Updated at: 14-02-2023 - By: Leo Hall
To determine if the Corsair Nightsword RGB gaming mouse is worthwhile, we put it through a series of tests. It must be true, after all! See why our review says it’s so great.

Even though it’s a great gaming mouse, the Corsair Nightsword RGB has a few drawbacks.

Most people will find that it is well worth the asking price, and it is also highly precise.

The Nightsword RGB from Corsair may look familiar, and that’s probably the point.

The Nightsword RGB is a mouse that clearly takes inspiration from other Corsair products like the Glaive RGB and Dark Core, as well as from the M65 series, making it difficult to determine the company’s intended audience.

The Nightsword RGB’s high stature, bulbous form, and specialized grip are only enhanced by the inclusion of the Dark Core.

The thumb rest on the left side of the Nightsword RGB, a feature also shared by the Dark Core RGB and the Glaive RGB, is owed to both of these weapons. What about the adjustable mass system? The legendary M65 series is inextricably linked to this particular trait.

It would appear that all of Corsair’s previous mouse efforts have culminated in this one device, which is a synthesis of the company’s most significant design decisions.

Corsair Nightsword RGB Gaming Mouse Review: Weight-Adjustable FPS Fun | Tom's Hardware

The Nightsword RGB’s crowning feature is an adjustable weight system that instantly registers any shifts in the weapon’s center of gravity.

According to Corsair, the Nightsword RGB is ideal for users who want finer control over the mouse’s weight. If you’re a control freak gamer, the Nightsword RGB might not be perfect, but you’ll still find plenty to like about it.

We will evaluate the new weight system’s efficacy in addition to the product’s quality, efficiency, and cost.

Pros and Cons

 Pros

  • Ideal for targeting with a whip
  • Adjustable mass
  • Extremely many independent red, green, and blue channels
  • Left and right mouse buttons shaped like scallops are very pleasant to use.

Cons

  • Distressed grooves attract dirt.
  • Certain controls appear shaky.
  • The sniper button is way up front.
  • Intractable Disagreements

When designing the Nightsword RGB, Corsair had first-person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena players in mind. It has a unique shape, can have its weights adjusted, and has a wide range of colors. Numerous individual factors, such as hand span and grip style, determine how comfortable a mouse will feel. Therefore, it is not surprising that Corsair included a weight switch on the Nightsword to appeal to the widest possible audience.

At the time of publication, the Nightsword was on sale for $58.72(opens in new tab) / £70.32(opens in new tab), despite having a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $80 / £70. The Nightsword aims to compete with the Razer DeathAdder Elite ($30 at the time of writing), which is currently listed as the best gaming mouse(opens in new tab) for first-person shooters, by offering a radically different design and an additional programmable button, for a grand total of eight. The Nightsword sets out to carve out its own niche in a market where there is currently no direct competition. Our testing indicates that this subset of the population enjoys playing shooters outside of their regular Dota practice sessions.

Specifications

Sensor Sensor Optical Pixart PMW3391
DPI 18,000 DPI
The Click of a Mouse It’s an Omron (50 million clicks).
Connectivity Braided cable (wired)
Grip Type Palm
Ambidextrous False; they are right-handed
Weight 119g – 141g
Software iCUE

Packaging

Corsair’s new packaging features the company’s signature black and yellow color scheme in addition to the words “Control Freak” printed on one side.

Not just the Nightsword RGB, but it seems like all of Corsair’s gaming mice that offer some degree of customization are aimed at people who like to feel in charge.

Aside from the mouse itself, the box also contains the necessary weights in their own carrying case. The unboxing procedure was typical of Corsair.

Design and Features

Right-handed users can make use of the Corsair Nightsword RGB, which measures 5.1 by 3.4 by 1.7 inches. The mouse has a long, stout build that is accentuated by a prominent median arch.

Multiple curves and concaves on the Nightsword RGB encourage a palm grip and put the hand in a natural, comfortable position.

Sorry, lefties; the Nightsword RGB is designed exclusively for right-handed users, as evidenced by the mouse’s protruding, textured thumb rest on the left side.

The Nightsword RGB, even at its lightest, weighs in at 119g, making it suitable for gamers who favor mice with a substantial physical presence. As an alternative, when all six weights are combined, the total is 141g.

In this case, I wish Corsair had shaved a few grams off the low end to give players more leeway.

While Corsair’s M65 RGB Elite has a lightweight 97g without any added weights, I found that it lacked in power when pushing heavier objects, with only 116g to work with.

In comparison, the M65 RGB Elite in its heaviest configuration is lighter than the Nightsword at its stock weight.

Corsair NightSword RGB Gaming Mouse Review! - YouTube

Thus, be forewarned that this is not the mouse for you if you prefer something more lightweight.

Even so, the Nightsword RGB prioritizes user friendliness and ease of use. Because of its concave shape and extra width, as well as its thumb rest, this mouse is ideal for palm gripping, even by those with larger hands.

The mouse’s matte black finish and textured coating are helpful in this regard as well, providing a secure hold while reducing the likelihood of accidental movement.

Even the most macro-heavy users will be pleased with the Nightsword RGB’s ten programmable buttons. The scroll wheel is permanently attached between the standard left and right mouse buttons.

Omron switches, the gold standard in the mouse industry, provide a flawless feel and action for the main buttons. Additionally, two buttons are located behind the scroll wheel. These are the default controls for cycling through mouse profiles.

On the left side of the Nightsword RGB, you’ll find a more engaging button layout, though it’s also more crowded. The two additional buttons on either side of the left mouse button act as the default DPI selectors.

In the course of my time with the Nightsword RGB, I found that the button layout frequently resulted in accidental activation of the DPI switches. This is why I am not a fan of additional buttons surrounding the primary LM and RM ones.

Another set of forward and back buttons can be found right above the thumb rest. Just below the forward and back buttons is the sniper button.

The mouse’s sniper button was a little too far away for my thumb to comfortably press. This is probably due to the size of my hands. People with larger hands shouldn’t have any trouble with this.

Aside from the standard scroll wheel and palm rest area, the Nightsword RGB’s RGB illumination is spread across multiple zones, both front and back, creating a beautiful underglow effect.

The three thin strips on the left side of the mouse, beneath the DPI buttons, are also backlit in RGB. When you press the sniper button, the color of these strips will change to reflect the current DPI setting.

The Nightsword RGB, like other mice from Corsair, is well-made. It has a high-quality feel and works smoothly on a mousepad.

Performance

Of course, the Nightsword RGB features the same PixArt PMW 3391 optical sensor that was included in the M65 RGB Elite and the Glaive RGB Pro, two of Corsair’s previous top-tier mice.

The PMW 3391 sensor, in my previous experience, has proven to be highly dependable and quick to respond. Raw sensor performance is not affected by any inherent acceleration, angle snapping, or anything else.

I used the video game Destiny 2 to put the Nightsword RGB through its paces and judge its responsiveness and speed. As was to be expected, it fared extremely well in a first-person shooter scenario.

As for The Division 2, the mouse worked just as well for me. Even though I played both games, I still had trouble reaching the sniper button quickly and comfortably when using a scoped rifle. However, results may vary from person to person, based on factors such as hand size and dexterity.

It’s not just for first-person shooters and multiplayer online battle arenas; I also used the Nightsword RGB with Final Fantasy XIV and Divinity: Original Sin II.

Multiple changes to the weight were made during my testing. Adjusting the mouse’s weight from light to heavy is a useful, albeit time-consuming, feature for users who prefer different weights for different games.

It’s important to be patient and careful when adding and subtracting the weights. To someone who prefers to “set it and forget it,” this may not seem like a big deal.

Software

The Nightsword RGB, like the majority of Corsair’s peripherals, can be managed through the company’s bloated and complicated iCUE software. Even so, Corsair scores high marks for iCUE’s usability and the breadth of its customization options.

You can customize the DPI settings to your liking, make profiles, assign macros, and remap buttons all from within iCUE. You should also begin a surface calibration, which will help your mouse adjust to the surface you’ll be using it on, leading to enhanced response, tracking, and aim.

The Nightsword RGB also features an impressive array of customizable RGB lighting.

Last but not least, the Nightsword RGB has a weight system that can be adjusted to your preference. Inside iCUE, it has its own menu that shows the current count of detected weights, the total mass, and the location of the center of mass along the X, Y, and Z axes.

I’m not sure what practical benefit the user receives from this impressive level of functionality.

Corsair NightSword RGB – Gaming

I used CS:GO, Fortnite, and Overwatch to put the mouse through its paces. It’s no surprise that the NightSword, with its ultra-high 18,000dpi sensor, provided a very precise and responsive experience. The large thumb rest was very convenient for me, but it could be uncomfortable for some. It’s not like anything else. I’m used to using a heavy mouse, so the NightSword felt great in my hands, but if you prefer a light, flickable mouse, you might be disappointed.

The NightSword’s 10 controls are strategically placed. They are convenient and out of the way at all times. I was initially concerned that I might accidentally press the two buttons that take up a small portion of the left mouse button, but I have never done so. When I tried to use the sniper button, I had to alter my grip slightly in order to reach it. As a result, I ended up assigning the back button as my sniper button because it is conveniently located above my thumb, allowing me to maintain sniper mode while maintaining my natural grip. The NightSword is designed for right-handed use, but otherwise its ergonomics are fairly ambidextrous, making it suitable for both claw and palm grips.

Purchasing Guide

Its suggested retail price of $79.99 is about what you’ll find online for the Corsair NightSword RGB Tunable FPS/MOBA Gaming Mouse.

Corsair NightSword RGB Gaming Mouse Review - IGN

Final Verdict

Corsair has established itself as a major player in the mouse market, but the rapid growth of the company has also made it possible that it now competes with itself. The Nightsword RGB, with its very familiar if potentially derivative mouse design, seems to confirm this.

The Nightsword RGB from Corsair admirably draws from the company’s previous flagship products, incorporating features almost à la carte to provide a mouse that is more than the sum of its parts.

While I find success with these methods overall, I can’t say the Nightsword RGB executes them as well as its relatives. It’s an improvement over previous efforts by Corsair, thanks in part to its adjustable weight system, but it’s not quite perfect.

However, not everyone appreciates the large thumb rest, and it lacks the customization options that made the Glaive RGB so fantastic. The Nightsword RGB from Corsair has a crowded button layout, which I found to be a minor annoyance.

Not that the Nightsword RGB isn’t a fantastic mouse; far from it. Simply put, I find it difficult to recommend it over Corsair’s own Glaive RGB or M65 RGB Elite.

If you’re a righty gamer with big hands who wants the heaviest mouse Corsair has ever made, the Nightsword RGB is worth the extra $20 it costs right now compared to the other two.

However, if you’re interested in purchasing the Nightsword RGB, rest assured that it’s one of the most well-built and ergonomic mice Corsair has ever released.

It doesn’t matter what kind of games you prefer, the Nightsword RGB will provide you with a fantastic and responsive gaming experience.