The most used keyboards by League of Legends players
The most popular keyboards are calculated based on 87 professional players.
Introduction
In a game such as League of Legends, where a lot of extremely vital actions are mapped to your keyboard, it’s of crucial importance to have a nice keyboard that you personally like. You don’t want to get caught out missing a crucial cast because you didn’t fully actuate a key or what have you, and it’s equally important to not ‘fat finger’ (whereby you accidentally press a certain key) either.
Luckily there are a lot of options out there for you to consider. Manufacturers these days are making everything from keyboards with ultra fast switches that are focused on speed to heavy tactile switches that require you to apply a decent amount of pressure if you want to actuate a key. This diversity and huge variety of options when it comes to keyboards is also what can make it incredibly confusing to choose your own board, and that’s where we come in. In addition to having articles on keyboard sizes and switches to help out people who are completely new to (mechanical) keyboards we’ve also gone ahead and analyzed what the professional League of Legends players are using to help you in your quest to find your ideal mechanical keyboard.
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 keyboard good for League of Legends?
There is a massive variety of keyboards out there, and with custom mechanical keyboards becoming ever more popular, the market just continues to expand. It would be near impossible to deduce what constitutes ‘the ultimate gaming keyboard’ since things like switch preference (tactile vs linear, for starters) is something that’s extremely subjective, but luckily there are a few things we can learn from the League of Legends pros to narrow it down a bit.
For starters we’ll get the obvious out of the way: League of Legends professionals, just like pros in the other games that we analyze, use mechanical keyboards. The advantages of a mechanical keyboard over a membrane board are well documented, but in short: mechanical keyboards are much more responsive, last longer, and allow for almost infinite customization which results in a myriad of options to choose from. If you’re even a little bit serious about gaming (and even if you’re not; plenty of non-gamers have mechanical keyboards) we definitely recommend a mechanical keyboard.
Looking at what the LoL pros use we see that you’ll probably want to consider a TKL (or smaller) board if LoL is your main game. The reason for that is pretty simple: space. Unless you’ve got a very peculiar playing style you’ll almost never have to use the numpad for this game, so you might as well spring for a smaller form factor: you don’t really lose any functionality but you do gain a ton of space, so the advantages are definitely there. Of course there are other factors to consider too: if you use the numpad a lot for work it might be a good idea to go for a full sized keyboard, but it’s definitely worth thinking about how often you use that part of the keyboard if you ask us.
Aside from this it’s important to get a keyboard that matches your preferences. There are a ton of switches to choose from, and for a game like LoL it’s in your best interest to find a switch that matches your playing style. If you’re someone who easily presses a key when you didn’t mean to you could consider heavier linear switches, or tactile switches. If you want your switches to actuate at the slightest touch you might want to consider speed-oriented linear switches, for example.
Logitech G Pro X
The Logitech G Pro line is aimed at competitive and professional gamers, and judging from our data they do a pretty good job at that. We find G Pro products across all of our analyzed games, and the G Pro X takes the cake in League of Legends too.
The main difference between this one and the regular G Pro Mechanical (which is the predecessor to this board) is that the X version has a hotswap PCB. This means that you can swap switches without having to take the keyboard apart, removing the old switches, and then soldering on the new ones. The fact that you can just pull switches out of the G Pro X and replace them with other ones in less than 30 seconds (per switch) is a tremendous advantage for people who like to change the feeling of their board every once in a while.
The hotswap functionality also means that you can get creative: you can place heavier switches that require more effort to actuate on the buttons that you don’t want to accidentally press and then lighter switches underneath buttons you want to actuate in the blink of an eye. Of course this is a pretty extreme example and most people will just use this feature to swap out all the switches in one go to change it up every now and again, but it just goes to show how you can approach this.
Aside from all this, the G Pro X is a reliable TKL keyboard. With relatively small bezels and little to no extra buttons and dials it’s a board that’s very much focused on competitive gamers, and the small form factor and detachable cable combined make for a portable board for the gamer who often goes to LAN events or tournaments.
By default, the G Pro X ships with Logitech’s new GX switches instead of the Romer-G switches that came on the older G Pro Mechanical keyboard, but as mentioned you can swap these out easily.
Logitech G Pro X Keyboard
Used by 16 League of Legends players ()What you’re getting is a solidly built gaming keyboard without any unnecessary frills that’ll last you a pretty long time and delivers everything you’d want out of a competitive gaming keyboard. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less either.
Pros
- Hot-swappable PCB means changing switches is very easy
- Sturdy build quality
Cons
- Keycaps don’t feel very premium
- Non-standard bottom row means that switching out keycaps can be a hassle
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | GX Blue Clicky, GX Brown Tactile, GX Red Linear |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.5cm |
| Width | 36cm |
| Length | 15.5cm |
| Weight | 980g |
HyperX Alloy Origins
The HyperX Alloy line of keyboards has been popping up in our lists for years now, and that makes sense to us. They’re sturdy and reliable no-nonsense keyboards that focus on competitive gamers. The Alloy Origins line is one of the newest entries in that line of boards, and if you ask us (and our reviewer) they’re a hit once again. Contrary to some of the older Alloy boards, these Origins editions feature fully programmable RGB lighting (should you care about that) but more importantly: HyperX’s very own switches.
Many keyboard manufacturers come up with their own switches eventually, and the results really do vary in quality, but HyperX’s switches are really nice. Some people even like them more than their original Cherry MX counterparts (which is sort of the point when designing your own switches, but this isn’t something that all manufacturers immediately succeed in) and that is a major compliment. Couple that with a sturdy aluminum frame and a detachable cable on both the TKL version and the full size version and you’ve got a really enticing product.
If no-nonsense ruggedness is what you’re after, you’ve got to consider the Alloy Origins.
HyperX Alloy Origins
Used by 7 League of Legends players ()❝It doesn’t rock the world but it’s definitely one of the better ‘no BS’ gaming boards out there at this point in time.❞
Pros
- Sturdy and reliable
- HyperX switches feel good to use
Cons
- Keycaps are subpar
Specs
| Form Factor | Full Size |
|---|---|
| Switches | HyperX Blue, HyperX Aqua, HyperX Red |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.6cm |
| Width | 44.2cm |
| Length | 13.3cm |
| Weight | 1075g |
Razer Huntsman V2
If you often feel as if your keyboard is holding you back from pressing your casts at exactly the right time, then the Huntsman V2 could be an option for you.
It has a polling rate of up to 8000Hz, but more importantly it has Razer’s optical switches. These smooth linear switches greatly aid in making this keyboard feel as fast and responsive as it does, and if you top that off with a very decent typing experience (there’s sound dampening foam inside the case, and the keycaps are PBT) you’ve got a very premium-feeling gaming keyboard.
This is one to look out for if you want a combination of quick switches and modern technology in a keyboard that also pays attention to the overall typing and user experience.
The Huntsman V2 also comes in a TKL version, which is also a popular board in the professional LoL scene. The TKL version comes without media keys.
Razer Huntsman V2
Used by 10 League of Legends players ()The Razer Huntsman is one of the fastest gaming keyboards out there. The Razer Optical switches feel smooth and responsive, and those combined with a polling rate of up to 8000Hz make this one speedy board.
Pros
- Feels very fast and responsive for gaming
- Included wrist rest is comfy and feels high quality
- Sturdy build quality
- PBT keycaps
- Opto-mechanical switches are very smooth
Cons
- Stabilizers aren’t the best
Specs
| Form Factor | Full Size |
|---|---|
| Switches | Razer Linear Optical |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 4.5cm |
| Width | 44.6cm |
| Length | 14.2cm |
| Weight | 1238g |
Logitech G915 TKL
These days, wireless mice are as common in the pro gaming world as rainy days are in England, but wireless keyboards haven’t really found their way into the scene just yet. That probably has something to do with the fact that a cable on a mouse is far more bothersome than a cable on a keyboard since you’re constantly moving the mouse around at great speeds, but it’s still a bit strange to see.
This G915 TKL is the exception to the rule. This is a LIGHTSPEED (which basically means ‘no interruptions’ since Logitech’s wireless tech is flawless) wireless keyboard, complete with mechanical low profile switches and dedicated media keys. The aluminum top part along with the extra buttons and volume roller make it a bit more of a ‘premium’ option than other boards in this list, so if you’re after a combo of extra features that are mostly found on full sized boards and a smaller form factor this is an interesting product. With its battery life of ~40 hours you’re not going to find yourself out of juice in the middle of a marathon session either, so this is a really solid option for people who want to cut the cord.
Logitech G915 TKL Carbon
Used by 4 League of Legends players ()The G915 TKL is a great wireless gaming keyboard, and due to the underlying tech (Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED wireless technology ensures a lossless and hassle-free connection) it’s one of your only options on the market today if you’re a serious gamer with a desire to cut the cord. All of that comes at a price though, so if you don’t really care about the wireless aspect there are plenty of other options to look at from Logitech and other brands that’ll be a bit friendlier on your wallet.
Pros
- Flawless wireless connection
- Sturdy build quality
- Looks sleek and modern
- Included media keys and volume rocker
- Multi-device connectivity thanks to BT and USB connection options
Cons
- Expensive
- Keycaps aren’t the best
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | GL Clicky, GL Tactile, GL Linear |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 1.9cm |
| Width | 36.7cm |
| Length | 15.1cm |
| Weight | 814g |
Logitech G512
Logitech G’s tenkeyless keyboards usually get the most attention in the pro scene, but the brand’s gaming division also produce full-sized gaming keyboard, and if you’re looking to get yourself one of those on a budget then this G512 is an ideal candidate.
This straightforward gaming keyboard comes with no additional buttons or knobs, and it’s as basic as it gets. There is a USB passthrough port, and of course the RGB lighting betrays that it’s a gaming keyboard, but other than that, it would be difficult to notice that this is a gaming keyboard if you’re looking at it without knowing what it is. Under the hood you’ve got a choice between three different Logitech switches so everyone should find a switch type that they like here.
Logitech G512
Used by 4 League of Legends players ()The Logitech G512 is a good option if you want to get yourself a full size Logitech G keyboard and you’re on a bit of a budget.
Pros
- Decently priced
- Sturdy build quality
- USB passthrough
Cons
- Cheap ABS keycaps
Specs
| Form Factor | Full Size |
|---|---|
| Switches | GX Blue Clicky, GX Brown Tactile, GX Red Linear |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.6cm |
| Width | 44.5cm |
| Length | 13.3cm |
| Weight | 810g |
Corsair K65 Rapidfire
Corsair produces a wide variety of keyboards, and this K65 Rapidfire is one of their speed-focused boards. What you get here is the usual Corsair design, but with a slight twist. The K65 Rapidfire houses Cherry MX Speed switches, which actuate quite a bit faster than regular Cherry switches, making this board feel extremely quick and responsive.
If you want to get yourself a premium Corsair board with Cherry MX switches and an included wrist rest, the K65 Rapidfire might be right up your alley.
Corsair K65 Rapidfire
Used by 3 League of Legends players ()The Corsair K65 Rapidfire is the speed edition of the K65 Lux. This version comes with Cherry MX Speed switches, which actuate earlier than other Cherry MX switches, giving it a very fast and responsive feeling.
Pros
- Sturdy build quality
- Included wrist rest
- Fast Cherry MX Speed switches
Cons
- More expensive than the regular K65
- Subpar keycaps
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | Cherry MX Speed |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.8cm |
| Width | 35.6cm |
| Length | 16.5cm |
| Weight | 861g |
Best keyboard for League of Legends – Conclusion
If the League of Legends professionals are to be believed you’re going to probably want a mechanical TKL keyboard, but other than that there are plenty of options to choose from. Which one is best for you will definitely depend on your personal tastes, but hopefully you’ve learned a thing or two from this guide. If you’re interested in the topic you can always browse our other (keyboard) guides and if you have any questions please feel free to reach out in the comments of the relevant article or on social media.
