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What are the best fighting sticks for PC?

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Sep 22, 2017

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Updated

Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best fighting sticks for PC	Price	Weight	Cable
75 HORI Real Arcade Pro V Kai	$149.99	2.2kg	3m
64 HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai	$149.96	2.2kg	9.8ft / 3m (non detachable)
-- Razer Panthera	$199.99	7.4 pounds	13ft

HORI Real Arcade Pro V Kai

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Top Pro

Full Xbox One/360 and PC compatibility

Its button layout mimics the Xbox controller. It has a dedicated Xbox button and a switch that lets you choose between One and 360 mode. See More

Top Con

Cable storage door breaks easily

The cable storage door is flimsy and comes off easily. See More

Specs

Buttons:HORU Original HAYABUSA Buttons

Supported platforms:PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Top Pro

Breakaway cable to prevent console pulling

The Kai's cable is 10ft long and has a breakaway feature to prevent pulling the console if someone trips on the cable or something similar. See More

Top Con

Hard to change artwork without breaking its protective cover

The Kai's artwork can be changed, but there's a high risk that this will damage the plexiglass, due to the adhesives used to fixate it, so it is better to count on the possibility that getting a spare one will be needed. See More

Top Pro

Sturdy, high quality components

HORI uses its own buttons and joystick on this controller. The buttons are solid and very responsive. The top of the controller is plastic while its underside is metal. See More

Top Con

No easy open

The Kai requires a screwdriver to open. See More

Top Pro

Internal components are easy to replace

The Kai's internal components can be swapped with ease. See More

Top Con

Modding voids warranty

This controller's warranty becomes void once any modifications are made. See More

Top Pro

Accidental pausing can be prevented

The Menu button can be disabled to prevent accidental pausing. See More

Top Con

May be uncomfortable for big hands

For large hands, the wrist area may seem too small. See More

Top Pro

Joystick can be set to behave either as an analog stick or as a D-pad

You can toggle the joystick to either behave as an analog stick or a D-pad. See More

Top Con

It can take some time to get used to the feel of the buttons

Some users say that this stick's buttons feel more springy than the popular Sanwa buttons used on other premium controllers, so it may take some time to get used to them if you have used Sanwa buttons before. See More

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Top Pro

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Specs

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HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai

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Top Pro

PC/PS3/PS4 compatibility

As a stick that's officially licensed, it is PS3 and PS4 compatible. There's even a touchpad on the back of the controller for PS4 functionality. It’s also PC compatible, using an Xinput standard. See More

Top Con

Noisy lever

The 4 Kai's lever is somewhat noisy, especially when compared to its Sanwa counterpart. See More

Specs

Cable:9.8ft / 3m (non detachable)

Buttons:HAYABUSA Buttons

Supported platforms:PS4/PS3/PC

Top Pro

Ergonomic, comfortable layout

The solid and responsive buttons are arranged in a Taito Vewlix-style configuration. This layout is used on most fighting sticks and is quite comfortable for gaming. The space between the stick and the buttons is wide enough to be ergonomic for most users hand size. See More

Top Con

Working on the inside hardware can be a bit of a hassle

Unlike other fighting sticks, which have buttons or latches, the 4 Kai requires a screwdriver to remove its backplate screws and access its internal components. Even though internal components can be swapped with ease, it feels like they are a bit crammed inside. See More

Top Pro

Precise and durable joystick and buttons

HORI uses in-house manufactured joystick and buttons for their controllers. In this case, the very precise and durable original HORI Hayabusa Joystick and HORI Kuro Buttons are the ones that are used. See More

Top Con

Replacing the artwork is likely to break the protective cover

The 4 Kai's artwork can be changed, but there is a high risk that the plexiglass will break while doing so. Therefore, be prepared for the need to get a spare. See More

Top Pro

Light and portable

Weighing 2.2 kg, this stick feels quite light compared to other alternatives, which makes it more portable than some of its competitors. See More

Top Con

Modifying this stick voids the warranty

Users should keep in mind that making modifications on this stick will void its warranty. See More

Top Pro

Buttons can be replaced

The standard buttons can be replaced for Sanwa buttons, if that's preferred. However, this process requires applying some force, so you’ll have to take extra caution. See More

Top Con

Button stifness may take some getting used to

Some people find that the HORI buttons are excessively stiffer than those found on other fighting sticks, so it may take some getting used to their feel. See More

Top Pro

Color-coded wiring

The wiring is conveniently color-coded. See More

Top Con

USB cable is not detachable and it's not breakaway

The 4 Kai's 3 meter USB cable is not detachable. It's also not a breakaway cable, so there is a risk of pulling out the console if someone trips over the cable. See More

Top Pro

Customizable Option button

The Option button, located near the main buttons, can be reassigned or disabled using the Assign button. See More

Top Con

Plastic parts feel cheap

The 4 Kai's plastic parts feel a bit cheap. An example of this is the compartment door for the USB cable, which comes off easily. See More

Top Pro

Has metal parts, which are durable and resistant

The metal parts of the controller feel solid and can withstand abuse well. See More

Top Con

Not very suitable for big hands

The Kai 4's wrists area may be too small for gamers with big hands. See More

Top Pro

Additional side buttons for improved gaming experience

HORI has included a lot of additional buttons on the right side of the controller, such as L3, R3, turbo switch or joystick trigger (to change joystick behaviour). See More

Top Con

Slightly unstable

This stick's light 2.2 kg weight tends to make it slightly unstable. As an attempt to mitigate this effect, the bottom surface has two rubbery patches to prevent the controller from sliding around. See More

Top Pro

Joystick can be used both as a D-pad or as an analog stick

The joystick toggle lets you set the joystick to act as a D-pad or one of the analog sticks. See More

Top Pro

Turbo button can be set to 3 different levels

The Turbo button can be set to 5, 12, or 20 attacks per second. See More

Razer Panthera

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Top Pro

Feels sturdy and solid

The Panthera feels sturdy and solidly-built, which is impressive for a device that has a hollow middle part. See More

Top Con

The Start and Back buttons are easy to press accidentally

The Start and Back buttons are located on the right side, which makes them prone to accidental presses. Fortunately, there is a lock button that disables them. See More

Specs

Weight:7.4 pounds

Buttons:Sanwa Denshi OBSF-30

Supported platforms:PS4

Top Pro

Good ergonomics

This controller uses a Taito Vewlix layout, having the face buttons arranged in a square. Buttons are big and chunky, so they're comfortable even for big hands. See More

Top Pro

Good surface grip

The Panthera's base is coated with slip-resistant rubber, improving its grip on smooth surfaces. See More

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