Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX ZywOo Edition Gaming Keyboard Review
Asus has collaborated with ZywOo to launch the new Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX ZywOo Edition Gaming Keyboard. The keyboard is based on the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX Gaming Keyboard with ZywOo style added to it.
The ROG Falchion Ace HFX Gaming Keyboard is a 65% wired gaming Hall Effect (HFX) keyboard featuring pre-lubed ROG HFX magnetic switches and Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) doubleshot keycaps.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX ZywOo Edition Gaming Keyboard retails for S$319, while the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX Gaming Keyboard retails for S$279. A difference of S$40 for the ZywOo theme.
Who is ZywOo?
Mathias “ZywOo” Herbaut is one of the most accomplished professional players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). He is known for his consistently top-tier performance with Team Vitality. He has earned multiple HLTV Player of the Year awards and is widely respected for his exceptional game sense, precise aim, and calm demeanor under pressure.
Box Contents
Inside the box, you’ll find a braided USB-C to USB-A cable, a keycap puller, and spare keycaps (for Ctrl, Esc, and Z).
I wish the braided USB-C to USB-A cable could be replaced with a coiled USB-C to USB-A cable instead; that would be perfect.
What is ROG without stickers? You will receive an esports theme sticker, featuring the ZywOo logo in one of them. The sticker differs from what you will receive with the regular Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX.
Design
Team Vitality’s color is yellow, and the yellow accent color reflects its team color and branding.
The primary color is magenta, but I couldn’t find any association with magenta, so I can only guess it is the complementary color to yellow.
ZywOo most used weapon based on his HLTV’s profile is the Arctic Warfare Police (AWP) rifle, and hence the backspace has the AWP design.
His logo is on the Tab key, Z key, and Spacebar. If you find it too much, you can actually swap back the Z key as the original Z key is included in the box contents.
The Escape key has a design of a chicken, paying homage to the chickens in CS. I remember all the chickens in the map cs_italy. An interesting fact is that ZywOo is also one of the leaders in terms of chicken kills at the tournament.
The kickstands offer two height adjustments.
Controls
The keyboard features two USB-C ports, located at each end of the keyboard. In the middle is the keyboard toggle switch, which allows you to switch usage between computers when two computers are connected to the keyboard via each USB-C port.
On the extreme left side is the switch function button, which allows you to toggle between five different functions and use the capacitive touch panel to control each one.
For example, you can switch to the volume function and use the touch panel to adjust the volume’s loudness.
Another example is that you can switch to the actuation distance function and use the touch panel to adjust the actuation distance. Actuation distance refers to the amount of travel a key must be pressed before it registers an input.
While the touch panel is convenient, it isn’t as accurate as a knob or wheel. Without tactile steps, you sometimes overshoot your target value and need a few adjustments to get it right.
On the extreme right is the trigger mode switch, which enables Rapid Trigger. Rapid Trigger allows a key to reset and activate instantly without needing to return to its original height, enabling faster repeated key presses.
Enabling Rapid Trigger and optimizing the actuation distance will give you an edge in First Person Shooter (FPS) gaming. However, it can’t help you if your aim is poor to begin with.
Magnetic Switches
The reason you can control the actuation distance is due to the magnetic switches, rather than mechanical switches.
Magnetic switches have a linear feel because their actuation is detected by a sensor, rather than physical contact mechanisms, allowing the key to move smoothly without any tactile bump or click.
In this case, Hall Effect (HFX) is a type of magnetic switch. For ROG HFX magnetic switches, the initial force is 40 gf, and the total force is 55 gf.
Out of the box, the actuation distance is 4 mm, which feels far. However, you can adjust it to any value between 0.1 and 4 mm.
In terms of sound, magnetic switches like this produce a muted thock sound. It is acceptable, but not the best-sounding.
Cover
I love that Asus included a keyboard cover, and it’s not just a generic keyboard cover, but also features a ZywOo theme on the underside.
The included cover saves me a couple of bucks, as I don’t need a generic acrylic transparent keyboard cover.
Gear Link
You do not need to use Asus Armoury Crate to configure the keyboard. In fact, even if you have Armoury Crate installed, it will redirect you to Gear Link instead.
For the unaware, Gear Link is Asus’ new web-based configuration tool for its ROG peripherals. Despite it being web-based, you will still need to install a small “companion tool” on Windows first before it can detect the keyboard. But at least Gear Link is much lighter than Armoury Crate.
You can configure all aspects of the mouse on Gear Link, including setting the RGB color, adjusting the polling rate, setting the actuation distance, and key assignment, among other options.
Conclusion
The Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX ZywOo Edition Gaming Keyboard is a well-rounded package that combines hall-effect magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, rapid trigger support, and thoughtful controls in a compact 65% layout. Although I find the touch panel a bit gimmicky, I prefer a knob or a wheel.
The themed elements (AWP backspace, ZywOo logos, and the playful chicken escape key) add personality without compromising performance, making it a fun yet capable keyboard for both gaming and everyday use. The included themed cover is a nice bonus that adds practical value in addition to its aesthetic appeal.
That said, the extra S$40 you’re paying here is entirely for the ZywOo branding and visual theme. Suppose you’re not a fan of ZywOo, Team Vitality, or CS2 in general. In that case, the regular Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX Gaming Keyboard offers the same hardware features and performance at a lower price. However, suppose you enjoy the esports flair or want a keyboard with a more unique identity. In that case, the ZywOo Edition offers a distinctive look in addition to an already excellent keyboard.
