What Gaming Mice Do The Pros Use?

Highlights

• Competitive gamers favor lightweight mice for rapid movements in MOBA/FPS titles like DOTA and Counter-Strike.
• Esports pros prioritize durability in gaming mice due to heavy use during tournaments.
• High-performance mice from brands like Logitech and SteelSeries are popular among top esports stars.

Even with controllers gaining popularity, mice and keyboards remain the weapons of choice for competitive gamers playing MOBA and FPS titles. Although controllers allow gamers to relax on their couches, the top esports players rely on the best gaming mice for the most accurate movements and clicks. The stakes are also higher than ever, with millions of dollars awarded to the winners of Counter-Strike 2, DOTA 2, and Valorant tournaments each year.

With so much money and prestige on the line, an average gamer might think that esports stars use custom mice that are unavailable to the public. On the contrary, prominent manufacturers like Logitech, Razer, and SteelSeries encourage competitors to use their products to market them to mainstream gamers. Even so, competition-level gaming mice often share some of the same characteristics, such as:

• Form Factor: Most competitive gamers who play FPS titles look for smaller gaming mice that are as lightweight as possible. The small stature of these mice allows esports pros to move them around mousepads as rapidly as possible. Although MOBA gamers may gravitate toward mice with extra buttons, DOTA pros also tend to value the agility of these lightweight mice.
• Build Quality: Esports participants put more wear and tear on mice than the typical gamer. Accordingly, gaming mice used in tournaments must include durable mechanical and optical switches that can withstand abuse.
• Wired vs. Wireless: For many years, esports champions would never dream of using a wireless mouse for fear of movements and clicks not registering instantly. In recent seasons, however, wireless mice have become more accepted in competition, and their wireless performance rivals that of their corded counterparts.
• DPI and Tracking Accuracy: Surprisingly, most esports pros use DPI settings that are far lower than their gaming mice’s maximum capabilities. Since they most often play with low-resolution monitors, other qualities like the polling rate and the ability to recognize when mice are lifted off mousepads are more critical to these gamers.
• Grip Style: Competitive gamers look for any advantage during intense tournament action. Holding a mouse with a claw grip can allow them to fling these devices across mousepads more efficiently than using standard palm grips. While it can take considerable practice to master this grip style, most popular esports mice have short bodies and tall arches to better support claw grips.

The following gaming mice give any aspiring esports participant the best opportunity to rise to stardom:

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut ​​​​​​- Vaxee OUTSET AX Wireless

Mathieu Herbaut, aka ZywOo’s rise to become one of the most dominant CS:GO players didn’t happen by accident. The 23-year-old French esports pro is known for putting in endless hours of practice time between tournaments. His mother initially hesitated to embrace his career choice but recognized his dedication to gaming. Unlike many competitors who regularly switch teams, Herbaut has been an integral member of Team Vitality since joining in 2018. ZywOo instantly made his presence known on the CS:GO circuit, winning five MVP titles in his debut season.

ZywOo continues to perfect his game, and 2023 proved to be another great year for Herbaut and Team Vitality. Herbaut would lead his squad to key victories in major competitions like the BLAST Premier World Finals and Gamers8. ZywOo himself was named HLTV Player of the Year for the third time. This success led Team Vitality to extend his contract until 2026.

Vaxee isn’t a well-known brand for casual gamers, but it’s popular among the most demanding users, like ZywOo. The Vaxee Outset AX is a lightweight, but not ultra-lightweight, wireless gaming mouse with a unique shape. Even though many pro gamers employ claw and fingertip grips, this wireless mouse has a pronounced hump with a shell that is steeply sloped from side to side. Right-handed palm grippers have plenty of support for their hands, but the mouse’s short and wide body doesn’t hamper other playing styles.

With the Outset AX, Vaxee put a lot of emphasis on achieving completely interference-free wireless performance. Competitive gamers in crowded arenas naturally fear signal congestion, but the Outset AX can detect these issues immediately. With constant high bandwidth transmissions, the mouse can overcome any potential pauses in tracking. After release, Vaxee introduced a USB wireless dongle with a maximum 4000 Hz polling rate, double that of the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2. The Outset AX is finally a high-end wireless mouse that replicates the reliable performance of a wired device in any scenario.

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein – SteelSeries Prime

Although Johan Sundstein, aka N0tail, is currently inactive, he did serve as a coach in OG’s victorious 2022 run in the ESL One Stockholm 2022 tournament. In 2018 and 2019, the pro gamer won the biggest DOTA competition, The International, as part of the same team. N0tail’s pedigree speaks for itself. After winning over seven million dollars since his gaming career began as a young teenager, Sundstein is still involved in the esports scene. However, the prospect of N0tail returning to consistent competitive action took a hit when he left team OG and his role as their fifth player and captain.

When it comes to gear, Sundstein tends to stick to SteelSeries headsets, mice, and keyboards, as the company is the official sponsor of the OG team. Although he initially used the 2018 Rival 310 model, N0tail’s current preferred gaming mouse is the SteelSeries Prime. Designed with gaming in mind, this peripheral is well-built, light, and comfortable, and it utilizes optical magnetic switches to improve click-response time. The mouse’s TrueMove Pro gaming sensor provides a maximum DPI of 18,000 with surgically precise one-to-one tracking.

Available in wired or wireless form, the compact SteelSeries Prime is one of the best gaming mice for competitive action. If buyers want a SteelSeries mouse that suits even larger hands, they should check out Game Rant’s review of the Rival 5.

Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev – Logitech G Pro X Superlight

If a CS:GO team wants a shot at glory, they will likely need to take on the remarkably consistent Natus Vincere. Every member of the Ukrainian team belongs in a discussion of the greatest esports players in the business, but Alexander Kostylev is arguably the group’s ace in the hole. In 2022, HLTV ranked s1mple as the best player of the year for the third time before finishing in the top 10 again in 2023.

Kostylev initially hesitated to jump to Counter-Strike 2, instead showing interest in Valorant. S1mple joined a chorus of other esports stars and players in criticism of Counter-Strike 2, suggesting that players stick with the first version of the game. However, joining the Saudi Arabian Team Falcons on loan from Natus Vincere, Kostylev finally made his CS:GO 2 debut in March.

For his gear, s1mple’s preferred gaming mouse was the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, a wireless device used by other pros like nitr0 and sinatraa. Extremely lightweight at only 63 grams, the incredibly agile Logitech G Pro X Superlight makes a strong case as the best FPS mouse. The device benefits from Logitech’s Lightspeed technology and zero-additive PTFE feet for buttery smooth movements.

It’s not shocking that Kostylev would quickly embrace the newer Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2. This wireless mouse improves on its predecessor by being lighter, having a longer battery life, and a higher polling rate of 2000 Hz.

Standing at 6’2″, traditionally small esports mice are not the most comfortable to grip for larger gamers like s1mple. However, although it has a steep asking price, the Pro X Superlight 2 surprisingly accommodates all hand sizes and grip types. Consequently, it will likely soon replace the original Pro X Superlight as the most commonly used competitive gaming mouse.

Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen- Razer Viper V2 Pro

One of North America’s most popular Valorant players, Canadian Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen found himself in the spotlight when he stepped in for the Sentinels’ Hunter “SicK” Mims in March 2023. Marved began his career in 2014 as a CS:GO competitor, before switching to Valorant in 2020. Despite his role as Controller in the game, which is more about assisting teammates than attacking, Nguyen is known for his fearless play style. Playing for several other major teams, including OpTic Gaming, FaZe clan, and now NRG, some of Marved’s career highlights include finishing first in the Stage 1 Masters of the 2022 Valorant Champions tour.

The sociable Marved also has streamed on Twitch with a large following and is unafraid to show off his latest gear. One of the keys to his Valorant success is the Razer Viper V2 Pro, one of the lightest gaming mice Razer produces at just 58 grams. Razer has stripped down the device from previous versions by removing the side grips and RGB lighting effects. However, the manufacturer also upgraded the Razer Viper V2 Pro with Gen-3 Optical Switches and a more efficient battery, leading to a battery life of up to 80 hours.

Despite the Razer Viper V2 Pro’s lightweight stature, it’s bulky enough to accommodate medium-sized hands. Without an obvious hump, the mouse is ideal for esports pros who are adept at using fingertip or claw grips. If Valorant players like Marved couldn’t find wireless devices with a reliable low-latency connection, they simply would turn to wired headsets and mice. Fortunately, thanks to the Razer Hyperspeed Wireless technology, all of Nguyen’s movements are reflected in real-time on a monitor. Gamers can also upgrade to the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle to achieve a remarkable 4000 Hz polling rate.

Tyson “TenZ” Ngo – Lamzu Atlantis Mini Pro

Tyson Ngo AKA “TenZ” is yet another Canadian Valorant star on the Sentinels team. Among other acclaims, TenZ was the first North American to reach the rank of Valorant during the game’s closed beta in 2020. 2021 was a particularly dominant year for Ngo, achieving first-place finishes in six major tournaments. However, the Sentinels have struggled to find that consistent form since TenZ was named Gamer of the Year at the most recent Streamer Awards.

Ngo has a huge following on Twitch, amassing 3.8 million followers on the platform, and is engaged with fellow content creator Kyedae. Rumors were rampant that TenZ may leave Sentinels since his contract would expire at the end of 2023. Fortunately for fans of the esports organization, the team announced that they had signed Ngo to a new contract last September.

Lamzu is not a household name competing with brands like Corsair and Logitech, but the company has made a splash in recent years with its esports-grade gaming mice. Developed by a team of FPS gamers and experienced engineers, the wireless Lamzu Atlantis Mini Pro has become TenZ’s favorite choice during Valorant competitions.

The Atlantis Mini Pro has a rather unassuming symmetrical shape and, at 51 grams, is one of the easiest mice to fling around mousepads. TenZ is constantly tweaking his grip but prefers a claw style, which is perfect for the Atlantis Mini Pro and its short body with an arched back. This wireless mouse is also capable of industry-leading tracking with a maximum DPI of 26,000 and a polling rate of up to 4000 Hz. Gamers will need to purchase an additional 4K compatible USB dongle to meet that threshold. Otherwise, the polling rate will remain at 1000 Hz. Inside the mouse, buyers will find custom switches made by Huano that leave no doubt when pressed and focus on avoiding costly double clicks.

Far from the only mouse TenZ has embraced, the competitor has been influential in the gaming mouse market for several years. In 2022, he teamed up with FinalMouse to craft a custom edition of the Starlight Pro with a magnesium alloy honeycomb shell. More recently, Ngo announced that he was creating an esports mouse from scratch and will soon take preorders on the TenZ storefront.

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro

Since joining T1 in 2013, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has been one of the most influential players in the League of Legends competitive scene, if not all esports. Known for his cool demeanor but deadly instincts, Faker has won numerous world titles and reached the finals of the 2022 Worlds event. The loyal Sang-hyeok has resisted invitations to leave the T1 team over the years and extended his contract through the 2025 season. Sang-hyeok is such an esports icon that he even owns a tall building in Seoul, South Korea, appropriately named Faker Tower.

Faker achieved yet another triumph this past November when he led T1 to yet another League of Legends World Championship. Remarkably, it was the fourth time the team won the competition.

Faker has always enjoyed Razer mice designed for FPS games, using the DeathAdder Elite extensively during tournaments. Early in 2023, Razer announced a wireless Faker Edition of the DeathAdder V3 Pro, also available in a wired version. The red and black mouse is one of the lightest wireless mice ever designed, weighing only 63 grams. The custom DeathAdder V3 Pro has a relatively simplistic look with five programmable buttons. Still, its effortless agility on mousepads and a maximum of 30,000 DPI make it a perfect choice for competitive gamers. A Razer HyperSpeed Wireless dongle is also sold as an additional purchase, enabling a 4000 Hz polling rate.

If a buyer prefers to go to battle with a rock-solid corded mouse, check out Game Rant’s full review of the wired Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro.

Robin “ropz” Kool- Zowie BenQ EC2-C

Robin Kool, aka ropz, is one of the most consistent esports pros on the CS:GO scene. After ranking highly in HLTVs top 20 players each year since 2018, ropz is usually among the leaders in prize money. The Estonian Kool began his interest in esports at just seven years of age, with the original Counter-Strike game. Kool’s focus on content creation and Twitch streaming at around age 17 was pivotal to him gaining more opportunities in the competitive gaming world. In 2017, ropz was invited to join the mouseports (now called MOUZ) team and would win numerous tournaments before moving to FaZe in 2022.

As a rifler and lurker, ropz often stays in the shadows during CS:GO matches, gliding around maps and finding targets to engage with his incredible aiming skills. Despite racking up some impressive kill numbers, it’s common for other players to never actually spot ropz roaming around them. Kool has also echoed the criticisms of other CS:GO veterans like Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev, highlighting the rampant cheating that’s abundant in Counter-Strike 2.

Zowie peripherals are incredibly popular in esports. More than half of all competitors, including ropz, use a peripheral made by the brand. The Zowie EC2-C is the medium-sized version of their wired mouse with features catering to the best FPS gamers worldwide. This mouse weighs 73 grams, heavier than the lightest gaming mice, but its slightly increased girth helps users avoid unintentionally lifting it off of mousepads.

Many manufacturers claim that a certain mouse model suits most gamers, but Zowie takes a different approach with their EC2 line of mice. The device is available in small, medium, and large sizes, with each variation conducive to palm, claw, and fingertip grips. The medium-sized EC2-C is the most common choice and allows for a maximum DPI of 3200 with a polling rate of up to 1000 Hz.

Zowie also touts the fact that the EC2-C is driverless, meaning that Robin Kool doesn’t have to mess around with software when traveling to different competitions. With custom sizes to ensure that every gamer has the right fit in a mouse, the EC2-C’s best traits are its adaptable ergonomic qualities. One of the best gaming mice for esports also has more than acceptable tracking accuracy, making it an ideal choice for rifles and lurkers.

If gamers demand the freedom of a wireless device, ropz has also been spotted gaming with the EC2-CW, the wireless version of this Zowie mouse.

Kyle “Mongraal” Jackson – Logitech G402

At age 13, the British Kyle Jackson received massive media attention as the youngest gamer to sign with a professional esports organization. Although Mongraal retired from Fortnite in 2022, he maintained a massive following on YouTube and Twitch. Jackson joined the FaZe clan in 2019 ahead of the Fortnite World Cup and went on to amass career earnings of over $700,000.

Mongraal showcases an aggressive play style, often eliminating the competition in record time. Jackson briefly returned to Fortnite late in 2023 before announcing another break from competition. Still, it’s unlikely Mongraal will stay out of action permanently.

Most professional gamers are attracted to small, light gaming mice, but Mongraal has always done things a little differently. Similar to the large Logitech G502, the G402 weighs a hefty 108 grams without a cord, so it takes more effort to fling it around surfaces. Even so, once the mouse gets moving, it’s one of the fastest mice on the planet, with a maximum acceleration rate of 16 G. Jackson was rumored to have converted to a Logitech G Pro X Superlight in 2022, but audiences have yet to see him compete or stream with an alternative mouse.

With quick mouse movements, the optical sensors of these devices can sometimes struggle to keep pace. To solve this, Logitech employs a gyroscope and accelerometer in the G402 to maintain tracking accuracy amid an intense firefight. As a result, Logitech’s Fusion Engine hybrid sensor never fails gamers who can enable up to 4,000 DPI.

It’s not uncommon for lightweight esports mice to offer only five or fewer programmable buttons. On the other hand, the Logitech G402 allows for more customization with eight remappable buttons, including a sniper trigger. That will surely please gamers like Mongraal, who constantly like to tweak their setups. For aspiring esports pros who need a heavyweight peripheral, the Logitech G402 is the best gaming mouse in its weight class.

Neta “33” Shapira – Logitech G403 Hero

The 26-year-old Neta Shapira, aka 33, began mastering his DOTA craft in 2014. Shapira has been one of the top earners on the DOTA 2 scene in recent years, most notably becoming the first Israeli competitor to win The International in 2022, leading the Tundra Esports team to victory. Tundra struggled in 2023, which led Shapira to leave and join Team Liquid this past November, replacing Ludwig “zai” Wahlberg.

33’s country of origin is not the only thing that makes him unique, since his use of micro-heroes in the game is the envy of other players. Although undeniably talented, Shapira is not immune to controversy, as he was accused of alt-tabbing during DreamLeague Season 21.

Neta Shapira’s unique DOTA 2 playstyle calls for a mouse that can handle the chaotic micromanagement of several units at a time. The Logitech G403 Hero is a relatively affordable wired mouse that’s a veteran of the esports world. Featuring six programmable buttons, its layout provides Shapira with enough flexibility to control the furious DOTA 2 action. Meanwhile, the tension of the metal spring button makes the two main buttons require minimal force to press.

The Logitech G403 Hero is in the lightweight category at 87 grams, but only barely, since it’s bulkier than many FPS mice. Gamers will find that the mouse has a fairly pronounced hump to accommodate palm grippers with medium-sized hands. Build quality is excellent with the G403 Hero, which is why it has survived so many DOTA 2 tournaments with Neta Shapira. The braided cable attached to the mouse is also surprisingly flexible, so when competitors whip it around mousepads there is minimal resistance.

In what’s essentially a corded version of the wireless G403 Prodigy, the G403 Hero offers the same low latency performance thanks to its 25,000 DPI Hero optical sensor. This gaming mouse was originally launched with a 16,000 DPi sensor. Even so, in a testament to Logitech’s belief in the longevity of the G403 Hero, the device has seen consistent upgrades.

Sebastien “Ceb” Debs – SteelSeries Sensei Ten

Few DOTA 2 players have taken on as many esports roles as Sebastien “Ceb” Debs. The French competitor began his career in 2011 with Team Shakira and saw some initial success before leaving the squad. Ceb struggled to find consistency in his performances until he joined team OG as a coach. OG experienced a series of successes in majors, but when Debs became a competitor again, he achieved one of the most historic esports achievements. Ceb won back-to-back The International tournaments in 2018 and 2019, an accomplishment never seen before in the DOTA 2 world.

Debs would announce his retirement from competitive action in 2021, but it wouldn’t be long before he made his comeback in the 2022 Stockholm Major. Cebs is one of the most successful DOTA 2 players of all time, earning more than $11 million, and has continued to find success, including a 1st place finish in the ESL One Stockholm 2022. It’s not surprising that Debs, who has molded the careers of young competitors as a coach, is known for his strategic DOTA 2 skills, including drafting the perfect team.

SteelSeries is no stranger to the competitive gaming world, with numerous battle-tested keyboards and mice. In some ways, the Sensei Ten is the successor to the Sensei 310, another ambidextrous mouse relied on by Syed “SumaiL” Hassan. With a higher maximum DPI of 18,000 and a better-performing TrueMove Pro optical sensor, most competitors won’t complain about making the change. To suit left and right-handed gamers, the Sensei Ten has a pair of buttons on both sides of the mouse and eight programmable buttons in total. The mouse has a carefully crafted shape, allowing it to excel with not only palm grips but also the claw and fingertip grips that many skilled esports stars employ.

Sebastien “Ceb” Debs often takes a methodical approach to DOTA 2 matches, but that doesn’t mean he can’t benefit from a fast, accurate mouse. The Sensei Ten constantly monitors for tilting and is ready to adjust its tracking before it results in critical mistakes. With the Sensei Ten, the SteelSeries brand lives up to its name since the mouse is built from a premium polymer material that resists wear and tear. Accordingly, the mechanical switches in the Sensei Ten are rated to last for 60 million clicks.

How To Choose the Right Gaming Mouse

Ultimately, the best mouse for a particular favorite esports pro may not be the right choice for a buyer. However, each of the above mice shares identical characteristics that allow them to excel during frantic competitive gaming tournaments. The key qualities aspiring esports stars should consider include form factor, build quality, sensor accuracy, and whether a wireless mouse is preferable.

Lightweight devices like the Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed can move at incredibly fast speeds to find new targets while maintaining sensor accuracy. For gamers who prefer larger and heavier mice, the Logitech G402 compensates for a lack of agility by offering more programmable buttons while still capable of moving at blistering fast rates.

Thankfully, regardless of whether a gamer prefers a small or large mouse to use with a palm, claw, or fingertip grip, there is an ideal candidate among the many esports mice. While in the past, competitive gamers avoided wireless peripherals, cord-free mice like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight now offer the same performance and reliable connection as traditional wired alternatives.

Today, gamers looking to enter the world of competitive gaming have more choices than ever and rarely have to make compromises when selecting their ideal mouse.

If a buyer has already spent serious money on assembling a new gaming rig and is low on funds, check out our guide to the best budget mice.

FAQ

Q: How should I choose a gaming mouse?

First and foremost, define the purpose of the mouse: will it be used exclusively for gaming? Will a specific genre be prioritized? After that, establish a budget, and research the market to get a thorough idea of the available candidates. It is advised to stick to well-known brands like Razer, Logitech, and SteelSeries. Important decision criteria are comfort, features such as extra buttons for versatility in gaming and accurate scrolling, sensor quality and the software that accompanies it, as well as build quality.

Q: What is the best way to hold a gaming mouse?

There is no singular best way to hold a gaming mouse. Palm, Claw, and Tip grips all have their uses.

Q: What makes a mouse worthy of Esports competitions?

In some cases, major manufacturers will sponsor esports teams; accordingly, players use their gear at tournaments. However, most pro gamers choose mice with premium construction, high DPIs, and switches and buttons rated to last many calendar years of competitions.