Nacon Daija vs Victrix Pro FS

Nacon Daija vs Victrix Pro FS: Input-Lag & Build-Quality Showdown

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by

Himura
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When it comes to premium fight sticks for PS5 and PC, two names often top the list: the Nacon Daija and the Victrix Pro FS. Both of these are flagship-grade arcade sticks aimed at competitive players, boasting outstanding build quality, authentic arcade parts, and performance tuned for minimal input lag. But how do they stack up against each other? In this head-to-head showdown, we’ll compare the Daija and Pro FS in terms of construction, modding features, ergonomics, and real-world input latency. Finally, we’ll deliver a verdict on which stick suits different types of users – from casual enthusiasts to hardcore tournament warriors.

Nacon Daija (PS5/PS4/PC): A product of Nacon’s collaboration with pro player Kayane, the Daija is known for its sleek design and top-tier Sanwa components. “Daija” means “big snake” in Chinese, and true to its name, this is a large, heavy beast of a fight stick focused on stability and comfort. It features an all-white case with black accents (and interchangeable artwork inserts), and is officially licensed for PlayStation 5.

Victrix Pro FS (PS5/PS4/PC): The Victrix Pro FS by PDP is often referred to as the “Ferrari of fight sticks.” It sports a striking aircraft-grade aluminum chassis (available in purple, white, or limited colors) and is built from the ground up for esports performance. Victrix sticks are famous for their low latency claims and a slew of premium touches like LED lighting and a built-in handle.

Below we’ll break down the comparison into key categories.

Build Quality & Design

Materials & Construction: Both sticks use premium materials, but they feel distinct. The Nacon Daija has a predominantly high-grade plastic build with metal panels (and a textured top panel for your palms) – it’s hefty and extremely sturdy, with no flex. In fact, one owner noted the Daija is “2–3 times heavier” than a Mad Catz TE stick, highlighting how solid it is. The weight is a plus for stability: once you set the Daija down, it’s not sliding anywhere. Internally, it’s all Sanwa Denshi parts (joystick + 30mm buttons), which are the gold standard for reliability and feel. Nacon includes both a ball-top and bat-top for the lever in the box, letting you choose your preferred style. The exterior features a textured palm rest area that provides grip and comfort during long sessions.

The Victrix Pro FS is in a league of its own with an aircraft-grade aluminum frame that’s both lightweight and incredibly robust. Picking it up, you immediately sense the “premium” factor – the metal is cool to the touch and gives the stick a high-end, tech feel. Yet, thanks to aluminum, the Victrix isn’t overly heavy (about 7.8 lbs, which is on par with the Daija’s weight). The rigidity of the one-piece metal case means nothing creaks or rattles. The Pro FS also uses authentic Sanwa buttons and stick, so in terms of input hardware both sticks are evenly matched with top-quality parts. One notable design element: the Victrix has an attractive anodized finish (for example, a purple hue on the standard model) and comes with programmable LED lighting under the buttons and on the sides, adding some visual flair when plugged in.

Winner (Build Quality): Victrix Pro FS. While both are exceptionally well-built, the all-metal chassis of the Victrix gives it a slight edge in durability and that “premium” feel. The Daija is extremely solid for a plastic-based stick and has thoughtful touches like the textured grip and large form factor for stability. But the Victrix’s aluminum case and immaculate construction make it virtually indestructible (it could probably survive a drop that might crack a plastic shell). That said, if you prefer a heavier, non-slip unit, know that the Daija is also heavy and stable – both sticks are built for competitive abuse.

Victrix Pro FS
Victrix Pro FS – image: PDP

Features & Modding Capability

Internal Access and Customization: Nacon clearly designed the Daija with customization in mind. The stick opens up easily via a button or quick-release (no extensive unscrewing required), giving you access to the internals. Once open, you can swap out buttons or the joystick with standard Sanwa or Seimitsu parts if desired. The Daija’s packaging includes two different joystick tops (ball and bat) which you can change on the fly. Perhaps the most user-friendly mod feature is the swappable artwork panels – the Daija comes with three alternate artwork inserts featuring different designs, and Nacon provides a template if you want to print your own custom artwork. This is a dream for players who like to personalize the look of their stick without spending extra on custom prints. There’s also PC software for the Daija that allows full button remapping and profile creation, so you can program your layout preferences and even “quickly and easily customize the buttons” in software.

Victrix’s approach to modding is also excellent, though a bit different. The Pro FS features an “open hatch” design with a quick-access back panel that pops open, revealing the internals neatly laid out. This means you can get inside within seconds to swap components or do maintenance – no need to fully disassemble with tools. Victrix includes some tools in a hidden compartment as well (e.g. hex keys) to help with part swapping. The Sanwa parts are all standard, so you can drop in any compatible 30mm buttons or another lever if you want. One of the hallmark features of the Pro FS is the patented Link 2 detachable joystick shaft. With a push and twist, the entire joystick lever comes off, making it easy to replace or simply remove during transport (so it doesn’t poke out of your bag). This also allows you to potentially swap to different lever types (Victrix even sells a separate all-button panel, effectively converting it to a HitBox-style controller if you buy that). While the Pro FS doesn’t come with alternate art out-of-the-box, its metal panel can be unscrewed and customized – though that’s a more involved process requiring a custom cut art and plexi, so not as simple as the Daija’s slide-in artwork.

Additional Features: Both sticks have the expected extras: a tournament lock switch, headphone jack, and full PS5 controls. The Daija’s lock feature and profile toggles are along the top edge, and it has a dedicated button to switch profiles (helpful if you set different mappings for different games). The Victrix Pro FS has a control bar with LED indicators for features like profiles, lock, and audio controls, which looks slick and is functional. Victrix also has two USB ports on some models (for example, one is used for firmware updates or connecting other devices). In terms of innovation: Victrix integrates carry handles and cable organizers into the body – the raised bar along the back doubles as a grab handle and a place to loop the cable neatly, which is fantastic for traveling players. The Daija doesn’t have a handle, but its size and included soft dust cover (if you have one) make carrying it fine, just a bit bulkier.

Winner (Features/Modding): Tie. Both fight sticks shine in this category but in slightly different ways. The Daija is extremely user-friendly for artwork and basic mods, and comes with nice extras (multiple tops, software, etc.). The Victrix Pro FS provides a quicker hardware access (the back hatch) and the unique detachable joystick, which serious modders love. If you are an aesthetic modder (love custom art), the Daija has the edge with its easy faceplate swaps. If you frequently tinker with internal components or want to swap lever/button setups often, the Victrix’s design is more convenient. Both sticks use top-tier Sanwa parts and encourage customization rather than locking you out.

Nacon Daija
Nacon Daija – image: Nacon Gaming

Ergonomics & Experience

On the Lap vs On the Desk: Here we consider how comfortable each stick is during play. The Nacon Daija is a large, wide stick with a lot of surface area to rest your hands. It’s great on a desk/table – those “2-3 times heavier” comments indicate it sits solidly and won’t move even if you’re rough on the controls. Players with bigger hands or those who like to spread out will appreciate the extra space. The textured palm rest on the Daija isn’t just cosmetic; it genuinely provides a bit of grip under your wrists, so your hands don’t slip around even if they get sweaty during a long set. However, the Daija’s considerable weight and size make it a little less lap-friendly for smaller individuals – it’s best rested on a stable surface or a wide lap.

The Victrix Pro FS, despite its metal build, is slightly more compact in footprint (about 16.2” x 11”) and has a thoughtful ergonomic design for lap play. It features a 6.28° slanted front edge (wrist slope) which means the front of the stick is slightly lower than the back. This slope helps keep your wrists at a natural angle when the stick is on your lap or a flat surface, reducing strain. Additionally, the entire bottom of the Victrix is lined with a foam pad. That foam is both anti-slip and comfortable on your legs – it contours a bit and prevents the hard metal from digging into you. Combined with the moderate weight (~7.7 lbs), the Victrix feels very cozy on the lap, as one review explicitly noted: “The Victrix Pro FS… feels cozy on my lap,” aided by the foam underside and cool touch of aluminum.

For portability and handling, the Victrix has a clear edge: the built-in carry handle and removable stick make it easy to pack and carry around events. You can carry it like a briefcase. With the Daija, you might need an extra strap or a backpack; it’s a bit more unwieldy to lug due to no handles and its bulk.

User Experience: Both sticks offer superb responsiveness and a premium feel during gameplay, thanks to identical Sanwa parts. The differences might come down to personal preference: The Victrix’s metal top panel is super smooth; some might find it a bit cold or slick compared to the Daija’s textured finish, but others love that smoothness for executing slide inputs. The Daija’s button layout and stick are exactly where you’d expect – it’s very traditional (Vewlix layout buttons). The Victrix uses the same layout as well, and both have proper spacing. Neither has unusual layouts like Noir or Viewlix variations; they’re standard 8-button setups with similar spacing, so transitioning from one to the other input-wise is seamless.

Winner (Ergonomics): Victrix Pro FS, by a hair. Victrix’s attention to lap-play comfort (wrist slope + foam padding) and ease of transport caters to the traveling/tournament player. The Daija is also extremely comfortable, especially for home use – the textured palm rest and roomy surface are great for marathon training sessions. If you primarily play at home on a desk, the Daija’s larger size could actually be a plus. But for overall ergonomic design, Victrix’s little touches give it the edge for most users.

Input Lag & Performance

Now to the critical question for competitive gamers: which stick registers your inputs faster? In practice, both the Nacon Daija and Victrix Pro FS exhibit extremely low input latency – far below the threshold of human reaction time. Each uses a high-quality PCB (printed circuit board) optimized for fast input scanning on consoles and PC.

The Victrix Pro FS was marketed as having the “fastest legal response time on console” when it launched. Victrix’s own spec claims around 5 milliseconds of input latency, which has been borne out in independent tests. For example, the Pro FS’s custom PCB polls at 1000 Hz via USB and has been measured around ~5ms average response, putting it on par with top-tier Brook boards and other premium sticks.

The Nacon Daija had an early firmware that was slightly slower (around 6–7ms), but Nacon released a firmware 2.04 update that improved its latency significantly. According to input lag analyses, the Daija now averages about 4.4 ms of latency – virtually the same as Victrix’s claim – with 74% of inputs hitting within the immediate frame window. In other words, after updates the Daija is just as fast as most other high-end sticks on the market. A Reddit discussion summarized it well: “6ms is solid for a retail stock-build arcade stick. You aren’t getting much quicker unless you go DIY with faster boards.”. At roughly 4–5ms for both, these sticks are effectively registering inputs on the first frame possible in fighting games, as long as you’re in wired mode (which both require by design on PS5).

Neither stick has any noticeable delay that would affect gameplay for even top players. The differences in latency between 4ms and 5ms are essentially negligible (for context, 1 frame of a 60 FPS game is ~16.7ms). So in terms of “real-world input lag,” the matchup is a draw – both are extremely responsive. The Daija and Victrix will offer a small but real advantage over slower controllers or gamepads; for instance, a DualShock 4 over Bluetooth can have ~8–10ms or more of delay, so these sticks cut that in half. Moreover, both sticks support PC play where they can run at even higher polling rates if applicable.

One area to note: the Victrix Pro FS has a 1000 Hz USB-C connection and maintains stable polling; the Daija’s PCB after update is similarly high-performing. Input consistency is excellent on both (no missed inputs or quirks reported). If you’re extremely tech-minded, the Victrix’s custom PCB being built for low-lag from the start might give slight peace of mind. But again, practically, both are tournament-ready in terms of speed.

Winner (Input Lag): Tie. After firmware updates, the Nacon Daija and Victrix Pro FS each achieve roughly 4–5ms input latency average, which is as good as it gets on PS5. Neither will bottleneck your reaction times. You can confidently pick either, knowing your inputs will register virtually instantaneously.

(For completeness: If we had to nitpick, the Daija’s latest measured average ~4.4ms is technically a hair faster than Victrix’s quoted 5ms. But this difference is within margin of error and various test conditions – essentially a draw.)

Verdict & Recommendations by User Type

So, which stick should you choose? The answer may depend on what type of player you are and what you value most. Here’s our verdict:

  • For Casual Players: Nacon Daija. The Daija is generally a bit more affordable (around $249.99 MSRP versus Victrix’s $399.99), making it easier to justify for more casual use. Despite the lower price, you’re not compromising on quality – you still get Sanwa parts and an elite build. Casual players will appreciate the Daija’s plug-and-play ease and comfort. It’s ready to go with zero fuss: no need to worry about firmware or configurations much, just map your buttons and play. Also, if you’re a casual fan who loves the idea of customizing the look, the Daija gives you that right in the box with extra faceplates. In short, it offers 90% of the premium experience for about half the price of the Victrix, which is a compelling deal if ultimate cost is a factor.
  • For Hardcore Modders/Tinkerers: Victrix Pro FS. While both sticks are mod-friendly, the Victrix is like a sports car for modders – it’s built to be popped open and tweaked frequently. The quick-access hatch and included tools mean you can change buttons between matches if you wanted. The detachable joystick also invites experimenting with different lever types or installing a new one without even opening the case. If you’re the kind of user who might swap in a Korean lever, try silent buttons, or even convert to a HitBox layout, the Victrix’s design facilitates that. Additionally, the all-metal case is more resilient to being opened repeatedly. The Daija is no slouch for modding, but its strength is more in aesthetic and basic part swap customization. Serious mod enthusiasts often gravitate to Victrix for its “open and tweak” engineering.
  • For Tournament Players/Pros: Victrix Pro FS. This is a close call, as the Daija is absolutely tournament-capable (and indeed used by pros like Kayane). However, the Victrix Pro FS edges out for the traveling competitor. The reasons: portability and durability. The Victrix was literally designed with pro tours in mind – the integrated handle, cable wrap system, and smaller form factor make it easier to carry through airports and venues. Its aluminum build can handle the bumps of constant travel better (no fear of shell cracking or warping). The slightly lower weight (due to aluminum) means less to lug around, yet it’s heavy enough not to move during play. Also, Victrix’s focus on minimal latency and precision appeals to pros who don’t want to leave anything to chance – it’s billed as a “no compromises” device. In tournaments, setup speed can matter too; the quick-open hatch might save precious time if you need to check a connection or fix a button issue between matches. That said, if a pro prefers a heavier stick on table and doesn’t mind the bulk, the Daija will perform just as admirably in competition. But broadly, we’d recommend the Victrix as the tournament workhorse for those regularly competing.
  • For Every-Day Enthusiasts (who play a lot at home): Could be either, leaning Daija. If you’re an FGC enthusiast who plays long sessions daily, both sticks offer comfort and great performance. You might lean towards the Daija if you value comfort over long durations – that textured palm rest and larger surface can reduce fatigue for some. It’s a stable unit that almost feels like a small arcade control panel on your desk, which many love for training mode grind. Plus, saving some money on the Daija means more to spend on games or spare parts. On the other hand, if you just want the “best of the best” and enjoy having a luxury piece of kit, the Victrix will certainly satisfy. Everyday players who also have an artistic or modding streak might prefer Daija (easier personalization), whereas those who geek out over engineering will love Victrix (that aluminum build and precise design is a joy for the technically inclined).

The Nacon Daija and Victrix Pro FS are both outstanding, and you truly can’t go wrong. The Daija is the practical choice – it’s more affordable, incredibly well-made, and has all the crucial features and speed you need. The Victrix Pro FS is the premium choice – you pay quite a bit more for it, but you get a beautifully crafted stick with thoughtful pro-oriented features and arguably the coolest aesthetics around. It’s akin to comparing a top-end sports sedan (Daija) to a supercar (Victrix); one is a better value and plenty fast, the other is an extravagant performer with extra bells and whistles.

At the end of the day, your decision might simply come down to budget. If money is no object or you find a great sale on the Victrix, it will not disappoint – it’s often hailed as one of the best fight sticks ever made. If you want to save a chunk of cash and still get a championship-caliber stick, the Daija is easy to recommend (indeed, many reviewers call it “the best fight stick overall” for most people). Both will help you execute your combos and gameplans flawlessly, with minimal lag and maximum style.

For more on the top arcade joysticks, check our guide and comparison of top fight sticks.

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