Head to head · Pre-Workout
Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout vs Legion Pulse Pre-Workout
Legion scores higher overall (8.3 vs 8.2 out of 10), mainly on quality & purity and experience. Gorilla Mind still leads on value.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
One of the most heavily dosed pre-workouts: per scoop 5 g citrulline, 2.5 g creatine and 200 mg caffeine, doubling to 400 mg caffeine at the 2-scoop max.
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Fully dosed and naturally sweetened: 8 g citrulline malate, 3.6 g beta-alanine and a hefty 350 mg of caffeine balanced by 350 mg of L-theanine.
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We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
The short answer
Choose Gorilla Mind if…
- Experienced lifters chasing pumps and strength
- People who want creatine built into their pre-workout
- Buyers who value per-lot lab results
- You care most about value
- You want the lower cost per serving ($1.50)
Choose Legion if…
- Experienced lifters who tolerate high caffeine
- People avoiding artificial sweeteners and dyes
- Buyers who value independent lab testing
- You care most about quality & purity, experience
Side by side
| Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout | Pulse Pre-Workout | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Value (20%) | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Experience (15%) | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| Transparency (10%) | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Form | Powder | Powder |
| Serving | 1 scoop (up to 2 scoops per day)40 servings per container | 2 scoops20 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $1.50 | $2.50 |
| Testing & certifications | Third-party tested | Third-party testedcGMP facility |
| Dietary | — | Sugar-free |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | 8 (Cherry Blackout, Tiger's Blood, Blue Raspberry…) | 8 (Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Arctic Blast…) |
| Creator video reviews | 3 | 3 |
Pros and cons
Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
- Pure L-citrulline (5 g per scoop, 10 g at the maximum) rather than citrulline malate
- Includes creatine (2.5 g per scoop) plus glycerol and salt for pumps and hydration
- Lot-specific Eurofins test results published for every active ingredient
- Flexible dosing: one scoop for a standard session, two for a maximum dose
- Wide flavor range (13 flavors on the brand site)
- Two scoops deliver 400 mg of caffeine, the FDA's daily reference amount for healthy adults
- No beta-alanine
- About $3.00 per two-scoop maximum dose
- Not NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport, and carries a California Prop 65 warning
Pulse Pre-Workout
- Clinical doses of citrulline malate (8 g), beta-alanine (3.6 g) and betaine (2.5 g)
- 1:1 caffeine to L-theanine ratio for smoother energy
- Naturally sweetened (stevia, erythritol) with no artificial dyes
- Labdoor-tested for purity and label accuracy; made in NSF-certified cGMP facilities
- Very wide flavor range (more than 20 flavors on Amazon)
- 350 mg caffeine per full serving is too strong for many people
- About $2.50 per full serving at the regular price
- No sport-specific certification such as NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport
- Amazon listing carries a California Prop 65 warning for lead
Our verdicts
Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
Gorilla Mode delivers what it promises for experienced users: big pump, hydration and focus doses with unusually open lab testing. Most people should treat one scoop as the serving, because the two-scoop maximum reaches 400 mg of caffeine and leaves no room for coffee or other stimulants that day.
Full review
Pulse Pre-Workout
Pulse is an excellent choice for experienced lifters who want clinically dosed ingredients, independent lab testing and no artificial sweeteners. The 350 mg caffeine serving is strong, so most people should start with one scoop, and the regular price is high unless you catch a sale.
Full review