MMO Gaming Mouse Showdown

ASUS ROG CHAKRAM CORE

The ASUS ROG Chakram Core is one of the most advanced gaming mice ASUS has ever created. Built to an extremely high standard, and brimming with unique high-end features, it’s a potent design for just about any genre of gaming. While it’s not dedicated in its setup towards MMO gaming, its modular nature certainly adds to its appeal and makes it one of the more unique mice you can buy today.

It’s no slouch though, offering up a powerful sensor that can deliver 16,000 DPI, with 40g acceleration and 400 IPS tracking! However, on the side of the mouse, there’s a 256-level analogue stick, which can be swapped into a d-pad for additional macros, there is a weight tuning system, swappable switches and a granular on-the-fly DPI adjustment feature that allows you to set it using the scroll wheel… and plenty more features beyond that too.

Features

• High-performance gaming mouse with 16,000 dpi optical sensor, 40 g acceleration, 400 IPS, 1000 Hz polling rate and adjustable lift-off distance
• Programmable, detachable joystick with 256-level Analog or 4-way directional Digital mode for superior in-game control
• Screw-less design with magnetic buttons and cover provides easy access to ROG-exclusive push-fit switch sockets and adjustable weight
• Pivoted button mechanism offers responsive mouse clicks with a tactile feel
• Simply add or remove the adjustable 13.6 g weight for an overall weight of just 97 g or 111 g
• DPI On-The-Scroll fine-tunes sensitivity levels without software, and a dedicated button switches between four preset levels instantly
• Map the Stealth button to hide all apps and mute audio for instant privacy, or the Screenshot button to capture your moment of glory
• Armoury Crate enables intuitive adjustment of the joystick, buttons, mouse settings, and synchronized lighting

ROG Chakram Core is a stunning-looking gaming mouse, it’s sleek and stylish, without being overly outlandish with its design. If anything, I think it’s a bit stealthy looking and the muted black surface finish is nice, but not visually distracting either.

The mouse is pretty light for something of this size too, coming in at 97 grams, but you can take this up to 111 grams with the built-in weight tuning system if you so desire. I prefer it at its lightest myself, and it feels well balanced and nimble, even when stacked against more lightweight models.

The built-in joystick is just all kinds of fun! It certainly gives the ROG Chakram Core some unique uses but can take some getting used to. Set to the analogue mode you can use it as camera control, flight controls, or just as any other analogue control. Personally, I find it’s great to use it in digital mode for additional macros. Being able to flick it in a direction for a quick command makes MMO combat quite interesting. I can deploy abilities very quickly. Of course, using multiple profiles, I can cycle through and deploy a range of chat commands and emotes with it too. I actually set up different modes to cycle on each direction, much like you could on the D-Pad while playing Little Big Planet.

Plus, I like that ergonomically it’s much like a normal mouse, the stick doesn’t change that classic configuration as it does with most many-button gaming mice, so it’s easier to adapt to when you need it or ignore when you do not.

It’s a powerful mouse though, and with its 16,000 DPI optical sensor, fast and accurate tracking just isn’t an issue. Using the usual DPI button, you can cycle through four pre-set profiles that you can customise, giving you quick access to your DPI levels. However, you can use a shift mode, and then turn the scroll wheel, allowing for granular on-the-fly DPI adjustment. This is awesome, as sometimes you’re in a game and just can’t get the right speed for whatever weapon or task, with this, you can quickly and easily fix that.

It’s a screw-less modular design too. I’ve seen mice you can open up before, that’s nothing new. However, this thing is like nothing else inside. It’s super clean, you can’t see the wires, PCB or any of that junk. The back comes off, where you find the weight tuning system and a customisable puck for the RGB.

The individually mounted LMB and RMB come with other own balanced mounts, and beneath them, they have hot-swap switches. Just pull it out, pop in the switch of your choosing, and get back to gaming. Sure, you can replace a broken or worn-out switch, but I suggest buying a multipack of switches and trying out a few types to find what suits you best… just because you can!

The mechanism for the mouse buttons uses springs and metal hinges to provide balance and reduce the distance between the buttons and switches, not that other brands don’t have similar solutions, but the end result is a very responsive and fast returning click that makes it feels very satisfying to use.