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Finding The Best Mouse For League Of Legends – 2019 Buyer’s Guide

League of Legends is one of the largest e-sports titles in the world. With a game that popular and competitive, gamers are always looking for the latest and greatest when it comes to gaming equipment. From keyboards to mice, everything has to be able to handle the immense amount of clicking and pressing to survive a game that requires high precision and dexterity.

For us average gamers (on the way to pro), what’s the easiest way to up our game? Well, it’s to invest in a gaming mouse. But what should you look for and what should you buy before you take your first step into a gaming mouse?

Wired vs Wireless:

For years, the common perception was that wired mice often outperformed wireless mice because the direct connection from you mouse to your computer was often faster than with a Bluetooth receiver in the middle of the process. However, with recent advances in technology – a few outstanding wireless mice have emerged in the market that compete on the level of wired mice. However, be ready to pay a premium on the fact that it’s wireless.

DPI:

Also known as dots per inch, DPI is an important factor because it affects the sensitivity of your mouse. The higher the DPI, the less movement it takes for your cursor to travel a specific distance. Likewise, the lower the DPI – the harder it is to move your mouse. For a fast paced game like League of Legends, where high precision aiming is not required and long games can result in wrist injuries (i.e. Carpal Tunnel) a high DPI is preferred. Standard mice run at around 800 DPI, but gaming mice are flexible in that with a push of a button the DPI can jump from 800 to, as high as, 10,000 depending on the mouse.

Programmable Buttons:

MMORPGs aren’t the only types of games that take advantage of mouse buttons. Do you prefer locked screen when team fighting, but prefer unlocked screen any other time? Assign locking your screen to a button on your mouse! Say you’re playing a champion like Orianna, a very stable mid lane AP Carry who has been relevant in almost every meta, you could set a button to self-cast your shield during intense 1v1’s when you do not have time to move your mouse back to Orianna to self-cast her shield. This example applies to many champions who have skills that allow multi-targeting – not just Orianna. The more buttons, the merrier!

Design:

As stated before, highly intensive games like League of Legends can lead to wrist injuries when played in excess. Getting a mouse that was designed with ergonomics in mind can heavily reduce the strain on your wrist and increase comfort in your hand. This might be something you will need to test out in stores before you commit to a purchase, but it is definitely worth the extra effort.

Bonus Points – Adjustable Weight:

This is not by any means a requirement for a good gaming mouse, but players all have different preferences on how heavy their mice are. Some prefer hefty mice, while others prefer light ones. Getting a mouse with adjustable weights lets you set exactly how you prefer to play League of Legends (or really any game).

Our Recommendations:

With a basic understanding of what makes a good gaming mouse, especially for League of Legends – let’s get into our recommendations for the best gaming mouse to up your ELO on the rift!

NameMax DPISensor Buttons
BenQ Zowie EC2-B3200PMW33605 Check Price
Cougar Revenger S12000PMW33606 Check Price
Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum (Editor's Choice)12000PMW336611 Check Price
Mionix Castor5000PMW33106 Check Price
Logitech G Pro12000PMW33666 Check Price
SteelSeries Rival 1107200TrueMove 16 Check Price
Razer Deathadder Elite (Editor's Choice)16000PMW33897 Check Price
Logitech G90312000PMW336611 Check Price
SteelSeries Rival 31012000TrueMove 37 Check Price
Logitech G403 Prodigy (Editor's Choice)12000PMW33666 Check Price

BenQ Zowie EC2-B – Best Ergonomics

BenQ Zowie EC2-B

The Zowie EC2-B is a no-frills, plug and play type of mouse that excels in the ergonomics department.

The mouse comes in at a solid 98 grams – which is rather average for gaming mice. The mouse switches used in the EC2-B are Omron switches, which will last for an estimated 20 million clicks. The sensor is a very good 3360 – an improvement from the previous generation’s EC2-A. The DPI goes down to as low as 400 and as high as 3,200 in increments of 400. There are two buttons on the side that function out of game as back and forward buttons when browsing, but can be reprogrammed in game. The scroll wheel is on a 24 point click system, which can be either a pro or a con; the system allows for the scroll wheel to be a dependable button to reprogram in game, but at the same time it makes scrolling more difficult.

While it’s not as flashy as the RGB-dominant mice on the market – this will get you on the ground running fast.

Cougar Revenger S – Most Intriguing

Cougar Revenger S

Introducing a mouse with a name that most definitely does not do itself justice. This one comes in at a slightly heavier weight: 96 grams. It’s rocking a 3360 optical sensor, RGB LEDs, and the trusty Omron switches that have been tested for approximately 50 million clicks. The DPI ranges from 100 to 12,000. It includes rubberized grips on the sides to prevent your mouse from slipping when your hands get sweaty in those neck to neck base races.

The button layout is a standard gaming mouse with two thumb buttons. The scroll wheel is made for those who definitely prefer a stiffer click to prevent accidental slips. It should also be noted that the two thumb buttons can be mushy.

Something that makes the Cougar Revenger S stand out is the lift distance wizard that can be access in the software. There’s three profiles for lift distance – low, medium, high – that will let you adjust how high the threshold will be set before your cursor stops moving. While it is a highly appreciated setting, go into it with a healthy amount of skepticism because it will not be increasing the threshold by any mind-blowing amount: it’s meant to get the right feel for greater personal preference options.

The Cougar Revenger S honestly has a few marketing gimmicks that need serious testing to prove their validity. However, even without those gimmicks – it’s a comfortable, affordable (see lowest price), modular, and reliable mouse that people should give a chance to. Will it stand up to the big hitters? If you appreciate the possibilities that this price point offers, then give it a chance. You get a well-built mouse that potentially offers more than you expect if its gimmicks are proven to be more than just marketing.

Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum – Most Professional Grade

Want to play like Team Solomid? This mouse is used by the majority of the League of Legends team. At a very reasonable price (see lowest price), it’s a great ratio between price to performance.

As with all of Logitech’s up-to-date gear, you’ll be getting Omron switches – which are rated at approximately 20 million clicks, the 3366 optical sensor – which is best in its class, and RGB – because you can’t be an actual gaming mouse without RGB.Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum

The DPI goes as low as 200 and all the way up to 12,000. Along with the normal back and forward side buttons – you also get a trigger button. The scroll wheel also acts as a button that can register up to three actions because of the three-directional clicking system. In total, you get 9 programmable buttons excluding the left and right click.

The G502 does come in quite a bit on the heavier side than other mice at 121 grams excluding the cable – and if you want it even heavier, Logitech provides five 3.6 gram weights that can be placed at various positions to shift the mouse’s center of mass to your liking. This heavy weight can be a deal breaker for many people as some are rather sensitive to the strain a heavier mouse will have on your wrist.

Logitech does the gaming mice industry proud and you’ll see it as you go through this list. The G502 inclusion is the first of the many times that I will be typing Logitech in this list.

Mionix Castor – The Underdog

The Mionix Caster mouse (check price) is running a respectable 3310 optical sensor, which is a great sensor that can hold its own – although, definitely not a 3366. It weighs in at a decent 94 grams without the cable, and is built with Omron switches. The Mionix Castor was made with ergonomics as a priority; and it really does show. The curves on the mouse – especially for your pinky and thumb are extremely comfortable. The material has a soft texture to it that is very smooth to the touch. Even the thumb area has an anti-slip textured area for your thumb to rest on and provide resistance when gaming.Mionix Castor

It has standard gaming mouse button configurations with the two thumb buttons. The scroll wheel is slightly difficult to press, although it will definitely prevent accidental clicks. A shining light on this mouse is its DPI settings; the Mionix Castor goes all the way down to a DPI of only 50 – a new low on this list – and up to a maximum of 10,000. What really takes the cake is that it goes up in increments of 50 DPI – allowing you to play League of Legends with a very refined choice.

Unfortunately, Mionix placed the Castor at a very difficult price point where many competitors are targeting. If your priorities are ergonomics and pinpoint DPI accuracy, then the Mionix Castor should definitely be a strong contender for your business – it all comes down to personal preference. For a smaller company to build a gaming mouse that can face off against the big market holders like Razer and Logitech, is no small feat.

Logitech G Pro – The Lightest

Logitech G ProThe bread and butter of the Logitech gaming mouse is the G Pro. This is as barebones as Logitech gaming mice go: it’s a standard Logitech mouse that sports Omron switches, a 3366 optical sensor, RGB LEDs, and two thumb buttons. The DPI range is Logitech’s standard of 200 to 12,000.

However, the Logitech G Pro comes in on the smaller and lighter side – at only 85 grams (excluding the wire), which makes it the lightest mouse on this list.

Left handed mice users will appreciate its symmetrical egg shape design, but expectations will fall short on the fact that the thumb switches are not modular. The G Pro functions very similarly to its brother – the G403 – and is approximately the same price. The main difference between the two is the shape of the mouse which all comes down to personal preference. Whichever mice you end up getting – be confident that your money was spent on top quality gear.

SteelSeries Rival 110 – Best Bang for Your Buck

SteelSeries makes some awesome mice. The Rival 110 is running a TrueMove 1 optical sensor, the little brother of the TrueMove 3 – with the only difference being a smaller DPI range. The Rival 110 goes as low as 200 DPI and as high as 7,400 DPI. While that falls far from the Rival 310, running a TrueMove 3 sensor, going above 4,000 DPI is practically unusable.

The mouse weighs in at a light 88 grams. It has a standard gaming mouse button layout with two side buttons on the side. Like the Rival series, the 110 is sporting Omron switches, but are graded for 30 million clicks instead of the higher quality 50 million clicks.SteelSeries Rival 110

The shape of the mouse is symmetric, which will appeal to all the left-handed gamers, although it does fall short in this department because the thumb switches are not modular. There are rubberized grips on the sides of the mouse which helps with the sweaty hands you get when you’re caught in a smite fight at baron – don’t want your mouse slipping out of your hand during that intense moment!

At a very low price point, SteelSeries claims the title of the cheapest mouse on this list. Thankfully, this mouse breaks the perception that a higher price equals higher performance. With a very affordable price, coupled with the high quality parts SteelSeries built the Rival 110 with (and RGB), it makes this mouse an eye-catching competitor in the gaming mouse market.

Razer Deathadder Elite – Oldie, but Goodie

One of the biggest gaming peripheral brands in the market, Razer makes a statement with the Deathadder Elite (see lowest price). Coming in at 106 grams, the Razer Deathadder Elite is on the heavier side, but at its rather large size – it is a respectable weight to come by.Razer Deathadder Elite

The Deathadder Elite is equipped with Razer’s switches that were developed in conjunction with Omron; they’re graded to last approximately 50 million clicks. Razer has opted to use the 5G Opitcal sensor which allows the mouse to go to a low of 100 DPI and a new high of 16,000 DPI (and I thought 12,000 was unreasonably high).

There is a nice silicone padding on the sides of the mouse to prevent finger slipping. The rest of its features are rather normal, sporting RGB LEDs, a clickable scroll wheel, and two thumb buttons on the side.

The Razer Deathadder series has been around since 2006 and with this iteration (that released to the market in 2016), they have maintained the great reputation that this mouse series has retained even as more and more competitors entered the gaming peripheral market.

Logitech G903 – Most Advanced

Let’s skip to one of the most obvious things when looking at this mouse – it’s wireless. That’s right – we said it: Wireless. The G903 (see lowest price) is equipt with Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED technology, which supposedly minimizes the latency to the point that it’s faster than some wired mice. While I can’t replicate the extensive testing that the LIGHTSPEED technology went through, I can say that there is no distinguishing the G903 against any wired mice.

In fact, with the PowerPlay mat, which wirelessly charges your mouse as well, it possibly makes this mouse the best wireless gaming mouse on the market in terms of performance and features. However, that being said, the price – especially with the expensive PowerPlay mat – will make your wallet cry a little bit.Logitech G903

A neat feature of this mouse is that it works for either left or right handed gamers; the reprogrammable back and forwards buttons are modular – allowing them to be placed on either side (or both, if you really want to).

The rest of this mouse is just as impressive – as expected by Logitech’s standards. Along with RGB LEDs, durable Omron switches, and the top-of-the-line 3366 optical sensor, the G903 also only comes in at 110 grams for a wireless mouse. The DPI range is Logitech’s standard of 200 to 12,000. This is one of the most technologically advanced mice out there.

However, if you need to save a bit of money and you are not in the market for the PowerPlay mat, then here’s a tip: get the G900. It’s cheaper and running the same exact internals as the G903, except for the fact that the G900 isn’t compatible with the PowerPlay mat.

SteelSeries Rival 310 – The Runner-Up

Introducing another Rival! The Rival 310 made by SteelSeries is a respectably light mouse at 88 grams, coming in second lightest – losing to the Logitech G Pro. The SteelSeries 310 is sporting Omron switches, similar to the Logitech mice, but with a key difference being that the Rival 310’s switches are graded for 50 million clicks versus the 20 million clicks of Logitech’s. SteelSeries has also opted to use the TrueMove 3 optical sensor in the Rival 310, which was developed in partnership with the makers of the 3366 optical sensor – Pixart. The TrueMove 3 sensor is marketed by SteelSeries as the most accurate sensor. While that may or may not be true, the sensor does reduce jitter up to 3,500 DPI, and it is a modified version of the 3360 optical sensor: a great sensor in its own right.

The mouse can be set from 100 DPI up to 12,000 DPI. Similar to the Razer Deathadder Elite, there is a nice silicone padding on the sides of the mouse to prevent finger slipping, and is sporting RGB LEDs, a clickable scroll wheel, and two thumb buttons on the side.SteelSeries Rival 310 side

As a competitor to Logitech’s domination of the gaming mouse industry, SteelSeries puts another great stamp on the market with a super light mouse that is equipt with more durable switches and a sensor that rivals the 3366. Their future looks bright if the Rival 310 is what the company is going after in terms of quality and performance.

Bonus Tip: Left-Handed Gamers, rejoice! The Rival 310’s sister – the Sensei 310 – is more or less the ambidextrous/left-handed version of this mouse.

Logitech G403 Prodigy – Editor’s Choice

We won’t beat around the bush for the Logitech G403: it is probably the best mouse on the market.

With that said, let us get into why since we have probably piqued your interest with such an early and bold statement. G403 Prodigy front

Like the other Logitech mice on this list, the G403 (see lowest price) is equipt with Omron switches, which will last you an estimated 20 million clicks. The G403 also has the standard two back and forwards buttons that you can reprogram in game. The scroll wheel isn’t heavy and is reliable enough to use it as third reprogrammable button, however it does not have side-clicking like the G502.

The sensor is also a 3366 optical sensor – the same one used in the G903 and one of the best in the market. The DPI range is Logitech’s standard of 200 to 12,000.

When it comes to performance, this is one of the mice where it is extremely hard to tell if there’s a difference in performance between the wired version versus the wireless version. If you want to get the wireless version, the premium you pay isn’t too high, which puts it at a – still – really good price.

Oh and did we mention it has RGB?

Sure, you could get a mouse with more features like the G903, which is also wireless and a fantastic mouse. But if you look at that price and compare it to all that value you get, it’s rather difficult to not love and recommend this mouse to everyone.

Closing Words:

As you see, getting a gaming mouse doesn’t have to be expensive – especially when the Logitech G403 exists. You can still get that top-quality gaming performance without breaking the bank.

But a little splurging now and then isn’t frowned upon – just think of it as investing in your wrist’s health: now that’s priceless. All jokes aside, by now you must be scouring Amazon for your pick of the litter, but before you press the check out button, keep in mind that this won’t make you go from Bronze 5 to Challenger instantly. And most definitely do not – and I repeat, do not – go in 1v5 when you’re playing Vayne because you think your new Logitech G903 is going to turn you into Doublelift. You’re still going to have to hone your craft before you take the title of “Best AD in the West”. Now remember: behind every challenger player is a trustworthy mouse.

See you on the rift, Summoners!

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