The decisive difference is keyboard remapping versus a
controller layout
The Tartarus puts keyboard-like actions under one hand
Razer lists 32 fully programmable controls on the Tartarus V2,
including its eight-way directional thumb pad and scroll wheel.
That matters when an MMO plan is built around modifiers. Mount,
map, inventory, target markers, or a second action bar can all sit
where your left hand already rests. It is not a full keyboard
replacement, but it can move the highest-frequency binds off one
crowded row.
The adjustable palm rest is relevant because this is a fixed desk
device, not a handheld controller. Set the angle, map a few
actions first. Add more only when the layout becomes automatic.
A complicated macro sheet is not a substitute for an
understandable keybind plan.
The F14 is a specific Final Fantasy XIV tool
The current F14 Black Edition is not a newer Tartarus. HORI lists
support for Windows PC, PS5, and PS4 and positions it for Final
Fantasy XIV. On PlayStation it functions as a keyboard, and its
stick maps to digital inputs rather than analog movement. That
cross-platform point is its strongest case only when that behavior
fits your FFXIV routine:
someone who keeps the same game and controller habit across PC and
PlayStation has a clear reason to choose it.
Its limitation is equally important. A controller-oriented layout
does not automatically become a better setup for every PC MMO,
strategy game, or work task. If the reason you opened this
comparison is “I want more ordinary PC binds,” the F14 changes the
input language instead of extending it.
Software determines how much experimentation you can do
Tartarus profiles and remapping live in Razer Synapse 4. That
gives a PC player room to revise a layout after a raid or a long
quest session. It also creates a software-dependent setup:
document important binds and do not assume a complex profile
travels cleanly to another computer.
The F14’s stronger argument is compatibility with the platforms it
names, not a promise to imitate every keyboard. Check the game’s
controller support and the exact platform before ordering. For the
broader desk context, see the FFXIV setup hub
and the FFXIV gaming
keypad setup guide, then browse the MMOSetup
guides for mouse, display, and UI placement.
Neither device makes a bad bind plan memorable
More controls can reduce reaches, but they can also create a
second set of forgotten commands. Start with actions you use
often, keep movement and emergency actions predictable, and leave
rare menus on the keyboard. The winner is the device whose
physical labels and thumb control match the commands you can
recall without looking down.