So we've established earlier on that you'll probably want a mechanical keyboard, but there doesn't seem to be any real consensus as to what kind of keyboard that should be. We can see a bunch of different types of keyboards being used in the pro scene, ranging from full size state of the art devices to stripped down tenkeyless models.

In this top five we see a bit of both; we've got the usual suspects with all possible bells and whistles along with some smaller form factor boards that mainly focus on competitive gamers, so there should be something here for everyone.

We'll try to give you a comprehensive breakdown of what makes each board tick, but if you're completely new to this kind of product we do recommend reading our guide on the different types of switches first.

As you can see to the right it seems like the main gaming brands are dominating here. This isn't always the case (see, for example, Fortnite) and we do see comparatively little pros who use keyboards from small, niche brands in the Rainbow Six Pro scene overall. That's neither a good thing or a bad thing; it's just something that we've noticed in our stats.

Razer and Corsair, perhaps two of the most famous keyboard manufacturers in the overall gaming scene, take the cake here. Both offer pretty much anything ranging from full size boards to small and compact travel-size devices, so all in all it's not strange to see them pop up here.

Worth noting when you're going through this list is that we've bundled different iterations of keyboards together; the Corsair K70 gets a lot of refreshes, for example, but we've added users who are using the MK2 to the list of users who are still using the older version, otherwise this list would be full of different iterations of mostly the same boards.

The Razer BlackWidow line isn't new to the scene at all. It's gone through an absolutely massive list of different iterations, which makes it kind of hard to make sense of it all, but the most recent version is the V3, which comes in a variety of sizes as well as a wireless version.

If you're planning on going wireless then the BlackWidow is a great option as it's using Razer's HyperSpeed Wireless technology, which is the same tech that's being used in their wireless mice. This means that you're getting a lag-free and flawless wireless connection so you're not going to be limited by a sometimes spotty Bluetooth connection.

The BlackWidow, aside from the fact that there are a ton of different iterations of the board out there at this point in time, can also be bought in many different versions. Razer offers it with a bunch of different keycaps and switches, and there's a TKL version, a 60% version, and a full size version, so if you're looking to get into that Razer ecosystem then the BlackWidow is a great option to consider.

The BlackWidow V3 is available with Razer's Green or Yellow switches.

If you ask a hundred random gamers about companies that make gaming keyboards, odds are you'll hear the name Corsair popping up quite often. They've been in the scene since mechanical boards became popular and as such it's no surprise at all to see one of their keyboards show up in these articles.

The K70 is one of their premium offerings; it's a full size keyboard complete with a detachable wrist rest, dedicated media keys and a textured volume rocker (along with a mute button) so you're probably not going to be left wanting more if you decide to go for this. The whole board is made out of 'aircraft grade aluminum' which not only gives it a certain sleek look but it also adds to the durability. If you're looking for a fully outfitted keyboard from one of the industry giants that'll last you for years to come then this could very well be the one for you.

The K70 RGB  comes with Cherry MX switches, and you can choose between Brown, Red, Blue, Speed, and Silent switches.

There is also the option to go for Cherry MX Low Profile switches. That keyboard is technically called the 'K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile' but it's pretty much the same as the regular one (except for having Low Profile switches, of course) so we're including it here in order to be complete.

The Logitech G Pro line of products has always been well liked by professional players, and the first iteration of the Pro keyboard was a mainstay in this list basically since its inception. The Pro X is a rather new product in the grand scheme of things but it makes sense that it has already taken the torch from its predecessor since it's basically the exact same keyboard with one major upgrade: it has hotswappable switches.

This means that, if you're tired of the way your keyboard feels you can just buy a new switch pack and swap out your current switches instead of having to buy an entirely new board. The G Pro X has new switches too: gone are the Romer-G switches and in are Logitech's very own GX switches.

Aside from the switch aspect this X edition builds on what made the first version so loved: it's a no-nonsense TKL keyboard with a detachable cable, a decently sturdy design, and no extra bells and whistles that drive up the price and serve no extra purpose for competitive gamers.

The G Pro X Mechanical Keyboard can be bought with Logitech's GX Blue (clicky), GX Brown (tactile), or GX Red (linear) switches. These colors match their Cherry MX counterparts, by the way, so if you're familiar with those and/or you already have a favorite type of switch you should be able to choose a configuration rather easily.

Of course there's also the possibility to swap out the switches so if you happen to dislike the ones you've ordered you can always change it up.

The K65 might just look like a smaller version of the K70 but that's not entirely true; it misses the volume rocker and has less media keys as well as a lack of a numpad. These changes do make the keyboard stand on its own if you're asking us, since most companies approach a tenkeyless keyboard in the same manner: they cut off any 'unnecessary' features and focus on making a 'competitive gaming keyboard'.

That's all well and good, but what if you do want media keys, and perhaps a wrist rest for added comfort? That's where the K65 comes in. It strikes a nice balance between offering the extra features that most high end full sized boards offer while also being significantly smaller than said full size boards. As a consequence it's definitely not the smallest TKL keyboard in the world, but if you just want a bit more space on your desk while still having that premium feeling this could be the one.

The K65 itself is only available with Red Cherry MX switches.

If your main focus is gaming and you don't necessarily need any bells or whistles on your keyboard then you should definitely take a look towards the HyperX Alloy FPS or the FPS Pro. The only difference between the two is the fact that the FPS Pro doesn't have a numpad; other than that both boards are functionally exactly the same, so since there's practically no difference between both (other than the fact that the Pro version, for some reason, isn't available with Brown switches) we've added them together.

Much like most of their other gaming products (like the Cloud line of headsets) this keyboard is focused on performance. You won't find any crazy design elements or lighting setups here (in fact you can't change the LED backlight color at all: it's set to red) since you don't really need all of that for gaming.

The Alloy FPS has a solid steel frame and a detachable cable on both versions, making it extremely portable and durable, which is exactly what you want out of a keyboard if you're a competitive gamer who's often on the road to some sort of LAN party. Couple that with its extremely compact design (there are virtually no bezels) and you can see why this is a hit with the competitive crowd.

The Alloy FPS is available with Cherry MX Blue, Red, or Brown switches, while the FPS Pro is available with either Blue or Red switches.