Other than that, this is a great pad that we would highly recommend to any FPS player. My only complaint is the bottom not sticking too well on matte surfaces and the pad picking up hairs easily. This is a top tier mouse pad as far as control pads go. It has excellent build quality, performs flawlessly in game, and is relatively inexpensive. ConclusionĪre Artisan pads worth the hype? Yes. The stitching on Artisan pads is excellent and I never really feel them anyway. In all cases, I’d recommend spending the extra money for the FX version to prevent any potential fraying on the mouse pad. Classic vs FXĬlassic Artisan pads don’t have a stitched edge while FX Artisan’s do. The X is more controlled while the Y is very quick.įor the speed demons, the Raiden and the Shidenkai will be your picks. The Otsu Kou has different speeds for the x and y axis. Hayate Otsu and Kou are good balance pads, both being faster than the Zero. If you’re torn between the two, get the Zero if you want more control and the Hien for more speed. There are large disputes between which is better but both of these are amazing pads. It’s slightly faster than the Zero but also has a rougher surface. Other Artisan PadsĪnother very popular Artisan pad is the Hien. It has a unique build to it being a smoother bottom compared to other pads.

The bottom of the pad seems very well built too. It has shown no signs of wear and the only thing we can see is slight dust buildup which is fixed with a quick rinse. Over the duration of the testing period we put it through hours and hours of gameplay. The Zero is constructed with quality and durable materials. Luckily there were no noticeable differences to the feel of the pad it’s just an annoying thing to deal with. One downside of the surface is that hair and dust can easily be caught on or within the stitching.

With the soft iteration, the control is there with a bit of a speed boost. This doesn’t mean it’s a poor choice for more tracking heavy games since this is a mix between speed and control. Stopping power is the Zero’s forte making it perfect for tactical shooters like Valorant and CS:GO. The Zero has low static friction making it easy to do small adjustments when aiming. Having some speed built into this pad really helps with tracking games and the overall glide. Aiming on this pad has felt sharper and more accurate in general. The stopping power and control are just right where it doesn’t feel like the pad is dragging you down. Performance Tracking and AimingĪ quick message to the tactical shooter enthusiasts, you will love this mousepad. The good thing is that these changes in texture aren’t very noticeable in game so not too much to worry about here. These inconsistencies rub buyers the wrong way as this is supposed to be a premium pad and that something like color shouldn’t show such changes.įor example, the Orange Zero is said to be a little faster on both x and y axis (side to side and up and down). It’s been reported that the colors of the pad can create differences in the speed and control. Other pads in the lineup such as the Hien and Otsu come in red wine. Currently, the Zero is accessible in black and orange. Some Artisan pads come in different colorways. Extra soft being 4mm, soft being 3.5mm and mid being 3mm. The hardness of the sponge can change the speed and stopping power of each with mid being the fastest and extra soft having the best control.Įach hardless level comes in a different thickness. There are also 3 hardness levels to the sponge: extra soft, soft, and mid. We decided to go with the large with it being 42cm x 33cm giving us plenty of room to swipe and flick. The Zero comes in 4 different sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large. This can also reduce future fraying of the edges and improve the lifespan on your Artisan pad. On the bright side, the stitched edges are below the surface of the mousepad so you won’t feel the edges as your arm is gliding across. It may be due to the surface having a more matte finish as this has zero issues on a glossy or textured surface.

This does lead to some readjustments mid-game but overall didn’t impact gameplay.

On my walnut countertop, the Zero has some troubles staying in one spot and moves from side to side a little. On the bottom, Artisan uses a unique rubber design that feels less texturized than other pads. The surface of the Zero feels smooth and has very consistent stitching. Being a good balance, many say that the Zero soft is the safest option to choose from the Artisan lineup. The Zero is a polyester cloth pad aimed at those who like a balance between speed and control.

Artisan zero or hien