Introduction
I used to get destroyed when I would play Apex Legends with my friends on my PS4 controller. I also have this game on my PC but due to travel I’ve been stuck progressing my character on my portable console.
I’m sure you’re reading this because you want to improve your gaming performance on competitive games, or want to just have a slight edge over your game’s difficulty settings (for open world and strategy based games). Maybe you’re also trying to set up your first dedicated gaming space and your room. Either way, this article has something for everyone.
I did a ton of personal research so you don’t have to sit through the same information. If you want to reach out after, I’ll leave my email contact at the bottom of this article.
So what is the best DPI setting for each type of game?
On average, competitive gamers will play with a smooth 600dpi (dots per inch) or lower to maximize aiming accuracy for games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six. Gaming mice with 1500 DPI and higher are too sensitive even for casual gaming because it causes pixel jumping on all 1080p resolution monitors.
I didn’t like a lot of the other articles on this topic, so I’m providing you with a better resource than any of the other ones out there.
How DPI Settings Affect Gaming (read the bold)
Before we start, let’s start with the basics: dpi is how many pixels your mouse travels over the screen when you move your mouse one inch. You can turn DP I settings up to make the mouse on the screen move even faster, without adjusting the software sensitivity On Windows 10.
You should use a mouse with lower DPI for smoother aiming and FPS, and use a mouse with a higher rating if you’re playing open world games and need to look around large spaces frequently.
On Windows 10, change the mouse sensitivity to be 60% of the total number it lets you set it to and then don’t change the settings ever again. Now that we have covered the gist of every article on the web, here’s how we can further improve your understanding to help you make the best decision possible:
In this article, we’re going to cover:
- The best DPI settings for competitive and casual gamers (what’s an infographic to make your own personal decision)
- The best gaming mice that allow you to adjust your DPI settings for all types of Gaming
- Other ways to make your aim more smooth and accurate during online gaming
- How to increase the lifespan of your mouse and DPI sensitivity
How Much DPI Do You Need? (See Below)
I created a really helpful infographic to help you make the decision on what type of DPI you should be gaming on. A good gaming mouse will have adjustable DPI settings on it, so switch to these numbers when you’re playing games similar to what is on the table in the next section.
These are the optimal settings you should have for the following games or equivalent type:
|
Game |
Apex Legends /Fortnite |
Rainbow Six Siege |
Open World / Strategy |
|
Optimal DPI |
400 |
600 |
1,000 |
I got these numbers after doing tons of YouTube searches and looking at product reviews of the best possible gaming mice. Professional players such as shroud and s1mple tend to use these exact numbers when they’re gaming. In certain games like apex, you can even take it a step further and adjust the DPI settings when aiming through your weapons specifically. It’s also better to have a higher DPI when playing turn-based games because it gives you more time to make more movements.
The big takeaway with this table is that you should have the lowest settings for FPS games and about 600 to 1000 when playing constant shooters with smaller spaces.
PRO TIP: get a gaming mouse that completely fits in the palm of your hand without curling your fingers underneath. This makes it easier to aim and shortens the amount of time you have to practice getting use two different DPI settings.
Here are the best gaming mice for the most common types of players:
|
Highest DPI Range |
Most Comfortable |
Best for Big Hands |
Mm711: This one received it really good reviews on the basis of having an extremely high DPI range. If you are a dynamic a gamer, then you will greatly appreciate the 7 DPI settings from lowest to highest.
** important note: this is also a good mouse to have if you plan to upgrade the resolution of your monitor because you can increase the DPI with the resolution upgrade of your monitor for smoother panning
Glorious Model O: this was highest rated for Comfort because it comes with grip grooves that is not commonly found on a gaming mouse. It tends to be a little more expensive than the rest, but it is a worthwhile investment that will last you several years or longer
Note: some gaming mice come with a CPI button, and a lot of gamers don’t use this feature correctly. Check out this article for more information relating to what is CPI button on a mouse is good for.
Logitech g102: this mouse consistently comes up on Reddit reviews and on the Facebook Gaming Community that I am a part of. It’s the best for big hands because it doesn’t create a claw grip when you pick it up.
PRO TIP: Get a mouse pad that is about medium roughness. Check out this table for the ultimate list of different mouse pads for each type of gamer. This article is the ultimate resource to find the perfect product.
In the next section, we’ll talk about ways to increase your aim and maximize the gaming setup that you already have or are planning to get.
If you didn’t already know, a gaming mouse is also really good for work. There’s tons of professions that really benefit from having a mouse with good DPI settings. Check out this article on more information at this applies to you or if you’re considering getting one for the office.
Other Ways to Increase Aim With a Good DPI Mouse
In addition to everything we have talked about in this article, here are some other really good tips that professional gamers use to increase their aim for all competitive shooters.
- Change the aim settings specifically for holding down the aim button. Most people don’t realize you can change the sensitivity of your aim when looking through a scope or iron sights. Instead, players often will play on a single sensitivity setting for when they’re looking down their weapon and when they’re in a free-look position. This makes napping in more controlled and you can still look around a lot more quickly on the map with a separate sensitivity setting.
- Turn down the resolution on your monitor for better refresh rate. This makes your game run smoother and allows you’re aiming to be more accurate across the thousands of pixels on your screen. This is even more noticeable for people who use a 1440 p Monitor and higher. For Competitive Gaming, most players aren’t concerned about the graphics.
“Most monitors come with a response time of 5 to 10 ms. While this is standard for some gaming monitors, you might want to consider if something faster than 5ms is good enough as an aspiring competitive gamer“
- For players using a gaming laptop: put the mouse behind the laptop and play using this position. It looks awkward at first, but it puts your wrist in a neutral position and allows smoother control because your entire arm can be rested on the table.
- Brightness on your monitor. Enemy players will be easier to spot and easier to put your reticle on their hitbox if you set it to be higher than normal.
Next, we’ll talk about how to increase the longevity of your mouse and ways to keep it more accurate in terms of dpi.
Does a Gaming Mouse Loose DPI Accuracy Over Time?
As a general rule, a gaming mouse will not lose dpi accuracy overtime unless there is physical damage to the bottom of the mouse such as scratching or uneven bumps caused by user damage. A player who keeps good care of their gaming mouse can use it for up to a decade or longer.
Here are 2 really good ways to increase life expectancy of your mouse:
- Use a mouse pad: this gives your mouse a consistent surface to use over time. If you keep it in good condition, such as keeping food off of it, then you’ll always be giving her mouse reliable surface to roll across on
“Decide in 5 minutes if a dedicated gaming mouse pad is for you.” — this is the link to an article I wrote with a thorough amount of research and personal experience.
- Store your mouse inside a scratch proof container or cloth when traveling. This is another really common way a gaming mouse will lose its superior accuracy.
Thanks for reading! If you have any further questions or comments feel free to reach out at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond. I’m also taking article suggestions so feel free to send those over as well and thank you for the feedback I have received already.
Final Thoughts
You’ll probably notice that a good gaming mouse with proper sensitivity settings will often be a wired connection. A lot of people struggle with cord management which is why it might be worthwhile to consider a wireless keyboard. Latency issues are addressed in this article and you can find out more information here. This is an article I interviewed professional Gamers on and personally researched.
After conducting all of this research, I found that having the right settings for your mouse is actually extremely simple. Remember to have lower DPI settings when playing first-person shooters and feel free to turn it up as high as you want when not in a competitive match.
When I was Googling gaming mice, I found the same info over and over again about how a mouse should have a good dpi rating, a smooth pulling rate, and all kinds of other jargon. I wrote this article to make an even better resource, and to simplify all the advise the internet tried to provide me.
Whether or not you are a competitive gamer, it’s always worth while to find the best ways to maximize your aiming accuracy. As you can see, getting a mouse with adjustable DPI settings is extremely affordable and will last you several years or longer.