Lately, one of my favorite activities to do with the Nintendo Switch 2 is to hold it and wonder when another “Must play!” game will appear on the nearly 1-year-old system that will pull me in like DK Bonanza. Yikes. In that time, we have also been spoiled with the release of numerous grip cases for the flat slab, like the Satisfye Zen Grip, the Genki Attack Vector, and the Savage Raven NeoGrip, amongst others.
Savage Raven’s (F. Skull and Co.) newest innovation seeks to outdo its competitors and answer the most prominent issues with detachable Switch 2 grip cases while providing the same feel and modularity that the company has been known for: The Fission Grip.
The Problem With Detachable Grips
The intent of this grip is Savage Raven’s answer to the plague of poorly engineered detachable grips that were, let’s be honest, rushed out the door to meet the release of the Switch 2. While Savage Raven released its own NeoGrip before the fabled June 5th release date, that grip was a safe bet given its fixed, but dockable, nature.
Detachable grips on release (Like the Genki Attack Vector or the Dbrand Killswitch) had issues feeling secure on the Joy-Con and actually hindered the Joy-Con 2’s magnetically detachable design to the point where they were falling off with little effort unless you used adhesive tape.
Detachable grips as a whole are inherently flawed because they rely solely on the magnets for support, so wobble is inevitable, but that doesn’t stop companies from trying. And here I think Savage Raven nailed it.
The Savage Raven Fission Grip
My grip and Maxcarry case were provided by my wallet and have seen a lot of use since purchasing them… months ago at this point, but the awesome team at Savage Raven provided me with its Fission Grip and carry case bundle to show off for you guys (honestly, I might give it away, but let’s check back when I get there).
If I sound like a shill for this company by the end of this review, it is purely from my own volition and not because they asked me to. I just really like their products; however, I do have SOME helpful suggestions.
In the box, we have everything packed securely in the Maxcarry case: Grip(s), Switch 2 protective cover, microfiber cloth, instructions, and a delightful hunk of foam for extra padding. As per Skull and C- Savage Raven standard, we have a shell and 3 types of detachable grips: The small case-friendly Snap Grip, the moderately grippy Trigger Grip, and the beefy Plus Grip.
The grips are made of a hard plastic and have indented circles, similar to a brand new Switch 1 Pro Controller. In fact, they literally feel the same. In the kit Savage Raven sent me, there’s a red and blue color scheme similar to the accents in the Joy-Con 2, but I opted for black in the one I purchased. The rest of the Joy-Con shell is a mix of hard plastic and TPU for design purposes, while the console shell is a smoky, clear black to properly behold the Switch 2 Logo.
All in all, the presentation is good. It’s a thoughtfully designed hunk of grippy plastic that values ergonomics, sturdiness, and a smidge of vanity.
Savage Raven by Skull & Co. FissionGrip
Savage Raven’s Answer to Detachability
Assembly is stupid easy: just slide the Joy-Con down into the grip handle until the TPU clip nests over the dislodge button. For the case…just put it on. I’m not your mother, and we are all adults here.
What separates this grip from other detachable grips is just how secure the three components are. The Joy-Con feels snug and doesn’t easily come off, while the middle case…does its best. The case still comes off easily from the bottom, but there is barely any plastic there to begin with. The grips themselves have a flap that folds over the center case to maintain support from the sides at least.
These flaps also prevent the console from falling off when holding one Joy-Con (why you would do that to begin with is beyond me). It has easy access to the detach button, and the Joy-Con comes off perfectly intact (Unlike the Genki Attack Vector).
The Fission Grip In Your Hands
The console in the hands feels pretty good! If you are familiar with Savage Raven/Skull and Co. grips, it’s basically the same. There is a slight amount of console wobble, but not enough to feel secure. This, coupled with the ability to detach the Joy-Con, is a reasonable trade-off in my opinion, and even then, the wobble is still not that noticeable.
These grips help with mouse mode as well, making it more of a comfortable and convenient experience. Mouse mode is still a hodgepodge at the end of the day, but these grips feel fine enough for the gimmick.
I do have one gripe, though, and it’s a significant one. The lack of a TPU grip option. The Switch 2 is center-heavy, which means your grips need to be extra grippy so your hands don’t cramp. The Trigger grip alleviates some of the grip fatigue, but the hard plastic is still reasonably slippery and not great for sitting in bed with the console over your head.
Alternatives like the Satisfye ZenGrip 2 and even cheap generic Amazon grips made with TPU have a nice, resistant, and rubbery feel. These grips are modular, so Savage, if you’re reading this: TPU modular grips. I’ll buy them. We wouldn’t even need a new grip case, just the grips themselves.
TLDR: I Really Like Them
The Savage Raven Fission Grip is by far the best engineered detachable grip I’ve come across. They aren’t the most protective (Ala Dbrand KillSwitch 2), but they provide a very secure connection while maintaining style and actual grip-ability.
The convenience of a detachable grip is nice, so it’s good to finally see an option I can recommend. I’d like to see better material for the plastic grips themselves in the future, but for now, this will be the primary grip case I will use with my Switch 2.
