There has been a longstanding belief that Hasbro likes to spy on the modding community, take ideas, then “idiot-proof” them for new blaster lines down the road. Sometimes we shrug it off as an urban legend, but this time it seems we can’t. Why? Well, because the new Rebelle Messenger did just that. After fiddling around with one, we’re here to tell you that the speculation and early reviews are correct: It is a TriadStrike, and a damn good one at that. From a modder standpoint, this can seem a little defeating, but it actually gives us options. Lots of options.

Now, since it’s been a while since the first “official” Derp Mods mod guide, let’s recap the concept of the TriadStrike. Essentially, one of the first pioneers of the design was Andu Mijomee, who sought to integrate the ergonomics of the Firestrike with the triple-barrel smart system of the Triad. To his credit, he did, and it worked…”meh, pretty well.” Derp One and a few others followed suit and attempted to copy his design, and while the clones turned out Ok-ish, they weren’t quite as good as the original. However, they still worked, and they were still pretty neat.

Fast forward to now, Summer 2014, and the Rebelle line brings us the Messenger, which as other sites have shown it most certainly is an “official” TriadStrike. Horizontal plunger, three barrels on a “smart” AR system, and pretty nice aesthetics make it a strong contender. The darts and its “secret message” technology are of course gimmicks, but hey, all Nerf blasters have gimmicks. How will it stack up, though? Is it “the” solution for a triple-barrel pistol?

Short answer? It performs better than we could have hoped for. A quick comparison of the two blasters outside showed very promising results. Sadly, there’s no video for you because there’s no adequate recording equipment available, but the brief rundown is this:

Three shots from TriadStrike, K-code Elites: Average 38 feet, very tight grouping.

Three shots from Messenger, enclosed darts: Average 53 feet, extremely loose grouping.

Three shots from TriadStrike, Messenger’s darts: Average 12 feet, extremely loose grouping. Turns out the seams of the air hose ruptured again.

Three shots from Messenger, K-code Elites: Average of 55 feet, much tighter grouping than enclosed darts.

The results seem pretty conclusive to us. Though the shots aren’t as tightly-grouped as they are from a TriadStrike, the Messenger seems to out-perform it when given “proper” darts. Still, we’d prefer to have had a tighter grouping of fire for sure, as after about 35 feet or so they start to curve up and to the right (on average). This of course can be corrected for, but still kind of a “bummer” moment. Ergonomically, the Firestrike’s grip is also much more comfortable for extended periods. As I (Derp One) feared, the “skeletal” grip of the Messenger just doesn’t sit well in my hand over extended periods. The trigger pull is also…strange…because of how the grip had to be built up, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

All in all, yes, the Messenger most certainly is a TriadStrike, and a very good one for the price. When you consider the costs of the original build-type (FS $9.99 at Target, Triad $5.99 at Target, after-market springs from OMW approx $13, added fees for adhesives and tools, time) versus that of the Messenger (TRU $14.99), the answer seems clear to us. If you want a challenge, build a TriadStrike. If you want one that works right away and can be improved upon at your leisure, buy a Messenger.