A keyboard equipped with mechanical switches gives you quite an edge for playing World of Warcraft. That’s because these switches offer exceptional tactile feedback they’re fast and durable. Plus, mechanical keyboards for WoW and MMO gaming in general, even the budget ones, often come with a huge array of customization features.
By type, mechanical switches can be divided into three categories: clicky, linear, and tactile. The most suitable type for World of Warcraft and MMO gameplay, in general, is tactile. That’s because it offers a bit of a bump but without a click. Thus, each actuation allows you to feel when you have triggered one of your abilities or macros. Linear switches are more suited for shooter games where you need to keep a button pressed, rather than spam it. Finally, clicky switches are just tactile but with more pizzazz and more annoyance for the ones around you.
On this page, we’re going to cover some of the most popular mechanical switches available from various manufacturers, pointing out the most suitable models for World of Warcraft, as well as the most preferred by WoW players, in general.
Cherry MX
The Cherry MX mechanical switches are manufactured by Cherry AG, a German computer peripheral device maker. These switches pretty much set the current golden standard for gaming keyboards. They come in several colors, each color pointing to a specific set of features.
Cherry MX mechanical switches – overview:
- MX Black: Heavy resistance, 60g actuation force, 85g bottom-out force, 2mm actuation distance. Smooth press, (linear) no bump, fairly quiet.
- MX Brown: Medium resistance, 55g actuation force, 60g bottom-out force, 2mm actuation distance. Tactile (bumpy) but not clicky, moderate sound level.
- MX Red: Light resistance, 45g actuation force, 75g bottom-out force, actuation distance 2mm. Smooth press, linear (no bump), fairly quiet.
- MX Blue: Medium resistance, 60g actuation force, 60g bottom-out force, 2mm actuation travel. Tactile and clicky, very loud.
- MX Green: Heavy resistance, 80g actuation force, 90g bottom-out force, 2mm actuation travel. Clicky, tactile, loud.
- MX Clear: Heavy resistance, 65g actuation force, 95g bottom-out force, 2mm actuation travel. Tactile (but not clicky), moderate sound level.
Most WoW players go with MX Browns. That’s because MX Brown switches offer a bit of bump, perfect for knowing when you have triggered an ability or macro, yet they’re not clicky and loud, and overall, deliver great feedback. Players who prefer linear switches usually aim for the MX Blacks as they provide more resistance on the press than MX Reds. Finally, clickers usually go for the MX Blues as they offer medium resistance.
Razer
Razer is pretty well-known in the gaming industry for its wide array of peripherals. They use their own mechanical switches in their keyboards. Currently, Razer offers three types of mechanical switches: Razer Green, Razer Yellow, and Razer Orange. Each type covers one of the distinct switch types that we’ve covered above.
Razer mechanical switches – overview:
- Razer Yellow: Moderate resistance, 45g actuation force, 75g bottom-out force, 1.2mm actuation travel. Linear (no bump, no click) and fairly quiet.
- Razer Orange: Moderate resistance, 45g actuation force, 75g bottom-out force, 1.2mm actuation travel. Smooth, tactile (bumpy), and no click. Moderately loud.
- Razer Green: Moderate resistance, 50g actuation force, 65g bottom-out force, 1.9mm actuation travel. Clicky and fairly loud.
As a small conclusion here, the equivalent of the Cherry MX Browns are the Razer Orange. Unfortunately, not all Razer gaming keyboards are available with Orange switches, the only options being the other two.
Romer-G
The Romer-Gs are Logitech’s signature mechanical switches. They come in two categories: GL and GX. The GX switches have a classic construction and feel, while the GL switches are ultra-low and built for speed.
Romer-G mechanical switches – overview:
- GX Brown: Tactile, minimal feedback, fairly quiet, 1.9mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
- GX Red: Linear, smooth and fluid stroke, fairly quiet, 1.9mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
- GX Blue: Clicky, fairly loud, 2mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
- GL Brown: Tactile, precise feedback, fairly quiet, 1.5mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
- GL Red: Linear, smooth, great for double or multi-tapping and keeping a key pressed, moderate noise, 1.5mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
- GL White: Clicky, fairly loud but quieter than GX Blue switches, 1.5mm actuation travel, 50g actuation force.
The most suitable Romer-G switches for WoW are probably the GX or GL Browns. They offer that tactile feel and you’ll always know when you have or should have triggered an ability. They also fair pretty well when spammed.
Outemu Switches
Outemu mechanical switches are a fairly decent alternative to Cherry MX switches. They typically don’t last as much as the Cherry MX, they are slightly louder and rattly, but keyboards equipped with Outemu switches are usually more affordable. They all have a bottom-out distance of 4mm, and an average actuation distance of 2mm.
Outemu mechanical switches – overview:
- Outemu Brown: Tactile, moderately loud, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 53g actuation force.
- Outemu Black: Linear, fairly loud, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 60g actuation force.
- Outemu Blue: Clicky, prominent tactility, loud, 2.2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 46g actuation force.
- Outemu Red: Linear, fairly loud, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 47g actuation force.
- Outemu Purple: Tactile, but with less bump than Outemu Brown. Fairly quiet, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 50g actuation force.
- Outemu Teal: Clicky, strong feedback, loud, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 70g actuation force.
- Outemu Orange: Tactile, less feedback than browns (feel almost linear), fairly quiet, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-ut, 50g actuation force.
- Outemu Gold: Clicky but with a very weird metallic click, fairly loud, slightly more feedback than Outemu blue, 2mm actuation travel, 4mm bottom-out, 58g actuation force.
As a short conclusion here, Outemu Browns should be the most suitable for World of Warcraft play. If you prefer linear, Reds should do, while for clicky, the Outemu Blues seem to perform better than the other Outemu clicky switches.