Razer Basilisk Essential
A less expensive version of the Basilisk that’s almost as good.
PRICE $ 79.95 www2.razer.com
Take about $50 off Razer’s old Basilisk and you arrive at the Basilisk Essential. It still has Chroma, it still has the exact same design, removable paddle and Razer’s mechanical mice switches.
You don’t lose a lot, either. You only have a single removable paddle, there’s no choice in length anymore, but it’s still customizable. My personal favorite for this is as a push to talk shortcut for Discord chat, but FPS fans will appreciate applying DPI shift to it, slowing your DPI right down for those sniping situations.
The gaming-grade sensor has a lower DPI at 6,400 compared to 16,000 on the regular model, but for most that will still be plenty for most. It’s not Razer’s 5G optical sensor, but it’s still very good. It tracks well and is super responsive. And, like the regular Basilisk, the Essential has 1000 Hz Ultrapolling.
Using the Basilisk Essential is like gliding across a sheet of ice.
However, the Basilisk Essential houses a bunch of great hardware. The scroll wheel has a nice tactile feel to it and the rubber grips on each outer edge ensure a firm hold in the heat of battle.
Despite being a fairly chunky mouse, the Basilisk Essential is extremely light. Paired with the thumb grip keeping your digit away from the mouse pad you get minimal drag and a really agile mouse as you’re flying around the mouse pad. I’ve been using the Basilisk Essential in conjunction with a Razer Goliathus mousepad and I can only liken the experience to sliding across a smooth sheet of ice. It’s exquisite. The Basilisk Essential also benefits from Synapse 3 support, which is good for not only syncing your lighting, but getting the most from the mouse. It’s where you’ll assign dedicated functions or macros to your mouse buttons, as well as setting up your DPI stages and more.
Despite not being quite as advanced as its sibling, there’s no doubting that the Basilisk Essential is a truly outstanding gaming mouse.
There’s not a whole lot to dislike, just as with the regular Basilisk. Perhaps the biggest criticism is the exclusively right-handed design. Most mice are still geared towards righthanders, but there’s no left-handed version of the Basilisk Essential at this time.
It’s also only available in wired form, which is fine, but the USB cable doesn’t detach at all. When you’re at your desk that’s not a problem, but if you’re a laptop gamer on the go, being able to pull it out and stow it separately would have been a nice touch.
There’s also no onboard storage on the Basilisk Essential, which considering a fairly small price decrease is all you get over the regular model we’d have like to have seen included.
The Basilisk is an almost perfect gaming mouse, and the Basilisk Essential is nearly as good. If you’re happy with the compromises, it’s hard to find a better mouse for the cost right now.
Using the Basilisk Essential is like gliding across a sheet of ice.