. More is always better!
- They'll love not having to reload to fire.
- The long-range, soft darts are great for indoors or outside.
- Watch for: The darts do pack a punch!
Age: 8+
Type: 10 darts
Firing range: long-range, 100 feet
Rapid fire: Yes
Size: 3 x 31.5 x 16.5 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
#2
NERF Dude Perfect Signature Bow
Upgrade Choice
NERF Dude Perfect Signature Bow is a little bigger, making it ideal for older kids who’ve outgrown their first Nerf bow and arrow. They’ll be able to nock their arrows like a pro, aim, fire, and before you know it, they’ll be showing off with their trick shots.
- You'll love:
- A great, reusable target is included.
- It's almost realistic, but it's still made for a kid.
- It's the biggest one that Nerf makes, that's cool!
- Watch for: It's not a rapid-fire bow and arrow.
Age: 10+
Type: 2 arrows
Firing range: ultra-long, 105 feet
Rapid fire: No
Size: 4 x 36 x 16 inches
Weight: 5.2 pounds
#3
Nerf Rebelle Strongheart Bow Blaster
Best Budget Buy
Help your little fighter channel her inner Katniss Everdeen with Nerf’s Strongheart Bow Blaster. This crossbow can fire as many as four darts without being reloaded. It even comes with a special message dart and a decoder.
The authentic bow action enables the foam missiles to travel as far as 75 feet into the distance. Whether she’s looking to do some target practice or defeat an opponent, the Rebelle has her covered.
There’s nothing clandestine about this bright pink weapon. Even the foam darts come in a variety of vibrant colors. You can bet this bow and arrow set is for marksmen with an eye for style.
- You'll love:
- It has an authentic bow action
- Fires darts up to 75 feet in the distance
- Watch for: It is not compatible with generic replacement darts.
Age: 8 years and up
Type: Foam dart bow blaster
Rapid Fire: Yes, 4 darts without reloading
Size: 2.36 x 25 x 11.73 inches
Weight: 1.65 pounds
#4
Nerf Big Bad Bow Arrow Refill
Best nerf arrows
A part of the N-Strike Officer Collection, the long, soft arrows make the Nerf Big Bad Bow Arrow Refill ideal for indoor battles, as well as up-close outdoor play.
- You'll love:
- The arrows are padded all over.
- It's a great option for younger children.
- Watch for: The bow isn't flexible.
Age: 6+
Type: 3 foam arrows
Firing range: short-range, under 50 feet
Rapid fire: Yes
Size: 19.2 x 14 x 3.3 inches
Weight: 3.6 pounds
#5
Nerf N-Strike StratoBow Bow
Best Nerf n-strike stratobow bow
Very nice! The Nerf N-Strike StratoBow Bow is a simply designed stratobow that has a clip to hold all 15 darts, for continuous, rapid-firing action.
- You'll love: They'll love the ease of the string-loaded action.
- Watch for: It might take a little practice to get the rapid-fire timing down pat.
Age: 8+
Type: 15 darts
Firing range: long-range, 85 feet
Rapid fire: Yes
Size: 2.7 x 26.5 x 12.5 inches
Weight: 2.2 lbs
#6
Marky Sparky Bow & Arrow
Best Nerf bow for Tweens
This play archery set, Marky Sparky Bow & Arrow has a unique spinning launcher that speeds the foam-tipped arrows at impressive speed. This is a good product for kids who’ve outgrown the kiddie bow toys. Arrows are positioned on the top portion of the bow, right within easy reach. For target practice for intermediate users, this kit will fill the bill.
- You'll love: The force of the arrow when they pull the trigger.
- Easy-reach arrows
- Watch for: It packs a punch when it's fired.
Age: 8+
Type: 6 foam arrows
Firing range: ultra-long, 100+ feet
Rapid fire: No
Size: 18 x 13 x 2.5
Weight: 1 pound
#7
Marvel Avengers Hawkeye Bow
Best Nerf bow for Boys
If your boy is a fan of Hawkeye from the Avengers comic series, the Marvel Avengers Hawkeye Bow set will help them imitate their hero while hunting in the backyard. The set comes with six Nerf arrows with suction cups. The bow is small, so it isn’t appropriate for a school-aged child, but it’s just fine for a 5-year-old. The arrows have a range of about 40 feet, so the range is achievable by the younger kids.
- You'll love: Appropriate size and arrow speed for 5+ years old
- Watch for: Make sure the size of the toy fits your boy.
Age: 5 +
Type: 6 foam arrows
Firing range: short-range, 40 feet
Rapid fire: No
Size: 2.24 x 12.25 x 6.3 inches
Weight: 5.3 ounces
#8
NERF Zombie Strike Outbreaker Bow
Best Nerf crossbow
Wow! The NERF Zombie Strike Outbreaker Bow just looks fearless. With real crossbow action, they’ll be able to fire one shot at a time, with the other darts locked and loaded in the rotating drum, ready for action. Zombies beware!
- You'll love:
- They'll love the way it looks like it's made out of post-apocalyptic scrap. Nice touch!
- The two-handed action is awesome. They get to set the crossbow with one hand, and pull the trigger with the other.
- Watch for:The firing range is best suited for some fierce, close-up, indoor action.
Age: 8+
Type: 5 darts
Firing range: short-range
Rapid fire: Yes
Size: 2.6 x 16.5 x 12 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
#9
SainSmart Princess Bow & Arrow Set
Best Nerf bow and arrow for girls
A stunning pink bow set sports LED lights on the bow to light up her targets. The SainSmart Princess Bow & Arrow Set will delight the warrior princess. Your girl can hit the 9-inch target while sharpening her hunting skills. The lights require two AAA batteries (not included) so she can play indoors or at dusk without hurting her aim.
- You'll love:
- The darts are super-easy to load!
- She can store the extra darts on the bow.
- The darts are soft all over.
- Watch for: It does take a little strength to pull back on the bow string.
Age: 8+
Type: 3 suction cup arrows
Firing range: short-range
Rapid fire: No
Size: 8 x 1.8 x 22 inches
Weight: 16 ounces
#10
Spies Arrow Revolution Bow
Here’s a pretty one that looks like the real thing, with an almost fairy-tale feminine twist to it. With the Spies Arrow Revolution Bow she’ll be able to launch pink and blue arrows from the rotating quiver, safely nailing her targets with the Nerf foam tips. Loads of good, healthy, fun exercise!
- You'll love: Designed for girls, with pastel colors, she'll love mixing in a little girly-girly action into the game.
- It's great not having to reload every shot.
- Watch for: The size might make it a little more suitable for older girls.
Age: 8+
Type: 6 arrows
Firing range: long-range, 90 feet
Rapid fire: Yes
Size: 3.2 x 30 x 15 inches
Weight: 2.7 pounds
#11
Nerf Zombie Strike Wrathbolt
Nerf Zombie Strike Wrathbolt is a great, zombie-destroying crossbow. It’s small enough for quick, handheld action, and it looks like the real thing. There’s even a storage chamber for extra arrows.
- You'll love:
- The force of the arrow when they pull the trigger.
- The arrows make a whistling sound when they're fired.
- Watch for: It packs a punch when it's fired, maybe making it more conducive to outdoors play.
Age: 8+
Type: 2 arrows
Firing range: ultra-long, 100+ feet
Rapid fire: No
Size: 1.7 x 13 x 9.8 inches
Weight: 1 pound
#12
Nerf Rebelle Agent Bow Blaster
The Nerf Rebelle Agent Bow Blaster looks like Cupid inspired Nerf weapon. The bright pink arrows boast secret messages. The Heartbreaker bow boasts a powerful and authentic bow action. Plus, it comes with a detachable quiver. A handheld decoder is included with the set.
The whistling foam arrows are not designed to invoke fear. Yet, their long reach and impressive accuracy make them excellent for backyard target practice. Your little secret agent will love using this arrow set to pull off stealthy yet sweet missions.
- You'll love
- Blasts secret messages
- It's hard to find pink and purple fighting tools
- Watch for: The whistling arrows don't make for good sneak attacks.
Age: 8 years and up
Type: Bow and arrow set
Rapid Fire: No
Size: 2.52 x 30 x 12.24 inches
Weight: 1.65 pounds
Quick Decision
While all of our picks were pretty awesome, in their own right, here are the three Nerf guns bow and arrows that really grabbed our attention.
Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster – Best Overall
With a flexible bow arm giving it real bow action, this lightweight, rapid-firing, glow-in-the-dark beauty holds five soft darts that will fire up to 100 feet, making it the ideal Zombie-destroying machine!
NERF Dude Perfect Signature Bow – Upgrade Choice
With a bow measuring 42 inches, making it the biggest Nerf bow and arrow, it’s recommended for older kids who are a little more serious about target practice and honing their archery skills.
Nerf’s Strongheart Bow Blaster – Best Budget Buy
Priced at around $20, it’s a great starter bow and arrow to get their basic targeting skills started, and it will still shoot and impressive 85 feet.
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Gary B.
Gary is a father of two, self-identified RC fanboy, and part-time guitar plucker. When he's not racing his collection of remote-controlled vehicles or strumming away, we bend his arm and get him to write with precision and expertise on a range of mechanical and electrical toys.
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