The first launch of the year from Mission Darts is here, and with it brings 8 new sets of darts, as well as additions to the rebranded Mission-Caliburn Evo range, as well as new darts accessories such as hole-punches and surrounds – this really is a launch to cover all bases!
Mission Darts very kindly sent me out a set of their flagship product for the January 2025 launch – the Mission Horus – which I’ll be reviewing here, as well as covering the full launch, giving my own input into the products launched.
The Horus darts are the third addition to Mission’s premium 97.5% tungsten range, alongside the Archon and Zero darts (which have previously been reviewed here on the Darts World website – links below). Inspired by the pharaoh Horus, the darts feature a black PVD coating, as well as a bronze electro coating, creating a very regal look for the Egyptian god of the sky, the sun, healing, protection and kingship.
The grip of the Horus darts has been split into two distinct areas. The rear of the dart utilises a light knurling, something rather uncommon in modern darts design. While creating a fantastic visual effect with the aforementioned bronze electro coating, the grip felt to me somewhat lacking. The thinly cut knurl felt almost slippery to touch, and as a rear gripper, I found I had to shift my grip to the front in order to feel some traction while propelling the darts.
The front/central grip appears the polar opposite. A simple ring grip, with curved longitudinal cuts along the length of the grip, creates a far more effective feel – it’s clear the barrels have been designed with the front of the dart being the focal point of contact. While I felt this was still not a particularly aggressive feel, Mission’s own grip rating of 7/10 contradicts me. In comparison, Mission awarded their Ryan Joyce darts a 6/10, which to me feel a far more aggressive style of grip. I suppose therein lies the beauty of darts in being a game of such fine margins – there’s never a definitive answer when it comes to personal preferences.
The front of the barrel naturally tapers into a simple smooth bullnose, allowing the darts to effortlessly glide past one another in the board. The darts come equipped with a set of 32mm plain black Mission Glide points, as well as a set of Mission Sabre short black shafts, and textured Mission Horus flights. The darts are 50.80mm in length, and have a varying thickness depending on the barrel weight – the 21g are 6.05mm, the 23g are 6.30mm, and the 25g are 6.55mm, with the 19g soft-tip variation sharing an identical width to the 21g steel-tip, but only 48.00mm in length. All four weights retail at £76.00, and are available direct from Darts Corner, as is the rest of the launch.
The rest of the launch features four more tungsten sets. Firstly, the Mission Lava appears to be a variation of the popular Mission Connor Scutt V2 darts, with a central scallop and long taper down from the centre. While lacking in grip, it makes up for it in visual appeal, with the black PVD coating and red electro plate coating creating the effect of lava running down an ash-coated volcano.
The following two sets, the Mission Venom and Mission Scorpion, I’ve decided to group together. Both feature identical styles of grip, with a mixture of radial grooves, as well as longitudinal grooves, and both keep in theme with the previous sets, utilising a black PVD coating, and coloured electro plate coating. Both sets share a strong resemblance to the discontinued Axiom range – a move that I’m sure will please long time fans of the brand, seeing an older range revived.
The final tungsten set released were the long awaited Mission Matt Edgar match-darts – a set showcased recently at the WDF World Championships. ‘Prime Time’ has built up a strong following on social media over the years, giving insight to thousands into his time as a professional darts player within the PDC, and now WDF systems, and his new darts are sure to be a hit with the (now over) 50,000 followers he’s accumulated.
Three brass sets – the Mission Javan, Rogue, and my personal favourite, Phantom, have also been released, offering new players an inexpensive way to experiment with different barrel shapes, as well as varying types of grip, before moving on to the more expensive tungsten sets.
The Mission-Caliburn Evo range sees two new styles launched, available in three different colours and lengths. Two new flight ranges – Lava and Magma, have also been released, as have new flight punches and surrounds, both available in a multitude of colours.
Rounding out the launch is the Mission Dartboard Stabilisation Kit, a tool to help secure your dartboard to the wall, and prevent it from rotating out of place during play.
What do you think to the Mission January 2025 launch? Let us know over on Twitter/X, @Darts_World!
Mission Archon Review – https://dartsworld.com/2023/06/30/archon-mission-premium-entry/
Mission Zero Review – https://dartsworld.com/2024/08/31/choose-your-weapons-zero-or-hero/
Words: Joe Reid
Images: Mission
