Is the premium Nexus Pro worth it? | Dart Zone Pro Mk-1.2 REVIEW

Dart Zone has been hitting it out of the park in recent years, and there were no signs that they were resting on their laurels. Release after release, their Pro-Max offerings have been solid blasters, and they look to improve upon the hits of the year prior. That is, it seems, until the DZP Mark-1.2.

Off the back of the 1.0, the 1.1, and the Nexus Pro and Max Stryker, this blaster claims pro performance and unmatched compatibility right out of the box. However, like a multitool, it can do many things poorly and very few things well. While it delivers the performance, the folding N-Strike buffer tube stock adds unnecessarily flex, and the full-length magwell leaves too much room for jams and misfeeds.

This is a long review, so strap in and let's talk about it…

In case you do want to purchase this blaster, here's a non-affiliate link to the Amazon listing:

If you want to purchase any compatible mod parts or accessories for this blaster, we'll be updating listings soon to show up with the link below:

FAQ & Corrections:
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0:00 Opening & Montage
0:47 Introduction
1:04 The Dart Zone Pro Tour
1:48 Background
2:48 The Dart Zone Pro Mk-1.2
3:24 Magazine Compatibility
4:27 Adjustable Sights
4:56 Picatinny Rails
5:52 Ergonomics
7:22 Take-Down Pins
7:49 Muzzle Compatibility
8:28 Stock Issues
11:29 Performance
12:10 Jamming Issues
14:05 A Later Luke Addendum
15:27 Rating
16:06 Closing Remarks

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Edited by J Perry Heun, Out of Darts Video Editor

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Track: Pro - Cushy
Music provided by Epidemic Sound
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[Sillybutts]

An update to my jam fix, some people have found that you can fully remove the floppy bit of the pusher, and it functions mostly fine-ish.
Same solution as my mod, but it's reversible... if you wanted to for some reason.

It doesn't fix all the other issues with the blaster unfortunately.

[outofdarts]

What do you think of Dart Zone's latest entries in their Pro-Max lines? We've got a lot of them in the warehouse for testing, so stay tuned for more coming soon!

[bhizzle]

I got mine from participating in the fpt, and I really enjoy it after replacing the stock and fixing jam issues (just remove the dart guide). It gets good performance stock and can be easily detuned for lower power games with the low power spring, and I love the grips. However I just can't recommend this blaster. You shouldn't have to rely on a fix for a $130 blaster to be usable as advertised. If you really want it, wait for a sale or see if you can buy one off an fpt player who doesn't want theirs.

[notnuffnerf]

Spicy intro!!! 🔥 Got this in yesterday I can’t wait to handle it and give my thoughts. More comments coming as I watch! 🔫💚

[guitarman]

I appreciate the honesty in the review, and even more so appreciate the well articulated thoughts instead of just angry ranting about the product. It makes it seem like you truly thought out your opinion and the issues before getting in front of a camera. A professional through and through

[crispy]

Thanks, just picked up a brand new nexus pro for $27 at my local Walmart and now have zero regrets

[harryrobinson]

Hey I know I'm really late to this, but I live in Australia so getting this blaster here was a real hastle but very much worth it. After a year of using this blaster consistentley I only had one issue. A peice of an internal actually broke so I had to super glue it back on. But since then I have given this blaster a barrel extension and a scar barrel and it is amazing shooting around 230 FPS, letting me hit some crazy distance shots. So over all great blaster apart from the stock.

[GrimzNerfWorks]

I also did a fairly extensive test/ review of the 1.2, and I would agree with your opinion. The only way to truly "fix" the jamming, is to remove the locks, and the dart guide at the top. The overall quality on the blaster is not representative of what Dart Zone has shown they are capable of doing. With that in mind, and considering they discontinued the 1.1 the only similar products to recommend are the nexus/ striker & the upcoming Game face Trion.

[PlanetMynd]

Your honesty is very much appreciated! I needed this review to properly evaluate whether I would bring this into my store inventory.

[TnTEvents]

I am on Nebula and during Foamcon, teams did photoshoots. We were asked to do some "tricks" with the blasters.

I had the mk1.2, I won't go into what the trick was but, I flipped the stock to the extended position, put it into my shoulder, the force broke the stock and it cut my lip open. 🙃

We still got thrid so I can't complain

[TheSybermedic]

Thanks for the great in depth review. I'll stick with my Max Stryker as everyone is saying Mk. 1.2 has nothing better to offer over the Max Stryker.

[Rj_weirdo]

Though I also did silly’s cut outs, I figured out taking the whole tooth dart guide, that sits ontop, out which was a simple screw, it worked but it was really odd cause figuring out the tooth guide was pushing darts down or up which wasn’t giving a correct feed to dart gate and barrel. Since than I haven’t had any issues with it but we also did figure out that the spring itself sometimes gets kinked inside the blaster, after multiple uses.

Great video Btw!

[CRNerf]

I appreciate your honesty. Thank you for the video. Thankful for the whole OOD team. Take care.

[davidrandall]

Thank you for giving an honest review.

[malcolmr]

Thanks for the honest review. Liked the look of it but maybe ill wait until 1.3 offering.

[curtfury]

Thanks for the great review Luke…. Always good to hear someone’s experience

I have messed with mine for a week now and I will say I haven’t had a jam problem yet….. but it’s so widespread that I’m just thinking I am lucky

I do agree that the stock is bad…. The grips do move too much and the side rails have a slight wiggle to them

But for firing my blaster a week in has not jammed once yet

[botsnblasters]

Great Review Luke! I always appreciate your in depth dives into these blasters especially from someone who actively makes their own blasters I value your input a notch above the rest.

[Thesnakerox]

When I first saw this blaster in action, I immediately became concerned about the folding stock--generally speaking from what I've heard, the more articulation any mechanism has, the less reliable it becomes.
Also, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I think N Strike attachment points have really no place in the 140+ FPS performance bracket. I get that more people probably have bigger inventories of N Strike stocks, but buffer tube stocks are generally more robust by design because they're made for airsoft and such.

I don't think I was ever going to purchase this blaster anyway given how much better value things like the Nexus and Stryker are, but most of the reviews I've seen are enough to convince me that this one's pretty much a flop.
Hopefully Dart Zone makes something better in the Mk 1.3 if they plan to continue the Mk 1.X lineage though!

[nirodha]

Needs a custom more forward oriented priming grip (also vertical but totally at the front of the mounting solution). Make one for your shop.

Edit: just unpaused to hear you suggest this emediately after yourself :-) Carry on!

[bottledwaterprod]

Still can't believe that it made it to market like this. Let alone forcing players to use it in a tournament. Literally all their other releases this year (even the ones with similarly baffling qc) are a more compelling choice. Heck just perfecting my Nexus Pro is a more compelling option atm.