Hardware used by the StarCraft 2 pros

How much effect does hardware have on a player’s skill level? This debate has been open for a long time, so we decided to take a look at what some of the pro StarCraft 2 players are using. Luckily, their profiles have recently been updated on the Teamliquid Wiki, along with which gear they use.

Here is some of the most common hardware among pro players:

SteelSeries 6Gv2 and 7G keyboards

Being sponsored by SteelSeries totally has nothing to do with the fact that professionals such as IdrA, Machine, KawaiiRice and TT1 all use one of the above-mentioned gaming keyboards. Both make an appearance with pros such as Lyn and MadFrog.

Known for its mechanical keys that can stand up to a claimed 50 million key presses, its complete lack of a windows key and its old school PS/2 connector that “may just improve your overall gaming experience” according to SteelSeries.

SteelSeries 7G

Razer Deathadder

Used by players such as BoxeR, MMA, Select and Naniwa who just happen to be sponsored by Razer, the Deathadder seems to be a popular choice among those who could conceivably have any Razer mouse they wanted. Non-sponsored players who also use the Deathadder include MorroW, Hasuobs and CrunCher.

No longer the top dog in the Razer stable doesn’t seem to matter to most gamers. Known for its various versions including a left handed Deathadder edition, 120 inches-per-second scaling and 15G of acceleration, the Deathadder has nearly everything a pro gamer could want from a mouse. It doesn’t make coffee though.

Razer Deathadder

Logitech G9/G9x

The Logitech G9/G9x, used by a variety of players including MarineKing, Junwi, MVP, FruitDealer and Destiny, seems to be a popular choice despite the lack of sponsorship on the pro list.

Featuring interchangeable grips, a weight-tuning system, a twin scrolling system which provides two distinctive scrolling modes, and mouse feet made of Polytetrafluoroethylene, these mice seem to have an extensive list of features beyond the core features expected from a gaming mouse.

Logitech G9x

Razer Goliathus

This monster mousepad seems to be a very popular choice among pro gamers, with names such as TLO, Hasuobs, MorroW, Naama, Strelok and Ret making use of the pad.

Perhaps the main draw of the Razer Goliathus is the amount of choice one has when shopping for it. You get a speed edition for faster gliding, a control edition for increased accuracy, and three different sizes to choose from.

A rubber base ensures the pad doesn’t move around while gaming, and its soft construction means transporting it to and from LANs is a breeze.

Razer Goliathus

The unassuming Xai from SteelSeries is used by the majority of their sponsored players, including DeMusliM, KawaiiRice, TT1 and Sen, as well as unsponsored players MadFrog and Drewbie.

The Xai looks like a very basic, ambidextrous mouse. However it has been rated as one of the most comfortable gaming mice out there, and sports and impressive specification list that includes automatic lift distance control for low sensitivity gamers, personalised path correction settings to help FPS gamers keep their aiming and movement straight, and a built in LCD on the underside of the mouse.

SteelSeries Xai Laser

While the above-mentioned hardware used by the pros might not improve your game, it’s interesting to spot common hardware trends at the peak of competitive gaming.