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What are the best fighting sticks for tournaments?

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HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai vs Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick TE2+ vs Razer Panthera

 vs Qanba Drone vs HORI Real Arcade Pro V Kai

Specs

Weight

2.2kg

Supported platforms

PS4/PS3/PC

Cable

9.8ft / 3m (non detachable)

Buttons

HAYABUSA Buttons

Layout

Vewlix

Lever

HAYABUSA Arcade Stick

Dimensions (L x D x H)

430 x 240 x 114mm

Additional buttons / switches

Assign mode / Turbo / Stick Control Toggle / Share / PS button / System toggle switch / L3 / R3 / Touchpad

Turbo settings

5 / 12 / 20 times per second

Weight

5 pounds

Supported platforms

PS3/PS4

Cable

3m

Buttons

Sanwa Denshi OBSF-30

Layout

Vewlix

Lever

Sanwa JLF ball-top stick

Dimensions (L x D x H)

8 x 4 x 2 inches

Additional buttons / switches

-

Turbo settings

-

Weight

7.4 pounds

Supported platforms

PS4

Cable

13ft

Buttons

Sanwa Denshi OBSF-30

Layout

Vewlix

Lever

Sanwa Denshi JLF-TP-8YT

Dimensions (L x D x H)

18 x 12 x 7 inches

Additional buttons / switches

Tournament lock / system toggle switch

Turbo settings

-

Weight

1.6kg

Supported platforms

PS4/PS3/PC

Cable

7.5ft / 2.3m (non detachable)

Buttons

Qanba buttons

Layout

Vewlix

Lever

Qanba stick

Dimensions (L x D x H)

391 x 264 x 168mm

Additional buttons / switches

Assign mode / Turbo / Stick Control Toggle / Share / PS button / System toggle switch / L3 / R3

Turbo settings

Automatic / manual

Weight

2.2kg

Supported platforms

PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Cable

3m

Buttons

HORU Original HAYABUSA Buttons

Layout

Vewlix

Lever

HORU Original HAYABUSA Arcade Stick

Dimensions (L x D x H)

430 x 240 x 114mm

Additional buttons / switches

System toggle switch / stick control toggle switch / touchpad

Turbo settings

Yes

Pros + Cons

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).
Comment

Pro
 Turbo button can be set to 3 different levels

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

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

Pro
 Customizable Option button

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

Pro
 Color-coded wiring

The wiring is conveniently color-coded.
Comment

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.
Comment

Pro
 Has metal parts, which are durable and resistant

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

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

Con
 Noisy lever

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

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

Con
 Not very suitable for big hands

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

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

Con
 Modifying this stick voids the warranty

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

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.
Comment

Pro
 Joystick can be used as a d-pad or as an analog stick

The joystick can be set to act as a D-pad, or as the left/right analog stick.
Comment

Pro
 Modding-friendly

This controller is easy to mod. You can open the case with a push of a button without using a screwdriver. The buttons are easy to swap and the wiring is color-coded.
Comment

Pro
 Artwork is easy to replace

The artwork is easy to replace, with no need to remove the buttons.
Comment

Pro
 Full PS4 and PS3 compatibility

The TE2+ is one of the few controllers that supports complete functionality on Playstation consoles. A button lets you switch between PS3 and PS4 modes. There is a touchpad for the PS4 screen menus and separate L3 and R3 buttons on the analog sticks.
Comment

Pro
 Responsive, durable components

Mad Catz didn’t compromise in terms of this controller’s build quality. It uses Sanwa parts that are well-known for their excellent sensitivity, response and durability. The case itself is built to withstand heavy and intensive use.
Comment

Pro
 Detachable USB cable

This sticks's included 10 ft long USB cable is detachable, but also has a lock to prevent it from being detached by accident.
Comment

Con
 PC compatibility is limited

Although it is possible to use this with a PC, a third party software needs to be used, and this doesn't offer the best experience.
Comment

Pro
 Turbo can be manual or automatic

The Turbo button can be set to manual mode or automatic mode.
Comment

Pro
 Improved stability with padded surface grip

The bottom has an anti-slip padding that prevents surface slipping.
Comment

Pro
 PS3/PS4/PC compatible

This stick is officially licensed by Sony and compatible with the PS4 and the PS3 (there’s a dedicated switch to toggle between the two platforms.). It can also be used on a PC, using the DirectInput standard, but third party software may be needed to get it to work with some games, like Street Fighter V.
Comment

Pro
 Decent build quality for its price range

This is a stick that can withstand some bashing quite well, even if the plastic used is not as sturdy as the one used on more expensive models. It feels better than most similarly priced alternatives.
Comment

Pro
 Extra functionality buttons can be disabled

There is a lock switch that disables the extra functionality buttons.
Comment

Pro
 Comfortable to use on lap

This controller weighs only 1.6 kg which makes its comfortable to use on a lap.
Comment

Pro
 Comfortable and ergonomic

The Drone is much smaller than most high-end models. However, the cleverly positioned buttons and joystick creates a big enough surface for your palms to rest. The additional control buttons are placed on the top of the control and can be easily accessed.
Comment

Pro
 Internal wiring work is easy

This device's internal wiring is conveniently color-coded, making wiring changes quite easy.
Comment

Con
 Lever and buttons feel loose

The Drone uses cheap buttons that perform reasonably well, but sometime they feel loose. The lever suffers from the same problem, making it hard to determine its neutral position.
Comment

Con
 Cable is not detachable

The Drone's USB cable is not detachable.
Comment

Con
 Modding is not easy (but at least it's possible)

While it is possible to mod this controller, doing so is much more complicated that with most premium controllers. The buttons are relatively easy to replace, but you will need to swap the wiring harness if you want to replace the joystick. Despite these difficulties, it is worth noting that other budget controllers usually don't allow any modding at all.
Comment

Con
 The artwork can not be replaced

The Drone's artwork is directly printed on the upper surface, so it cannot be swapped.
Comment

Con
 No closed compartment

There is no closed compartment for spare parts or cable storage, only a hollow space for the USB cable.
Comment

Con
 Modding voids the warranty

If used mod this controller, its warranty becomes void.
Comment

Con
 Somewhat unstable when positioned on a desk

This controller weighs only 1.6 kg which makes somewhat unstable when positioned on a hard surface, such as a desk.
Comment

Con
 Does not have a PS4 touchpad

Though this stick is PS4 compatible, it does not have the touchpad that's needed for some PS4 games.
Comment

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.
Comment

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.
Comment

Pro
 Accidental pausing can be prevented

The Menu button can be disabled to prevent accidental pausing.
Comment

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.
Comment

Pro
 Internal components are easy to replace

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

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.
Comment

Con
 No easy open

The Kai requires a screwdriver to open.
Comment

Con
 Cable storage door breaks easily

The cable storage door is flimsy and comes off easily.
Comment

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.
Comment

Con
 May be uncomfortable for big hands

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

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.
Comment

Con
 Modding voids warranty

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