Marvel Rivals Mouse Acceleration & Smoothing Fix
This guide explains what mouse acceleration and smoothing do in Marvel Rivals, how to turn them off for more consistent aim, and how to match your in-game sensitivity to your Windows settings. You’ll learn where the settings are, what each option actually changes, and the steps to get raw, 1:1 mouse input.
What Mouse Acceleration and Smoothing Are
Mouse acceleration is a setting that changes how far your crosshair moves based on how fast you flick your mouse. With it on, a quick flick moves the crosshair farther than the same physical distance moved slowly. Mouse smoothing (sometimes called pointer precision or angle snapping) averages out small hand movements, which can make fine adjustments feel slightly delayed or “floaty.” In a competitive shooter like Marvel Rivals, both can make muscle memory unreliable because the same hand motion doesn’t always produce the same crosshair movement.
Marvel Rivals uses the Unreal Engine 5, and like most modern shooters, it reads raw mouse input when you disable the in-game acceleration options. However, Windows has its own “Enhance pointer precision” setting that can add acceleration at the system level. To get truly raw input, you need to turn off both the in-game setting and the Windows one.
How to Turn Off Mouse Acceleration in Marvel Rivals
The game has a dedicated toggle for this, but it’s not labeled exactly “mouse acceleration.” Here’s where to find it:
- Launch Marvel Rivals and go to the main menu.
- Click the Settings gear icon (top right of the screen).
- Select the Keyboard tab (the one with a mouse icon).
- Scroll down to the Mouse section.
- Look for “Mouse Acceleration” and set it to Off.
- Also set “Mouse Smoothing” to Off if the option is present (some versions only show acceleration).
- Apply the changes and exit the menu.
If you don’t see a smoothing toggle, don’t worry—turning off acceleration is the main fix. The game’s raw input setting will then send your mouse movements directly to the game engine.
Windows Setting: Enhance Pointer Precision
Even with the in-game setting off, Windows can still add acceleration if “Enhance pointer precision” is checked. This is a system-level mouse acceleration that applies to all applications. To disable it:
- Open the Control Panel (not the Settings app).
- Click Hardware and Sound, then Mouse.
- Go to the Pointer Options tab.
- Under Motion, uncheck “Enhance pointer precision”.
- Click Apply and OK.
This is the most common cause of persistent mouse acceleration in games. After disabling it, your crosshair should feel more direct and predictable.
Matching Sensitivity: Windows to Marvel Rivals
If you’ve used a specific eDPI (effective dots per inch) in other games, you might want to match it in Marvel Rivals. The game’s sensitivity slider is a multiplier, so you can convert your Windows sensitivity (which is usually a percentage) to the in-game value.
A common method is to use the same formula as Overwatch 2, since both games use similar engine scaling. If your Windows sensitivity is, say, 6 (out of 11), your in-game sensitivity in Marvel Rivals would be roughly the same number. But because the game’s slider doesn’t show a raw value, the easiest way is to use a sensitivity converter website or do a manual test:
- Measure how many inches it takes to do a 360° turn in a game you know.
- In Marvel Rivals, adjust the slider until a 360° turn takes the same physical distance.
This method works regardless of the underlying formula and is the most accurate way to match sensitivity.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that turning off mouse acceleration will instantly improve aim. It won’t—it just makes your aim consistent. If you’ve been playing with acceleration for a long time, your muscle memory has adapted to it, so expect a brief adjustment period.
Another issue is that some gaming mouse software (like Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse) has its own acceleration settings that can override Windows and game settings. Check your mouse driver software and set any acceleration or angle snapping to zero.
If your crosshair still feels floaty after disabling everything, check your polling rate. A higher polling rate (like 1000Hz) reduces input lag. Also, make sure your mouse surface is clean and consistent—a dirty mousepad can cause micro-skips that feel like acceleration.
Comparison: Raw Input vs. Acceleration
Raw input means the game reads your mouse’s DPI and movement directly, without any operating system or driver interference. This is what most professional FPS players use. Acceleration, on the other hand, can be useful for desktop navigation because it lets you move the cursor quickly across a large screen with a small hand movement, but it’s detrimental in games where precision matters.
In Marvel Rivals, you’ll often see players recommend turning off acceleration for heroes that require precise tracking, like Hela or Punisher. For melee heroes like Wolverine, acceleration might not hurt as much, but it’s still better to have consistent input for all heroes.
Alternatives: What If You Like Acceleration?
Some players prefer a small amount of acceleration for flick shots. If that’s you, you can enable it in-game but set it to a low value. The game’s slider goes from 0 to 100, and even a small amount can change the feel. Experiment in the practice range to find a value that doesn’t make your aim unpredictable.
Another alternative is to use a mouse with a higher DPI and lower in-game sensitivity. This gives you more precision without acceleration, because the sensor has more data points to work with. Many pros use 800 DPI with an in-game sensitivity around 5-10 in Marvel Rivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Marvel Rivals have built-in mouse acceleration?
Yes, the game has a “Mouse Acceleration” setting in the Keyboard tab of Settings. It’s off by default, but some players may have enabled it accidentally. Turn it off for consistent aim.
Why does my crosshair feel like it’s dragging in Marvel Rivals?
That could be mouse smoothing, which is often enabled by default in Unreal Engine games. Check the Keyboard settings and turn off any smoothing option. Also, make sure Windows’ “Enhance pointer precision” is unchecked.
What is the best sensitivity for Marvel Rivals?
There’s no single best sensitivity—it depends on your mouse DPI, playstyle, and comfort. A common starting point is 800 DPI with 5-10 in-game sensitivity, then adjust until you can do a 180° turn with one comfortable flick.
How do I convert my Overwatch 2 sensitivity to Marvel Rivals?
You can use a sensitivity converter website, but the most reliable method is to measure your 360° turn distance in Overwatch 2 and then adjust Marvel Rivals’ slider until it matches. The games use different engines, so a direct multiplier isn’t guaranteed.
Does turning off mouse acceleration reduce input lag?
It can reduce perceived input lag because your crosshair responds directly to your hand movement without any processing. However, the actual system lag is minimal. The bigger benefit is consistency, not raw speed.
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