Uwell Valyrian II Starter Kit Review – A Second Look

Intro and Specs for the Valyrian II Kit

We try to not be too redundant around here, but when popular, high-end (and obscenely expensive) setups like the Uwell Valyrian II kit cross our desks, we tend to debate their merits a little deeper than most. So, we’re going to go back and tackle this polarizing kit one more time.

Our first Review for this kit was back on July 5th 2019, and that reviewer awarded the starter kit a solid A. My take is just a tiny bit different, resulting in a different score.

But, because my esteemed, sharp-dressing editor did such a good job going through the nuances of the Valyrian II kit the first time around, I’m going to try something a little different for this review. Rather than just rehash what we already know, I’m going to do a point/counterpoint approach to see where we aligned, and where we came to verbal blows.

And, because I know my editor hates when I go off-script, I’ll lead off with a preemptive apology for adding to his editing pile. [ED – Not accepted. Just do what you’re told, man.]

Initial Impressions and Aesthetics of the Valyrian II Kit

Right out of the gate, I have to chime in here. That’s because my editor didn’t really get too deep into the look and feel of the Valyrian II mod. But then again, maybe he had a reason. If you’ve ever owned one of Wismec’s countless, hexagonal 2- or 3-battery mods, you’ve seen the Valyrian II. No, it’s not a carbon copy, but the same six-sided, curved-edge, horizontal-display is in full effect here.

The only differences worth noting? The Valyrian II’s slick, two-toned colorway and finish are definitely an improvement over anything sporting the name “Reuleaux” or “Jaybo.” Considering this squatty but substantial mod houses three 18650 cells, I have to commend Uwell for smoothing the lines, weeding out the chaff and making what might be the only triple-battery mod that can be considered “palm-friendly.”

During use, the Valyrian II is a hefty device, as expected. But it’s also pretty ergonomic. In his review, my editor repeated his preference for side-mounted fire keys, but I have to debate that – how is ANYTHING really “side-mounted” when there’s six sides in play? In short, no matter how I operated the Valyrian II device, I never had a problem with ergonomics. (Good point – Ed)

Of course, my fingers DID cover the screen in most grips. But if that bothers you in 2019, then may we suggest digging into the 2016 archives for a more-appropriate device to buy. Besides, the OLED display is hardly worth mentioning, much less worrying about covering up.

Is there anything truly “innovative” going on here? Of course not. But I do tip my cap to Uwell for taking a time-honored design scheme, and improving it in nearly every way.

The Valyrian II Sub-Ohm Tank Revisited

Anyone who’s read our tank reviews over the last two years is well-aware of our love of the original Uwell Valyrian sub-ohm tank. Even if we didn’t exactly agree on the importance/usefulness of the tube inserts, the Valyrian was nonetheless a high-performing sub-ohm leader that really didn’t need gimmicks to stand out from the crowd.

Well, I feel the exact same way about the Valyrian II as I did about the original. This larger, higher-capacity tank takes everything that worked on its predecessor and improves on it. With 6mL of juice capacity, self-cleaning Pro-FOCS flavor technology and outstanding coils, this behemoth doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of flavor, no matter its massive size.

Suggested Power?

I didn’t struggle with jumpy coil resistances quite like my editor did, but I did notice that the suggested power ratings WERE a little high for the actual readings. In fact, I’d probably suggest running your mods 10-15 watts LOWER than the suggested ratings before venturing higher, to see where your sweet spot might be.

Still, no matter the slight discrepancies, the Valyrian II tank is a keeper, no matter your vaping desire. If its flavor you want, it delivers it in spades. If you want clouds, prepare to vent your room. If you want long-lasting coils that deliver maximum value for the dollar, Uwell is on top of their game here.

29mm, yet comfort

Plus, it warrants mentioning that even though the Valyrian II tank is 29mm in diameter, it never feels unwieldy or awkward, as long as it’s on a mod with no overhang. (And yes, it makes for an attractive pairing with the Valyrian II mod, so don’t worry about that.)

Vaping the Uwell Valyrian II Kit

My editor and I disagree on a fair amount of things, but we always come to a consensus on overpowered vape devices. And the Valyrian II is an overpowered mod. Sure, a massive companion tank and extremely durable coils might make you thinkyou need 300 watts to operate them. But the coils come nowhere near that level of power.

And truth be told, there aren’t any quality, mass-market coils that DO. Putting aside the building enthusiasts that still lurk in the foggy shadows, I challenge anyone here to justify the need for 300 watts of power.

Valyrian II in everyday use

Well, I certainly can’t. And during my testing, I didn’t even try. Instead, I used the Valyrian II kit as a normal vaper would, keeping my wattages between 70-100, not pushing the mod’s capabilities, and trying to see if the triple-18650 format might lead to better battery performance instead of award-winning clouds.

And that’s where I became the most disappointed. Because not only did the triple-cell setup fail to improve on typical battery life for a kit like this, but it actually came in considerably LOWER than most of the dual-18650 devices in my collection. Even when vaping at a very conservative 65-75 watts, the Valyrian II never really showed any benefit from having three cells under the hood. All it did was force me to mismatch my married pairs to make it work.

Triple 18650 Mods

But this isn’t a diatribe about triple-18650 mods. So, I’ll also mention that the Valyrian II kit performs well for a simple, no-fuss device. By that, I mean the menu system is linear and easy to learn, the two-button operations are familiar, the buttons themselves are responsive, and the mod fires powerfully and consistently.

Temp Control

There’s also a full temp control suite, which functions as expected – not laser-precise, but more than adequate for the average user (who isn’t using these features). I didn’t struggle to set and lock resistances and temperatures, and ramping never went awry with misfires. Good news, for sure. But also the same qualities as mods 60-70% less expensive than this kit.

Display

The display, feature set and performance were all solid and reliable. But if you paid $100 in hopes of achieving a transcendent vape experience, you’re likely going to be let down.

Pros:

• Excellent size for a three-battery mod
• Comfortable to hold and operate
• Outstanding tank

Cons:

• The tank/coils don’t need the power available
• In fact, no one does
• Too expensive for a 2016-level experience

Spinfuel Recommendation and Score

Look, I love the Valyrian tank systems. I like Uwell. And I like the Valyrian II kit as a whole. But I also think we need to match our experiences to the implied promise of a $100+ vape mod kit. And that’s just not lining up for me. Because for that kind of money, I expect more than limited battery life, boring displays and performance I see on most every device that hits my desk.

The Valyrian II works just fine, and some will love having the 300-watt overhead. But in my opinion, this is a $50 mod kit, with $40 of the value credited to the divine tank in the box. The rest of this kit is bare-bones, no-frills and nowhere near the “A” my partner gave it a month ago.