Best Keyboard For CS2 – 2023 Guide!
| Quick Keyboard List |
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| 1. Ducky One 2 Mini 2. SteelSeries Apex Pro 3. Razer Huntsman TKL 4. Logitech G Pro X Shroud 5. FIODIO Mechanical 6. Corsair K55 Gaming |
Counter-Strike 2 can be one of the most difficult games to play at a professional level. Having things like a strong PC, a good mouse pad, and a keyboard along with a low ms monitor are some of the keys to maximizing your gaming potential.
Every bit of movement and every small nudge could be the difference between you winning and losing the game. Unlike games that are on consoles, keyboards weren’t made for the only purpose of playing games. This means to be good at CS2 in the long term, you need a keyboard that is going to play to your strengths as a Counter-Strike player.
1. Ducky One 2 Mini
The Ducky One 2 mini is an expensive option and shouldn’t be used by beginners, but is probably the best option on the market if you care a lot about CS2. Having less space is taken up on the desk is a welcoming addition for most people who play the game with a mini keyboard. Unlike the Apple keyboard and similar models, you won’t sacrifice the feel of the keyboard just to have a light keyboard. You have a product with the benefit of not taking much space, while not moving around and being too light.
There is no right side of keys, num locks, enter, or other functions that have no relevance to you as a player. The keyboard is color-coded so that you associate certain areas with certain functions that you use as a player.
For example, the Shift and Ctrl keys used for walking and crouching in Counter-Strike are colored with red, so that you think the functions being in that area. Some gaming keyboard makers put random colors across the keyboard with no rhyme or reason, but this had a lot of thought into how it would serve the player.
Despite being a small keyboard, and a mini version of their normal keyboards, there hasn’t been any sacrifice when it comes to durability. The difference between someone who plays CS2 and someone who’s a writer or editor is that there usually isn’t adrenaline in those jobs. When a match is close and you could be the deciding factor, you may get nervous and hit the keys harder than you realized you had. With certain keyboards that are going to destroy them over time. The difference, the Ducky One 2 mini can take that kind of force.
This is an expensive keyboard that beginners shouldn’t use until they know they like CS2. Though they should look at the price tag of it and realize it would be worth it as they grow to love the game even more. Unlike the rest of the keyboards on this list, it comes with keycaps that you can put on the keys you think are the most important. There are 10 of these which are more than you may need for CS2, but there are other colors too. The option is there and it’s nice for the players who want to take advantage of it.
2. SteelSeries Apex Pro
The SteelSeries is one of the top options that you can pick from when you want a gaming keyboard that is relaxing but has all of the functions that you want to use. The palm rest on the bottom is a welcome addition for many people.
When playing for long sessions the rubbing that goes on your palm can cause some irritation and even some medical problems when pushed to the extreme, that is why they added the palm rest on this keyboard. This palm rest is said to ensure that your hands are comfortable while providing all the functions from the keyboard you need to play your very best.
The keyboard is made out of aluminum which helps to serve two functions. The first is durability, depending on often you use the keyboard your hands may start to damage the keyboard over time however with aluminum this is not much of an issue. This means that this keyboard might potentially last you a lifetime if you manage to not short-circuit it by spilling a drink on it as I have done many times.
The second is being how light it weighs. Some people may want a heavier keyboard so that it stays on the desk more consistently, but you also have to push the keys harder to do what you need to.
The customization when it comes to the LED colors is one of the most impressive things about the keyboard. SteelSeries gives players the option of over 16.8 million colors to choose from. That is far more than they will ever need or look at but the option is there. To give you some context, most keyboards don’t have that many colors to choose from for games before the era of LED lights. It also means you get to be special because your very own personal setup of key colors is likely going to be different from anyone else that owns that keyboard.
When it comes to time to play CS2, this happens to be a great option as well. The numbers happen to be on the right side of the keyboard, which may or may not bother depending on what you are looking for out of the product, but there are a lot of things to appreciate. In the top right section of the keyboard, there is a settings tab that you can open once you install the drivers for the keyboard. Though the vertical length of the keyboard will be longer due to the wrist rest, the horizontal section will be shorter or about the same length as the average keyboard.
3. Razer Huntsman TKL
Razer has a great history of making some of the best gaming gear out there that you can buy. This keyboard has one of the most popular looks and for very good reason. It has a beautiful black finish that will shine whether there is light or it is dark. It’s something that isn’t completely different from what other people are offering, but at the same time has characters that will separate it from the pack. It feels like it combines some aspects of a typical dell keyboard and added in the parts that make up a gaming keyboard.
Razer also decided to take out the number keys on the right side of the keyboard. At a first glance, you may think that taking these away could be bad. This is true depending on the context, but for someone who wants to be good at CS2, the numbers on the right side don’t do anything at all.
You may think that using numbers on the right side would have a function to switch weapons, but they don’t do anything at all. For most people who are taking the game seriously, having those keys there is only going to hurt them, and not having them lets the keyboard be smaller.
The success of Razer’s products sometimes relies on their software you can use on PC. It’s not a perfect app by any means, but it does allow you to customize certain colors for certain games. For someone who may want to feel special while they play CS2, this will probably be a welcome edition. The application doesn’t run the best, but the option to do this with games that you care about may make you more invested in playing Counter-Strike.
When it comes down to how the keyboard is used at a professional level, this keyboard can stand with some of the best. Arteezy who plays Dota 2, an RTS uses the keyboard in professional matches at the highest level. For full disclosure, he is sponsored by Evil Geniuses who does deals with Razer and has promoted him. It doesn’t take away a lot of the key design features that make this keyboard different from other options you have looked at on the market. The transitions you also get to look at in between is also a beautiful sight to behold.
4. Logitech G Pro X Shroud Keyboard
Shroud was seen as one of the most respected gamers in the world by being one of the best aimers in CS2. He’s probably the closest a gamer could get to an aimbot without actually using one. Recently, Shroud has partnered with Logitech to collaborate on a gaming hardware project. Logitech is selling its line of keyboards, headsets, and mouses to the public branded with Shroud’s name. These products are very consistent in terms of their aesthetic and quality, but the keyboard seems to be the most interesting part of the collection.
Aesthetically speaking, it’s very on-brand for what his audience might be expecting. Shroud used to be a part of Cloud9 which has a very blue theme and people may associate him with that color. Shroud’s logo is also blue which is why the keyboard has blue themes with a black tone.
All of the lights used on the product are blue, which is seen as something unique to this keyboard. Not many keyboards on the market do a similar theme besides his branded one. There is also his branding as well as the Logitech branding on the keyboard.
In terms of functionality, it may be one of the better options long-term for getting good at CS2. Most keyboards have numbers, Num Lock functions, and Enter functions on the right side of the keyboard. For someone using this for work, or another function, using this isn’t good. However, for someone who just wants to play CS2 this is a great thing. This means your hands have a lot more space to move around so that you hit your shots more consistently. It also means the other parts of the keyboard are tighter together, which means the space on your desk for the keyboard will be less of a hassle.
This is a very expensive option but good if you plan on playing games for the long run, or have a career playing games. You have the option of brightening or darkening the screen based on what you may want to see in the current moment. The caps and num lock lights up in the upper-middle part of the keyboard which is a different, but effective way to tell you they are still active.
The designers found the best possible way to make the keyboard smaller without taking away essential functions. The keyboard is really easy to take with you when you want to take it to a LAN tournament or a friend’s house.
5. FIODIO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
This keyboard is one of the smaller options that you will have at your disposal. If you don’t have the biggest desk at the moment, having a smaller keyboard can make a difference when you’re just queuing by yourself. Doing this means that there’s more space for your mouse and mouse pad.
The aim is what often separates the best players from the above-average players, even if it’s only by a little. If you typically have a mouse on high sensitivity, this isn’t going to matter as much. If you don’t have the mouse on a higher sensitivity, then you’re going to need more space to get to the same place.
The FIODIO gaming keyboard is also color-coded in a very unique way. The WASD keys that are used for moving in most first-person shooters use the color purple so you can distinguish them easily from the other letters on the keyboard. The numbers are colored in red, which are the keys that you use to cycle in-between your primary and secondary weapons, knives, explosives, and bombs on the T side. Of course, this keyboard wasn’t made to only play CS2 so it works well for the kinds of games similar to that of Counter-Strike.
The keyboard has a cheap price tag, but the durability will last you a very long time. We don’t know how long you use your PC, but it’s no exaggeration that this keyboard will probably last you longer than your actual PC. The FIODIO gaming keyboard has been tested with other 10,000,000 keystrokes to show how durable it is. Even playing CS2 for 5-8 hours a day will require years before you have to worry about the keyboard breaking on you. All of this while being a keyboard with different coloring options that are backlit.
The font that’s used on the keys is very nice-looking for gamers and will set it apart from the set-ups that other people use. This is a solid option whether you’re a beginner or a veteran.
As mentioned before this keyboard has a cheap price tag and is a perfect option for just getting into the game with better a keyboard than the average player. Some people haven’t put that much time into the game but may want to try out a keyboard that could help them become a better player. This option helps them do that without necessarily breaking the bank.
6. Corsair K55 Gaming Keyboard
Corsair is seen as one of the cheaper options that you can go with if you’re on a budget. It lights up and the design is very ergonomic. If you’re someone who’s a streamer and wants your keyboard to light up, this keyboard gives you that option. This keyboard also uses the standard layout of the alphabet. This could be a problem if you live in European countries like France and Germany where the layout of letters is generally going to be different.
The design of the keyboard also has a lot of thought put into it, not just from the aesthetics, but also when you think about the practicality of it all. There is a rest for the palm of your hands so it doesn’t get tired during long sessions of playing CS2.
Mentally speaking, CS2 can be one of the exhausting games to play because you are required to play at such a high level for as many as 30 rounds. The rest helps to make the experience a bit easier and give that part of the palm some rest. It may not fix all of the physical problems you may have with your hands but it will certainly help.
Corsair is seen as one of the cheaper options that you can go with if you’re on a budget. It lights up and the design is very ergonomic. If you’re someone who’s a streamer and wants your keyboard to light up, this keyboard gives you that option. This keyboard also uses the standard layout of the alphabet. This could be a problem if you live in European countries like France and Germany where the layout of letters is generally going to be different.
The design of the keyboard also has a lot of thought put into it, not just from the aesthetics, but also when you think about the practicality of it all. There is a rest for the palm of your hands so it doesn’t get tired during long sessions of playing CS2. Mentally speaking, CS2 can be one of the exhausting games to play because you are required to play at such a high level for as many as 30 rounds. The rest helps to make the experience a bit easier and give that part of the palm some rest. It may not fix all of the physical problems you may have with your hands but it will certainly help.
Another key feature for you to look at in the top-right section of the keyboard is the option for volume. These options include:
- Increasing Volume
- Decreasing Volume
- Muting All Sound
Each of these individually can be very helpful depending on the context of what and why you are using them. For example, the option to raise volume could be very helpful when you know a player is close to you and need to hear their footsteps. Unless you are very focused on the game, you can’t hear the footsteps, unless the volume is moderately high.
Some may not like that they put those key features of the keyboard in the top-right. However, they must also understand that a player who is at the beginner level may accidentally switch their weapon because those functions are very close to each other. Obviously, at a high level, you can’t always look down at the keyboard to make sure that you are pressing the right key. Putting those volume functions in the top right helps to make the process a little bit more consistent. This is a great keyboard to start with and is priced cheaper than other keyboards listed specifically for CS2 players.
Conclusion
These are the six best keyboards that you want to be looking at and compare them to which stage of your CS2 career you are at. Once you have found your perfect keyboard, make sure to check out the Best Mouse for CS2 so you can match your keyboard skills with the perfect mouse.