A lot of players start off with League of Legends with their rudimentary gaming gear, only to realize that life in the LOL universe isn’t a cakewalk with a normal mouse and KB setup.
They’ll soon start to look for the best keyboard for League of Legends, or stop playing the game altogether, as they get their asses whipped, As their keyboard takes forever to react.
You cannot progress in LOL without a keyboard that lets you key bind.
If you are playing with a normal keyboard, you are playing with one hand tied behind your back.
Wait, it’s actually like playing with both hands tied behind your back.
- Best Overall: Corsair K70
- Also Great: Roccat Vulcan 121 Aimo
- Budget Pick: SteelSeries Apex 3
- Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
- Akko X Ducky One 2 Mini
Best Keyboard For League Of Legends Comparison Table
We’ve been in the same situation as you. We’ve struggled for months to Wind Wall and to get the entrance timing right in team fights with Yasuo.
Hell we’ve even struggled to use our Mini Map while laning.
All that came to an end when we got ourselves a keyboard just for League. Now we’ve mastered some of the toughest champions in the league.
If you are a league neophyte aiming for glory, here’s the gear that will get you there.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
Corsair K70 |
|
View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Also Great |
Roccat Vulcan 121 Aimo |
|
View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Budget Pick |
SteelSeries Apex 3 |
|
View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
 |
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition |
|
View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
 |
Akko X Ducky One 2 Mini |
|
View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
1. Corsair K70 – Best Overall
The Corsair K70 MK2 is the second iteration in the K70 series of mechanical keyboards from Corsair.
The original one was wildly popular among pro gamers, and the upgrade is meatier than the predecessor.
Our Pick
Corsair K70
This is a full-sized keyboard with an aircraft-grade aluminum frame and gorgeous Cherry MX switches (top-of-the-line) that can sustain everything that you throw at it. With an actuation of 1.2mm and an incredibly light G force of 45, the R70 is extremely responsive. Perfect for League of Legends.
The design is sleek and the RGB multicolor lighting (per key) adds a bit of flair that gamers yearn for. At the same time, it’s not outrageous, like most gaming peripherals these days.
Media controls are discreet. But the feature that we liked the most is the volume wheel. Makes it so easier to use as compared to mundane keys.
Also, there are textured keys on the K70 for WASD map and a bunch of surround keys that will keep FPS savants interested.
You can choose from five types of Cherry MX switches, that is the Speed, Blue, Red, Brown and Silent. Each one of these types differ in the kind of noise they produce as well as the responsiveness.
Users looking to run macros will love the 6 programmable G-keys that can be used to run combos.
With the Corsair Utility Engine, you can customize almost everything with the K70. Right from recording macros to reprogramming keys to customizing lighting patterns, the sky’s the limit.
The initial launch price of the Corsair K70 might have been the only deterrent that may have stopped gamers from buying it. But even that has dropped considerably now.
If you are seeking a flawless gaming keyboard for lol, you’ve just found it.
Pros
- Full-sized mechanical keyboard
- Top of the line Cherry MX switches
- Option to choose from 5-different switch types
- Discreet media controls
- Corsair Utility engine to customize
- Every key can be remapped
- 8 MB storage for gaming profiles
Cons
2. Roccat Vulcan 121 Aimo – Great Actuation And Responsiveness
When you first lay eyes on the Roccat Vulcan, it might seem like they gave precedence to form over function. It’s hands down, one of the most striking gaming keyboards that we’ve ever seen.
The brushed aluminum chassis, elevated keyed design, RGB lights on each key, the magnetic wrist rest, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Once you are done ogling at it, you’ll notice the discreet media keys and the volume dial, which can also be used to dim the RGB illumination by the way. Neat!
Also Great
Roccat Vulcan 121 Aimo
The standout feature on the Vulcan 121 is Roccat’s new proprietary Titan Tactile switches. These have a nice tactile feel to them and are incredibly responsive. Roccat pegs this to be 0.4ms which is amazing for any game that requires frantic keypresses and fast actuation.
By the way, the actuation is just 1.8mm, which is pretty close to Cherry MX.
Games that require fast key presses will be the ones where the Vulcan shines due to the super-thin key caps. Oh yes. The key caps essentially are so thin that they only cover the top part of the keys. The rest is left exposed giving the keyboard, a rustic appeal. Almost like an industrial peripheral with the RGB lights around it.
If we could, we’d do away with the Roccat Swarm software that’s a little cumbersome to install and configure. But it’s not a deal breaker.
Moreover, once you get a hang of the software, you’ll be heading straight to customization options where you can remap the keys, program macros and set profiles if need be.
The Macros keys are missing. But that’s no biggie. You can always assign them to the F1-F4 keys.
Overall, the Vulcan is a winner all the way. Great for gaming. Ditto for general use. The half-capped keys make such a huge difference in games like LOL. Go for it.
Pros
- Stunning design with aluminum-coated casing
- Magnetic wrist rest
- Elevated keys with RGB lighting
- Half-capped keys
- Titan Switch Tactile switches
- Discreet media keys and large volume dial
- Roccat Swarm software to customize
- Remap all keys
- Set macros
Cons
- No Macro Keys
3. SteelSeries Apex 3 – Budget Pick
We rarely recommend a membrane keyboard for gaming. If it’s not mechanical, it’s not cut out for a competitive gaming room.
That said, if you are a recreational gamer not looking to spend an arm and a leg, then the Apex 3 from SteelSeries can do a fine job.
It’s water resistant, comes with a magnetic wrist rest for marathoners, RGB backlit keys and a volume dial for easy controls.
Our Budget Pick
SteelSeries Apex 3
At first glance, it looks nothing like the beefy gaming keyboards that we are so used to. The chassis is plastic and it looks too thin for repeated hammering. But when you place your wrist on the wrist rest and start typing, you’ll quite like the feel on the keyboard. The build is not as flimsy as it appears to be.
The typing quality is pretty good too.
It comes with rubber-dome switches which offer decent tactile feedback and responsiveness. The actuation force is a little high due to the tactile bump. But there’s no wobble even with heavy repeated keypresses. Although it does start to feel a little mushy after prolonged use.
Thankfully, none of the keypresses are missed, which means you won’t lose a game because of commands gone missing.
There are dedicated media keys for pausing, playing and skipping tracks, there are hotkeys for recording and setting macros for gaming titles that demand it, and you can also lock the windows key to prevent minimizing the game accidentally.
If you like to fiddle around with the lighting, you’ll love the 10-Zone RGB lighting.
SteelSeries’ Engine software, which is amongst the most user-friendly keyboard software that we’ve used, allows you to customize the lighting as well as remap every single key and perform other basic tasks with the keyboard.
One of the features that deserves a mention is the IP32 rating, which will protect the keyboard in case you have an accidental spill. Pretty useful if you live at the desk, which a lot of gamers do.
Like we said earlier, this wouldn’t be our defacto choice. But if we are short on cash and looking for a decent keyboard from a reputed brand, there’s no better choice than this.
Pros
- Rubber-domed membrane switches
- Decent actuation
- Tactile response
- No missed keypresses
- Keys can be remapped
- Macro keys
- Dedicated media keys
- IP32 rated for water spills
Cons
- Not A Mechanical Keyboard
4. Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition – Fastest Gaming Keyboard
Razer’s Opto-mechanical switches have spurred the Huntsman range of keyboards, a dedicated range aimed primarily at Esports Pros, but also immensely beneficial for any gamer who seeks lightning fast actuation.
This the Huntsman Tournament Edition (TE), the most premium offering from the Huntsman range.
Among a slew of updates, are brand new linear Opto-mechanical switches, a tenkeyless design and a streamlined, lightweight chassis.
The first thing that you might notice is the lack of dedicated media keys and macro keys. So there’s no clutter on the keyboard. Those are assigned to the function row, which keeps the footprint small.
The keys are the floating variety with just a thin standard key cap covering them, leaving the sides exposed for the lights to cast a glow around. Razer’s Synapse software lets you tinker with the lights and customize the effects. There are also many presets like the rainbow wave among others to choose from.
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Now for the standout feature, Razer’s new Linear Optical Switches which have an actuation distance of just 1mm. These are feather light. 50% faster than Cherry MX Red and 20% faster than Cherry MX speed.
These are not mechanical switches, mind you. Instead, they are powered by a tiny IR transmitter and receiver setup which greatly increases speed and their lifespan. The keypresses are butter smooth and the switches are rated for 100M keystrokes. That’s double the rating for Cherry MX switches.
In a nutshell, even the slightest tap will activate them. The caveat is that this might result in accidental keypresses.
Thankfully, you can remap every single key with the Razer Synapse 3.0 which can prevent the keypresses in a game like LOL.
Overall, the Razer Huntsman Tourney will keep you in the hunt as you look to master some of the most difficult champions in League of legends. It is definitely amongst the best gaming keyboards we have ever used.
Pros
- Sleek tenkeyless design
- Completely programmable
- All keys can be remapped and macros recorded
- Razer’s new Linear Optical switches
- Actuation distance of 1mm
- Feather light and butter smooth
- Rated for 100M keypresses
- RGB lighting
Cons
- No Dedicated Media Or Macro Keys
5. Akko X Ducky One 2 Mini – Best For Travelers
The Akko X Ducky One 2 Mini is a gorgeous little keyboard that’s available in multiple variants.
We mentioned little, because we tested the 60% version of this keyboard with Cherry MX Brown switches. You can also choose from Cherry MX Reds, Blue and Speed switches, as well as get it in 65%, Tenkeyless and full-sizes.
Let’s get to the fun part.
Akko X Ducky One 2 Mini
The Ducky One 2 Mini has a very sleek, compact and lightweight design. You can toss this into your tote and carry it with you for LAN parties and the likes. The casing is plastic. But not flimsy. There’s a little bit of flex, but as long as you don’t badger it too bad, it should hold up just fine.
It comes with two incline settings for prolonged users seeking some rest for their wrist. Sadly, there’s no wrist rest included with it. There are tons of aftermarket ones that you can buy though.
There are two sets of Hot Keys on the keyboard along with DIP keys on the bottom that lets you alter the location of the Windows key, the FN and other keys. All keys can be remapped and you can set macros.
However, everything comes inbuilt inside the keyboard. There’s no software interface with it, which is usually the case. This means that you will spend a lot of time reading that instruction manual. Not that it’s cumbersome.
Coming to the typing, the Cherry Brown MX switches feel divine. The actuation, the pre-travel, the responsiveness, everything is just perfect. The switches have double-shot PBT key caps and switch stabilizers which keeps everything wobble free. Also, there’s n-key rollover to prevent ghosting.
The RGB lighting looks stunning on the keyboard and there are all the standard lighting effects that come with software platforms. You can also customize it according to your preferences. So, you aren’t really missing out on anything.
The Akko X Ducky One is a highly underrated option that can easily quality as a top choice for LoL. It is compact, stylish, has Cherry MX Brown switches and lets you remap the keys. Hard to beat that.
Pros
- Compact sized 60% keyboard
- Available in multiple variants
- Can choose from Cherry brown, red, blue and speed
Cons
- No Wrist Rest Included
How To Select The Best Keyboard For League Of Legends
While it might not seem to be the case, the requirements for a keyboard for LoL aren’t too different from any competition-grade gaming keyboard.
It has to stand up to rapid keypresses, it must be ergonomic, the actuation must be reasonable and yes, it must double up as a bauble with its illumination skills.
Here’s a little more detail into that checklist.
- Key Rollover and Ghosting: When you are busy clacking away at that keyboard in the midst of a heated game, the last thing you need is keystrokes not getting registered. Or even worse, unpressed keys getting registered. Low quality keyboards can do both and this alone can fry your champion in LOL. You need a keyboard with anti-ghosting and key rollover. This basically means that even if you press multiple keys at the same time, neither of these problems will surface. A keyboard with N-Key Rollover is the gold standard. It can sustain up to 10 keypresses simultaneously. But even a 6KRO should suffice.
- Switch Types: There are two types of switches that you’ll come across. There are mechanical switches and membrane switches. Mechanical = More durable, tactile but loud (generally). Membrane = Silent, smooth but not ideal for gaming. In Mechanical, Cherry MX switches are the top of the line options. They have a large variety on offer. There’s Cherry MX Red, Blue, Speed and Brown. Many brands now offer proprietary versions of mechanical switches which are pretty similar to Cherry MX in their actuation and durability.
- Macros: Your keyboard should allow you to reprogram every key as well as let you record a series of keystrokes to be stored as macros. This will let you launch attacks or use special skills at the tap of a key. Some keyboards come with dedicated macro keys. But they aren’t really necessary as long as you can record macros with any of the regular keys.
- Backlighting: All gaming keyboards come with backlighting. The better ones feature full RGB colors with the option to customize as well as run preset effects. Some keyboards also allow you to run reactive lighting, including the option to run and set lighting alerts.
- Wired vs. Wireless: By now you would have realized that all the best keyboards in this list are wired keyboards. That’s because wireless keyboards tend to die out on you when you least expect them to, they have latency no matter what the manufacturer claims and they are pricier. In comparison, you can get a great wired keyboard for a lot less with zero latency.
- Build quality: Last but not the least, if you are a gamer who tends to vent out their frustration on the poor keyboard, look for something that has an aluminum face plate or base, with mechanical switches. Anything lesser will not be able to sustain the hammering that gamers can subject it to.
Closing Thoughts
That’s it fellow LOL fanatics. We hope that you enjoyed reading through this list and also, our recommendations for the best keyboard for League of Legends.
Do you have anything to add to this? Do write in to us. We’d love to hear from you.
Are you looking for a different keyboard? Find out the best TKL mechanical keyboard.
