Why Is Low eDPI the Better For FPS/Shooters?

In first-person shooter (FPS) games, precision is the key factor that separates good players from great ones. Whether you’re snapping to a headshot or tracking an enemy mid-sprint, your ability to control the crosshair determines success. Many players focus only on DPI (Dots Per Inch), but in reality, eDPI (effective DPI) is the more important metric.

DPI vs eDPI

• DPI: How many pixels your cursor moves on-screen for each inch of physical mouse movement.
• In-game sensitivity: A multiplier applied by the game to your DPI.
• eDPI: The product of both. eDPI = DPI × In-game sensitivity.

Example:

• 400 DPI × 2.0 sens = 800 eDPI
• 800 DPI × 1.0 sens = 800 eDPI

Even though the DPI and in-game sensitivity are different, the eDPI is identical, meaning the actual feel in-game is the same. This is why talking about DPI alone can be misleading. The real measure of sensitivity in shooters is eDPI.

Why low eDPI is better for shooters

Lower eDPI values offer significant advantages for competitive play:

• Better precision: Low eDPI means smaller cursor movement per physical motion, making it easier to land precise shots.
• Consistent muscle memory: A lower eDPI encourages larger arm movements instead of tiny wrist flicks. These bigger motions are easier to repeat consistently under pressure.
• Improved tracking: With a low eDPI, crosshair movement becomes smoother and steadier, which is crucial for games like CS2, Valorant, and Apex Legends.

What eDPI do pros use?

Most pro players stay within the range of 800 - 1200 eDPI. This balance gives them enough precision without sacrificing the ability to turn quickly when needed.

Downsides of high eDPI

Using a very high eDPI might feel fast, but it comes with major drawbacks:

• Overshooting targets when aiming.
• Unstable tracking against moving enemies.
• Reliance on wrist-only aim, which reduces consistency.

Modern gaming mice may support extreme DPI settings (like 20,000+), but combined with in-game sensitivity, these create sky-high eDPI values that are practically unusable in FPS shooters.

Final thoughts

Low eDPI is favored in FPS games because it allows fine control, consistent aim, and smoother tracking. While everyone’s “perfect sensitivity” is slightly different, experimenting in the 800 - 1200 eDPI range is a good starting point.

Remember: don’t just copy a pro’s DPI. Always check their eDPI, because that’s what really defines how they aim.