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Total War vs Psychotic [The Epic Pre-workout Battle of 2024]

Total War vs Psychotic… How will they measure up? We’re taking off the gloves & looking at the best pre-workout in this knockout match!

Today we’re comparing Total War vs Psychotic.

redcon1 total war pre-workout lone star tub with heaping scoop of white powder next to packet of insane labz psychotic fruit punch pre-workout with scoop of pinkish powder
Total War vs Psychotic: How do they measure up?

These are both kickass products that make some pretty big claims.

But only one can reign supreme. ๐Ÿ†

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you buy something. Read my full disclosure for more details.

TLDR: Total War vs Psychotic

๐Ÿ‹๏ธ In my experience, Redcon1 Total War is a high-stim pre-workout that delivers on its promise of being so effective you have to be dragged out of the gym.

๐Ÿงช Insane Labz Psychotic is another high-stim pre-workout. I found that it does pack a few punches, but they are intermittent and inconsistent.

โžก๏ธ TRY TOTAL WAR โฌ…๏ธ

Total War vs Psychotic: At a Glance

Redcon1 Total WarInsane Labz Psychotic
# of Flavors30+11
Caffeine320mg/serving300mg/serving
ConsistencySmoothChalky
Cost Per Serving$1.43/serving$1.14/serving

Now let’s tear into Total War vs Psychotic.

You’ll discover:

  • effects
  • dosage
  • ingredients
  • flavor, taste and color
  • consistency
  • convenience
  • cost

And much more.

sealed tub of redcon1 total war pre-workout lone star flavor next to packet of insane labz psychotic pre-workout fruit punch flavor with two evil clown drawings
Total War vs Psychotic: Which is better to get your lift on?

But first, let me give you some backstory:

Redcon1 Total War pre-workout has been with me since I first decided to get fit and lift weights in 2019.

I’ve tried a few other pre-workouts here and there.

But nothing really rocked my world… except for Ghost, but I’ll get into that another day.

So I’ve been using Redcon1 Total War since then, 3 to 4 times a week.

Redcon1 Total War Review Total war tub in pile of leaves
Redcon1 Total War is my go-to preworkout… So can Insane Labz Psychotic even compete?

But, I’ve gotta be honest: A short time later I saw the dark, chaotic packaging of Insane Labz Psychotic online.

I just knew I had to try it.

Insane Labz Psychotic preworkout sample

“I wanna get crazy in the gym,” I thought.

“I want to feel like a demented out-of-control clown that can’t stop slamming plates!”

The possibilities were seemingly endless.

So I decided to order a few samples of Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout.

This was exciting.

So I gave Psychotic pre-workout a chance…

And while it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever had, it wasn’t exactly the best.

Total War vs Psychotic: Flavor, Taste, Color and Consistency

I tried the fruit punch flavor of Pyschotic.

But at first glance I wasn’t too pleased.

In contrast to Total War’s super fine powder, the Psychotic mix was a bit clumpy. ๐Ÿ‘Ž

And the red dye was a bit too intense for me first thing in the morning.

wood block with a glass sitting on top of it filled with insane labz psychotic and water red mixture and spoon with measuring cup pouring in more water
Here’s what Insane Labz Psychotic looks like in its mixed form

(You won’t find artificial colors in Total War, which is a huge selling point for me.)

The taste of Psychotic wasn’t that great.

I mean. It was fruit punch flavored for sure.

But it was chalky and tasted like your standard mix: artificial and sickly sweet.

To be fair, I’ve come to expect that with most pre-workouts.

But Total War almost always tastes good to me.

And it’s not chalky.

However, its brownish muck appearance turns me off.

redcon1 total war lone star tub next to glass sitting on wood block holding water and total war mixture with measuring cup pouring in more water
Don’t be fooled by the cloudy appearance of Redcon1 Total War. It tastes much better than it looks!

Getting Psychotic at the Gym: Effects

Okay, so flavor isn’t everything.

What’s more important is the effect Total War vs Psychotic has on the body.

Insane Labz Psychotic’s packaging promotes energy, focus, endurance and “psycho.”

And I wanted to see for myself how crazy things could get.

I got to the gym at 4:00AM and did my usual round of circuit training, but this time with Psychotic coursing through my eager veins.

My reps were hot, I had a good pump. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ”ฅ

Then all of a sudden, my motivation was gone. And so was my pump.

I figured that short burst was everything Psychotic had to offer.

So I powered through the next few reps and was just counting down ’til I could go home. โฑ๏ธ

But all of a sudden, my pump was back.

My reps were in full swing, and I even went up in some of the weights. ๐Ÿ‹๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Then out of nowhere, everything came to a grinding halt – again.

No motivation.

No pump.

This cycle went on four or five times before I finally called it quits and headed home after just 45 minutes in the gym.

Now contrast that with Total War where I can easily stay at the gym for 2-3 hours.

Total War Lemon Lime keeps me going for hours on end

Even then, I only leave because the duty of life calls.

So did Psychotic deliver on its promise of energy, focus, endurance and “psycho?”

Well… Sort of?

I DID get energy, but it was in short bursts.

There WAS intense focus, but again, in short bursts.

I didn’t have any endurance.

And psycho? The only thing psycho was in the inconsistency of the product.

Total War vs Psychotic: Ingredients

Now don’t get me wrong; Psychotic has some killer ingredients like:

โœ… beta alanine – muscle endurance

โœ… caffeine anhydrous – energy

โœ… creatine monohydrate – increases muscle performance

โœ… rauwolfia vomitoria extract – decreases heart rate and blood pressure

And more.

back label of insane labz psychotic pre-workout showcasing supplement facts, directions for use, and warning label
Full list of ingredients in Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout

But for some reason, Psychotic just wasn’t delivering consistent results.

That doesn’t mean your experience with Psychotic will be the same, though.

These supplements affect people differently.

Which is why brands like Redcon1 recommend you start with half a scoop to assess your tolerance.

And while Total War contains many of the same ingredients found in Psychotic, you’ll also find other ingredients like:

โœ… citrulline malate – enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness

โœ… agmatine sulfate – improves athletic performance

โœ… green tea extract – promotes weight loss

โœ… theobroma cocoa extract – antioxidant, improves blood flow

And much more.

redcon1 total war lone star sealed tub showcasing supplement facts and ingredients
Supplement Facts for Redcon1 Total War: Lone Star flavor

(For a complete list of active ingredients in Total War, check out my Redcon1 Total War Review.)

When should I take Total War vs Psychotic?

According to Redcon1, Total War should be taken 30 minutes prior to your workout.

Insane Labz recommends the same thing for Psychotic.

Total War vs Psychotic: Convenience

Because both come in tubs, Total War and Psychotic pre-workouts have comparable convenience.

You can mix your pre-workout at home, at the gym or in the car if you please.

But Total War has something Psychotic doesn’t have… A Ready To Drink (RTD) version:

open bottle of redcon1 total war ready to drink in a pink and purple bottle next to a glass half filled with clear total war drink
Total War Ready to Drink is one of my favorite pre-workouts

Redcon1 Total War RTD is arguably the most convenient option, as you’re not taking the time to mix the powder with water, washing the glass, etc. ๐Ÿงƒ

Total War vs Psychotic: Cost

At the time of this writing, we found that:

๐Ÿ“Œ A 35-serving tub of Insane Labz Psychotic costs $39.99. That’s about $1.14 per serving.

๐Ÿ“Œ A 30-serving tub of Redcon1 Total War costs $42.99. That’s about $1.43 per serving.

๐Ÿ“Œ The Total War RTD is a bit more expensive at $3.49 per serving.

Total War vs Psychotic: Conclusion

When you compare Insane Labz Psychotic to my experience with Redcon1 Total War, they’re on two entirely different planes.

In my opinion, Redcon1 Total War pre-workout is the superior product.

I’ve found that Total War delivers consistent energy, tastes great, and leaves me with an unshakable motivation for hours on end.

Unfortunately, Insane Labz Psychotic doesn’t deliver the same results.

I really wanted to love the product but…

I was bouncing from highs to lows during my workout, the taste left something to be desired, and it wore off relatively quickly.

So if you’re looking for hours of consistent, heavy-hitting gym time, I think Redcon1 Total War is the way to go.

Hands down.

But if you’re looking for a more gentle pre-workout or don’t plan on training as hard, Insane Labz Psychotic could be a better fit for you.


Readers of Total War vs Psychotic are also reading:

Is Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout worth it?

If you’re looking for the best pre-workout, I don’t think Insane Labz Psychotic is worth it. My results were inconsistent with high highs and low lows. They also use artificial coloring which can be a deal-breaker for some people. To learn more about my experience with Insane Labz Psychotic, be sure to check out today’s article.

Total War vs Psychotic – which is better?

I think Redcon1 Total War is the clear winner. It’s in a league of its own and I’ve had consistent results. Unfortunately, Insane Labz Psychotic performed for me like many other pre-workouts on the market. Learn more about Total War vs Psychotic in today’s post.

What is caffeine anhydrous?

Caffeine anhydrous is comprised of seeds and leaves from coffee plants. The extracted caffeine is dehydrated. The result is a powder with a high concentration of caffeine. Learn more about caffeine anhydrous and other ingredients found in high-stim pre-workouts in today’s post.

What is di-caffeine malate?

Di-caffeine malate is a combination of caffeine and malic acid. The caffeine makes up about 75% and malic acid the other 25%. This buffered form of caffeine may be easier on the stomach. It also may deliver longer lasting energy while avoiding the crash associated with caffeine intake. Learn more about di-caffeine malate and other ingredients found in high-stim pre-workouts in today’s post.

What is beta-alanine?

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. It is supposed to aid in muscle endurance during exercise that’s high-intensity. Learn more about beta-alanine and other ingredients found in high-stim pre-workouts in today’s article.