Frag like the pros with the Razer Destructor gaming mat.

PC gaming has come a long way since the days of the ball mouse. While e-sports aren’t grabbing as many eyeballs as traditional televised athletic events, it’s safe to say that competitive play is on the rise. The folks at Razer have a growing catalogue of high end accessories designed to maximize your kill count, so if you’ve got $40 to spend on that hardcore hobby or budding e-career, the Razer Destructor should give you an edge.

So, what do you get for four sawbucks? The Destructor comes packaged in an impressive zipper case that’s about the size of a thin notebook computer. It’s the very definition of excessive, sure, but it looks gorgeous and is likely to turn heads at any LAN party. The mat fits snugly in a recessed compartment, complete with a notched cutout for easy unpacking. Along with the gear you get a glossy, full-color catalog of other Razer products, and a certificate of authenticity signed by RazerGuy.

According to the manufacturer, the Destructor uses Razer Fractal™ technology to increase accuracy up to 37% over rival game mats when using a laser mouse (25% for optical mice). The pad surface is coated with a “highly reactive gunmetal finish” creating an optimal base for your input device that shames any non-gaming mouse pad. It’s considerably longer and thinner than conventional accessories (350mm x 280mm x 2.3mm), so the occasionally spastic wrist flick shouldn’t send your equally expensive 1800dpi infrared gaming mouse crashing to the floor (we used the limited edition Guild Wars Death Adder in our tests, in case you were wondering).

It goes without saying that, yes, there is a noticeable difference in using the Destructor versus a run-of-the-mill mouse mat (or *gasp* no pad at all); every subtle hand movement registers flawlessly. In fact, it might feel a bit too precise at first, but don’t rush to lower your sensitivity settings! Instead, spend a few minutes putting this black beauty through its paces. You’ll be glad you did.

About the only complaint we had with the Destructor is its exclusion of any wrist support. Unlike the eXactMat + eXactRest package, there is no included gel pad, so you’ll have to tote another piece of gear with you or risk Carpal tunnel syndrome from extended use. Trust us—take care of your hands.

Will the Razer Destructor turn your average Minesweeper jockey into the next Fatal1ty? Not a chance. But it will appreciably improve mouse accuracy for playing demanding shooters and real-time strategy games. It’s probably more mat than you’ll ever need, but it’s a well-designed accessory if you’re willing to pay the price for performance.