What Keyboard Does EpikWhale Use?
Updated
EpikWhale plays the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black, which he has used since September 2023. Before that he had a Wooting 60HE+ from March 2023, and he had already used the Apex Pro Mini Black once, from November 2022 to March 2023.
- Form Factor
- 60%
- Switches
- OmniPoint 2.0
- PCB
- Non-Hotswappable
- Weight
- 610g
EpikWhale's keyboard history
EpikWhale's keyboard history is short and ends in a clear favorite. It covers 4 periods across 3 different models, so he has changed boards 3 times. He started on a Logitech G Pro X Keyboard in September 2022 and stayed on it for only 1.6 months.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black came next, from November 2022 to March 2023. After that he tried the Wooting 60HE+ for 6.2 months. In September 2023 he went back to the Apex Pro Mini Black and has stayed on it since.
That return makes the Apex the one constant. Its two periods add up to 41.5 months (3.5 years), and the current stretch of 37.5 months (3.1 years) is the longest of any board he has used. The other two boards each lasted well under a year.
| Keyboard | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Blacknow | September 2023 | today |
| Wooting 60HE+ | March 2023 | September 2023 |
| SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black | November 2022 | March 2023 |
| Logitech G Pro X Keyboard | September 2022 | November 2022 |
Switches and actuation
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black is sold with OmniPoint 2.0 switches. It is a 60% board with a non-hotswappable PCB, so the switches are part of the board and are not meant to be swapped out later. RGB is included.
The Wooting 60HE+ he used in 2023 is sold with a wider range of options: Lekker Linear 45 v2, Lekker Linear 60 v2, Lekker Tikken Light, Lekker Tikken Medium, Wooting x TTC KOM and Geon Raw HE. That board is hotswappable, which matters if you like trying different switches on the same PCB. The Apex goes the other way: one switch type, with nothing to tinker with.
Key binds
The binds table shows a Fortnite layout built around the left side of a compact board. Wall, stairs, roof, trap, rotate and edit all sit on keys close to the movement cluster. Crouch, jump and sprint are also on that side. A 60% board has everything this layout uses: letter keys, the number row, Shift, Ctrl and Space. The missing function row and numpad do not matter here.
Turbo Building and Confirm Edit on Release are both on, and the pre-edit option is left off. Together these settings keep building and editing quick, with fewer extra presses.
| Group | Action | Key |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Crouch | C |
| Movement | Jump | Space Bar |
| Movement | Sprint | L-Ctrl |
| Combat | Harvesting Tool | 1 |
| Combat | Weapon Slot 1 | X |
| Combat | Weapon Slot 2 | V |
| Combat | Weapon Slot 3 | Mouse 4 |
| Combat | Weapon Slot 4 | 3 |
| Combat | Weapon Slot 5 | 5 |
| Combat | Use | Mouse Wheel Up |
| Building | Wall | Q |
| Building | Floor | Mouse 5 |
| Building | Stairs | E |
| Building | Roof | L-Shift |
| Building | Trap | T |
| Building | Rotate Building | R |
| Building | Building Edit | F |
| Building | Turbo Building | On |
| Building | Confirm Edit on Release | On |
| Building | Disable Pre-Edit Option | Off |
Should you buy EpikWhale's keyboard?
The Apex Pro Mini Black suits anyone who wants a 60% layout and a compact footprint. It is a good fit if you play Fortnite and mostly need letters, the number row and a few modifiers within easy reach. It is not hotswappable, so it is a better match if you want to pick a board and leave it alone than if you like swapping switches.
If you want to try something different, the alternatives trade off in these ways:
- Wooting 60HE+: 5 g lighter, 1.3 cm longer, 0.9 cm wider and 0.24 cm lower. It is hotswappable and offers six switch options. EpikWhale used it for 6.2 months in 2023.
- Wooting 60HE v2 Silver: 4 g lighter, 1.2 cm longer, 1.2 cm wider and 1.24 cm lower. It is hotswappable with the same six switch options, and it is the lowest board of the group.
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini: 1.1 cm longer, 0.5 cm wider and 0.24 cm lower. It uses Razer Analog Optical switches and, like the Apex, is non-hotswappable.
All three alternatives are 60% boards with RGB, so the choice comes down to height, footprint and whether you want to swap switches.
- Form Factor
- 60%
- Switches
- Lekker Linear 45 v2, Lekker Linear 60 v2, Lekker Tikken Light, Lekker Tikken Medium, Wooting x TTC KOM, Geon Raw HE
- PCB
- Hotswappable
- Weight
- 605g
- Form Factor
- 60%
- Switches
- Lekker Linear 45 v2, Lekker Linear 60 v2, Lekker Tikken Light, Lekker Tikken Medium, Wooting x TTC KOM, Geon Raw HE
- PCB
- Hotswappable
- Weight
- 606g
- Form Factor
- 60%
- Switches
- Razer Analog Optical
- PCB
- Non-Hotswappable
FAQ
What keyboard does EpikWhale use?
EpikWhale uses the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black, a 60% keyboard with a non-hotswappable PCB. He has been on it since September 2023.
What keyboard did EpikWhale use before?
Before returning to the Apex Pro Mini Black in September 2023, he used the Wooting 60HE+ from March 2023. Earlier he used the Logitech G Pro X Keyboard in 2022, then the Apex Pro Mini Black for the first time.
How many times has EpikWhale changed keyboards?
His history has 4 periods across 3 different models, so he has changed boards 3 times. He returned to the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black once.
How long has EpikWhale used the Apex Pro Mini Black?
His current period has lasted 37.5 months (3.1 years), and it is his longest on any board. Counting his earlier stretch on the same model, his total time on it is 41.5 months (3.5 years).
What switches does the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Black have?
It is sold with OmniPoint 2.0 switches. The PCB is non-hotswappable, so the switches are not designed to be swapped.
What are good alternatives to EpikWhale's keyboard?
The Wooting 60HE+, the Wooting 60HE v2 Silver and the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini are all 60% boards. The two Wootings are hotswappable. The Razer uses Analog Optical switches and is non-hotswappable like the Apex.