What keyboard does esports player Shotzzy (Anthony Cuevas-Castro) use?
Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-Castro, a prominent esports player for OpTic Texas, is widely recognized for his exceptional skills in Call of Duty. However, it's important to note that Shotzzy primarily uses a controller for his competitive gameplay and streaming, rather than a keyboard and mouse. He is a multi-time world champion in Call of Duty and also previously won the Halo World Championship, both of which are predominantly controller-based games.
Shotzzy's Primary Input Device: Controller
Shotzzy's go-to input device for competitive Call of Duty is a Battle Beaver PS4 Custom Controller. This type of customized controller is popular among professional players due to its enhanced features designed for competitive play.
Pros of using a Custom Controller (like Shotzzy's Battle Beaver)
- Customization: Battle Beaver controllers offer extensive customization options, including remappable buttons, custom stick tensions, and adjustable triggers, allowing players to tailor the controller to their specific preferences and playstyle. This can lead to faster reaction times and more comfortable gameplay.
- Ergonomics: Custom controllers are often designed with improved ergonomics, which can reduce hand fatigue during long gaming sessions.
- Familiarity: For players like Shotzzy who grew up competing in console FPS titles, the controller provides a familiar and intuitive control scheme that they have mastered over many years.
- Aim Assist: In games like Call of Duty, controllers benefit from aim assist, a controversial but undeniable advantage that helps players track targets, especially in close-quarters combat. Shotzzy's proficiency with a controller demonstrates how effective it can be when combined with high-level game sense and movement.
Cons of using a Custom Controller
- Precision: While aim assist helps, a controller generally offers less raw aiming precision compared to a mouse, particularly for long-range engagements or flick shots.
- Learning Curve (for keyboard & mouse players): For players transitioning from keyboard and mouse, adapting to a controller can be challenging due to the different input method and muscle memory required.
- Cost: High-end custom controllers like the Battle Beaver can be significantly more expensive than standard controllers.
Shotzzy's Experience with Keyboard and Mouse
While Shotzzy is a controller prodigy, there have been instances where he has attempted to play Call of Duty with a keyboard and mouse. These attempts often go viral because they highlight his unfamiliarity and struggles with the input method, a stark contrast to his dominant controller performance. He has openly acknowledged his difficulties, with clips from his streams showing him struggling to get kills he would normally secure with ease on a controller. This underscores that his expertise lies firmly with a controller.
Past Keyboard Models Used
Given Shotzzy's history and success primarily as a controller player in titles like Halo and Call of Duty, there is no consistent record or indication of him using specific keyboard models for competitive play in the past. His professional career has been built around his mastery of the controller.
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