A new Ace of Spades Nerf gun is coming out, and it’s got everyone talking.
Bungie has sent me one to try out, and my cats aren’t fans. The box arrived, and I was surprised by how big it was—about 18 inches long! It’s funny to think of it as a handgun because it’s so huge. No wonder they call them hand cannons in Destiny.
The size is actually great for displaying on a shelf. It feels like the in-game version and isn’t too heavy. It has a nice weight without feeling cheap, even though it’s made of plastic.
Visually, the Ace of Spades looks better than the Gjallarhorn. It has a matte finish and some cool decals, making it look less like a toy. The colors are white and orange, but an Exotic ornament will soon allow players to match it to the in-game look.
Even though it’s a $50 Nerf gun with a battery-powered firing mechanism, it looks pretty nice. Some decals aren’t perfect, but you only notice if you look closely. The left side has some warnings and icons, so it’s best to show off the right side. The fan who designed it, Tofu Bunny, got credit and payment after a bit of drama, and they said they are “very grateful.”
The gun uses batteries to fire 12 darts, six in each drum shell, and reloading is easy with the extra drum. I hadn’t used a Nerf gun in years, so I was surprised by how powerful it was. The Gjallarhorn fired like wet noodles, but this thing has serious punch. To fire, you hold a trigger under your middle finger to rev it up, then pull the main trigger.
We love how Nerf guns have evolved over the years.
I didn’t expect the darts to travel far, but they went 40-50 feet! When I shot a wall from seven feet away, the darts bounced all over the place. You’ll need to hunt for them, especially if your room is cluttered. The orange tips help a bit.
I had to test if getting hit would hurt, so I asked my wife to shoot me. From 12 feet away, it stung but didn’t leave a mark. I shot her back, and her review? “That shit stings,” but it’s a brief sting.
I thought my cats would enjoy chasing the darts, but the noise scared them off. Maybe it’s for the best since chewing the darts could damage them. Guess my dreams of viral cat videos are dashed.
A few small annoyances include the battery compartment being hard to open. It takes four AA batteries (not included), and I had to use a screwdriver to pry it open. I also bent a small plastic divider, causing the batteries to lose contact. Once fixed, the gun worked fine. The drum can fall out if tilted backward, which is good for quick reloads but might drop and break. Thankfully, the drums are sturdy.
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I probably won’t be using the gun a lot, but it looks great on my shelf. After finishing The Final Shape campaign, having this gun to remember Cayde-6 is special. Bungie brought him back in a meaningful way, and even though his story is done, he’ll always be a big part of Destiny’s history.
Like many fans, the recent layoffs at Bungie make me worry about the future, but I’m glad to have this reminder of Cayde and my favorite Destiny moments. And who knows, maybe my cats will warm up to it eventually.
The Ace of Spades Nerf blaster was initially only available to preorder for those who unlocked the new Legend title in Destiny 2. It’s now available for all to preorder on the Bungie Store and is expected to begin shipping in October.
