Razer Basilisk Review

As esports continue to rise, pro gamers and hobbyists alike have been upgrading their tech to improve their win rate. There’s quite a few gaming mice to choose from, but honestly, if you’re going to get a gaming mouse, you want that sexy bright pink shade in Chroma lighting.

The Razer Basilisk can get you your color, but the customization options of this mouse are pretty limitless, with 8 programmable buttons, including a thumb button that gives so much more control than other mice. At $55, this mouse is somewhere in the middle cost-wise. Regardless, specs, performance, and design will also be discussed. Ultimately, this is the guide to read if you want to know whether or not the Basilisk is worth the cash.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Razer Basilisk Gaming Performance

Without a doubt, this mouse is intended for use in first-person shooters, and is known for its quality in the FPS realm. Its proven in its specs, but also in its performance. The Basilisk’s 16,000 DPI gives you incredible smoothness and control when aiming and zooming in to catch your target in the crosshairs. It’s sensitive to the point where this mouse feels intuitive (I’m all in for psychic gaming mice, actually).

The mouse also touches on a lot of pain points from FPS mice. It’s comfortable, ergonomic, and has the standard quality lag of 8 milliseconds. Plus, when I started using that clutch thumb button for sniping, I fell in love. Let me be very clear: I love gaming, but I’m not good. At all. Yet, even with difficult angles, I can snipe NPC zombies and fellow players alike.

So, what’s wrong with it? Yeah, I asked myself that too. Honestly, all the flaws I find with this mouse are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Some competitor mice at higher price points have 4 milliseconds less lag time, but the difference is so minimal that it’s barely even worth mentioning.

Further, the thumb pad is more of a gummy material than a click-type material, which is a little difficult to get used to at first. However, the learning curve really isn’t that steep. Plus, the benefit to adjusting to the feel of the mouse is well worth the initial minor discomfort. Ultimately, as a gaming mouse, especially for you FPS players out there, the Basilisk is a great option to add to your setup.

Razer Basilisk Design

Maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with aesthetics, but the only thing better than this mouse’s performance is its beautiful and practical design. First off, I love the programmable buttons and the way the mouse fits in my hand. That side thumb button for sniping is brilliant, and it executes the idea perfectly.

Further, you can customize the macro functions of the mouse, but you can also customize how it looks, through three color choices (matte black, mercury white, and quartz pink). According to Razer, the synapse program for the Chroma lighting gives 16.8 million potential colors on top of the base color choice for your mouse.

Ignoring color completely, the sleekness of this mouse is really sharp. It’s easily one of the best-looking mice out there, for gaming or otherwise.

As you may have already noticed by looking at the specs, this mouse is a little lighter and a little smaller than standard sizing. It’s definitely a product that works best in the hands of, well, someone with smaller hands. If you have larger hands, it might be a good idea to feel this mouse’s grip in person before making a decision.

This is genuinely a double-threat of a mouse, at the very least. With its impeccable design and straightforward, quality performance, the Basilisk has it all. Like George Clooney (I like George Clooney). If the design is important to you in a mouse, especially with aesthetics as an included factor, I would recommend taking a look at this one.

Razer Basilisk Pricing and Alternatives

As previously mentioned, I feel this is a fairly middle-of-the-road priced mouse. It’s a great investment, especially with the warranty, but it’s also an excellent value compared to competitors at a higher price point.

However, for whatever reason, maybe the Basilisk isn’t the best choice for you. Luckily, with all of the options for FPS gaming mice, there are plenty of choices to consider if, for example, you have sasquatch hands (not speaking from personal experience, of course).

In all seriousness, this mouse may be too small for a lot of players. If you’re looking for a similar mouse with a heavier and wider feel, I recommend taking a look at the Logitech G502 (check out out Logitech G502 Hero review for more info). It’s a touch bigger, but you can definitely feel the difference. It performs nearly as well as the Basilisk to boot, and is currently $43.

If you’re looking for a more premium option, the SteelSeries Rival 650 is a good bet for a great mouse. The design isn’t as edgy and sexy as the Basilisk, but it still looks pretty sharp in my opinion, and more importantly, it performs better (hence the $118 price tag). If you want a budget option for your next FPS mouse purchase, the  Redragon M711-FPS has a lot of great features and customization options, but costs just under $30.

And if you’re looking for something more suitable for bigger hands, Corsair Glaive is a great option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a gaming mouse be used as a normal mouse?

Most gamers with gaming-optimized mice have no problem using their mouse for everyday web surfing, so essentially, yes. While some mice may be too sensitive, it’s unlikely that you won’t be able to perform simple functions with it because of its high quality.

Further, gaming mice are designed for ergonomics and comfort, so a gaming mouse is a great option for computer-users who may not even game at all. As both a gamer and a writer, my hands can get pretty beat up, so having a well-designed gaming mouse is incredibly valuable to my gaming and my work.

If you have CTS or similar wrist issues, make sure to focus on getting a great ergonomic mouse, as opposed to what’s popular among gamers.

What mouse do most pro gamers use?

A popular favorite from the maker of the Basilisk, Razer, is the Razer DeathAdder Elite. It’s more affordable than the Basilisk because it has a basic design and less natural button placement, but for many professional gamers, the DeathAdder does the trick– and does it well.

In general, the DeathAdder competes with the Logitech G502 for the “top mouse” spot for pros. Ultimately, you’ll find the right mouse by prioritizing your specific needs, based on the video games and/or esports you play, your hand size, and plenty of other important deciding factors.

Which mouse is better for gaming: wired or wireless?

While opinions obviously differ, it’s widely accepted that wired mice are better for gaming purposes, because of optimized speed and design. Wireless mice may be an option for you as well, but it really depends on your needs.

Further, your wired mouse will have many more options for customization and programming. The wireless may end up chugging battery juice to boot, which isn’t saving you any money, and your mouse dying mid-game definitely isn’t going to help you win that round of Fortnite or CS:GO.

If your goal is to win games, I recommend choosing a wired mouse. However, for more info on competitive wireless mice, check out our article on the best wireless gaming mice.

Are cheap gaming mice good?

Honestly, it depends on your definition of good. A mouse may be more affordable not because of quality, but because of age, in which case a cheap mouse is a great option for a gamer on a budget. Generally, you don’t need to worry about the tiny shifts in quality that raise prices unless you’re shooting to be a full time professional gamer.

A cheap mouse is fine to start with, and may be a better option if you’re not totally invested in competitive gaming yet. Something more affordable will help you explore your ability and dedication before you put a ton of money in. For more on the best cheap mice for gaming, check out our reviews of the best budget gaming mice.

What is DPI on a mouse?

DPI, which stands for “dots per inch,” is a basic indicator of how sensitive your mouse will be to clicks and movement. Many mice with high DPI are also highly sensitive, though for the Basilisk among others, you can adjust your mouse’s sensitivity.

Maybe you want the smallest nudge of your mouse to move your cursor a long way in a short time– and often, with distant targets in an FPS, you will– so you would be wise to invest in a mouse with high DPI to give you the best gaming experience and chance of success.

Is higher DPI better for FPS games?

Generally, yes. It may not if you have particularly jerky hand movements, or shaky hands, but if you have a calm, steady grip on your mouse, a mouse with higher DPI will help you snipe like a pro. Also, many mice, including the Razer Basilisk, have the ability to edit sensitivity settings, so you can maintain the smoothness of high DPI while minimizing the likelihood of your cursor getting lost in the ether.

As technology evolves, gaming tech companies are working to produce mice with even higher DPI. If you want to learn more, check out our article on the best DPI for gaming.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, this mouse performs as well as it looks, and it’s a pretty snazzy mouse. The Razer Basilisk has a great amount of features for customizing your gaming performance as well as your gaming experience. There are 3 colors to choose from, and 16 million more to program with Synapse. In particular, this mouse is great for FPS games, with the intuitive sensitivity to help you win matches. Plus, you’ll look cool doing it.

Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s nearly impossible to fault the Basilisk in terms of performance, which is why I’m not going to. This is one of the best mice out there for FPS. (5/5)

Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You’ve read me rant enough about the design of this mouse, I’m sure. However, the one fault that sticks out to me is the size; this is not a one-size-fits-all mouse. (4/5)

Price: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This mouse is priced fairly and competitively. However, the price may lean more heavily on its cool features as evidenced by comparison to the DeathAdder. (4/5)

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Both on and off paper, this mouse is a real gem, and I would highly recommend it to FPS fans looking for an upgrade. However, this mouse works best for someone with small hands, which limits the audience.