Nerf N Series Minecraft Pillager’s Crossbow

We’ve seen a Nerf Minecraft Pillager’s Crossbow before. It wasn’t great; given the three shots, bulky and uncomfortable construction, bland attempt at being in-theme, and the price, I’m actually shocked I gave it a 6.6/10.

This year, the N Series Minecraft Pillager’s Crossbow is a far better blaster. For $25, you get a stylized six-shot revolver that actually looks like it came from the game. You’re still paying a licensing tax in the price, of course, but for a blaster you can actually use in foam/block combat? Worth it for the fan in your life.

It’s All About Agility?

That is the base of this design, after all. I’ve already reviewed the N Series Agility, and the Pillager’s Crossbow is functionally the same. It’s the same style of cylinder and rotation mechanism. You prime the blaster by pulling back on the slide action, and then let it retract. The performance is similar, as well. It’s slightly lower here (or at least in the Crossbow I bought), though overall the numbers will probably be similar across the production line. If it works, don’t change it!

The Pillager’s Crossbow is more comfortable than it has any right to be. The main handle is a simple angle with a trigger on the front, but it’s decently comfortable and fits the overall aesthetic, so I can forgive any shortcomings. The handle itself is large enough for a wide range of hands, from kids through adults.

There is some assembly required, and some locks that prevent blaster operation are only engaged once the pieces are assembled. Naturally, that just means I had to take the blaster apart for pictures first before the rest of the review. In particular, should you desire to remove it, I have pictures of the piece you’d be removing, and where it is once you open the blaster.

In any case, it’s an easy blaster to understand and use!

Performance and Gameplay

The Pillager’s Crossbow is fun to use in a Nerf war, even if you’re the only guy with a basic blaster on the field. Like the rest of the line, the N1 darts fly decently far, though accuracy is lacking compared to many other available dart types. Reloading on the fly is easy – you can turn the cylinder by hand to expose any open barrels as needed.

I averaged 87fps with the included darts, and could fire two darts per second. Those are good for a pistol. There is no slamfire, so you’re ultimately limited by how fast you can complete all the motions.

Should I Buy?

If you’re a Nerf and a Minecraft fan, or even just the latter, yes. It looks like something straight out of Minecraft, down to the “voxel” color scheme, and making a themed blaster didn’t compromise its functionality in any way. If you just want a Nerf revolver, the Agility is only $10 MSRP…but I have to admit, I enjoy using this more than the Agility. It could be I’m just a goofball…and that’s perfectly alright.