Unicorn darts suit most steel-tip players because the range is built around two reliable templates: neutral straight barrels for control players, and front-loaded teardrop barrels for players who want a steadier flight arc. The strongest lines come from Unicorn's signature players, led by the Gary Anderson Phase 6 (teardrop, front balance) and the James Wade The Machine (straight, center balance). Unicorn is the oldest dart brand still in production, and its current database barrels run from 80% to 97% tungsten.
Quick filter: Open the MyDartFinder tool and set Brand to Unicorn. From there, narrow by weight, grip style, and barrel shape to match the profile sections below.
Which Unicorn Darts Are Best in 2026? (By Profile)
Unicorn's strongest darts in 2026 fall into clear buckets by player profile. For control players, the James Wade The Machine 04 (straight, 90% tungsten, gripRating 2.5) gives a neutral, repeatable feel. For front grippers, the Gary Anderson Phase 6 (teardrop, front balance, gripRating 3) moves mass toward the point. For maximum tungsten, the Purist Evolution Phase 6 (97% tungsten, 25g) packs the highest tungsten content into a wide bomb-shaped barrel.
| Model | Weight | Barrel shape | Grip | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Anderson Phase 6 90% | 21–25g | Teardrop | Ringed (gripRating 3) | Front grippers wanting a steady flight arc |
| Wraith Gary Anderson Phase 6 90% | 21–25g | Teardrop | Ringed + milled rear (gripRating 2.5) | Front grippers wanting rear bite at release |
| James Wade The Machine 04 90% | 21–25g | Straight | Nano front/center, ringed rear (gripRating 2.5) | Control players, neutral all-rounders |
| James Wade The Machine 80% | 20–24g | Straight | Ringed (gripRating 3.5) | Players wanting strong texture on a budget barrel |
| Gary Anderson Noir 90% | 21–27g | Straight | Ringed (gripRating 2.5) | Heavier-weight players wanting a black-coated straight barrel |
| Code 80% Black Green | 20–24g | Straight | Ringed (gripRating 3.5) | All-rounders wanting a textured black-finish value barrel |
| Core XL T95 A Blue 95% | 20–24g | Straight | Ringed (gripRating 2.5) | Precision players wanting a slim 6.2mm profile |
| Purist Evolution Phase 6 97% | 25g | Bomb | Smooth front, ringed (gripRating 3) | Advanced players wanting maximum tungsten at heavier weight |
Specs above are drawn from our darts database. Weights shown reflect the variants available for each line in the database.
What Makes Unicorn Darts Stand Out?
Unicorn darts stand out because Unicorn is the oldest dart brand still in production and anchors its range on long-running signature lines rather than constant model churn. The Gary Anderson and James Wade families alone span dozens of weight and finish variants in our database, which means a player can stay inside one barrel template while fine-tuning weight, grip, and balance. According to Unicorn's published descriptions, the Gary Anderson Phase 6 uses a forward-shifted centre of gravity to steady the dart's flight trajectory.
Unicorn's second signature is the Noir finish, a black titanium-nitride coating applied over machined barrels. The Noir coating gives a stealth-black look without changing the underlying barrel geometry, so a Noir model and its standard counterpart share the same shape and grip behaviour. In our database, Noir-finished lines such as the Gary Anderson Noir and James Wade Noir sit at gripRating 2.5 to 3 on 90% tungsten straight barrels.
Unicorn's range also covers a wide tungsten span. Unicorn's database entries run from 80% tungsten in its value barrels up to 97% tungsten in the Purist Evolution Phase 6. Higher tungsten content allows a slimmer barrel at the same weight, which matters for advanced players stacking darts in tight scoring zones. The Core XL T95 at 20g measures 6.2mm in diameter, narrower than most 90% tungsten barrels at the same weight.
What Are the Best Unicorn Darts for Front Grippers?
The best Unicorn darts for front grippers are the teardrop-barrel Gary Anderson Phase 6 lines, which carry a front balance point that aligns the dart's mass with where a front gripper's fingers sit near the point. A teardrop barrel with front balance encourages a steadier nose-down flight arc, which is the layout Unicorn promotes for Anderson's throw. Front grippers who hold near the tip feel the most benefit from this forward weighting.
- Gary Anderson Phase 6 90%: a teardrop barrel with a front balance point at gripRating 3, offered in 21g through 25g, placing the mass toward the point so a front gripper's hold sits over the dart's centre of gravity.
- Wraith Gary Anderson Phase 6 90%: the same teardrop, front-balanced profile but with a milled rear zone at gripRating 2.5, adding bite where the fingers leave the barrel, for front grippers who want a defined release point.
- Gary Anderson Phase 6 Duo 90%: a teardrop, front-balanced variant at gripRating 2.5, offered in 21g through 25g, giving a slightly lighter texture for front grippers who find ringed cuts at gripRating 3 too sharp.
What Are the Best Unicorn Darts for Control Players?
The best Unicorn darts for control players are the straight-barrel James Wade The Machine lines, which keep the balance point centred for a predictable, repeatable throw. A centred balance point is the most forgiving layout because it absorbs small release inconsistencies rather than amplifying them. James Wade's barrels are built around steady, methodical scoring, which is why the family carries the "Machine" name.
The James Wade The Machine 04 90% is a straight, 90% tungsten barrel at gripRating 2.5, offered in 21g, 23g, and 25g with a centred balance point, giving control players a neutral platform that does not push the nose up or down at release. Players moving from a front-loaded barrel to a centred one often report tighter vertical grouping within a few sessions.
The James Wade The Machine 80% is a straight barrel at gripRating 3.5, the most textured Wade variant in our database, offered in 20g through 24g, suited to control players who want firmer finger lock on a value-tier barrel. The higher grip rating delivers more bite for players who hold with firm pressure.
What Are the Best Unicorn Darts by Tungsten and Finish?
Unicorn's range maps cleanly onto tungsten percentage and finish, because material and coating are recorded per model in our database. Players chasing the slimmest barrel should look to the 95% and 97% lines. Players who want a stealth-black look should look to the Noir line and the Code 80% Black Green. Players on a value budget can stay with the 80% tungsten lines without leaving the brand.
1. Maximum tungsten: Core XL T95 and Purist Evolution Phase 6
The Core XL T95 95% is a straight barrel measuring 6.2mm in diameter at 20g, one of Unicorn's slimmest profiles in our database, which frees board space for tighter stacking in the treble bed. The Purist Evolution Phase 6 97% pushes tungsten content higher at 25g in a wide 7.9mm bomb-shaped barrel, for players who want maximum tungsten at a heavier weight. See our tungsten guide for how percentage affects diameter.
2. Black finish: Noir and Code 80% Black Green
The Gary Anderson Noir 90% is a straight, 90% tungsten barrel at gripRating 2.5 with a black titanium-nitride coating, offered across 21g through 27g, giving players a stealth-black look without changing the grip or balance of the underlying barrel. The Noir coating is a titanium-nitride finish, so the barrel geometry matches its uncoated equivalents. For a more textured black option, the Code 80% Black Green is a straight, 80% tungsten barrel at gripRating 3.5 in 20g through 24g.
3. Value tungsten: James Wade and Silverstar 80% lines
The James Wade The Machine 80% and Gary Anderson Silverstar 80% use 80% tungsten barrels, a lower tungsten density, which gives a slightly wider diameter at the same weight while keeping the brand's signature shapes. As a rule, 80% tungsten suits developing players for whom diameter matters less than grouping technique. Our dart weight guide covers how to choose a starting weight.
Expert Tips for Choosing Unicorn Darts
Match barrel shape to your grip position before chasing weight. In practice, a player who switches from a straight James Wade barrel to a teardrop Gary Anderson Phase 6 feels a larger change in release behaviour than from a 1g weight adjustment, because the balance point moves from centre to front. Lock the shape that matches your grip position first, then fine-tune grams. Our grip position guide explains how to find where your fingers sit.
Treat the Noir coating as cosmetic, not functional. Because the Noir finish is a titanium-nitride layer over the same machined barrel, a Noir model throws identically to its uncoated equivalent at the same weight and grip rating. Choose a black finish on looks alone once you have settled the shape, weight, and grip, rather than expecting a coating to change the throw.
Use the signature families to stay inside one template while you experiment. Because the Gary Anderson and James Wade lines each span many weight and grip variants, a player can move from a gripRating 2.5 Wade to a gripRating 3.5 Wade without changing barrel shape, isolating the effect of grip alone. See our grip types guide for where ringed and razor cuts sit on the texture scale.
Set Brand to Unicorn in the Finder, then add your weight, grip style, and barrel shape to see every matching Unicorn dart ranked by percentage fit.
Find Your Perfect Unicorn Dart →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Unicorn darts for front grippers?
The best Unicorn darts for front grippers are the Gary Anderson Phase 6 lines. They use a teardrop barrel with a front balance point, which moves the dart's mass toward the point where a front gripper's fingers sit. The standard Phase 6 sits at gripRating 3 in 21g through 25g, while the Wraith Phase 6 adds a milled rear zone at gripRating 2.5.
What is the Unicorn Noir finish?
The Unicorn Noir finish is a black titanium-nitride coating applied over a machined barrel. It gives a stealth-black look without changing the barrel's shape, grip, or balance, so a Noir model throws identically to its uncoated equivalent. In our database, Noir lines such as the Gary Anderson Noir and James Wade Noir are 90% tungsten straight barrels at gripRating 2.5 to 3.
Which Unicorn darts have the highest tungsten content?
The highest-tungsten Unicorn dart in our database is the Purist Evolution Phase 6 at 97% tungsten in 25g. The Core XL T95 and Prodigy lines follow at 95% tungsten, with the Core XL T95 measuring 6.2mm in diameter at 20g. Higher tungsten content shrinks barrel diameter at a given weight, helping players stack darts in tight scoring zones.
What is the difference between James Wade The Machine and Gary Anderson Phase 6?
The James Wade The Machine is a straight barrel with a centred balance point, suited to control players who want a neutral, repeatable throw. The Gary Anderson Phase 6 is a teardrop barrel with a front balance point, suited to front grippers who want the mass nearer the point and a steadier flight arc. Both are 90% tungsten in their main lines, spanning 21g to 25g in our database.