The SteelSeries Merc Stealth is a gaming keyboard that has a whole section dedicated to gaming keys on the left side. The size of this keyboard is relatively larger than your traditional keyboard and it has a bit of a round design.
The dedicated gaming section can be helpful for MOBA and MMORPG players that have to cycle through a ton of skills. Aside from the gaming section, you have all the standard keys of a normal keyboard.
There are also different alternatives for this keyboard if you are not a fan of how the SteelSeries Merc Stealth looks. So, let’s go through a few alternatives for SteelSeries Merc Stealth to help you decide which one to buy.
SteelSeries Merc Stealth Alternatives
- Fellowes Microban Split Keyboard
This keyboard is smaller than SteelSeries Merc Stealth mainly because there are no dedicated gaming keys. Even though it does not have the extra set of keys, the split design of this keyboard allows users to comfortably access the keys you will use in-game.
The good thing is that it won’t take as much space on your desk and you will still get the same layout as the SteelSeries Merc Stealth. It is a full-sized keyboard and also has some media control keys on the top. Design-wise it is very similar to Merc Stealth when you look at the curves and edges.
So, if you were looking for a keyboard that looks similar to the Merc Stealth then the Microban Split should be your first choice. The whole point of this keyboard is to allow users to play their favorites games without any issues.
The key layout wraps around the palm and you will be able to easily access different actions because of the split design. Moreover, the price tag on this device is not that expensive. Meaning that it won’t affect your budget that much.
- Razer Tartarus
The Razer Tartarus can also prove to be a viable alternative when you use it along with another keyboard. It is not a full-sized keyboard, but rather a keypad that you can use to assign different actions.
You can plug the Tartarus along with your keyboard and then use it as a dedicated gaming pad. That way your configurations won’t mess up the layout of your standard keyboard and you can just customize the macros on your Tartarus. Moreover, you get a lot more features than just a few extra keys with the Razer Tartarus.
This is perfect for users that were looking for an extra set of keys that they can use for gaming without having to affect the layout of the standard keyboard. This extra set of macro keys along with the ergonomic design of Razer Tartarus will be perfect for your gaming sessions.
You can customize each button using the Razer program. Even though you will need to link up another keyboard to use with the PC, this keypad will fulfill your requirement for an extra set of keys that are dedicated to gaming.
- Kinesis Freestyle Edge
The Freestyle Edge is a keyboard that is split in half allowing you more freedom to adjust the position of the keyboard. There are 8 macro keys on this keyboard that you reprogram to different action buttons.
However, the layout of this keyboard is similar to your standard keyboard, and there nothing different as to how keys are fixed into this keyboard. But it can still provide you with the same experience that you get from a dedicated set of gaming keys. Just configure the programmable keys and put the right half away from the gaming keys.
Now your keyboard will behave like a dedicated gaming keypad and you can even bring your mouse closer to the keyboard to get more freedom of movement. Overall, it is a very solid keyboard with a beautiful design and durable key switches.
But in our opinion buying the Razer Tartarus or other similar gaming keypads will still be the best option for you if you want the same experience as the SteelSeries Merc Stealth. You will get the benefit of an additional set of keys along with all the keys on your standard keyboard. Moreover, there are plenty of new features in Tartarus that are absent in Merc Stealth.
there are NO great alternatives to the Merc Stealth. These are perhaps the best ones, but they’re all terrible 🙁
I don’t understand how no one will make one similar….is the design patented?
I agree 100000% about every 3 months, I look to see if they’ve updated and selling Merc Stealth again. I’ve been fortunate that my keyboard still works but I game and would be nice to use mechanical keyboard … i don’t know why no one makes something similar. I’ve bough the tartulas and new razer keyboard but havent set up yet lol …
I used the stealth merc v1 and v2 for years until the software support stopped and the keyboards died. Best gaming experience every and never understood why no one makes a keyboard with the extra gaming keys like these keyboards had. They sell 2nd hand on ebay for 400 euros lol.
I’m still using my Merc Stealth, despite it being nearly a decade old. It’s outlasted three PC’s at this point, and the day it dies is likely the day I stop playing video games on PC.
There simply aren’t any options out there that are comparable. The Razer Tartarus seems to be the closest, but the keys aren’t ergonomically placed. The Merc Stealth is practically a controller that has all the keys used by most video games, and it doesn’t require any special programming to make it work. The default setup just works, because the keys are literally just duplicates of their normal counterparts.
I still look for Merc Stealth re-release … someone please make something similar!!! Im too old to learn new things lol
I think SteelSeries has the rights to all these designs after buying Ideazon.
They ended the series because it hasn’t got the wanted profit, and buried it. There are no signs that they might bring it back because of that. There are uses sold on ebay and such but at really hight prices, not worth it.
There was also a gamepade from Ideazon called Fang, but it also is no more available.
My wife uses the merc stealth since over 10 years and is scared for the future when it starts dying. But there will be no way around 🙁
I am also still using my merc stealth …. for more than 20 years. I play wow and have tried bought and returned many keyboards. I also don’t understand how this was stopped and why no other similar keyboards out there;(
I’m old af and wow is my escape from thr real world and dread the day it dies 🙁 I’d also have to leave the gaming … to old to learn new ways lol