Let it rip! The Beyblade Burst QuadDrive Collision Nebula Battle Set gives kids everything they need to start Beyblade battles with their friends.
Beyblades are a toy sensation that were first released in Japan in 1999. Since that release, they’ve seen a lot of success as a fun spin on traditional top toys, both in Japan and here in the U.S. While there have been many iterations of Beyblades, the most recent release is the Beyblade Burst system, featuring battling Beyblade tops designed to burst into three different parts if they’ve been hit enough by an opposing top, adding a dramatic element to any battle.
The Beyblade Burst QuadDrive Collision Nebula Battle Set from Hasbro includes everything necessary to get started with the Burst system. Designed for kids ages 8 and up, it comes with six different Beyblade Burst tops as well as a large stadium for battling. The stadium features different elevations to provide some variety to battles. It’s also simple to set up, with just a few pieces to put in place before it’s ready to host matches. Six tops is plenty for kids to have some variety to play with in those matches.
Beyblade tops are separated into four different categories: attack, defense, stamina, and balance. Attack tops are focused on knocking opposing Beyblades out quickly, while defense tops are designed to take on these attacks. Stamina tops are designed to spin for a long time, hopefully outlasting the opponent Beyblade. Balance tops are a balance between the three other types.
The Nebula Battle Set includes two attack tops (Berserk Muramasa M7 and Roar Fafnir F7), one defense top (Salvage Roktavor R7), two stamina tops (Katana Valtryek V7 and Vanish Balkesh B7), and one balance top (Magma Linwyrm L7), so kids will be able to try out multiple types and see what they like best (and also what fares best against another type). Each top has separate parts that also have their own names and labels. The setup of the tops is pretty easy, though I found referencing the back of the box more helpful than the somewhat limited — and not-in-color — instruction booklet.
The typical Burst Beyblade consists of three layers of parts that players combine before loading the top onto a launcher and sending it into battle. Though the Beyblades have suggested combinations on the back of the box, part of the fun of Beyblade is the ability to mix and match parts. The appeal is finding the strongest combination of different Beyblade parts, which adds a cool layer to the game if your kid finds themselves getting more invested.
A unique element of the QuadDrive subset of Burst Beyblades is that there is even more customization than normal. Kids can place the top “energy” layer in either “apex mode” or “core mode,” and the performance tip can be in either “normal mode” or “plus mode.” There is also an added plastic gravity ring that gives a fourth layer to the Beyblades in this set, contributing to the variety of options.
The Burst element of this set is also lots of fun. I had battled Beyblades until one finally burst apart, and it’s super satisfying to see a top explode into all its different parts (and it’s easy enough to put back together and keep playing with after).
Speaking of battles, Hasbro‘s rules of a Beyblade match are relatively simple. Two tops are released at the same time, spinning in an arena. They’ll almost inevitably do some bumping into each other, and the last top standing wins. Players get points based on how their tops perform (and if their opponent’s top burst apart). To win a match, a player needs to get three points.
One thing to be aware of is that some Beyblades spin left and some spin right. The Nebula Battle Set includes two plastic ripcord launchers to get the Beyblades spinning. Kids will put the ripcord into a different side of the launcher depending on which way the top is supposed to spin, and it’s important to remember which side that is once they start mixing parts around.
If this is all sounding a bit overwhelming, don’t worry too much! There’s a lot to the world of Beyblades, but kids certainly don’t need to know every bit to get started and enjoy playing the game with each other. If a kid decides to become more competitive, they’ll naturally pick up more of the details. But this set is definitely easy enough to put together and start battling with the recommended stock combos, which is exactly what I did as someone who doesn’t compete in Beyblade tournaments.
That, I think, is the strong appeal of this set: It’s fun and easy for the casual player. It has six different tops kids can mix and match; two launchers so kids can begin battling right away; and a nice, big stadium. Though the stock combos as well as the individual parts in this set aren’t necessarily the strongest Beyblades on the market, they make for a nice introduction to the game.
Kids can also use the Beyblade Burst app to scan their Beyblades and add them to a digital collection (and even digitally battle with them). I scanned one of mine and did a couple of battles, but will admit the real fun is seeing actual tops knock into each other in person. I can, however, see the appeal of having an app at the ready to show off your collection.
I’d recommend this set to anyone with kids who are interested in trying out Beyblade for the first time or who are hoping to expand their Beyblade battling options, since the set offers a nice foundation for a future collection. And if they get super into it, there’s Beyblade anime to watch and plenty of tournaments to try their hand at, as well as other Beyblade parts to buy for lots of mixing and matching!
