Case opening is one of the most popular and interesting features of CS2, and if you’re wondering how it works so you can start opening CS2 cases, this guide will bring you all the information you need.
We will start by letting you know if it’s possible to open cases in CS2 and then show you how to do it in-game and at third-party sites, as well as bringing you information about the odds of CS2 case opening and what are the best cases to open.
Can You Open Cases in CS2?
Yes, you can open cases in CS2. Just like you could open cases in CS:GO, you can do it without restrictions in the new version of the game. The odds are the same, and the only difference is there are more cases where to choose from, both from Valve and third party sites.
Nothing has really changed in comparison to CS:GO, as it’s still very hard to drop rare knives such as a blue gem knife, you still have to buy both a case and a key to open it, and Valve is still using a 100% Random Number Generator to determine what skin a case will drop.
Now that it’s clear you can open cases in CS2 without problems, let’s go into the details of cases opening so you can get started as soon as possible.
Types of CS2 Cases
We can divide cases in three main categories: Black, Yellow and eSports Cases. Below, you will find all the details about them.
Black Cases
Black Cases are created by Valve employees, and they are the most expensive. There are only four Black Cases in the game and they are as follows: CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3 and Operation Bravo Case.
Yellow Cases
In this category we will find the vast majority of cases as they are created by the Counter-Strike community. Whenever Valve wants to launch a new case, they will select the best skin designs from the Steam Workshop and add them to the case. They do this 1-2 times per year, bringing users the opportunity to earn a percentage of the sales of the case if their skins are selected.
eSports Cases
Just like Black Cases, these were also created by Valve employees, and they are only obtainable by purchasing them, as they will never drop at the end of a match. Valve introduced these cases because a percentage of the sales is used to promote the CS2 eSports scene.
How to Open Cases in CS2 in-Game
Before you can open cases, in case you have none in your inventory, you need to buy them. Here’s how you can do it in the Steam Community Marketplace:
- Launch Steam
- Click on the “Community” Tab
- Click on “Market”
- Go to Counter-Strike 2
- Search for “Case” in the Marketplace to see all the available cases
Now you can pick and buy the cases you choose, and if you want to search for a specific case, simply search its name in the Marketplace and you’ll be able to see all the available offers.
Remember, you also have to buy the corresponding keys to open the cases, otherwise it won’t work if you attempt it without having the right keys. This is one of the reasons why many players prefer opening cases on third-party sites than in-game, because you don’t have to spend money in buying keys, instead you can use it for buying more cases to increase your chances of landing a rare and valuable drop.
Once you have bought your own cases and keys, or if you already have some in your inventory, here’s how you can open them:
- Launch CS2
- Click on the Inventory icon
- Click on the CS2 case you want to open
- Click on the unlock button to open the case
- Once the roulette-like animation stops playing, you’ll get a skin and it will be added to your inventory instantly
If you have more than one case to open, simply follow the same steps and you’ll be able to unlock all the skins from your CS2 cases.
You also have to know you can get cases for free, as you can get them at the end of matches. We also recommend you to buy the Prime status, which is a one-time payment of $14.99. Once you’ve bought it, you’ll be entitled to receive a Weekly Care Package, which can reward you with free cases every single week.
How to Open CS2 Cases at Third Party Sites
If you want to venture yourself into the world of third-party case opening and CS2 gambling, here’s how you can do it:
- Sign up at a case opening site like CSGOLuck.com or CSGORoll.com
- Activate your account
- Claim your free welcome cases
- If you wish, make a deposit and buy more cases from the Marketplace of the third-party site
- Go to check your inventory on the third-party case opening site
- Click on the case you want to open
- It will play a roulette-like animation
- Once the animation stops, you’ll discover what skin you’ve just won
It works the same way as Valve CS2 case opening, but the main difference is you don’t have to buy keys. Just buy the cases you want, click on them and they will open instantly, letting you see what skins you’ve just won.
In comparison to buying and opening cases in-game, doing so at third-party sites will bring you access to a larger selection of cases. From cases only containing knives or gloves to thematic cases featuring specific patterns, you will have more opportunities at dropping the skins you really want.
If you are wondering what third-party sites are the best ones for opening CS2 cases, here you have a list of safe, reputable and licensed CS:GO casinos you can join now:
- CSGOLuck
- CSGORoll
- CSGOEmpire
- Hellcase
- Duelbits
- CSGOFast
- Clash.gg
They all offer a large variety of cases you can open without keys, generous welcome bonuses of free cases and a 100% safe and fair gameplay experience because they use audited Provably Fair technology.
The Odds of CS2 Case Opening
As we have previously mentioned, the odds of CS2 case opening haven’t changed in comparison to case opening in CS:GO. They are the same, and here you have them:
- Rare / Mil-Spec (Blue): 79.92%
- Mythical / Restricted (Purple): 15.98%
- Legendary / Classified (Pink): 3.20%
- Ancient / Covert (Red): 0.64%
- Exceedingly Rare Special (Gold): 0.26%
As you can see, the most common and cheapest skins are the most frequent drops, whereas the most expensive skins such as knives and gloves are the rarest drops. For example, it will take you approximately 391 opens to get a gold-rated drop such as a skin with a rare pattern like Blue Gem or Ice & Fire.
If you want to venture into case opening, it’s important to be aware of the real odds of it, so you can see it’s hard to drop rare, exotic and expensive skins. This is why case opening offers a low ROI in the majority of situations, especially if you’re not budgeted in for the long run.
Simply put, you need to have a big enough budget to keep buying and opening cases for the long run. As we have seen, it takes approximately 391 opens to get a rare drop, so you need to take this into account if you want to take a shot at getting a premium skin.
It’s also important to mention that the skin a case drops will have a random float or wear value as well. If you’re wondering what the odds are, here you have them:
- Factory New (0.00-0.07): 3%
- Minimal Wear (0.07-0.15): 24%
- Field-Tested (0.15-0.38): 33%
- Well-Worn (0.38-0.45): 24%
- Battle-Scarred (0.45-1.00): 16%
It’s clear to see that it’s pretty hard to drop a rare skin that happens to be Factory New or Minimal Wear, which are the most expensive float values, making it even more difficult for you to get a highly valuable skin by opening cases.
Although it might seem discouraging at first, it shouldn’t demotivate you from giving CS2 case opening a try. Because you can happen to be lucky and get a rare drop after opening a few cases.
What are the Best Cases to Open in CS2?
Each CS2 case will offer you a different ROI, which has been tested and documented by players like you after opening cases thousands of times. If you are wondering what are the best cases to open in CS2 nowadays, here you have the full list:
| Name | ROI (%) | Price (Case + Key) |
| Kilowatt Case | 83.03% | $3.74 |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 3 | 76.31% | $9.31 |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 2 | 72.89% | $15.7 |
| Operation Wildfire Case | 68.26% | $4.93 |
| eSports 2013 Winter Case | 65.22% | $13.08 |
| Operation Vanguard Case | 64.52% | $5.42 |
| Winter Offensive Case | 63.58% | $8.89 |
| Horizon Case | 62.28% | $3.45 |
| Prisma Case | 61.48% | $3.14 |
| Huntsman Weapon Case | 60.69% | $12.77 |
If you want to test the waters with minimal risk, you can go ahead and open high ROI cases at the beginning. This way you can learn the ins and outs of case opening before you try your luck with “riskier” cases that can drop more valuable skins and items.
In our opinion, if it’s your first time opening cases in CS2, we recommend you to stick to the Kilowatt Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 3 and CS:GO Weapon Case 2, because they provide the highest ROI nowadays, and this has been tested thousands of times by players. However, if your budget is limited, just stick to the Kilowatt Case.
For example, if you have $1,000 you want to spend on CS2 case opening, and you pick the Kilowatt Case, you’ll be able to open the case 267 times, and since it offers a ROI of 83.03%, chances are you’ll get back approximately $830.30 USD, leaving you with a loss of $169.70, which is the price you’d pay for trying to hunt down a rare drop.
Is It Worth It To Open CS2 Cases?
Yes, it’s worth it to open CS2 cases if you can manage the risk accordingly. Just like you get recommended to gamble money you can afford to lose, the same goes for CS2 case opening. It’s a game of chance, and hence there are no guarantees you will get a rare skin after opening the same case 391 times, because it can take you only 10 opens… or maybe 1,000 times.
This is why we recommend you to set up a bankroll before buying and opening cases in CS2. For example, if you can afford to gamble $500, and you decide to pick the Kilowatt Case, you’ll be able to open it 133 times. And if you don’t happen to win a rare drop after spending your $500, just call it a day and try another time once you have disposable income you wish to spend on case opening.
The same goes if you want to go the third-party way. Although the cases at third-party sites are cheaper because you don’t have to buy keys to open them, the same principles apply: only use money you can afford to lose.
Third-party case opening sites rely on Provably Fair to guarantee verifiable and random outcomes. Therefore, there are no guarantees you will get a premium drop, and hence you need to manage the risk accordingly.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to open CS2 cases in-game and at third party sites, and how it works, you have all the necessary knowledge and resources to get started.
If you have questions about opening cases in CS2, and you’d like us to answer them, write them down in the comments and we will get back to you as soon as possible.