In a world where the clicks and clacks of keyboards are the constant background noise of our digital age, Rokat The Vulcan II, not just as a tool, but as an expression of style, precision and technical artistry. It’s not just a keyboard; It’s the instrument with which the tunes of our digital victories, whether in epic gaming battles or masterful text writing, are played. With a design that is simple and screamingly loud, and mechanics that are both gentle and powerful, the Vulcan II invites us to send our fingers on a journey where every keystroke echoes into the infinity of cyberspace. Let’s immerse ourselves in a world where each key is not just a letter, but an unwritten chapter, and explore the fascinating history of the Roccat Vulcan II together.
We have kindly been contacted for this review Testmaster provided, but this does not affect our honest opinion.
Design and construction
The Vulcan II is a full, wired keyboard with Rocket’s Titan II red linear mechanical switches. At first glance, it closely resembles the Vulcan II Max, released in October 2022, with a lightweight plastic chassis and a strong aluminum top plate with a shiny diamond-cut beveled edge. However, the top plate of the Vulcan II has a brushed metal finish which, in my opinion, looks more premium than the matte finish of the Vulcan II Max.
The Vulcan II is available in black and white, although our review model was black. The white color variant has a silver top plate, white keycaps and a white wrist rest, while the black variant is completely black. With three dedicated media buttons (rewind, play/pause, fast forward) and a volume control in the top right corner, it’s not only functional but also intuitive to use. Indicator lights showing Numlock, “Easy-Shift” and Game Mode are not located in the upper right corner as usual, but are stylishly incorporated into the housing at the bottom edge. Very cool in my opinion.
Tip- and Gamingerlebnis
Perhaps the biggest difference between the Vulcan II and Vulcan II Max are the switches: the Vulcan II is the first keyboard to feature Roccat’s Titan II mechanical switches, while the Vulcan II Max features Roccat’s Titan II optical switches. The new Titan II mechanical switches feature an “optimized transparent housing” for a better lighting experience and are rated for 80 million keystrokes.
The Titan II mechanical red switches have an actuation force of 45g, actuation travel of 1.4mm and a total travel of 3.6mm – just like their optical counterparts. These are linear switches, meaning they have a smooth, consistent keystroke with no tactile bumps or audible clicks. Despite being the same weight as the Titan II optical red switches, the Titan II mechanical red switches definitely feel a bit heavier. Not necessarily heavy, but you can tell by both feel and sound that these are mechanical switches and not optical – the Titan II mechanical reds also have a heavier, more muted sound than their optical counterparts.
As for the typing experience, the Vulcan II offers a fairly similar typing experience to the Vulcan II Max, although the Vulcan II’s mechanical switches feel and sound slightly better. In particular, the Vulcan II’s switches feel great and have a more satisfying “thunk”. Gaming on the Vulcan II is better than typing thanks to smooth, fast linear switches and slippery keycaps.
Features and Software
The Vulcan II works with Rocket’s Universal Peripheral Software, flock, which lets you program both primary and secondary key assignments and customize the keyboard’s per-key RGB lighting. According to Roccat, the keyboard has up to four profiles of onboard memory.
Swarm offers a drag-and-drop format with a fairly comprehensive list of features for programming key bindings. There’s also a built-in macro manager that lets you create and record your own macros, and comes with preset macros for several popular games.
There is one small drawback when it comes to features: the USB-A cable is unfortunately removable and not replaceable. Furthermore, in this price range, I miss at least one more USB slot in the case if you want to quickly connect a USB stick.
Our conclusion
I would say that the Vulcan II is a more budget-friendly option for people who like the look of the Vulcan II Max but don’t want to break the bank. The Vulcan II offers a very similar aesthetic and feel to the Vulcan II Max, and even has some perks – a high-quality brushed aluminum finish on the top plate and extremely smooth, satisfying mechanical switches – and comes at a much more palatable price. Available around .150€.
The Vulcan II’s mechanical switches feel better than the Vulcan II Max’s optical switches, but not as good. And they can’t compete with the extra nice light show of the Vulcan II Max, which falls into the (more comfortable) palm rest.
Roccat Vulcan II – Mechanical PC Gaming Keyboard, Customizable RGB Lighting, Detachable Wrist Rest, Titan II Tactile Switch, Aluminum Plate, Black
- TITAN II Mechanical Switches – TITAN II tactile switches have a slight tactile bump in the middle of the press, making them ideal for players who want a light response. TITAN II switches feature an optimized transparent housing for a better lighting experience and tested durability of 80 million keys.
- AIMO Lighting – AIMO lighting technology instantly creates vivid RGB lighting effects and can be synced with other compatible AIMO-enabled products.
- Anti-ghosting and NKRO – Full N-key rollover and anti-ghosting ensure that every single key press and key combination is always registered as intended.
