Best Mouse for DOTA 2

Based on 45 Pro Players

The most used mice by DOTA 2 players

The most popular mice are calculated based on 45 professional players.

Introduction


DOTA 2 is one of the most played (and watched) games in the world, and with hundreds of thousands of players logging in every single day, it’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. Despite the fact that the game is somewhat known for its steep learning curve there are still plenty of newcomers joining the battle of the ancients every single day.

If you want to perform at your best level you’ll want gaming gear that doesn’t hold you back, and that’s where we come in. We’ve analyzed the gear that the professionals are using, and based on that data we came up with this guide on the best gaming mice for DOTA 2.

It is of course true that a mouse is of less importance in a MOBA game than it is in a shooter where precision matters, but we do see that the MOBA pros gravitate towards the same high tier mice as the shooter professionals do. In this article we’ll briefly go over the features of the mice that we listed below so that you can get an ideal baseline to make an informed purchase for yourself.

Our Guide

The Pro Usage Top 5 gets updated continuously and instantly so that you can always get an accurate overview of what the pros are using at any given time. In the body of the article itself, we go over the five most popular pro products in no particular order and, when relevant, we also give you some extra options in the form of products that fall just outside of the top 5 or are otherwise relevant.

What makes a mouse good for DOTA 2?


Contrary to what you might think, not a lot of professionals are using a dedicated MOBA/MMO mouse with a side panel that has lots of side buttons. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use one (there certainly are options out there) but the professionals don’t seem to gravitate towards these mice. Perhaps surprisingly, we see a lot of the usual shooter game mice here.

In any case: what makes a mouse great for you will largely depend on subjective factors but there are a couple of things to consider when buying a mouse for gaming. You will want to have a mouse with a flawless sensor and, if you’re going wireless, a perfect connection. Even though pixel perfect precision matters less in MOBAs you still don’t want to find yourself misplaying because your mouse couldn’t keep up or didn’t register your click at a crucial time.

Logitech G203


If you decide to go for the Logitech G203, we would recommend the Prodigy version. The Lightsync version has a sensor that performs worse.

Reading these ‘best mouse’ lists is all well and good, but of course pros tend to play with the best gear available to them and that usually comes at a cost. For those people who are on a budget the Logitech G203 is a fantastic option. It’s often recommended as the budget mouse on enthusiast forums, and it’s nice to see that professionals are also using it, further reinforcing the fact that this is one impressive piece of kit.

The G203 of course doesn’t have all of the latest and greatest tech in there but it has a flawless sensor, pleasing clicks, a decent cable, and decent feet.

If you’re on a bit of a budget and you don’t mind using smaller mice then the G203 is by far one of the best options out there. It’s been the go-to budget recommendation for a lot of people for years now, and even though the budget market has seen some new challengers rising up to the occasion in recent times, the G203 still holds up fantastically well for people who don’t have a lot to spend.

Logitech G203

Used by 4 DOTA 2 players ()
Pro’s Choice

The Logitech G203 is an excellent budget mouse for people who want an ambidextrous gaming mouse and don’t feel the need to go wireless. Do make sure to go for the Prodigy version though, as the Lightsync version has an older sensor that can technically spin out.

Pros

  • Great price/performance value proposition
  • Good build quality

Cons

  • Cable isn’t very flexible
  • Mouse feet aren’t the best
  • Lightsync version has an inferior sensor

Specs

SensorMercury
Polling Rate1000 Hz
Button SwitchesOmron
ConnectionWired
ShapeAmbidextrous
Length11.7cm
Height3.8cm
Weight85g
Width6.2cm

Razer DeathAdder V2


The Razer DeathAdder V2 was succeeded by the DeathAdder V3. That one has a completely different shape, however, so for fans of the old DeathAdder shape, this is the one to go for as it’s the most up-to-date DeathAdder that still has the old shape.

The Razer DeathAdder is a mouse that’s been around for longer than some of our readers. It’s one of the best selling, most well-known gaming mice in the world. Of course this also means that it has seen many different iterations. Not all of these have been met with universal praise but the V2 line (the V2 and the wireless V2 Pro both came out at around the same time) kickstarted a kind of renaissance for the iconic mouse.

Featuring Razer’s flawless Focus+ Optical sensor, Optical switches, great stock feet, and (in the case of the Pro version) a flawless wireless implementation it’s hard to look past the DeathAdder if you’re on the hunt for a larger ergonomic mouse. The V2 is on the weightier side when compared to some other top picks in today’s market, but if you can live with that it’s still a good choice that can be bought at very decent prices due to the fact that it’s been succeeded by the V3.

Razer DeathAdder V2

Used by 5 DOTA 2 players ()
Staff’s Choice
Pro’s Choice

The DeathAdder is an iconic mouse, and Razer’s been doing a good job keeping up with recent trends so that their flagship pointing device remains at the top of its game

Read review (01/2020)

Pros

  • Good stock cable
  • Good stock feet
  • Great build quality

Cons

  • Optical switches can use some finetuning

Specs

SensorFocus+
Polling Rate125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
Button SwitchesRazer Optical
ConnectionWired
ShapeErgonomic
Length12.76cm
Height4.10cm
Weight80g
Width6.27cm

ZOWIE EC2


The EC2 is an older iteration of the EC line. We recommend going for the latest version if you’re interested in the EC. Click here for an overview of the different iterations.

The Zowie EC series is very well known and loved amongst the competitive shooter crowd but it’s a bit less of a known factor in other scenes. That’s because Zowie’s mice are made from the ground up for (tactical) shooter players, but that of course doesn’t have to mean that they can’t be used for other games.

Perhaps one of the EC’s most famous features is its fantastic ergonomic shape. Zowie are known for their great shapes and the EC is arguably the crowning jewel. With a shape that flows naturally without any sudden or potentially annoying curves this is one of the comfiest mice you can get if you like ergonomic pointers. The ECx-C series features a number of improvements over the EC2 and EC1 such as an improved cable and scroll wheel. You can read all about the differences between different EC versions here.

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense plug and play ergonomic mouse then the EC2 should be high on your list. Due to the aforementioned improvements we would recommend the EC2-C over the EC2.

ZOWIE EC2

Used by 3 DOTA 2 players ()
Pro’s Choice

This is a difficult one for me in the sense that I’m just not sure if this is ‘the ultimate version’ of this mouse. I understand Zowie’s choice to ignore the lightweight race (since lighter = better definitely isn’t true for everyone and 87 grams is a good weight for a gaming mouse) but it can’t be denied that improvements can still be made to the EC series. I’m not even talking about the scroll wheel (which is a design choice) but I am thinking of the cable, side buttons, and perhaps also the coating.

Read review (10/2019)

Pros

  • Fantastic shape

Cons

  • Cable can use improvement
  • Side buttons have too much travel
  • Coating gets dirty quickly

Specs

SensorPMW 3360
DPI400, 800, 1600, 3200
Polling Rate125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
Button SwitchesHuano
ConnectionWired
ShapeErgonomic
Length12.18cm
Height4.24cm
Weight87g
Width6.00cm

Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro


The Razer DeathAdder V2 was succeeded by the DeathAdder V3. That one has a completely different shape, however, so for fans of the old DeathAdder shape, this is the one to go for as it’s the most up-to-date DeathAdder that still has the old shape.

The DeathAdder V2 Pro is the wireless version of the Razer DeathAdder V2. It came out some time after the wired version came out and has much of the same features as the wired version.

If you are someone who has always wanted a wireless DeathAdder with that classic large, flatter shape, then this is definitely the one to go for. Later versions of the DeathAdder introduced a different shape design, making the DeathAdder boxier and more similar to mice such as the ZOWIE EC line. Due to being succeeded by newer mice, the DeathAdder V2 Pro can often be bought discounted, which makes it an amazing deal for gamers who are fond of the old shape.

Razer Deathadder V2 Pro

Used by 3 DOTA 2 players ()
Staff’s Choice
Pro’s Choice

The Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro is pretty much everything I expected it to be. It’s a wireless version of a mouse that I already really liked and that mouse made the jump to the wireless world without any hiccups.

Read review (06/2023)

Pros

  • Flawless wireless connection
  • Good build quality

Cons

  • Optical switches don’t feel as satisfying as mechanical ones
  • Scroll wheel feels inconsistent when clicking

Specs

SensorFocus+
Polling Rate125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
Button SwitchesRazer Optical
ConnectionWireless
ShapeErgonomic
Length12.3cm
Height4.04cm
Weight87g
Width6.26cm

SteelSeries Sensei RAW


You’d forget it if you are a regular browser of specialized gaming forums, but there is a convincing case to be made for choosing one peripheral and sticking with it once you’re sure that it works for you. The SteelSeries Sensei RAW is the perfect example of this. This mouse has a very safe and nice ambidextrous shape, but it’s a really old mouse at this point in time that’s using outdated tech. Even if you were able to find a new Sensei RAW, we would recommend you to look towards newer mice, as the Sensei RAW isn’t up to modern standards.

SteelSeries Sensei RAW

Used by 3 DOTA 2 players ()
Pro’s Choice

The SteelSeries Sensei Raw is almost a decade old and not available anymore. We don’t recommend buying the Sensei Raw due to the outdated technology that it uses.

Pros

  • Great shape

Cons

  • Stiff cable
  • Sensor isn’t flawless
  • Feet are subpar

Specs

SensorPMW 3330
Polling Rate1000 Hz
Button SwitchesOmron
ConnectionWired
ShapeAmbidextrous
Length12.5cm
Height3.9cm
Weight90g
Width6.8cm

Best Mouse for DOTA 2 – Conclusion


Best Mouse for DOTA 2 product lineup

Choosing the right mouse for you is a process that doesn’t drastically differ between games or genres. Just like with FPS games, it’s important to get yourself a mouse that you are comfortable with.

If you want to know more you can always check out our other guides or check one of our many mouse reviews. If you have any questions then please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments of the relevant articles or on Twitter or Discord, we try to answer everything.

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