Anyone really into PC gaming knows all about Razer products. Their products are so recognizable mainly because of their unique sense of style, and the fact that Razer names their products after deadly wildlife.
Razer has themed their products after the world’s deadliest snakes, fish, and spiders… so what deadly animal can they slap on their latest mousepad? An ant? I’d love to be in the boardroom when the Marketing department was meeting about this one. Not everyone watches the Discovery channel, so most civilized people haven’t witnessed how a swarm of these insect can strip a small animal in mere minutes.
If ants really were the icon of Destruction then they’d be used as a metaphor at LAN parties much more often. I can hear the trash talk now…. “Yeah, buddy, I’m gonna dominate you like an ant on your backside. I’m gonna bite your ass, and you’ll have mild discomfort and probably have some swelling and skin discoloration. You’ll have to go to the doctor for some topical cream, boi…”
I’m just sayin…
Regardless of the Destructor’s misguided animal icon, it is a high-quality mousepad, designed to register precise movement with today’s optical and laser mice, and do it without slowing down the gamer.
Product Description
The crux of the Razer Destructor¿s innovation lies in its proprietary gunmetal coating which yields a highly reactive surface. The result is superior tactility, improved responsiveness and enhanced tracking. Gaming-grade optical mice track up to 25% better on the Razer Destructor, and gaming-grade laser mice up to 37% better, when compared to other gaming-mousing surfaces which are designed specifically for extremely precise movements. Measuring 350mm (length) x 280mm (width) x 2.3mm (height), the Razer Destructor provides an ample mousing area for lower-sensitivity gamers accustomed to performing sweeping movements.
Product Description
Razer Destructor Professional Gaming Mat- Full Retail Multi Language. Designed by top professional Gamers Razer Fractal textured surface for enhanced precision movements Optimized to improve optical and laser gaming grade mouse performance Ultra-wide size
| Developed with top professional gamersThe Razer Destructor was co-designed, tested and validated by some of the most internationally respected and revered eSports teams, including Fnatic, Team World Elite and Team EG. Through their constant input, our engineers were able to push the boundaries of invention beyond all expectations, culminating in a product whose level of refinement is only possible at the highest echelons of competitive tuning. | |
| Razer Fractal textured surface for enhanced precision movements The crux of the Razer Destructor’s innovation lies in its proprietary gunmetal coating which yields a highly reactive surface. The result is superior tactility, improved responsiveness and enhanced tracking. |
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| Optimized to improve optical and laser gaming-grade mouse performance The Razer Destructor™ was made with one primary mission in mind: to coax the maximum performance from gaming-grade mice. And the results speak for themselves. Gaming-grade optical mice track up to 25% better on the Razer Destructor™, and gaming-grade laser mice up to 37% better, when compared to other gaming-mousing surfaces which are designed specifically for extremely precise movements. |
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| Ultra-wide size Measuring 350mm (length) x 280mm (width) x 2.3mm (height), the Razer Destructor™ provides an ample mousing area for lower-sensitivity gamers accustomed to performing sweeping movements. |
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The Razer Destructor’s packaging has three levels you must unwrap. The outermost layer is a cardboard box that includes everything you expect from a product box: a description, tantalizing photos, logos, certifications, and other marketing fluff. This box also surrounds a surrounds a hard-shelled carrying case.
The case is made of hard plastic, and does not bend at all. Razer knows that their customers are all about bragging rights, so the case is made to command attention. The complete outside of the case is made of a black woven fabric. Razer’s snake logo is embroidered onto the center of the top cover, which opens like a book. The two sides of the case are held together by a tough plastic zipper, which graces three sizes of the case.
Inside the case we see that the mouse pad is tucked inside custom-molded black foam. A notch appears at the bottom of the foam to allow a finger to pull out the mousepad. Also inside the case is more of Razer’s marketing fluff, such as a catalog of their other gaming products.
The mousepad has an unusual shape, but is symmetrical and has a look consistent with their other products. All corners are rounded, and the bottom corners are flanged to look a little more stylish. The top right corner has a black Razer snake logo, and the bottom left of the pad has the Razer Destructor logo. The back of the pad is made of thin textured rubber that easily grips most desk surfaces.
The top of the mousepad has an interesting texture, dubbed the “Razer Fractal” textured surface. Moving your hand across it feels smooth, but not smooth as glass or other “smooth” polycarbonite mouse surfaces. It feels like it has been slightly sandblasted, and the texture even catches light as if there’s little particles trapped in there.
Other mousepads have tried to implement texture, such as the SteelSeries SP, but you can actually feel the ridges and bumps that make up the texture. Razer’s texture just feels “different”… that’s the only way I can describe it. You really have to feel it for yourself, but if you’re not a fan of plastic mousepads, then the Razer Destructor isn’t going to change your mind.
It used to be the only way to have a lot of control was to use a cloth mousepad. The truth of the matter is that cloth mousepads have more drag, which have the effect of more precise movement, and takes a lot more work to move the mouse. Even the average desk jockey shouldn’t have to build up their triceps for an all-day session of computing.
The point I’m trying to make is that there’s “high drag” mousepads and “low drag” mousepads. Pretty much all high drag pads have a very similar feel, but the newer low drag plastic and polycarbonite pads can be scrutinized and analyzed over their precise feel.
It’s difficult to scientifically measure the effectiveness of a particular texture, but I do know that there were absolutely no skips, jumps when using this pad with any of our laser or optical mice, and we tested standard wireless desktop mice such as the Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 and gaming mice such as the Razer Lachesis and SteelSeries Ikari laser.
So, now that you’re armed with all this info, is the Razer Destructor the right tool for you to dessimate your online opponents? That still depends on your preference for a mousepad, but if you’re one who likes the feel of the new low-drag mousepads, then it is certainly worth a look. It offers smooth movement, with an ever-so-slight grit that actually feels rather satisfying. In contrast, other “slick” mousepads felt a little too slick, which let my mouse drift a little too much when I took my hand off.
Because it is plastic, your wrist can stick to the pad when you get sweaty (or the room gets too humid), so this may get in the way of gamers that use their hand more than their wrist. This is a property of nearly all plastic mousepads, so the only way to overcome it is to use a “wrist sweatband”, which also allows your wrist to glide across the pad. The pad’s size is adequate. It’s not too large or too small, and is about the same size as the SteelSeries SP, reviewed here. It is also very rigid, but can bend slightly, so it can smooth out the minor crack on your desk.
The case is what differentiates this pad over competitors. It is just too pretty, and looks like something an assassin carries their disassembled sniper rifle in. It just screams “hard core”, which is what appeals to Razer’s primary demographic.
The retail price of this mousepad can reach up to $40, which is just insane. Fortunately, these pads can be found online anywhere between the $25 and $35 price range, which is a bit more realistic. While this may still seem like a lot, the Razer Destructor’s price is in-line with other “professional” gaming mousepads like the SteelSeries SP. You get a much higher quality case with the Destructor, which looks very nice and helps to establish your claims as an “elite” gamer (although we all know it’s a lie).
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3 Comment
Thanks for the Review. I've been looking at the Razer Destructor and and probably going to put down money very soon. I received an email from Razer and apparently they are releasing a limited run White version. Its looks bling bling!. considers
I actually spoke with Robert Krakoff (Razerguy) at PAX08 about it. All headphones are named after fish, mice = snakes, mousepads = insects
The destructor is an ant.. that's why there is an ant symbol, it's not misguided. you may want to fix this, no matter how old the article. :-) Have a nice day…night… whatever.