Best Distortion Pedal for Metal (2026): 4 Picks Compared
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Rowin Holy War leads for metal: a true bypass distortion pedal with 3 boost modes, a metal housing and a 1-year warranty at the Best Overall rank. If you want VOL, DIST and MID knobs on a mini pedal, the AZOR Heavy Metal is the pick.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- Players who want 3 boost modes for metal: IOppWin Rowin Holy War Distortion Pedal See pick 1
- Players who want VOL, DIST and MID knobs: AZOR Heavy Metal Distortion Guitar Pedal See pick 2
- Players who want Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs: Satone S811 Riffer High Gain Distortion Electric See pick 3
- Players who want a 3-band EQ and Level controls: Behringer ULTRA METAL UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion See pick 4
Want the full range? Best Distortion Pedal ranks the top distortion pedals for every buyer, or browse all 14 guides.
The 4 picks, ranked
1Best Overall
IOppWin Rowin Holy War Distortion Pedal
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Distortion
- 1-year warranty stated
It earns Best Overall with 3 boost modes, true bypass, a metal housing and a 1-year warranty for heavy metal distortion.
Who it suits
- Players who want 3 boost modes for metal
- Players who want true bypass in a metal housing
Skip it if
- You want a pedal lighter than 0.5 lb
- You want a warranty longer than 1 year
The pedal has a toggle for Lo, Off and Hi boost modes and a true bypass design that keeps the signal uncolored when disengaged. A road-ready metal housing suits live gigs and studio sessions. It runs on 9V DC power at 20mA with the adapter sold separately. It weighs 0.5 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
2Runner-Up
AZOR Heavy Metal Distortion Guitar Pedal
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Distortion
- 1-year warranty stated
It earns Runner-Up with VOL, DIST and MID knobs, Classic and Extreme modes and a mini aluminum alloy shell.
Who it suits
- Players who want VOL, DIST and MID knobs
- Players who want Classic and Extreme sound modes
Skip it if
- You want separate knobs for mids, highs, loud and distortion
- You want a pedal lighter than 0.5 lb
The pedal has VOL, DIST and MID knobs and a two-way tone selector switch for Classic and Extreme sound modes. A mini aluminum alloy shell is lightweight and space-saving on the pedal board. It runs on 9V DC center negative power with the adapter not included. It weighs 0.5 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
3Also Great
Satone S811 Riffer High Gain Distortion Electric
- True bypass
- Pedal type: Distortion
- One year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs, a solid aluminum alloy shell and true bypass.
Who it suits
- Players who want Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs
- Players who want high gain for heavy genres
Skip it if
- You want a pedal lighter than 0.5 lb
- You want a warranty longer than 1 year
The pedal has Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs and a balanced low end response with mid and high EQ. A solid aluminum alloy shell holds an LED working indicator and true bypass circuit design. It runs on 9V DC power with the power supply and cord not included. It weighs 0.5 lb and carries a one year warranty.
4Also Great
Behringer ULTRA METAL UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion
- True bypass not stated in the listing
- Pedal type: Distortion
- 1-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with multi-gain circuitry, a 3-band EQ, Level controls and a status LED for heavy metal distortion.
Who it suits
- Players who want a 3-band EQ and Level controls
- Players who want endless sustain for heavy metal
Skip it if
- You want a pedal lighter than 0.9 lb
- You want a warranty longer than 1 year
The pedal has multi-gain circuitry for super-thick, tube-like distortion with dedicated Distortion, 3-band EQ and Level controls. A status LED shows effect on/off and battery check. It weighs 0.9 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
Side by side
| Product | True bypass | Runs on batteries | Stereo in/out | Pedal type | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOppWin Rowin Holy War Distortion Pedal | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Distortion | 0.5 lb | 1-year |
| AZOR Heavy Metal Distortion Guitar Pedal | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Distortion | 0.5 lb | 1-year |
| Satone S811 Riffer High Gain Distortion Electric | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Distortion | 0.5 lb | one year |
| Behringer ULTRA METAL UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Distortion | 0.9 lb | 1-year |
How we ranked these distortion pedals
Every pick ranks in Amazon's best-seller list for its category and has a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.
- True bypass weight 2
- Runs on batteries weight 1
- Stereo in/out weight 1
Buying advice: distortion pedal for metal
Count the knobs before you buy
Knobs decide how much you can shape the sound. The AZOR pedal has VOL, DIST and MID knobs, the Satone pedal has Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs, and the Behringer pedal has Distortion, 3-band EQ and Level controls. The Rowin pedal uses a toggle for Lo, Off and Hi boost modes instead of knobs. Pick the control layout that matches how you dial in a sound: separate knobs for each band, or a toggle for a quick change.
True bypass keeps your signal untouched
True bypass means the pedal passes the signal untouched when off, so your guitar sounds the same with the pedal off as it does straight into the amp. The Rowin, AZOR and Satone pedals have true bypass, so pick from those pedals if bypass matters to you.
Check power and weight for your board
The Rowin, AZOR and Satone pedals run on 9V DC power, and the Rowin pedal draws 20mA. The AZOR and Satone pedals need a power adapter or supply that is not included, and the Rowin adapter is sold separately, so check what comes in the box before you order. The Rowin, AZOR and Satone pedals weigh 0.5 lb each, and the Behringer pedal weighs 0.9 lb.
Frequently asked questions
Do these pedals work for metal?
Yes. The Rowin, AZOR, Satone and Behringer pedals are all built for heavy metal distortion and rock.
What does true bypass do on a distortion pedal?
True bypass passes the signal untouched when the pedal is off, so your guitar sounds the same as straight into the amp. The Rowin, AZOR and Satone pedals have true bypass.
Which pedal has separate knobs for volume, distortion and mids?
The AZOR pedal has VOL, DIST and MID knobs. The Satone pedal has Mids, High, Loud and Dist knobs, and the Behringer pedal has Distortion, 3-band EQ and Level controls.
Do these pedals come with a power adapter?
The AZOR and Satone pedals need a power adapter or supply that is not included, and the Rowin adapter is sold separately. The Rowin, AZOR and Satone pedals run on 9V DC power, so check what comes in the box before you order.
Gear that goes with it
Best PedalboardTop pick: SOYAN 18" x 11.8" Guitar Pedal Board
Best Pedal Power SupplyTop pick: Hiree Guitar Pedal Power Supply 7 DC
Best Guitar CordTop pick: JSAUX Guitar Cable 10 ft
Best TunersTop pick: KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On GuitarMore distortion pedals guides
Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Nov 11, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.