When it comes to my preferred gaming mouse, I’m the guy who loves his buttons. That’s why I’ve been on a look-out for MMO gaming mouse the likes of the now discontinued Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse (may you rest in peace). So far, I’ve only been able to test out Corsair’s Scimitar Pro MOBA/MMO Gaming Mouse and was able to share my experience with the mouse. This time around, I was able to get a review copy of the ASUS ROG Spatha, a wired/wireless gaming mouse from the Taiwanese brand.
Here’s what you get out of the box:
- 1 x wireless receiver/ charging dock
- 1 x 2-meter braided USB cable
- 1 x 1-meter rubber USB cable
- 2 x Japanese-made Omron switches
- 1 x carry case
- 1 x star-head screwdriver
- 2 x ROG logo stickers
- 1 x ROG certificate
Build
The ROG Spatha priced at a hefty 7,480 php SRP feels great on my hands. Being within that price range, the game does feel premium while being used and at the initial experience with the mouse does give off the premium vibe.
The mouse falls under the heavier gaming mice out right now. This is good if you’re using the game primarily on most MMO games since you have a more stable mouse on hand that provides you with enough buttons for MMO games. The heft also is good for precise mouse movements since it won’t easily fly off even on action intensive situations.
There’s going to be an adjustment period if you’re used to playing with smaller mice when you use the ROG Spatha. Since the mice has a higher arch midway the mouse so you’d have to arch your hand a bit higher than usual. The mouse also is pretty big that I can’t cover the whole body even if I try to.
Moving on to the most important aspect of the Spatha, it’s side buttons. I liked how ROG tried to make a unique design for the side buttons instead of the usual numbered buttons. And it works marvelously. While I still prefer the original numbered side buttons, the Spatha’s side button design feels distinct on the hand so even if follows the unusual design you can easily determine which buttons your pressing on intense matches. I also like that solid click feeling the side buttons have so that I do feel their resistance when I click them.
Customization
Of course when it comes to MMO gaming mice, customization is pretty integral. Aside from what you can expect from gaming mice where aside from the mouse wheel, left, right buttons, the front and back button, and of course the DPI toggle, the ROG Spatha has six side buttons that you can customize and customize. I also love that the ROG Armoury provides a really robust set of customization other Gaming mice software has.
One of the more interesting features that the ROG Armoury has right now is the stats tab where you are given an overview of how many clicks each button will have, and APM which is pretty nift if you’re the type of gamer who wants to get information on certain actions.
Utility
Moving on to the Spatha’s utility, as mentioned earlier in the review, the mouse is pretty heavy for it’s kind. this means that the mouse is not only stable during gaming sessions, but it’s pretty stable too even during non-gaming moments. I love that since the mouse is heavy, I was able to work on Photoshop better with the Spatha.
One of the downsides though with a heavier mouse is that you can feel the strain on your wrist on really prolonged usage. I was able to use the Spatha for about half a day of heavy gaming then just about 3 hours for video/photo editing before I felt the strain.
Battery life for the ROG Spatha lasts for a full 3 days of heavy wireless gaming with full RGB lighting activated. Charging time though is around 2 hours or so since the charging dock features a 500 mAh power rating.
Meanwhile, with the customization feature along with the design, the side side buttons are snugly fit and allowed me to access the assigned keys with ease.
Final Thoughts
The Spatha is a solid piece of equipment especially if you’re someone who is pretty heavy handed with your peripherals. The heft of the mouse allows for a stable and precise set of movements most especially for MMO gaming or even strategy gaming. And the weight of the mouse will feel comfortable for people who have big hands. The customization features that mouse has, along with the premium quality feel of the Spatha is a good choice for those looking to get a sturdy wireless/wired mouse.
However, if you’re looking for a FPS gaming mouse or a highly utility gaming mouse that you can use for extremely extended hours (for at least half a day) then the ROG Spatha is a poor choice for you, and I’d suggest you go for the lighter mice ASUS or other brands are offering.