Mantis builds several dry-fire training systems, and they do not all treat a target the same way. Some need no target at all. One reads a laser on a physical target through a phone camera. The practical question for anyone who already trains on life-size paper is whether Mantis Laser Academy targets can be swapped for a full-size scenario or anatomical sheet. They can, with one specific feature in one specific app. This guide covers every current Mantis system, what each one does with a target, and the exact steps for using a GunZee target with the system that can score it.
Product details here come from Mantis's own product pages, FAQ, and Laser Academy user manual, checked on October 1, 2026, and linked throughout. GunZee makes paper targets and is not affiliated with Mantis.
The short answer
- MantisX sensors (X2, X3, X10 Elite) measure how the gun moves during the trigger press. They do not need a target and do not know where a shot would land.
- Laser Academy is the system that reads a target. A phone or tablet camera watches a physical target and scores each laser hit. Mantis's own Smart Targets are recognized automatically. Any other target, including a GunZee sheet, is scored by drawing Manual Hit Zones in the app.
- TitanX and the laser versions of Blackbeard and BlackbeardX fire a laser with each trigger press. Pointed at any target, the red and green versions give a visible dot; paired with the Laser Academy app they are scored the same way a laser cartridge is.
So the target is never programmed. The scoring zones are drawn on the phone screen, over the target the camera sees.
The Mantis lineup at a glance
Prices are the ones listed on mantisx.com on October 1, 2026. Mantis states in its FAQ that its products do not go on sale, so these should hold, but confirm on the product page.
| Product | What it is | Does it need a target? | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mantis X2 | Rail-mounted motion sensor. Dry fire only. Pistol and rifle. | No | $99.99 |
| Mantis X3 | The same sensor with live fire added. Pistol, rifle, and airsoft or CO2 guns. | No | $169.99 |
| Mantis X10 Elite | Dry and live fire for pistol, rifle, shotgun, and archery. Adds holster draw analysis and recoil measurement. Ships with a barrel mount and a universal magazine rail adapter. | No | $249.99 |
| Laser Academy Training Kit, Portable | Pink Rhino laser cartridge in the caliber chosen, a set of 5" × 7" Smart Targets, mini tripod with phone holder, cartridge extraction stick, carrying case, and a full-access code for the app. | Yes. The phone camera reads laser hits on a physical target. | $99 |
| Laser Academy Training Kit, Standard | Everything in the Portable kit plus a set of letter-size Smart Targets, a large tripod, five target stands, and phone shades. | Yes | $159 |
| Pink Rhino laser cartridge | A red laser cartridge that sits in the chamber and fires when the firing pin strikes it. Sold alone in nine calibers. The Pro version (.38 Special/.357 Magnum and 12 gauge) uses a fixed 30 millisecond pulse. | It marks any target. Scoring needs an app such as Laser Academy. | $39.97 (Pro $49.97) |
| Blackbeard | A drop-in bolt carrier group and magazine power pack for the AR-15 that resets the trigger after every dry-fire shot. Sold with a red, green, or infrared laser, or with no laser. | No | $199 to $249 |
| BlackbeardX | Blackbeard with the MantisX sensor built in. Versions for AR-15, AR-10, Sig MCX, FN SCAR 16S and 17S, and the M7. | No | $299 to $349 |
| TitanX | An inert laser training pistol with the MantisX sensor built in and a resetting trigger. Three models: TitanX 700 (Glock 17 pattern), 701 (Glock 19), 702 (Glock 45). Red laser. | No. Mantis's FAQ: "Any object can function as a target." | $199 |
Two related items round out the catalog: the Steiner TOR-X, a green pistol aiming laser with MantisX hardware inside ($274), and the Pink Rhino Dry Fire Red Dot Sight for the TitanX ($99, not rated for live fire). Mantis's FAQ and brochures also mention two earlier sensors, the X7 for shotgun and the X8 for archery. The current model comparison chart lists only the X2, X3, and X10 Elite, and the X10 Elite covers both of those uses.
MantisX sensors: no target needed
The X2, X3, and X10 Elite clamp to an accessory rail (guns without a rail need an adapter, and Mantis keeps an adapter finder). The sensor tracks the motion of the gun through each trigger press and the free MantisX app turns that into a score, a trace of the muzzle path, and coaching tips. In Mantis's words, the system "does not use a target but rather offers a motion-based analysis throughout the entire shot process."
That means any target works as an aiming reference with a MantisX sensor, and none of them is scored. A life-size sheet on the wall gives a realistic point of aim, such as a cardiac box or a cranial T-box, while the app grades the trigger press.
One detail matters for anyone hoping to combine the two apps. The MantisX app now offers a limited Laser Academy integration that adds basic hit scoring, but Mantis's FAQ is specific that it works with standard Smart Targets only: "manual or custom targets are not supported in this mode." To score a GunZee target, use the full Laser Academy app.
A MantisX sensor on a pistol rail. It measures movement, so it needs no target. Image: Mantis.
Laser Academy: the system that reads a paper target
Laser Academy works the other way around. A laser cartridge in the chamber sends a pulse of red light down the barrel when the firing pin strikes it. A phone or tablet on a tripod watches the target, sees the flash, and the app records where it landed and when. The result is a hit location, a score, and split times for every shot.
The app is a free download for iOS and Android with four training modes unlocked. The rest of the modes come with the full-access code packed in either kit, or as a purchase inside the app. Mantis's manual describes that as a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Mantis's Smart Targets are gray cardstock sheets with a coded square in each corner. When the camera can see all four corners, the app outlines the target in blue and scores it automatically. They are sold in 5" × 7", 8.5" × 11", and 17" × 22" sizes, and Mantis also offers the files as a free download to print.
Laser Academy Smart Targets. The coded corner squares are what the app recognizes. Image: Mantis.
Smart Targets are not required. Mantis's FAQ answers the question directly: "No, but they make using the system a lot more easy and intuitive, with automatic target detection and automatic scoring. Laser Academy allows you to define manual hit zones in cases where Smart Targets are not used."
How to use a GunZee target with Laser Academy
The feature is called Manual Hit Zones. Mantis's knowledge center describes it this way: "it is possible to use any standard target with Laser Academy by manually defining hit zones within the app." These are Mantis's six steps:
- In the Laser Academy app, open the Training tab and choose a drill. Mantis's walkthrough uses Open Shooting, Single Target, which is one of the four free modes.
- Place the target in view of the camera.
- Once the camera has adjusted, tap the blue crosshair icon in the lower right corner.
- Select a shape for the new hit zone. Mantis's screens show Circle, Oval, Rectangle, and Square, along with Duplicate and Delete All.
- Move and size the zone until it sits over the scoring area on the target. Either tap the zone and use the on-screen arrows and the plus and minus buttons, or press and hold to drag it and pinch with two fingers to resize it.
- Start the drill.
Steps 4 and 5 in the Laser Academy app: pick a shape, then move and size it over the target. Screens: Mantis.
Three things from the Laser Academy manual are worth knowing before the first session:
- Every zone is worth one point. The manual says, "The app will score the hits as one point in each zone." There is no graduated ring scoring on a manual target. The session still records each hit and its time.
- Clear the zones when the target changes. The manual's reminder: "Remember to clear hit zones to prevent confusion."
- The app teaches it. The drill list includes "Tutorial - Manual Targets," which walks through the process on screen.
Mapping the zones on a GunZee sheet
One point per zone suits targets that are scored in or out, which is how a vital-zone box works. The printed zones on GunZee sheets line up with the shapes the app offers:
- Scored scenario targets. Draw a Rectangle over the printed cardiac box and a second Rectangle or Square over the cranial T-box, where the design carries both. Each hit inside a box counts. The scored targets collection lists the designs that carry printed zones, and the kill zones guide explains what each box represents.
- Anatomical targets. The anatomical line prints scoring rings over the vital areas. An Oval or Circle sized to the ring that should count does the job.
- Hostage targets. Draw a single small zone on the threat's T-box and nothing else. A hit anywhere else on the sheet earns no point, which is the standard the scene demands.
Because the app does not weight one zone above another, draw only the zones that should count for the drill at hand.
The Anatomical Semi-Frontal Handgun Threat target. An Oval over the chest rings and a Circle over the cranial ring give two manual hit zones.
The Church Aisle Hostage Crisis target. One small zone on the gunman's T-box is the whole drill.
Setting up a 24" × 36" sheet
Mantis's setup guidance is written around its own letter-size targets, so a full-size sheet takes some adjustment. These points come from the Laser Academy manual and knowledge center:
- Fill the frame. Mantis suggests the tripod sit roughly a yard (3 to 5 feet) from its Smart Targets and that the target take up most of the screen. A 24" × 36" sheet is far larger, so move the phone back until the scoring area fills the frame, and use as little zoom as possible. Mantis notes that distance "may vary according to the quality of the device's camera."
- Keep the phone out of the line of sight. Set the tripod to one side, camera pointed at the target, where it does not block the sights.
- Stand where the drill calls for. The shooter's distance is separate from the camera's. Mantis says there is no maximum range set by the software and reports testing the app at 50 yards on an indoor range.
- Control the light. Mantis recommends a single light source, warm (about 4000 kelvin) and diffused, with nothing shiny or reflective in the camera's view. Direct sunlight is usually too strong indoors. If the app paints an area red, that area is too bright for it to read, and the fix is less light on the target.
- Mind the paper finish. The same manual asks print shops to use matte paper for Mantis's own life-size target files. GunZee targets marked Matte Finish are printed on uncoated matte stock.
- Calibrate the laser. A laser cartridge's position is fixed; Mantis allows up to a quarter inch of deviation per yard. If the dot does not land where the sights point, the app's Shoot to Calibrate setting corrects the scoring.
Red and green lasers work with Laser Academy. Infrared lasers do not. Mantis expects most third-party cartridges that emit a visible red or green laser to work as well. Before ordering a cartridge, check the compatibility notes on the Pink Rhino product page; Mantis lists several pistols it does not suit, and it lists AR-15 pattern rifles as incompatible, which is the job Blackbeard exists to do.
TitanX with a paper target
The TitanX is not a firearm. It is an inert pistol-shaped trainer with a trigger that resets on its own (about 4.5 pounds, per Mantis), a fixed slide, two weighted magazines, and a red laser that fires with every trigger press. It can be used three ways with a GunZee target on the wall:
- On its own. The red dot on the target is the feedback. No app, no camera.
- With the free MantisX app. The built-in sensor grades trigger control, draws, and target transitions. As with the clip-on sensors, the target is an aiming reference and is not scored.
- With the Laser Academy app. Mantis confirms the TitanX laser is compatible, and Manual Hit Zones then work exactly as described above. Full Laser Academy access is sold separately from the TitanX.
Mantis currently ships the TitanX within the United States only and notes on the product page that it cannot ship to New York.
The TitanX laser training pistol. Image: Mantis.
Blackbeard and BlackbeardX with a paper target
Blackbeard replaces the bolt carrier group and magazine in an AR-15 and resets the hammer after each dry-fire shot, up to ten times a second, using the rifle's own trigger. Mantis says the swap takes less than a minute. BlackbeardX adds the MantisX sensor and extends the idea to the AR-10, Sig MCX, FN SCAR, and M7.
For target work, the laser choice decides everything. The red and green laser versions are compatible with Laser Academy. The infrared version is not, and the no-laser version gives the camera nothing to see. Neither Blackbeard nor BlackbeardX includes a Laser Academy access code.
A rifle adds one wrinkle that a life-size target shows clearly: sight height over bore. The laser leaves the barrel, which sits well below the optic, so at room distance the dot lands low. Mantis's example is an AR-15 with iron sights, M193 ammunition, and a 100-yard zero striking about 2.46 inches below the point of aim at 5 yards. Aim at the center of a T-box from across a room and expect the dot below it. Mantis does not treat that as a drawback, since it mirrors what live ammunition does at close range and trains the holdover. For shooters who would prefer the app score the point of aim, the Laser Offset setting compensates.
BlackbeardX installed in an AR-15. The red magazine is the power pack. Image: Mantis.
Which setup fits which goal
| Goal | Mantis system | How the GunZee target is used |
|---|---|---|
| Scored hits on a life-size target, with your own pistol | Laser Academy kit (Portable or Standard) | Scored through Manual Hit Zones |
| Find out what the trigger press is doing | X2, X3, or X10 Elite | Aiming reference; not scored |
| Dry fire an AR without racking the charging handle | Blackbeard or BlackbeardX, red or green laser | Visible dot alone, or scored in the Laser Academy app (access sold separately) |
| Practice at home without handling a real firearm | TitanX | Visible dot alone, an aiming reference in the MantisX app, or scored in the Laser Academy app (access sold separately) |
One practical point for all four: a laser leaves no holes. A sheet used for dry fire can be scored again and again, then carried to the range for live fire.
Dry-fire safety
Every system above except the TitanX is used with a real firearm. Mantis's manual opens with the rules, and they are worth repeating: treat the firearm as if it is loaded, confirm there is no ammunition in the firearm, the magazines, or the training area and move all of it to another room, keep the finger off the trigger until the sights are aligned, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, and know what is behind the target. Check the firearm's owner's manual on whether dry fire is safe for that model. The dry fire training guide covers a safe setup and a weekly routine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Mantis systems work with GunZee targets?
Yes. The Laser Academy app can score any standard target through its Manual Hit Zones feature, and the MantisX sensors, TitanX, and Blackbeard can be pointed at any target because they do not depend on one.
Do you have to buy Mantis Smart Targets?
No. Mantis's FAQ says Smart Targets are not required for Laser Academy. They add automatic detection and automatic scoring; without them, the zones are drawn by hand in the app.
Can the MantisX app score hits on a GunZee target?
No. The MantisX app measures gun movement. Its optional Laser Academy integration scores hits on standard Smart Targets only, and Mantis states that manual or custom targets are not supported in that mode. Use the Laser Academy app for manual zones.
How are hits scored on a manual hit zone?
One point for each hit inside a zone, according to the Laser Academy manual. There is no ring-by-ring scoring on a manual target.
Which lasers work with Laser Academy?
Visible red and green lasers. Infrared lasers do not work. That includes the red and green versions of Blackbeard and BlackbeardX and the TitanX's red laser.
Is Laser Academy a subscription?
No. The app is free with four modes. Full access comes with the code in a Laser Academy kit or as a one-time purchase inside the app.
The bottom line
Of everything Mantis makes, Laser Academy is the one that reads a target, and Manual Hit Zones is the feature that lets it read a target Mantis did not print. Hang the sheet, set the phone where it can see the scoring area, draw a zone over each box that should count, and the app keeps the score and the time. The sensors, the TitanX, and Blackbeard add trigger analysis and repetitions on top, with the same target on the wall.
MantisX, Laser Academy, Blackbeard, BlackbeardX, TitanX, and Pink Rhino are names used by Mantis Tech, LLC. GunZee is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mantis. Specifications, prices, and compatibility were taken from mantisx.com on October 1, 2026 and can change; the linked Mantis pages are the authority.
Related reading
Dry Fire Training Guide: How to Improve Without Going to the Range · T-Box, Cardiac Box, A/C Zones: Shooting Target Kill Zones Explained · Anatomical Shooting Targets: Train Vital Zones, Not Scoring Rings · Shoot / No-Shoot Decision Drills: Building Judgment Under Stress · Browse: Scored Shooting Targets
