After the Artisan Zero left me underwhelmed, I kept looking for something to live up to the hype — or at least feel right under my mouse. That’s when I stumbled across the Ninjutso NPC Pro. No flashy marketing, no wild claims — just a clean, well-made pad that quietly does the job. Honestly, it surprised me — let’s dive into the review.
Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me for testing purposes, though Ninjusto had no sway over the contents of this review.
Testing Scenarios
Testing period: 4 weeks in total
Gaming Sleeve was not used.
Break-in period: no noticeable break-in.
Mice used: Zaopin Z1 Pro (stock skates and dot skates), Waizowl Cloud XS (stock skates), G-wolves Hati R 8k (stock skates).
Games played: QuakeWorld, Battlefield 1 and V, Doom Eternal.
Temperature and humidity: 19–22 degrees, 50–65% humidity
Unboxing and first impressions video
It came rolled up in the box, but the box was massive and the roll was super loose — so as soon as I took it out, it laid completely flat on my desk right away. Perfect!
Bottom line? Very simple unboxing but the pad comes out flat, no problems.
Specs
According to the brand:
- NPC is a cloth pad designed for those who want medium speed and steady control
- Poron base, imported from Japan, sits extremely tight without moving during intense gaming
- 2.2mm super-thin stitches that are below the surface for maximum comfort and durability
- Humidity-resistant; easy to clean with hair-proof
- Speed reference: Zero > NPC > Saturn
- XL: 470 x 410; Thickness: 3.5mm; Sponge Type: soft
Bottom line? Most of it is true, however, I’d not say it’s medium-speed because it’s slower than the medium-speed pad.
Base and Stitching
The base is similar to what you’ve seen before, yet, it’s a bit different. It sits extremely tight without moving during intense gaming — once you stick it to the desk, you need to use some real force to remove it. And when you peel it off, it goes with this specific sound as if you tore off the band-aid, you get the picture. And it is more flexible so you can bend it without consequence. I prefer it to the Artisan base — it’s similar, yet, more stable and trustworthy in my opinion.
The stitching is 2.2mm super-thin and sits below the surface for maximum comfort. It’s minimal and discreet, no fraying observed so far but I can’t tell how it would take the test of time.
Bottom line? The stitching and quality of the base are on par with the top competitor from Japan, or even better.
Surface
It’s a cloth surface with a soft, squishy base and below-surface stitching — and honestly, it’s excellent. In terms of comfort on the arm, it’s right up there, probably only edged out by something like the Jinsoku or Raiden. The surface has no scratchy texture at all, so gliding across it feels smooth and easy. You don’t need an arm sleeve with this pad, not even close. If you’ve got sensitive skin or just get irritated by rougher materials, this is one of those pads that just works. Super comfortable, no weird friction, no discomfort during long sessions.
When you squish it, then you notice the poron base, so it gives in slightly, something along the MID base of Artisan I would say.
Bottom line? Feeling close to the MID version of Artisan, but is comfortable to use without a sleeve.
Humidity and Maintenance
I haven’t had the chance to test the NPC Pro in a humid environment yet, so I can’t speak from direct experience there. That said, I do have some concerns. The surface feels very similar to other pads I’ve used in the past that ended up slowing down noticeably when exposed to moisture over time. It’s that slightly textured, tightly woven type that tends to absorb just enough humidity to change the glide — not immediately, but gradually. It starts off feeling great, then slowly becomes sluggish, especially if the room isn’t well-ventilated. I hope that’s not the case here, but it’s in the back of my mind.
As for maintenance, it’s been pretty straightforward so far. I’ve mostly used a lint roller to grab hair and dust — it works well and keeps the surface clean without disturbing the texture. Now and then, I’ll swipe it down with a dry cloth just to freshen it up and wipe away any smudges or oils (do not use wet/dam cloth). That’s usually enough. If it gets too dirty, try to use paper towels wiping it off slowly with diluted soap water.
I haven’t given it a full wash, though — no soaking or “mousepad bath.” Honestly, the material just doesn’t feel like it would handle that kind of deep cleaning well. I get the impression it might not dry evenly or could lose some of its original feel, so I’ve avoided going that route.
Bottom line? The Maintenance is easy, but I’m cautious with moisture, both in the air and during cleaning. Don’t wash it!
Static/Dynamic Friction and Stopping Power
This is the most important part of any mousepad review. The brand cites it as “medium speed” but I tend to disagree — in my opinion, it is too controlled to be called that. It is a bit more smooth and a tad faster than Artisan Zero, and I like that, but I’d say it’s perhaps 5% faster.
Nonetheless, the initial friction is pretty high, making the micro-adjustments a challenge, the dynamic friction, even though slightly smaller than Artisan’s, is still very much on the control side. The stopping power is very satisfactory for control lovers because it’s pretty great with this pad, compared to Artisan’s.
Bottom line? All clicks for control, but the glide is a tad faster than Artisan’s.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Ninjutso NPC Pro is a valid alternative for those seeking a cheaper Artisan Zero option. It has a better base, slightly better glide, it’s still very much controlled, it’s in classic black, it has good, low stitching and good overall quality. But it’s not for everyone folks.
Buy it if:
- you are a gamer who loves control
- you play heavy-flicked games that require a lot of stopping power (Valorant, CS2)
- you aim horizontally in general
Do not buy if:
- your games are fast
- your games require a lot of tracking
- your games require a lot of target switching and micro-adjustments
Bullet Points
- more affordable Artisan Zero alternative…
- … but with a slightly bit more glide and speed
- no noticeable break-in period
- comes out flat out of the box, even though it’s rolled
- very subtle stitching
- very sticky to the desk, you peel it off with the specific sound to it
- unfortunately, hair and dust stick to the surface
- you can clean it with a roller or a dry cloth — don’t wash it!
- not sure about durability but I get the feeling the pad could slow down over time (humidity)
Get this pad from the official website
Disclaimer
this review is not a paid endorsement. I want to ensure transparency and let you know that I am not receiving any monetary or otherwise compensation for evaluating or discussing this tech product.
