The Case Hardened skin family is incredibly well-known in the Counter-Strike community, and gamers who have never even touched the game might have also heard about it. This is because the Case Hardened family is responsible for two of the most expensive CS2 skins ever, both going for over a million dollars. This is only possible because Case Hardened skins are unique, and can have extremely rare patterns that can skyrocket prices. In this article, we’ll uncover the best Case Hardened patterns for every possible weapon in the game.
How Do Case Hardened Patterns Work?
Before we discuss the best Case Hardened patterns for every weapon, let’s discuss how these rare patterns actually work so we can appreciate how rare the best patterns are.
A Case Hardened skin can come in 1,000 different patterns. Every time a Case Hardened skin is unboxed, that specific skin will come in a specific pattern index, which is a number between 1 and 1,000. Every pattern index will give a different look for the skin in question. This pattern is permanent and cannot be changed.
Some Case Hardened patterns will display more light blue hues than others, and the rarest patterns will display a full blue side, which are referred to as “Blue Gem” patterns. These patterns are extremely rare – essentially 1 in 1,000 for the best ones.
Blue Gem Pattern Tiers
As previously discussed, Blue Gem patterns are incredibly rare, with most Case Hardened weapons having less than 100 Blue Gem patterns out of 1,000. However, not all of these Blue Gem patterns are worth the same, as the best patterns are often less than 20 out of 1,000.
There are four Blue Gem tiers, numbered from 1 to 4 in order of their value. This means Tier 1 patterns are the best, and Tier 4 patterns are low-valued ones. Throughout this article, we’ll only discuss Tier 1 and Tier 2 patterns.
Best CS2 Case Hardened Patterns For Every Weapon
Now that we’ve understood how these Case Hardened patterns work, let’s go over the best patterns for each Case Hardened weapon in the game. There are a total of 20 knives and 3 weapons with the Case Hardened skin, so let’s go over each of them, starting with the weapons.
AK-47 | Case Hardened Patterns
By far, the best AK-47 | Case Hardened Blue Gem pattern belongs to #661, which is notoriously known as the “Scar Pattern.” A StatTak Factory New version of the #661 pattern was sold for $1,000,000, which has become the most expensive CS2 skin ever sold.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 661 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 151, 955, 321, 387, 670, 179 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 592, 4, 905, 13, 168, 429 |
Five-SeveN | Case Hardened Patterns
The Five-SeveN is the smallest weapon with the Case Hardened skin, so the best blue gem can cover almost the entire weapon. The number one pattern for the pistol is #278, which features nearly 100% blue.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 278 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 690, 868, 363, 670, 768 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 823, 321, 879, 770, 555, 661, 387, 13, 905, 927, 844, 126, 103, 955, 434, 557, 468, 151, 872, 344, 273, 592, 396 |
MAC-10 | Case Hardened Patterns
The MAC-10 is trickier than the Five-SeveN since it has a much larger surface area. The best MAC-10 pattern is hands down number 667, though the 114 and 405 sit pretty close.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 667 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 114, 406, 18, 546, 587, 222, 95, 239, 898, 315 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 503, 959, 924, 29, 147, 414, 311, 195, 328, 652, 251, 570, 379, 964, 400, 598, 199, 807, 885, 788, 475, 899, 285, 889, 6, 972, 358, 381, 182, 345, 629, 292, 80, 144 |
Gut Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Gut Knife doesn’t have too many Tier 1 patterns, only having four. Among the four Tier 1 patterns, the 567 is definitely the best one, though any of the other three will do well.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 567 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 962, 125, 60 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 165, 799, 140, 171, 591, 215, 977, 723, 997, 644, 870, 724, 232, 939, 384, 756, 974 |
Flip Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Flip Knife features a pretty small blade, so having a Blue Gem means most of the knife can easily be covered. Pattern seed 670 is the best one possible, but 321 isn’t too far off.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 670 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 321, 151, 592, 661, 555 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 828, 955, 179, 387, 844, 168, 868, 363, 969, 750, 823, 103, 760 |
Bayonet | Case Hardened Patterns
The pattern 555 Bayonet is the number one pattern available, with a nearly full blue play side except for the tip. The 592 pattern isn’t too far off, but the bottom of the blade is barely blue.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 555 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 592, 670, 151, 179 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 695, 955, 321, 661, 228, 969, 828, 168, 209, 387 |
M9 Bayonet | Case Hardened Patterns
The number one pattern for the M9 Bayonet is very apparent, and it is pattern number 601. It has an almost entirely blue play side, which is very rare for a huge blade like the M9 Bayonet.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 601 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 417 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 58, 503, 523, 406, 349, 403 |
Karambit | Case Hardened Patterns
The best Karambit Case Hardened pattern by far is the 387 pattern, which features a dreamy play side. This very knife is the most expensive skin in the entire game, with the best version of the 387 pattern being valued at the $1,500,000 mark.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 387 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 442, 269, 321, 73, 955, 853, 902, 507, 776 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 905, 698, 670, 130, 375, 664, 828, 74, 282, 453, 868, 377, 891, 798, 341, 541, 713, 661, 494, 4, 182, 823, 273, 838, 917, 82, 721, 510, 809, 470, 179 |
Huntsman | Case Hardened Patterns
For the Huntsman Knife, the best pattern you’re looking for is number 618. However, pattern 652 is a very close competitor to the rank one pattern.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 618 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 652, 721, 29 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 770, 494, 702, 838, 881, 505, 891, 306, 638, 798, 248, 576, 283, 112, 371, 917, 130, 575 |
Butterfly Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
Though the Butterfly Knife is arguably the most popular knife in the game, it doesn’t have too much presence in the Blue Gem market. Still, the number one pattern is 182.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 182 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 652, 398, 838, 29, 494 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 371, 881, 721, 638, 283, 330, 868, 891, 917, 749, 839, 214, 147, 919, 73 |
Falchion Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The best pattern for the Falchion Knife is number 494. Though the Falchion isn’t a very popular knife, the number one pattern is still priced at a fortune.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 494 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 838, 638, 891, 371, 917, 868, 283, 112, 398, 130, 182, 749 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 330, 721, 770, 798, 919, 664, 652, 575, 881, 694, 522, 38, 214, 194, 885, 964, 989, 902, 841, 73, 547, 282, 630, 631, 809, 510, 488, 61, 803, 116, 335 |
Shadow Daggers | Case Hardened Patterns
The Shadow Daggers are unique since there are two blades. The 56 pattern index is the best one for the Shadow Daggers, though it is impossible to have both blades fully blue.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 56 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 505, 866, 417, 609 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 657, 176, 830, 771, 576, 707 |
Bowie Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Bowie Knife has the largest blade compared to any other knife, so getting a full blue play side is pretty much impossible. Still, pattern number 182 does an amazing job.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 182 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 398 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 652, 29, 838, 371, 358, 638, 214 |
Navaja Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Navaja Knife has a pretty small blade, so it’s pretty easy to get a top-tier Blue Gem. The best Case Hardened pattern for this knife is number 398, with 407 and 838 being close competitors.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 398 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 407, 838, 371, 182, 839, 638, 720, 74, 273, 749, 919, 713, 401 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 877, 913, 332, 598, 453, 283, 928, 632, 139, 965, 773, 282, 902, 321, 515, 420, 975, 891, 322, 335, 989, 30, 424, 797, 809, 811, 463, 782, 798, 635, 358, 917 |
Ursus Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Ursus Knife’s number one pattern is number 494, though it doesn’t have a full blue play side. There are a few sprinkles of gold. Enar the bottom of the blade, but both sides are almost entirely blue.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 494 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 770, 618, 575, 652, 112 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 891, 838, 283, 917, 130, 844, 702, 721, 868, 881, 468, 510, 798, 371, 330, 629 |
Stiletto Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Stiletto Knife features a very thin blade, so you bet we can get a full blue pattern on both sides. In this case, it is pattern 182 which features 98% blue across both sides.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 182 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 713, 494 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 74, 917, 407, 868, 92, 453, 322, 112, 798, 965, 398, 721, 139, 891, 838, 321, 905, 664 |
Talon Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Talon Knife closely resembles the most expensive skin in the game as they are both curved knives. The best pattern you can get is number 55, but the rank two pattern is 923.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 55 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 923, 241, 602, 899, 316, 180, 222, 528, 10, 837 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 185, 3, 14, 80, 114, 351, 866, 311, 176, 170, 199, 805, 819, 299, 357, 56, 609, 501, 707, 468, 657, 379, 365, 345, 583, 283, 807, 506, 576, 116, 570 |
Classic Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
If you’re a veteran player, having a skin on the Classic Knife might feel weird. However, getting your hands on pattern 403 won’t disappoint you, as it is the best Blue Gem possible for this knife.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 403 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 58, 681, 169, 456, 601, 316, 577 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 704, 449, 281, 585, 922, 634, 55, 210, 351 |
Survival Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The top patterns for the Survival Knife include patterns 403 and 456, but the former slightly takes the icing on the cake.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 403 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 456, 169, 681, 316, 577, 281, 704, 58 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 922, 55, 449, 668, 634, 351, 601, 585, 583, 447, 210, 850, 628, 880, 556, 180 |
Paracord Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
Funnily enough, the number one pattern for the Paracord Knife is also 403, the exact same as the Survival Knife we just discussed. However, pattern 316 is also very close to the best pattern.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 403 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 316, 456, 58, 681, 577, 169 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 922, 704, 601, 281, 345, 583, 180, 55, 449, 585, 634, 351, 239, 668, 447 |
Nomad Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Nomad Knife became incredibly popular when s1mple started using the Blue Gem version of it. There are three “best” patterns, 456, 577, and 169, but 456 is considered number one.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 456 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 577, 169, 681, 55, 403, 922, 704, 316, 850, 628, 187, 447 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 281, 210, 700, 180, 588, 262, 13, 336, 880, 668, 383, 429, 698, 797, 14, 496, 634, 351, 166, 556, 529, 916, 442, 872, 583 |
Skeleton Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
The Skeleton Knife has two best patterns, which are 403 and 456. For formality’s sake, we have to mention that 403 is the number one pattern for this knife.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 403 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 456, 169, 681, 316, 577, 58 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 704, 55, 281, 922, 668, 449, 556, 351, 447, 583, 262, 180, 880, 210, 345, 850 |
Kukri Knife | Case Hardened Patterns
Last but not least, we have the most recent addition to the knives lineup, which is the Kukri Knife. Though the knife hasn’t been out for too long, the number one pattern has already been identified, which is number 494.
| Pattern Tier | Pattern Index |
| Rank 1 Pattern | 494 |
| Tier 1 Patterns | 770, 575, 652, 618, 917, 844, 112, 891, 838, 868 |
| Tier 2 Patterns | 283, 130, 721, 468, 330, 510, 798, 702, 841, 664, 629, 371, 182, 38, 881, 631, 638, 61 |