BY ELVIA DAMETTO: Aiming in FPS games is, well, tough. Unfortunately, some people have God-like reflexes and the rest of us have sloth-like reflexes. It’s a fact of life.
Another fact of life is, regardless of which level you’re at, you can ALWAYS improve your aim in FPS games. I don’t care whether you’re playing Planetside 2 or Overwatch, if you follow these steps, you’ll improve your accuracy.
It isn’t all about skill. It’s about having the right hardware, getting your software set up correctly, and putting in a bit of hard work.
Here are my top tips to improve your aim in FPS games:
Get the Right Mouse
The mouse is the most important piece of equipment when it comes to being accurate in FPS games. In this day and age, you don’t need to break the bank for a perfectly capable mouse, but not all mice are created equal.
You want to concentrate on the DPI, weight and button layout. Generally, you want to go for the lightest gaming mouse without getting one that feels like it will break the first time you lose in Fortnite and hurl it at your cat. (Just me? Okay then. Sorry, Tiddles.)
I also tend to prefer a mouse with only a few thumb buttons, as it means I’m not fumbling around. If you also enjoy MMORPGs, you may decide to get one with more buttons, but it could cost you viral milliseconds in FPS games.
Response time is equally important, if not more so. You want a mouse with the lowest possible response time within your budget. There’s no point in you having the reflexes of a God if your mouse only realises that you moved your hand a day later. Seriously, though, take some time to ensure that your mouse is as responsive as you need it to be to improve your aim while gaming.
Get the Right Mouse Mat
It sounds silly, but your mouse mat will also impact how accurate you are. You want to get the largest mouse mat you can fit on your desk (so that you’re not constantly having to adjust) and ideally you don’t want one that is too reflective.
Get a Grip
You’ve got the best mouse in the world. Great. Next up, experiment with different techniques to hold your mouse. There’s the claw, palm and fingertip grip. (And, remember Claw Dot? Me neither.) You’ll need to stick strictly with each of these techniques for a few rounds to see what is most comfortable and most effective.
Remember, never stick with a technique that is uncomfortable regardless of how much it improves your accuracy in FPS games – the long-term health issues just aren’t worth it. Be comfortable.
Tweak the Settings
Once you’ve found the technique that feels most comfortable for you while also giving the best results, you’ll want to focus on mouse sensitivity.
Believe it or not, the highest DPI and highest sensitivity isn’t going to mean that you’ll be headshotting enemies before they’ve even realised that your there. Some mice actually perform worse at higher settings, and it can become too difficult to control, seriously reducing your ability to be accurate when the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan.
Pick a DPI that you’re comfortable with then tweak it in game to see what gives you the best results. A low sensitivity setting gives more control while a higher DPI allows for faster reflexes. You’ll want to find the right balance.
Practice makes perfect
You’ve spent HOURS experimenting with the above, getting your set up ready, and you might even find you’ve already improved your aim in FPS games. Here’s the thing: you still need to practice. A lot.
The biggest advantage you can build up in a virtual battlefield is muscle memory. You want to spot an enemy, immediately putting your crosshairs over their face and pulling the trigger before they’ve had the chance to get behind cover. In the beginning, you might over-think. You might click the wrong buttons. You might just miss. That’s fine. Stick with it. With the right hardware, settings and practice, you’ll be performing at a much higher level than ever before.
