REVIEW: Worker Phoenix (Why Three Stages‽)

Worker has now entered the OEM foam blaster manufacturing business with the Phoenix: a rather oddball three-stage short dart flywheeler with a through-grip angled magwell.

Is this just marketing spin or does that third stage give you any better performance? Regardless, it's nice to see so many new options on the market after such a disappointing year from Nerf with a capital 'N.' Let's get going!

Buy the blaster here:

Angled short dart Talon Mags (among others compared):

All of Worker's products we sell at Out of Darts (we'll update this when we have the Phoenix itself):

Angled Talon Magazines & Accessories:

"Slanted-Edge" 3D-Printed Angled Talon Mag Extender (+2)

Zippy 2200 mAh LiPo Battery (as used and pictured):

FAQ & Corrections:
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0:00 Opening & Montage
0:53 Introduction
2:11 Phoenix Overview
2:22 Angled Talon Magazines (ft. Slanted-Edge Extenders)
2:57 Rate of Fire
4:33 Battery Compatibility
5:37 Brick-with-a-Grip Aesthetics
6:56 Gameplay Practicality
7:21 Ergonomics
8:24 Performance
10:40 The Grain of Salt
11:45 Modding Platform & Price
13:07 More Blaster Details
14:35 Accuracy
16:02 Rating
16:50 Closing Remarks

Out of Darts, run by Luke is a one-stop Nerf modding hobby shop. We carry all the supplies, tool accessories to make your modding journey easier! We create original 3D printed blasters and mod parts on our own Prusa print farm. Check out our site below for guides, build lists, and resources.

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Edited by J Perry Heun, Out of Darts Video Editor

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Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
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[outofdarts]

Now that you've had a closer look, what do you think? Does the Phoenix have potential?

[toaditoad]

I would like to have just the shell, but the pusher mec should be included. Doesn’t has to be pre installed, just in the box. I would definitely pick one up, if the tripple stage flywheelcage wasn’t in it. Select fire would also be very cool. And please, do the shell in red, so you could run this as your primary and your Limited Edition hurricane as your secondary. That would be so nice.

[legitbread]

Good on WORKER for releasing this blaster; hopefully they'll take the feedback into account and create more blasters in the future!

[Shawn]

Always nice to see a shoutout to Thanh. Love that guy.

[ZakLeek]

That intro music was fitting for a space launch! I also love how you put your logo on the dart when it came out, I had to rewind to see what it was. The shell design is a little odd and I think it may need a proper overhaul if I were to run it. Selling just the shells would be a good idea as modders will be able to put wherever they want, that fits, in it. I don't think I would buy this blaster but it is a neat concept that I hope will lead to something brilliant. Thanks Luka and Perry, keep up the amazing work! 💙💜🧡

[Jakk]

A transparent blue shell would be sweet.

[Grimreaper]

You should do a segment in the video showing hobby grade blaster's internals. I'm interested in what they look like. I have eyes and know it's clear, but in video form I can't see the whole thing. Great review, great video!

[arsenaldelta]

Absolutely a good solid and interesting shell for a better single or dual stage setup. Thanks for the review Luke!

[benjustbenwilldo]

I think you called it with the 3 stage, the pdw/run n gun usage. I would consider it however I feel that at that price point its going be a factor given I own a 3d printer. It's like the Hurricane in that it works out of the box but the selling point is the customisation of it. Personally I'm impressed with the Hurricane and I feel that the phoenix is appealing to modders like the prophecy/swordfish do but just that little bit more accessible. I play in larger outdoor areas and one of the team has one of these I suspect he will make springer guys like me work hard for our tags this Sunday. Great review as usual.

[decepticreepcustoms]

YES! I want just the shell!! I do see platform/shell being something the community can work with and alter to our liking. The blaster with internals isn't something I personally am going to grab just to rip everything out at that price point sadly..

[BradleyPhillipsYT]

I think out of the box ready blasters is important for the growth of the hobby. Look at other skirmish sports and you don't have to build it yourself to go play. While the performance doesn't match home made flywheel blasters, it does match say, the Nexus Pro which is another ready to go out of the box blaster.

[landonbohinc]

PLZZZ try the spring thunder and breaking wind! Good content and love the book!

[davidbradley]

You nailed that review. It needs to shoot harder or faster to really be a top blaster. But for those starting out, it’s a good intro to the hobby

[jaredbaker]

I'm gonna hold off for now and see what aftermarket stuff people come up with for it. I dig the style and triple cage setup, but I'd like to see some more oomph from it. If slapping some new motors in is all it takes for a better firerate and fps, I'm all in

[Zoomed_Out_Tahova]

looks like time to make this a dual stage micro wheel build instead

[charliemaybe]

I think a shell that can be sold but having pre soldered cage, motor, switch. And pusher and dial. You would buy the kit and install it on a shell. You would buy a battery later. There maybe could be different kits with different motor combos with 1 stage and 2 stage and different battery connectors of that is applicable. I think that could be cool. A diy-ish blaster that allows people to build it while not soldering things. It could save people money from customization of motors and shells.

[koenkooiman]

I would love a shell with the pusher mech and pwm, and a dual stage daybreak cage for it. Select fire would be amazing! I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

[joseluisgalvez]

pretty good blaster in my opinion but what kind of ruins it is the angled magazine. I wouldn't buy a lot of new magazines just for one blaster in specific, but besides that, its pretty good blaster!

[nccA]

I definitely would be interested in just the shell and then 3D printing and purchasing separate parts.

[VileMods]

I would like the shell sold separately, as well as the PWM board and pusher system as a kit I can pick up to test out.