The difference between a CS:GO knife being worth a few hundreds dollars and being worth over $1M resides in the rarity of the pattern. This applies to practically all the CS:GO weapon skins, and in this guide, we’ll bring you a proper overview, so you can understand what they are and how they work.
We’ll start talking about the two big groups of patterns – the ones that look identical and the ones that differ from each other – and then explain to you how they’re generated and assigned to skins in CS:GO (CS2).
What Are CS:GO Patterns?
Simply put, the pattern is the envelope of the CS:GO weapon, and along with the finish, they bring the skin a characteristic look. However, it’s important to note there are two types of CS:GO patterns:
- Patterns that look the same, regardless of the number. This is the case for weapons such as the AK-47 | Asiimov, USP-S | Target Acquired and the SSG 08 | Threat Detected.For example, if you have a USP-S | Target Acquired with the pattern #456, and another with the pattern #999, you will notice no difference at all. They are the same
- Patterns that look different right away. This is the case for weapons with finishes such as the Case Hardened finish. For example, if you pick a Karambit | Case Hardened #387 and a Karambit | Case Hardened #651, you’ll notice the difference right away… the #387 is a lot bluer and more stunning looking, and hence it’s capable of selling for as much as $1.5M!
This is how you should look at CS:GO patterns, divided in two big blocks. This will help you navigate the universe of CS:GO patterns and skins.
How Do CS:GO Patterns Work?
The patterns are assigned randomly and they range from #1 to #999. There’s no way to know the result beforehand, because it’s not predetermined, and hence it’s 100% aleatory. Once a random pattern has been selected, it’s applied like a square of texture on the skin, bringing it its final look.
When we talk about skins which patterns look the same, such as the USP-S | Target Acquired, you don’t have to worry about the pattern you’ll get because it won’t influence its final value. The most important factors here will be the float value (the lower, the better) and if it’s StatTrak rated.
Now, if we talk about skins with patterns that look different from each other, this is when things change. Because the chances of dropping a specific pattern are 0.10%, and if we are talking about premium skins such as the Karambit | Case Hardened and the AK-47 | Case Hardened, only a few patterns will allow you to sell the skins for a lot of overpay versus the standard market price.
If you’d like to learn more about the most valuable CS:GO patterns, the next section will bring you all the details you need.
What are the Rarest CS Patterns?
Some CS:GO patterns are more valuable than others, and here you have a list with the rarest and most expensive ones nowadays:
- Case Hardened Blue Gem Patterns
- Fade Patterns
- Marble Fade Patterns
- Gamma Doppler Patterns
- Doppler Patterns
- Crimson Web Patterns
- Slaughter Patterns
These are the rarest and most valuable patterns for CS:GO skins, and you can easily check it by visiting the Steam Marketplace and other third-party CS:GO marketplaces, and you’ll see the most expensive skins usually have these patterns.
For example, the most expensive CS:GO skins ever sold have a Case Hardened Blue Gem pattern, such as the StatTrak AK-47 | Case Hardened #661 Factory New sold for $1M, and plenty of knives sold for over $200,000, such as the Karambit | Case Hardened (Factory New) #853.
Conclusion
This is all for this short guide – now you have a proper overview on CS:GO patterns. You know what they are, how they work and which ones are the most valuable patterns in the CS:GO economy, such as the blue gem patterns and the Gamma Doppler patterns.
If you have more questions about the CS2 patterns, you can leave them in the comments section and we’ll reply to you as soon as possible.