What is Rapid Trigger?
In the last year or so, gaming keyboards have been undergoing something of a quiet revolution. In addition to manufacturers like Wooting introducing optical-switch options with snappy switches, brands like SteelSeries have started releasing ‘performance’ keyboard options using magnetic hall-effect-style switches.
The key to the best rapid trigger keyboard is that these types of switches can register input based on the distance the switch moves up or down, rather than relying on a pre-defined actuation point at which a key press is recognised. This gives them a much-improved response time when it comes to fast repeated inputs like strafing in games like Helldivers 2 and Valorant.
To enable Rapid Trigger on your Apex Pro keyboard, update GG to the latest version and use Fn + Win Lock to activate it (or press the menu key). Once activated, you can adjust the trigger sensitivity in 0.1mm increments by pressing an in-game keyboard shortcut or via a visual interface in iCUE. You can also toggle the feature on and off in-game by holding down the Fn button and pressing the key.
How Does Rapid Trigger Work?
Essentially, Rapid Trigger works by monitoring the distance from the primary actuation point that the key has been pressed and then repressed during its travel. This can be adjusted in 0.1mm increments, with the ability to set both press and release sensitivity. It eliminates the need for a key to be depressed to its reset position before being able to be repressed again, resulting in faster and more accurate repetitions.
Dutch indie keyboard producer Wooting were the first to introduce rapid trigger functionality with their Wooting Two Lekker Edition back in 2019 and they continue to offer some of the best implementations out there. Independent tests from YouTube channel Optimum Tech in 2023 found that their rapid trigger functionality reacts more quickly than SteelSeries or Razer rivals, and their Wootility software offers fine-grained control over this feature.
Corsair have also recently introduced their own Rapid Trigger support in their K70 Max and Huntsman V2 Analog models that use Gateron MGX magnetic switches. You can bind keys to specific trigger levels, set the continuous rapid trigger mode and adjust the set actuation point in 0.1mm increments using Synapse.
What are the Benefits of Rapid Trigger?
Rapid Trigger provides a new input dimension by registering how far down a key switch is pressed rather than just its ON/OFF state. As such, keystrokes can be repeated much faster and the ability to adjust sensitivity to as fine as 0.1 mm is unparalleled.
This enables players to perform actions with pixel-perfect precision, even when playing fast-paced games like Helldivers 2, Apex Legends and CS2. Keyboards featuring Rapid Trigger also have superior response speed and input consistency compared to regular keyboards.
Wooting’s Rapid Trigger takes it a step further by dynamically adjusting the actuation point constantly during a key press, eliminating any physical latency caused by the switches’ vertical movement. This allows the key to be activated (ON) only once it reaches a configured actuation threshold, and deactivated instantly when the button is released. The actuation point can be adjusted to as fine as 0.1 mm. Currently, this functionality is only available on Wooting’s keyboards with Lekker switches.
What are the Switches Used in Rapid Trigger Keyboards?
Unlike regular keyboards that only recognise a key press after it passes a fixed threshold, Rapid Trigger enables the keyboard to detect the movement of a key in real-time. This allows for much faster inputs and eliminates all physical delay caused by the switch’s movement. In addition, it also means that keys can be activated and reset more or less instantly, without having to reach a fixed mechanical “reset” point. Here are some of the best rapid trigger keyboard.
The Wooting 60HE is one of the few gaming keyboards available with Rapid Trigger functionality and it received praise from Optimum Tech last year for its response times in Helldivers 2, Valorant and Counter-Strike 2.
The Rapid Trigger mode in the Wootility software (available as a download) lets you adjust the actuation point of each key, up to 1.0mm. This is a great way to fine-tune the feature to optimise your experience, and the flexibility of the adjustment will be appreciated by players that regularly use different key presses for a variety of actions.