looking for a mechanical keyboard for starcraft 2

[parninon]

First of all, hi to everyone, I'm new here, this website looks awesome.

So I was thinking about buying my first mechanical keyboard. I read your guide about it but I couldn't find what would be the best keyboard to play starcraft 2. Part of this   problem comes from the fact that I have no stores around selling any mechanical keyboards and so I can't test the one that I will buy.

So I'm asking for some help from you. Which Cherry MX is the most optimised for sc2 and  from which brand should I buy it? I've seen that a lot of people like filco keyboards. Are they really that better?

Price isn't a problem, I have saved for it. The only point that really matters, it must be available in Europe.

Thank you for reading.

[Chobopants]

Yeah this thread will sadly devolve quickly, there are TONS of threads here with everyone fighting over switches and stuff for games. Feel free to peruse them.

(I use a Filco Brown for SC2/gaming)

[pitashen]

Anything with brown or blue switches are good for sc2. Even black if you got strong fingers. I personally would go for brown. But you should be able to like either blue or brown (as long as you don't mind the loud click coming from the blues)

I don't think there is such thing as most optimized. As long as your fingers can get used to it and perform the command u intend to carry out in an effective manner, then it is optimized with respect to YOU. Do consider the fact that even some SC2 korean progamers still use rubber dome keyboards.

Brand: Filco Majestouch or Cherry should be your safest bet in terms of build quality and availability in Europe.

[~Blood~]

the cherry blue click is NOT loud. the bottoming out is loud. and PING!

either switch is fine really. If you do alot of double tap, cherry blue might not be so good, because you have to release the key fully and then press again for double tapping.

[RiGS]

Yeah this thread will sadly devolve quickly, there are TONS of threads here with everyone fighting over switches and stuff for games. Feel free to peruse them.

(I use a Filco Brown for SC2/gaming)

Lol, you change your switch preference every week.

[Vocroth]

any switch is fine, really, i would go for brown tho, since it has tactile feed back

[pitashen]

the cherry blue click is NOT loud. the bottoming out is loud. and PING!

either switch is fine really. If you do alot of double tap, cherry blue might not be so good, because you have to release the key fully and then press again for double tapping.

It is loud. Adding up the bottom out then it gets even louder. LOL. I don't mind the clicking personally, but some might find it annoying. Its a matter of personal opinion.

The double tapping altho true, it should not be a big deal or a deal breaker. I watch high level player stream quite often and I know at least couple of them use blackwidow (blue switches) and they are in GM league.

Again, brown is a very safe choice if you are a first time mech board buyer. You can't really go wrong with it.

[kwantz]

I am using cherry browns, actually just got her yesterday. I was so use to typing on mylaptop keyboard for the longest time. So getting use to using an actual real keyboard I think it will take me a week or so.  I have nothing really to compare to since this is my first mechanical keyboard. But its a hell of a lot better using this keyboard vs the laptop keyboard while playing sc2.

[dreamingftw]

I would go for browns to play. I've been using them for months and they work just fine. I've recently tried reds and do like playing on them but I think its a preference thing. If I were you, I go with the browns.

[noodles256]

cherry blues ftw

[parninon]

Thank you for your answers, it helped me

[peda]

to bring even more to the mix, i really like the reds for SC2.

but as many times said before, it is mostly personal preference.

[Chobopants]

Lol, you change your switch preference every week.

Brown has been my go to switch that I recommend since Day 1. I've enjoyed Topres for Starcraft but prefer Browns.

I never liked Blacks (at all) or Blues for gaming and I do use my Reds once in a while but think Browns edge it out.

[hcry4]

I never liked Blacks (at all)...

Yea...I prefer Topre...

[Chobopants]

Yea...I prefer Topre...

Yeah they're a close second to me for SC2. Great "switch" overall and really high quality. The ease of actuating a Brown at high APM edges it out for me. All preference, though. I have yet to use a switch that I think would be truly BAD for SC2.

[noodles256]

grahamer

[~Blood~]

For me the brown switch would be so light that I'd press keys accidentally

[Chobopants]

I think the answers were better at OCN.  Geekhack is Topre this, Topre that.  $350 keyboards FTW!

Meanwhile in the other thread Geekhackers are still complaining about the OP's grammar.

Yeah I would never recommend someone specifically purchase a Topre if they're remotely price sensitive. As much as I like mine the price is absurd and literally costs as much as a low end laptop.

I usually link people a Leopold or Blackwidow for entry level mechnical and if they don't mind spending a tad more a Filco.

[Chobopants]

I think the answers were better at OCN.  Geekhack is Topre this, Topre that.  $350 keyboards FTW!

Meanwhile in the other thread Geekhackers are still complaining about the OP's grammar.

Yeah I would never recommend someone specifically purchase a Topre if they're remotely price sensitive. As much as I like mine the price is absurd and literally costs as much as a low end laptop.

I usually link people a Leopold or Blackwidow for entry level mechnical and if they don't mind spending a tad more, a Filco.

[noodles256]

i like cherry switches because you can customized them more. sc2 keys ftw

[Chobopants]

You don't have to tell me twice.

[PlayerZero]

Brown has been my go to switch that I recommend since Day 1. I've enjoyed Topres for Starcraft but prefer Browns.

I never liked Blacks (at all) or Blues for gaming and I do use my Reds once in a while but think Browns edge it out.

Or maybe since Day 9?

[nala]

Many people will recommend you a lot of different keyboards. Almost all of them are good choices. Except one. The BlackWidow. It's a *****.

[noodles256]

Many people will give you a lot of different keyboards. Almost all of them are good choices. Except one. The BlackWidow. It's a *****.

i wont give him any keyboards and my bwu is fine

[nala]

i wont give him any keyboards and my bwu is fine

You are one lucky man, sir.

[slueth]

A topre cus MC uses one.

[pitashen]

A topre cus MC uses one.

MC was recently spotted using DT-35. The verdict is, getting a $350 bucks keyboard doesn't make u a pro.

[Evil_Spork]

I like my reds for SC2, but I bottom out. There isn't really a BAD choice with the blue/red/brown switches. It's more about the board choice.

[slueth]

I was just gonna recommend the sammsung DT-35 if you wanna look pro, but of course that is not mechanical. Topre is just a dome with springs .

[Bry]

After trying blues, I much prefer browns. I'm eager to try topres though, and as soon as I find a nice deal on a full sized RF I'll pull the trigger. Until then I can only recommend brown switches for SC2, because that's what I use even though I'm ****ty platinum league

[F u r u y á]

Platinum here too, Brown switch. (maybe now he's afraid to buy Brown, lol)

And yeah, I think you will like Blue, Brown, Red much better than your current rubber dome. I put Black aside because maybe you'll find it too stiff.

[zrrbite]

Go blue! I found blues to be more more supportive of high apm than browns in SC2. You'd probably be fine with either switch.

[Chobopants]

I play around 130 SC2 apm with spikes into the 200s during battles. I find browns are very supportive of this. As usual, preference reigns supreme!

[RiGS]

The switch has nothing to do with your apm...

[peda]

The switch has nothing to do with your apm...

some gaming company-advertisement responsible would tell you otherwise

[Clickey]

I recommend cherry blues, I think red/brown is better for sc2 (because you can spam faster), but blues are much funner to type on, so you will enjoy it more outside of sc2.

[PlayerZero]

some gaming company-advertisement responsible would tell you otherwise

That's what advertising is for.  But, many pros use DT-35s or other rubber domes and they have plenty high apm

[Clickey]

They use rubber domes because thats what they are comfortable with, which is why preference is everything. Rubber domes are pretty inferior in terms of quality, and KRO though. So its prob best to recommend something better to someone who is willing to try something new.

[zrrbite]

The switch has nothing to do with your apm...

That's not precisely what was implied. I'd say both yes and no. Comparing blues and browns, i find that high overall APM equals more physical actuation force. Due to this, the greater resistance of the blues give better feedback than the browns, giving the execution of my actions a better flow. That's purely subjective ofcourse.

So no, the switch itself won't magically raise your APM, but as we type faster on some switches, because of the way they give us feedback, the same holds true for games ...for some.

[Chobopants]

The switch has nothing to do with your apm...

Absolutely untrue. With my APM I found Blacks painful and frustrating to use. I need a very light switch with a little tactility to not get fatigued but have a good "key feel" while playing. This is why I like both Browns and Topres for SC2.

[RiGS]

That's interesting because I find my topre 55g more painful than my cherry blacks. Also there are a lot of pro gamers with APM 200+ out there with cherry blacks, lol even female players.

[Chobopants]

Dont know what to tell you but I found Blacks obnoxious and annoying to use. After a couple days of light use (couldn't stand them for more than an hour or two at a time) I immediately sold it to my coworker who is an FPS player.

[tribbe]

I'm following the SC2-scene since a year and still most (esp. korean) pro gamers use rubber dome keyboards like the DT-35: (Pro gear: wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/Pro_gear    - sry for that plain link: noob-restriction) <- black switches are most common in this table.

I bought some boards over time: Got the TT Esports Meka G1 (black), Zowie Celeritas (brown) and the DAS Professinal (blue) - all boards are rock solid, though. Although the black switch might slightly be a bit harder to press than blues/browns your fingers & muscles will adapt very fast. In about 2 weeks it's not causing fatigue at all any more.

It feels like the fingers are able to sustain even longer. I might imagine, that these capabilities are even preventing your fingers, sinews and muscles from hurt through long gaming sessions over time - let alone ... Carpal tunnel syndrome etc.

Your Body adjusts.

[Chobopants]

I just found them not fun to use. I might have the strongest tendons of anyone on this forum (5.12/v6 rock climber) and found Blacks just plain not enjoyable.

Props to people who like them but I'd have trouble recommending them to anyone. Browns in a heartbeat.

[tribbe]

Respect for your rock climbing skills!

I wouldn't say that the blacks are the best choice at all events. All switch types I used are very good in my opinion if compared to any other rubber dome keyboard. The blacks don't prevent ppl. from performing their best - that's what the gear-list suggests:

If people can't get good at Starcraft 2 or other games with a rubber dome keyboard, then they probably won't do it with a mechanical keyboard either. Especially APM won't get a serious increase just by using a mech one. Do everything you have to do in game without spamming too hard and practice a lot - the only way to an effective-intelligent APM increase.

[Chobopants]

Respect for your rock climbing skills!

I wouldn't say that the blacks are the best choice at all events. All switch types I used are very good in my opinion if compared to any other rubber dome keyboard. The blacks don't prevent ppl. from performing their best - that's what the gear-list suggests:

If people can't get good at Starcraft 2 or other games with a rubber dome keyboard, then they probably won't do it with a mechanical keyboard either. Especially APM won't get a serious increase just by using a mech one. Do everything you have to do in game without spamming too hard and practice a lot - the only way to an effective-intelligent APM increase.

Thanks! And this is absolutely true. What board you use absolutely doesn't matter as long as you're comfortable with it. I have a coworker that plays SC2 on his HHKB and another that plays Quake Live with a trackball. They're not the best out there but they hold their own and respect to them for sticking with what they like.

I really don't care what switch people prefer. Everyone can go play WoW on their G15s for all I care as long as I can have my mechanicals.

My best suggestion to the OP is contact someone for a switch try board and see which one tickles his fancy.