Daigo, Infiltration, Justin Wong, JDCR, Knee, and Saint. These are some of the best professional players in the world in their respective games. And what do they have in common? They all use fightsticks.
So what fightstick do pros use? The answer is they all use a variety of different fightsticks. Some have modded sticks, where they swap out the joystick/lever and button in favor of better parts. However, some use the original stick as it is because the parts are good enough.
In this article, I will list the fightsticks of some of the most famous pros players in the world.
This list will focus mainly on Street Fighter and Tekken players. That’s because most of the top players in these games use fightsticks as their tool of destruction.
Why do pros use a fightstick?
Because most of these top players are Japanese or Korean, it’s fair to say they spend a lot of time in the arcade. Unlike in the US and Europe, arcade places still thrive in these areas.
Therefore, these top players are used to playing on the stick. They probably started playing these games on a fightstick and have never looked back.
Interestingly, most top pad players are from the US or Europe, e.g., Luffy, Snake Eyes, Punk, etc. This makes sense, considering the arcade scene in these countries.
However, that’s not to say players outside of Japan and Korea don’t play on a stick. For example, Justin Wong is a top player who uses a fightstick like many other US players.
What’s clear is that most players I’m about to list have been multiple champions in their respective games. It’s also clear that they all use a fightstick to win.
A fightstick is a tool. A tool that, if mastered, can be used to win games more easily.
This is probably my opinion, but since switching to Stick a few years ago, my skill level has improved dramatically. I don’t think I could go back to using a pad. I’ve tried, but I always play better on the stick.
One aspect an arcade stick can help you with is execution. Pro players argue that complex moves like plinking and Korean wavedash can be performed much easier on a stick.
That’s just one benefit of using an arcade stick; there are many more, but for now, let’s focus on what fightsticks the pros use.
The fightsticks pros use
Daigo Umehara
Game: Street Fighter
Who is Daigo Umehara?
The Beast probably needs no introduction. He’s a multiple EVO champ and arguably the world’s most famous Street Fighter player.
Daigo is responsible for one of the most iconic EVO moments in History — EVO moment 37.
Although he hasn’t had as much success in Street Fighter V, you still have to respect his accomplishments.
With more than 20 years of experience in the pro-fighting game community, Daigo is a master with the fightstick.
What fightstick does Daigo use?
Diago rocks a Mad Catz FightStick TE2+. A solid, durable stick that can easily be customized as well.
Infiltration
Game: Street Fighter
Who is Infiltration?
A five-time EVO champion and one of the best pro players in the world today.
Infiltration has been a dominating force in the FGC for the past few years. He is known for playing multiple characters, but his most famous character, Akuma, is arguably the best in the world.
Infiltration is known for his excellent defensive style but also flawless execution.
What fightstick does Infiltration use?
Infiltration uses a modded version of the Mad Catz TE2+ fightstick with a Korean Joystick.
Justin Wong
Game: Street Fighter, Marvel
Who is Justin Wong?
Justin Wong has been a top North American player for several years, and rightfully so.
Justin Wong has won the most EVO titles, most from Marvel vs. Capcom.
He was also directly involved in EVO moment 37 when he played against Diago.
What Fightstick does Justin Wong use?
Justin Wong uses a variety of fightsticks, including the Razer Atrox Arcade Stick and The Guilty Gear TE2 stick.
JDCR
Game: Tekken
Who is JDCR?
JDCR is a South Korean Tekken Player considered one of the best.
He is a two-time EVO champion with wins in Tekken 7 and Tekken Tag Tournament 2, respectively.
JDCR tends to play with more technical characters like Dragonov, which requires high execution.
JDCR is known for his high-level execution, which is probably helped by the fightstick he uses.
What fightstick does JDCR use?
JDCR uses a modded Etokki Omni Arcade Stick with a custom lever/joystick.
Saint
Game: Tekken
Who is Saint?
Saint is another top South Korean player and former EVO champion. He is particularly known for his experience across multiple games in the Tekken series.
Saint almost exclusively plays with Jack in high-level tournament play.
He can be regularly seen playing against his teammate JDCR.
What fightstick does Saint use?
Saint is a bit of a hobbyist when it comes to fightsticks. He uses a heavily modded Qanba Obsidian Stick.
Saint often tinkers with his fightstick. Swapping out buttons and levers pretty much all the time.
Knee
Game: Tekken
Who is Knee?
The knee has been playing Tekken early and is considered one of the greatest players.
One key aspect of Knee is his knowledge of multiple characters, including Bryan, Devil Jin, Dragunov, and many more.
What fightstick does Knee use?
The knee has used various arcade sticks, including the Razer Panthera Evo Stick.
Recently, Knee has switched to the Hori Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa Stick, which has been slightly modded with a Crown 309 Lever.
So there we have it. As I mentioned at the start, these are the best players in the world.
If you were looking for what fightstick to buy, I hope this article has given you some insight into that because you can look at what playstyle these players have and what character they use to help you choose what fightstick is perhaps best for you.