Different mice will suit you better or worse, depending on your hand size and the type of grip you use. A claw grip is a mixture of palm and fingertip grips. It's used for faster gliding movement and is great for flick shots. It generally offers better speed than a palm grip but is worse for smooth and slow tracking. A claw grip can also be better if you prefer higher CPI settings since it encourages snappier movements in smaller arcs using the wrist and fingers rather than the forearm and shoulder. However, because it often relies on a tense hand posture, it's more tiring than your run-of-the-mill palm grip.
We've tested over 285 mice, and listed below are our recommendations for the best mice for claw grip. If you're uncertain about what grip type might work best for you, check out our article on ergonomics and grip types. For other recommendations, check out our picks for the best gaming mice, the best wireless gaming mice, and the best cheap gaming mice.
The best claw grip mouse we've tested is the Pulsar X2 Wireless. Its medium size puts it in the sweet spot for providing a comfortable claw grip for most hand sizes, and it has fairly straight sides with a hump towards the rear that provides ample support for the bottom of your palm using either a relaxed or aggressive grip. It delivers exceptional performance with incredibly low click latency and outstanding sensor accuracy. Weighing only 55g, it's extremely easy to move quickly and accurately, making it an ideal choice for competing in high-stakes, reaction-based games. Like most wireless gaming mice, it uses a wireless dongle, and it also comes with a paracord-like cable. The cable is lightweight and flexible, but it does retain some permanent kinks.
One element that may surprise some gamers is that this mouse has an open-style bottom plate. While this design helps cut down on the overall weight, it leaves the interior of the mouse more open to collecting dust and debris. As for availability, know that this is a very popular model and demand is high, so you may have to shop around a bit to find one.
If you're considering options at a mid-range price point, we recommend the Endgame Gear XM1r. This mouse is widely celebrated among claw grip users and is suited for a more relaxed claw grip. It's also available in a range of coatings, considered some of the best mouse coatings on the market. These finishes aren't just cosmetic but offer a more chalky, glossy, or rubberized feel, depending on which you choose.
The overall build quality is outstanding, and its latency and sensor performance is even better than the already high-end performance of our top pick, the Pulsar X2 Wireless. However, its major drawback is that it's a wired-only model and isn't as lightweight. The XM1r's shape is also very similar to the X2, but its hump is somewhat further forward, its sides slope inwards more, and it has a somewhat wider rear end that does a great job of locking your hand into your claw grip.
Choosing between these two mice boils down to how much you value a lighter mouse with wireless connectivity over a wired-only mouse with peak performance. That said, the cable on this mouse is extremely lightweight and flexible, so if you don't mind a cable or even prefer using a wired mouse, this is a better option.
In the budget category, the best mouse for claw grip we've tested is the Cooler Master MM720. This wired model has an unusual right-handed shape that's relatively short and wide, and it features a small ledge on the right that supports your ring and pinky finger. This shape is ideal for a claw grip, especially for those who prefer a knuckle claw grip with minimal or no palm contact. The body's honeycomb perforations make it the lightest model on this list, weighing in at just over 50g, so it's a great option if you prefer the movement speed advantage of an ultra-lightweight mouse. It also delivers high-end sensor performance and click latency, which is surprising given its price point.
Build quality is its biggest weakness. It feels significantly cheaper and more fragile than most gaming mice, especially compared to more expensive options like the Pulsar X2 Wireless and Endgame Gear XM1r above. Its side buttons feel mushy, and the body squeaks, feeling like it may crack with enough force. It's fine for most people during regular use but can be an issue if you're rougher with your devices. Ultimately, its price, unique claw grip shape, and impressive performance make it a standout option if you're shopping on a budget.
May 11, 2023: Verified that the picks are still valid. No change in recommendations.
Mar 15, 2023: We've moved the Logitech G303 Shroud Edition from its position as our 'Best Claw Grip Mouse' into the Notable Mentions section and replaced it with the Pulsar X2 Wireless. We've also removed the SteelSeries Rival 3 and Razer Orochi V2 from the Notable Mentions and added the LAMZU Atlantis.
Jan 03, 2023: We've confirmed all the picks for this article are in stock and remain the best choices for their respective categories.
Oct 05, 2022: We've revamped the category names and our picks for this article to better represent the current market and to provide more insight for readers. We've also overhauled our Notable Mentions section to include fewer, more relevant recommendations.
Apr 13, 2022: We've transformed the 'Smaller Alternative' and 'More Versatile Alternative' categories into their own new categories called 'Best Symmetrical Mouse For Claw Grip' and 'Best Versatile Mouse For Claw Grip', respectively. We've kept the picks for both instances. We've also removed the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless, the Razer DeathAdder Elite, the Finalmouse Ultralight 2 - Cape Town, and the Razer Viper 8Khz from the list of Notable Mentions for relevance.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best claw grip mice for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mouse wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no mice that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of mice. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no mouse is perfect for every use, most mice are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.