Mouse and sensitivity

How fast your crosshair moves depends on two numbers:

• your mouse's DPI (how far the cursor moves per centimeter of hand movement), set in the mouse software;
• the in-game sensitivity.

Multiply them and you get eDPI (effective DPI): for example 800 DPI at 0.35 sensitivity is 280 eDPI. That is the number to use when comparing with other players, because 400 DPI at 0.7 and 800 DPI at 0.35 are the same thing.

Another useful figure is how many centimeters of movement it takes to turn a full circle: the more it takes, the lower your sensitivity.

There is no single right number, but there is a range where almost everyone who plays well ends up: most professionals use an eDPI between roughly 200 and 400. That is a medium-low sensitivity: you move your arm, not just your wrist.

Why low? Because in VALORANT most duels are won with small, precise corrections, not fast 180-degree flicks. A high sensitivity makes small movements hard to control.

A simple way to find your spot:

1. start from a value in the range (say 280 eDPI);
2. in the range, try turning 180 degrees with a comfortable arm motion: if you cannot without lifting the mouse, raise it a little;
3. try small corrections on targets near head height: if you often overshoot, lower it a little;
4. when both tests feel right, stop there.

Your arm learns distances: after a few weeks you know, without thinking, how far to move to reach the next angle. Every time you change sensitivity, that work starts over.

So the most common mistake is not having the "wrong" sensitivity, but changing it often: after a bad match, after seeing a pro's settings, just to try. If you really want to change it, do it by a small amount (5-10%) and keep it for at least two or three weeks before judging.

One more thing: your scoped (zoomed) sensitivity is a separate setting. The default works for most people.

You do not need an expensive mouse to play well. You need a mouse that is:

• comfortable for your hand and grip;
• light enough not to tire you over a long session;
• fitted with a reliable sensor (almost every gaming mouse has one today).

The mousepad matters more than people think: with a medium-low sensitivity you need space, so a large pad. If you keep lifting your mouse mid-movement, either the pad is too small or the sensitivity is too low for you.

Also check the polling rate in your mouse software: 1000 Hz is the standard for modern gaming mice.

Many players start with a high sensitivity because it feels comfortable: a small flick of the wrist turns you all the way round. If that sounds like you and you want to move to a lower sensitivity, do it in steps.

1. Lower it by 10-15% and play it for one or two weeks, even if it feels slow at first.
2. If after that your small movements are more precise and you do not feel "late" on side angles, take another step.
3. Stop when you reach the balance between precision and comfort described in this chapter.

Meanwhile, check two things that usually go together:

• desk space: a lower sensitivity needs a bigger pad and an arm free to move;
• crosshair placement: with a low sensitivity fast turns get harder, so having your crosshair already in the right place matters even more.

For the first few days you may play worse: that is normal, your arm is learning new distances. Judge it after a few weeks, not after one evening.

How you hold the mouse changes how you move it. There are three common grips: whole hand resting on it, palm raised with arched fingers, or fingertips only. None is "the right one": what matters is that it is comfortable and lets you make small, precise movements.

With a medium-low sensitivity the useful rule is: your arm makes the big movements, your wrist and fingers the small ones. If your wrist does all the work, precision drops and fatigue builds up. Rest your forearm on the desk so it can slide, and leave free space on the pad in the direction you turn most often.

Some typical signs, with the most likely fix:

Watch out for the second one: players who are "late" often do not have a sensitivity problem but a crosshair placement one. If your crosshair is already where the enemy will appear, you do not need to turn fast.