Nerf N-Strike Elite Retaliator

The Retaliator is a single shot direct propulsion blaster from the N-Strike Elite range.  It is the reincarnation of the popular and easily modifiable Recon CS-6 with more options for loadouts and a larger clip size.

Usability

The Retaliator is primed using a top handle which you pull back and and slide forward then pull the trigger.  As with the Recon the Retaliator can be a quick firing blaster with a steady hand on the handle and some quick priming with the other hand a fairly decent rate of fire can be obtained.  The blaster is a good length and the added shoulder stock and front grip lends itself well to a comfortable firing position and a pretty intense milsim look.  Although the front grip leads to some decent accuracy it removes the ability to quickly fire the blaster in an intense fire fight.

The blaster is easy to load and the added bonus of the 12 dart clip means less ammo changes and more time in the fray.  Removal of the clip lock can lead to even quicker clip changes as it eliminates the need to prime before changing.

As a pistol with barrel extension removed and the shoulder stock the Retaiator is a mobile secondary weapon that is easy to prime and fire.

The weapon is fairly accurate and comes a front iron sight, in combination with the front grip this allows a good field of view and when against the shoulder means a quick sweeping action can occur.

When in Assault form the tactical rails lend themselves well to the addition of scopes and tactical lights as well as ammo rails making this a complete Nerfers blaster.

Usability Score 8/10

Styling/Loadout

The Retaliator sports the Elite colour scheme blue, orange and white and looks absolutely fantastic and is one of the few blasters I have that I love just the way that it is.  Although if inclined you can add a variety of accesories and retain the milsm look, the addition of a Red Dot scope is my main loadout addition.

When being used as a primary weapon I would loadout with my regular Woodland BDU and chest rig.  Although not a huge user of ammo a spare 2-3 clips would be advisable.  As a secondary the Retaliator would be well matched with a flywheel blaster such as the Barricade or Stryfe for those emergency quick firing situations.

The Retaliator is a well balanced all round blaster with good enough range to remain cautious from a distance or with practice attack a defensive point with quick priming and firing.

Styling/Loadout Score 8/10

Performance

As the below table indicates as with many of the Elite blasters the 15m claimed range (yep not 20m like the USA) is difficult to reach.  In fact in the emptying of the clip during testing only once was this distance reached, but only in pistol formation.  As a rifle the maximum distance was 14m.

The pistol form as with the Recon led to greater overall distance purely due to simple physics such as reduced drag from the barrel extension etc.  The minimum distance fired as a pistol was 9m and 7m as a rifle.  The average distance was 12.7m for the Pistol and 9.4m for the Rifle.

This placed the blaster at 24th as a Rifle and 12th as a pistol.  Keen eyed observers may have noticed the Orange Mod Works sticker in the first shot.  This blaster has been modded with a Stage 1 kit but due to some technical difficulties I have yet to distance test with the mod.

Performance Score 6/10

I absolutely love this blaster and it takes pride of place in my collection.  Despite been let down by performance scores and am hopeful that it will perform well with the OMW Stage 1 kit.

Overall I give this blaster 22/30

The Retaliator Nerf N-Strike Elite	Released 2012
Type	Single Shot Top Prime Blaster
Propulsion	Direct Plunger
Range - Rifle	9.4m (30.83ft)
Range - Pistol	12.7m (41.66ft)
Tactical Rails	2 (Top and Bottom)
Blaster Length	65cm
Boxed Accessories	Shoulder Stock, 12 Dart Clip, Barrel Extension and Front Grip