Growing up, we all wanted to use the same gear as our idols—be it football boots, tennis rackets, or cricket bats. In esports, it’s no different. Plenty still believe it’s the hardware that makes the player. And while deep down, we all know “it’s not the [X], it’s how you use it,” let’s be real—some peripherals do offer a tangible advantage.

Enter SCUF Gaming, the undisputed king of pro-controllers. Back in my wannabe Call of Duty pro days, owning a SCUF felt like a dream. But in Southeast Asia, their price tags were about as friendly as a loot box mechanic. So, I adapted—I learned to play claw grip and sacrificed my fingers and wrists. Now, years later, I appreciate the importance of hand health.

Which brings us to today. SCUF, in their infinite generosity, sent me their latest creation—the Valor Pro, essentially the Xbox sibling to their Envision controller for PS5. The only question is: after all these years, was it worth the wait?

Art of Never Letting Go

A pro controller’s biggest selling point? Keeping your thumbs glued to the analogue sticks. In fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty and Apex Legends, that split-second difference means the line between victory and becoming a spectator. The Valor Pro nails this with four rear paddles, perfectly positioned for on-the-fly inputs. Prefer a simpler setup? You can remove two.

Then there are the Instant Triggers. Flick a switch, and you go from a regular trigger pull to a hyper-responsive mouse click. If you play competitive shooters, this is the equivalent of upgrading from a hatchback to a Formula 1 car. The difference is immediate.

Oh, and soon, it’ll support a 1000 Hz polling rate on PC. If you thought your reaction times were fast, imagine a controller that registers your inputs before your brain even realises you made them.

Comfort also matters, and SCUF seems to know it. The Valor Pro’s shape is redesigned for optimal paddle placement, so you’re not forced into some bizarre hand yoga pose. Contoured bumpers make switching between inputs seamless, and the grip? The sweatier you get, the better it holds—great for clutch moments or, in my case, surviving the Malaysian heat.

Stick drift—the gaming equivalent of slow Wi-Fi. It ruins everything. But the Valor Pro dodges this problem with Hall Effect thumbsticks, which don’t rely on physical contact, meaning no gradual death spiral. They feel just like regular sticks, too, so no awkward adjustment period.

Remap the paddles, tweak audio on the fly, save up to three profiles—this controller adapts to you, not the other way around. It’s wired-only, but serious players prefer it that way to avoid input delay. If you’re more of a ‘sofa gamer,’ don’t worry—SCUF includes a 10ft cable, so you won’t feel tethered like a dog in the backyard.

The Xbox Shape Dilemma

I’m no stranger to pro controllers, having used the DualSense Edge for a year. But coming from PlayStation’s symmetrical stick layout, gripping the Valor Pro took some getting used to. That’s less of a SCUF issue and more of an Xbox thing. If you already love Xbox controllers, you’ll feel right at home.

Five hours of Black Ops 6 Ranked Play daily, and the Valor Pro hasn’t flinched. The triggers, in particular, are a game-changer—flicking them into hair-trigger mode makes every input feel snappier, shaving off those crucial milliseconds in a gunfight.

The paddles, however, required some tweaking. Initially, I removed the middle ones, thinking I’d try the lower grip paddles. Terrible idea. It forced me to adjust my grip in ways my hands refused to accept. Reattaching the paddles instantly felt better, proving that sometimes, the default setup is the right one.

The Two Big Features: Triggers & Paddles

Now, let’s talk about the meat and potatoes of this thing—the adjustable triggers and back paddles.

First, the triggers. If you play competitive shooters and your controller has adjustable triggers, you should absolutely be using them. Unlike the DualSense Edge, which offers three trigger stages, the SCUF Valor Pro keeps it simple with just two: on and off. I’ve set mine to the shortest travel time, and the difference in gunfights is staggering. My reaction time hasn’t changed, but my inputs register just a fraction of a second faster. In competitive FPS, milliseconds decide matches. Bonus points for the fact that when activated, the triggers make a mouse click sound that’s oddly satisfying.

Now, onto the back paddles. Initially, I removed the two middle ones, thinking I’d give the lower grip paddles a try. Bad idea. I tend to grip my controllers tightly at the bottom, and having to shift my grip to accommodate the lower paddles felt unnatural. Plus, the placement of the non-removable paddles just didn’t sit right with me. But, as I mentioned earlier, I’m heavily biased by my time with the DualSense Edge, which has its back buttons positioned exactly where the removable paddles are on the Valor Pro.

So, I reattached the paddles, and suddenly, everything felt better. I still don’t love the overall shape of the controller, but once I had the paddles where I wanted them, using the Valor Pro became a much smoother experience.

The Price of Perfection

Now, let’s talk about the part that makes or breaks the deal—the price. The SCUF Valor Pro retails for US$109.99 (roughly RM520), and that’s before factoring in shipping and potential import fees. In the grand scheme of pro controllers, it’s not outrageous, but for Southeast Asians, that price is downright brutal. To put it into perspective, that’s nearly the cost of a new Xbox controller and a game. Compared to other SCUF entries, is actually remarkably cheaper.

But is it worth it?

There are certainly cheaper alternatives. However, most of them come in bizarre shapes that stray far from the standard Xbox or PS5 design. That might work for some, but for those who’ve spent years building muscle memory on traditional controllers, the adjustment could be more frustrating than beneficial.

Are Pro Controllers a Game Changer?

Short answer? Yes.

Long answer? Well, think of it like this: anyone can learn to aim and shoot straight. But a pro controller doesn’t just improve aim—it gives you more control, literally. Being able to jump, reload, and swap weapons without ever lifting your thumbs off the sticks is the real advantage. If you don’t use a claw grip, you will almost always be at a disadvantage in a fast-paced FPS. A pro controller solves that problem, no finger gymnastics required.

So, should you buy one?

If you’re aspiring to compete in controller-dominated esports like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, or Halo, then yes, it’s a solid investment. But is it worth the price tag? Reluctantly, I’d say yes—but only if you can comfortably afford it.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

Review unit provided by SCUF Gaming.