Razer’s new Basilisk mouse swaps side button for a clutch paddle

Macro and precision aim buttons aren’t new to mice, usually offering the best in customisability and accuracy. Razer’s new Basilisk mouse pushes this boundary one further, adding a DPI clutch to its left-hand side, built with first-person shooter enthusiasts in mind.

The Razer Basilisk follows the Lancehead Tournament Edition by using the same 5G optical sensor with true 16,000 DPI, one which the company itself touts as “The world's most advanced optical gaming sensor.” Of course, the mouse focuses heavily on using Razer Synapse to make use of its Chroma lighting, 8 mechanical mouse switches that can each be set as a macro and DPI sensitivity.

Continuing its push on the customisability of its peripherals, the Basilisk houses a scroll wheel that comes with variable resistance. This can be manually adjusted via a dial located on the bottom of the mouse.

The main selling point of the Basilisk is the unique clutch featured on the side of the mouse, located just above where your thumb would sit. The removable paddle comes in two sizes, with the default action acting as a precision aim. A precision aim macro gives the user the ability to temporarily adjust the DPI sensitivity on the fly when held down, with DPI returning to normal when released. This clutch paddle can be tweaked via Synapse if not completely changed in functionality, however the ease of holding down a clutch over a button is squarely aimed at FPS enthusiasts looking for that extra bit of accuracy when sniping. The mouse also comes bundled with a rubber cap for those that would want to buy this mouse and not utilise its main feature.

The Razer Basilisk will be available as soon as September on the Razer store for $69.99/€69.99, before making its way to the rest of the world later this year.

KitGuru Says: I’ve always found the inclusion of DPI shift buttons a hot topic, with some people feeling like it is cheating in game due to the unfair advantage over other users. Others tend to feel that it is just a part of the varying equipment in the many diverse rigs people use to game. What are your thoughts on the DPI shift button/clutch? Are you interested in the Basilisk?

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