Original/Classic Series

The world of portable water weaponry changed dramatically in 1988 with the release of the Super Soaker 100 (now known as the Super Soaker 50). Unlike the standard issue firearm of the time, Super Soakers required no batteries, held a lot more water and fired a stream of water as opposed to the pulsing streams of the motorized water weaponry. Larami lowered the number of the 100 to 50 and released a larger, albeit fragile, water blaster more deserving of the stature of 100. The success of these two water blasters put Larami well ahead of the competition and allowed them to invest more R&D funds resulting in more incarnations based on the original 50 in the years following. The true Classic Series made by Larami Ltd. are based on the original designs but have some minor design changes to make the blasters a little more effective. The Classic series pays tribute to the water weaponry that began the water war evolution.

General Notes: Payload versus their water delivery is excellent. However, it takes a long time to deliver adequate volumes of water to truly soak a person due to smaller aperture size. Being based on the original designs, these weapons tend to be more fragile and break easily if not handled with care. For sake of simplicity, both Original Models and Classic Series remakes are listed under this heading.

Xtra Power Series

The summer of 1993 marks the start of the 2nd Age of Super Soaker®. The Xtra Power series boasted larger nozzles and a more rugged design compared to the original makes. The first XPs on the market were the XP75, XP150, XP250 and the XP300 (which was actually a SS300 repackaged and made slightly sturdier). The XP35, XP55 and XP95 were released in 1994 bringing the total number of XPs available to seven. These weapons provided decent power for the majority of simple water fights, packing a good punch for their size. The larger nozzle size on all XPs means greater soaking ability.
In 1996, Larami released five more weapons based on the XP system, namely the XP65, XP85 Triple-Shot, XP105, XXP175 and XXP275. These weapons boasted generally greater water capacity and more effective water deliverance. However, the future of the XP as the top-class of water weaponry would be cut short as Larami also released the CPS2000 at the same time. Also, some of the early models suffered from pressure tank problems and reservoir attachment problems.
In 1998, Larami showed the water weapon world how the XP could be refined into truly effective water weaponry. The XP20, XP40, XP70 and XP110 pushed the XP technology to its limits. However, 1998 was the year of the CPS. The XP90 Pulse-Fire, released in 1999, added the novelty of creating a pulsing stream but changed nothing in terms of the inner workings of the XP. Though dethroned from once being the best water weaponry, the XP-class weaponry can still provide good backup and decent firepower even on the modern battlefield.
In 1999, Larami added the SC 400 and the XP 90 to the series.
The year 2000 marked a surge in XP-blasters types. The SC 400:2000 Edition, SC:Triple Charger, XP 15:2000 Edition, XP220, XP240, XP270 and XP310 were made available, showing that the XP line was here for at least the next millenium. These blasters boasted larger capacities than earlier counterparts and were built for serious use on the water war field.
In 2001, the XP line was further expanded with the introduction of the XP215, the XP Backfire and the XP Triple Play.

General Notes: Being based on air pressure to deliver the water, these water blasters have a tendency to trickle as pressure drops. Pumping between and even during shots is recommended just to keep the pressure, thus firing rate, at maximum. The XPs, though now considered an older-model type, are still weapons with soaking power to be reckoned with.

Max-D Series

In 2002, Hasbro Inc. released the Max-D series. The Max-D series is structurally similar to the previous XP series, but the major differences between the Max-D series and the XP series appears to be in the inner workings. The Max-D series' trigger system appears to be rather different than in the XP series. Triggers cause the nozzle to snap open and closed as opposed to the XP series in which nozzles can be opened at various degrees. As well, it appears that the Max-D series can be pressurized slightly higher than the XP series could. The end result is a similar-sized soaker able to produce stronger streams and fire further than their predacessors. In 2003, the Max-D: Secret Strike was added to the Max-D line-up. The Max-D: Secret Strike is the first blaster to feature both a pressurized reservoir as well as a separate firing chamber. The firing chamber feeds a separate fan-blast nozzle activated by pressing the button on the top of the soaker whereas the reservoir feeds the main nozzle that is activated by the trigger.

General Notes: Being based on air pressure to deliver the water, these water blasters have a tendency to trickle as pressure drops. Pumping between and even during shots is recommended just to keep the pressure, thus firing rate, at maximum.

SoakerTag Series

In 2004, Hasbro Inc. released the SoakerTag series of blasters to complement their SoakerTag game. The air-pressure-based SoakerTag blasters use similar internals as the Max-D line. The Triple Aggressor is the first soaker to feature a mini-soaker that is attached and pressurized by the main soaker, but can then be detached and fired separately as a sort of last-resort blaster.

SoakerTag Elite Series

Released in 2005, the SoakerTag Elite series includes both air and CPS-based soakers. This line is being aimed at the more ambitious soaker warrior and is a step towards possibly seeing more powerful soakers in the future.

Max Infusion Series

Released in 2006, the Max Infusion series includes both air, piston, and CPS-based soakers that allow an additional backpack reservoir to be added onto the blaster if so desired. The blasters include the Overload and Defender as well as re-released and modified Flash Flood, Arctic Shock, and Helix.

Water Warriors

In 2003, Buzz Bee Toys Inc. released the Water Warriors series. In many respects, the Water Warrior-brand of soakers appears somehow similar in general design and sizing compared to earlier Super Soaker XP-class blasters. This comes at no surprise when one realizes that many employees at Buzz Bee Toys were former employees at Larami Ltd. Styling aside, the larger Water Warrior blasters feature an electronic pressure gauge that glows green to indicate when the pressure chamber is maximally pressurized. Only the smalled of the Water Warrior blasters fall under the Air Pressure Series. The larger Water Warriors blasters employ a different pressurization system akin to CPS-technology and are thus categorized under the Constant Pressure Series.

Water Warriors Aqua-Master Pre-Charge System

In 2005 (though released in 2004 in the Southern Hemisphere, actually), Water Warriors line introduced the Aqua-Master Pre-Charge Series. The blasters are named after a few of the Noble Gases, namely the Argon, Krypton, and Xenon. While still air-pressure based, the significant difference in these soakers' design is that the pressurized air is contained in a separate compartment from the water. Akin to pre-pumping a soaker with a separate pressure chamber, the Aqua-Master line is first pumped with air only, filling the 'back side' of the firing chamber with compressed air. A switch is then toggled to allow pumping of water into the other half of the firing chamber. The advantage here is that pre-pumping only needs to be done once per use, afterwards only a few more pump strokes of water are required to reach maximum pressure. This design also makes the shots more CPS-like, though not quite.