There is a running argument in competitive gaming about whether thumbstick extenders are a real advantage or just an expensive placebo. I have always sat somewhere in the middle. On a regular controller, the cheap stick caps you can buy barely change anything. On a premium controller like the DualSense Edge, the story is different, because the controller already lets you swap the physical stick modules and tune your response curves in software. The EXknight Controller Freaks set takes that idea one step further with height adjustable sticks: three separate shafts, one low rise with two heights, one mid rise with four, and one high rise with four, giving you ten possible setups in one box.
Before the details, the standard disclosure. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission never changes what I test or what I recommend, and the sticks I tested were used the way any player would use them.
Below I walk through the design, the different height options, real world performance across several game genres, the honest pros and cons, and who should buy them.
Design and Build
The EXknight set ships with three stick shafts, each with a knurled metal core, a textured rubber grip, and a threaded system that lets you stack spacer rings to reach different heights. The low rise stick gives you two heights, the mid rise gives you four, and the high rise gives you four more, so you can move between a setup barely taller than the stock stick and a tall stick that sits well above the controller face. The rubber texture is aggressive enough to keep your thumb planted during intense moments, but not so rough that it feels abrasive after an hour of play.
Build quality is noticeably better than the generic caps sold in plastic bags. The metal cores have a reassuring weight, the threads engage cleanly without wobble, and the whole assembly locks onto the DualSense Edge module shaft securely. Nothing jiggles in use, which matters because a loose thumbstick at the worst moment is a recipe for a missed input. The set comes in a compact case with the spacers organized in place, so swapping setups at the desk is quick and does not send small parts rolling across the floor.
Key Features
The headline feature is the height adjustment system itself. Unlike a fixed cap, this set is designed for experimentation. You can run the same stick at a low height for one game, add a spacer for another, and swap to the high rise stick entirely for a third. That flexibility is the whole point of the product, and it is what separates it from a single generic cap that you either like or you do not.
Compatibility is the second feature. These sticks are built for the DualSense Edge, which means they mount directly onto the controller's removable thumbstick modules. The DualSense Edge is the PS5 controller that Sony built for serious players, with back buttons, adjustable trigger travel, and swappable stick modules, and this accessory is designed to work with that module system rather than covering it up. The controller compatibility extends to the PS5 Pro controller as well, which uses the same module design.
There is also a practical design detail worth mentioning. The grips are taller than stock, which changes your thumb position and gives you more leverage for fine movements. For precision aiming, that extra height means small wrist movements translate into gentler stick deflection, which is the mechanism behind the "aim better with extenders" claim. Whether it works is what the performance section is for.
Real-World Performance
I tested the EXknight set across three very different games: a twitch shooter, a long racing game, and a precision third person game. The low rise setting felt closest to stock, just with a better grip texture, and it was the setup I defaulted to in the racing game, where I wanted fast, direct steering response without overcorrecting. The mid rise was where the aiming benefits started to show. In the shooter, the extra leverage made fine adjustments noticeably easier, and my target acquisition felt smoother by the end of the session.
The high rise is the interesting one, because it is not for everyone. At full height, the stick has a lot of travel, and I found it excellent for slow, deliberate aiming but sluggish when I needed to spin around quickly. Players who flick their camera aggressively will find the high rise slows them down, while players who prefer careful, steady aim will love the extra control. This is exactly the kind of thing that is impossible to know without trying, which is the strongest argument for a set with this many options.
Over a week of use, the sticks showed no wear. The rubber stayed firmly attached to the core, the threads never loosened, and the grips stayed tacky even after long sessions. I did find myself changing heights between games more than I expected, which is the tradeoff of the flexibility: you may end up experimenting more than playing. The knurled metal core is a small comfort detail, because it stops the rubber grip from rotating around the shaft, a problem I have had with cheaper caps that gradually drift out of alignment.
The main weakness is price and focus. This is a specialized accessory for a controller that is already expensive, and the value only makes sense if you actually use the Edge's modular features. On a standard DualSense, you would need a different mounting approach, so this set does not serve the casual player with a base controller. It is also a precision tool rather than a durability fix, so if your goal is simply to replace a worn cap, this is more than you need.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Ten height configurations from three sticks
- Precise metal cores with secure mounting
- Aggressive grip texture that stays put
- Designed for the DualSense Edge module system
- Quick to swap between games without tools
Cons:
- Expensive for a stick accessory
- High rise setup feels sluggish for fast camera turns
- Only useful on compatible modular controllers
- Experimenting can eat into actual playtime
How It Compares
Most DualSense Edge owners consider either a set of fixed stick caps or a grip tape kit instead of a height system. The table below compares the EXknight set with a typical fixed cap set and the stock sticks.
| Feature | EXknight Set | Fixed Caps | Stock Sticks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height options | Ten total | One or two | One |
| Grip material | Textured rubber | Rubber or plastic | Texture grip |
| Mounting | Metal core | Friction cap | Factory |
| Fine aim benefit | High | Moderate | Baseline |
| Price | Premium | Budget | Included |
| Fits standard DualSense | No | Yes | Yes |
For a casual player with a standard controller, fixed caps are the sensible choice because they cost a fraction of the price and install on anything. For an Edge owner who wants to actually tune their aim, the EXknight set offers something fixed caps cannot, which is the ability to try many heights and settle on the right one. The value is in the range of options, and that range only matters if you will use it.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the EXknight Controller Freaks set if you own a DualSense Edge or a PS5 Pro controller and you want to genuinely tune your stick height instead of guessing with a single cap. It is for the player who takes aiming seriously, who plays games where fine stick control makes a difference, and who enjoys finding the exact setup that fits their hands.
Skip it if you play on a standard controller, if you are happy with your current stick setup, or if you prefer a minimal, set and forget accessory. For the right player, this is a proper tool rather than a gimmick. You can check the current price of the EXknight Controller Freaks on Amazon when you are ready.
How We Test
I tested the EXknight set for a week across three game genres: a competitive shooter, a racing title, and a third person action game. I ran each stick at its lowest and highest settings, logged how each height felt for aiming and camera movement, and switched configurations between sessions to test the swapping speed and thread durability. I also checked the mounting security on the DualSense Edge modules repeatedly.
For a deeper look at how thumbstick extenders are discussed in the competitive community, TechRadar's guide to the best gaming controllers is a useful read. The EXknight listing on Amazon shows the current price and configuration details.
EXknight Controller Freaks: Questions People Ask
Do these sticks fit the DualSense Edge controller?
Yes, they are built for the DualSense Edge and the PS5 Pro controller, and they mount directly onto the removable stick modules using the module shafts.
How many height settings are there?
The set includes a low rise stick with two heights, a mid rise with four, and a high rise with four, giving you ten total configurations to try.
Do taller sticks actually improve aiming?
For many players, yes. Extra height gives you more leverage for fine adjustments, which helps slow, deliberate aim in shooters, though it can feel slow for fast camera flicks, so the right height depends on your play style.
Can I use these on a standard DualSense controller?
No, these are designed for the modular stick system on the DualSense Edge and PS5 Pro controllers, not the fixed sticks on a standard DualSense.
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