The CS2 Steam Workshop is where all the most talented players and designers come together to create lots of different, unique, in-game skins. These skins, especially the rarer workshop skins, let you add a bit of personality to your CS2 experience – letting you add an extra layer of individuality to your weapons and make them look even more eye-catching as you take to the battlefield.
Valve Corporation, the name behind Counter-Strike 2, is always reviewing and picking the best new skins – and incorporating them into the game, where they’ll then become official, collectable items. Those special skins that do make it through the selection process then usually go on to become some of the most coveted out there… not just because of their designs but also their rarity.
Here, in this guide, we’re going to look at some of the very best Workshop skins in CS2, the stories and inspirations behind their designs – and what impact they’ve made on the CS2 skin market. Whether you’re after a futuristic look, something a little bit more rustic or gritty – or simply something that makes your weapon jump out from the screen, these are the top skins to fit every player’s taste… and budget.
USP-S | Split
First on our list is the USP-S | Split, which is a visually stunning workshop skin that manages to combine modern, futuristic design elements with a stand-out yellow and black color combo that many players love
The pattern has a bit of a broken and fragmented design that gives it an interesting-looking texture that stands out from most of the other skins.
Who Is It For? This skin is perfect for anyone who’s looking to add some sleek and brightly colored imagery to their loadout. The design’s sharp lines and split pattern make it look extra dynamic – almost like the gun has been split into two parts. If you’re a player of modern tastes, this is definitely worth a look.
Best Wear Condition: If you’re looking for the cleanest and sharpest design, you should opt for Minimal Wear or Factory New condition.
Price Range: It’s a nice, affordable option and usually sells for between $8 – $15 USD depending on wear condition.
Desert Eagle | Chrome Fade
Next on the list is the Chrome Fade, which is now undeniably one of the most sought-after Desert Eagle skins. Its absolutely stunning gradient changes from a shiny chrome finish to much darker metallic-looking shades.
Pretty much everyone agrees that the overall effect is a masterpiece, as the gradient is smooth, clean, and looks perfect.
Who Is It For? Anyone with eyes and good taste! Seriously, this skin gives the Desert Eagle a polished, sophisticated look – and it’s one of the most iconic skins in the game.
Best Wear Condition: To truly appreciate the sharpest gradient, it looks best in Factory New condition.
Price Range: Considering its incredible design and popularity, it comes in at a pretty reasonable $70 – $100 USD!
It’s worth noting that this skin isn’t currently available through cases. However, it is fairly widely available on the market either through trades and on the Steam Community Market.
M4A1-S | Desert Racer
The M4A1-S | Desert Racer is a futuristic looking skin that’s smooth, sleek and perfectly complements the quiet but deadly nature of the M4A1-S. The skin has a dominant white and purple color scheme, with dynamic lines that have been added to give the feeling of speed and movement.
Who Is It For? This skin is perfect if you’re looking for a skin with the right balance of looks and performance. It’s a great choice because of its high visibility in gameplay – but it still has a professional and clean design.
Best Wear Condition: We’ve found that the Field-Tested skins offer the best balance between looks and value.
Price Range: The skins are great value – and you can get them for between$15 – $30 USD.
AWP | Watatsumi 海神
This one has a very interesting concept. As the name suggests, it has been Inspired by Japanese mythology – the AWP | Watatsumi 海神 pays tribute to the Japanese Sea God, Watatsumi. The skin has an intricate design that is filled with mythological imagery, including a majestic-looking dragon and the undersea palace Ryūgū-jō. It has gorgeous deep blue details and green coloring – with a very detailed design that makes it look powerful but still quite calm and tranquil.
Who Is It For? It’s perfect for any CS player who is looking for a skin that has a story and artistry behind it.
Best Wear Condition: If you want to make the most of the arty design, you should splash out on the Factory New wear.
Price Range: Whilst it’s not the cheapest, it’s still pretty affordable, and you can get it between $40 – $80 USD
Desert Eagle | Solanum Pearlescent
The Desert Eagle | Solanum Pearlescent is a beautiful skin inspired by and based on the Ryukyu robin with lots of brightly colored flowers – like the solanum nigrum. The skin is a perfect blend of soft and gentle flowery patterns, and it has a pearlescent finish that catches the light beautifully.
Who Is It For? It has an unusual naturalistic design that makes it the ideal skin if you’re looking for one with intricate details and a nature-inspired look.
Best Wear Condition: You should opt for no less than Minimal Wear if you want to show off the skin’s clean design properly.
Price Range: This one comes well within most players’ budgets at between $25 – $45 USD
AK-47 | Demonic Hyenas
Then, we have the AK-47 | Demonic Hyenas – which is a bold and fierce skin that embodies the wildness and ferocity of hyenas… demonic ones no less. This skin is made up of dark and intimidating colors with fiery red splashes and images of hyenas.
Who Is It For? With its fierce, aggressive design – paired with the impact of the AK-47, this is a great choice if you’re someone looking to evoke a sense of power and animalistic ferocity when you take to the battlefield.
Best Wear Condition: We actually like the Field-Tested version, as it adds to the gritty look of the skin
Price Range: This is pretty easy on the bank balance, and prices range between $20 – $35.
AUG | Divine Fragment
AUG | Divine Fragment is a stunning-looking skin that has been designed to look like stained-glass art, with random, bright patterns that shimmer in the light like expensive jewels. However, unlike lots of other top skins, this skin’s beauty looks even better in the Battle-Scarred condition, as the worn-down look adds an extra layer of mystique to the design.
Who Is It For? With its deep jewel colors – like ruby red and emerald green it’s perfect for those who want to dazzle their opponents at an affordable price.
Best Wear Condition: We think the battle-scarred look makes it even more interesting… and it’s cheaper!
Price Range: You can get one of these skins for between $15 and $25 USD.
UMP-45 | Psychedelic
Next on the list is the UMP-45 | Psychedelic, which is a bright skin that looks a bit like gasoline and oil stains that are swirling to create psychedelic patterns. It has lots of bright neon colors like electric blues, greens, and purples, and it definitely catches the eye… it almost looks as if the pattern is changing right in front of your eyes!
Who Is It For? With its fluid design, this one’s perfect for those who enjoy fast-paced gameplay and want to add an extra layer of excitement to the game.
Best Wear Condition: We found that the Field-Tested or Minimal Wear gives it a nice balanced appearance
Price Range: This is a super affordable skin and you should be able to get it for anywhere between $5 and $12.
M4A1-S | Chrome Fade
M4A1-S | Chrome Fade is a skin that has a very similar gradient effect to the Desert Eagle Chrome Fade, but this time on the M4A1-S. The gradient changes from purple to orange almost in an ombre way – and it definitely looks impressive.
Who Is It For? The skin has a smooth and polished finish that makes it stand out… It’s perfect if you are looking for a high-quality design with a bright and bold color scheme.
Best Wear Condition: If you get it in Factory New, it has the sharpest fade
Price Range: This is a mid-range skin that can be bought for between $60 and $100 USD
AK-47 | GALAXY Camouflage
Then, we have the AK-47 | GALAXY Camouflage, which takes the standard camouflage design to a whole new level by adding a touch of the cosmos and galaxy. This one doesn’t use the traditional earthy tones. Instead, it uses bright, intergalactic shades that are designed to mimic the beauty of the cosmos.
Who Is It For? With its unique camouflage pattern, it’s perfect if you want to add a bit of a non-traditional look to your AK-47.
Best Wear Condition: We’d recommend you go for the Field-Tested look… no lower, so you don’t lose that clarity of the galactic design
Price Range: It’s a pretty budget skin that you can get for between $25 and $50 USD
AWP | Porcelain
The AWP | Porcelain is designed around the beauty of Chinese porcelain and Delft Blauw, so it has a more sophisticated and cultural design. The skin has pretty, delicate floral images and intricate patterns with that classic white background.
- Who Is It For? The skin has a refined elegance that really makes it stand out as one of the most graceful AWP skins out there. This is one for the artists and cultured amongst us!
- Best Wear Condition: We’d recommend you get the Factory New look so that you don’t lose that pristine porcelain look.
- Price Range: You can get your hands on one for between $70 and $100 USD depending on the condition.
Zeus x27 | ZX Spectron
The Zeus x27 | ZX Spectron is a cute and quirky nod to the old-school gamers favorite… the iconic ZX Spectrum. It has been designed with all different elements of retro computing, with cool pixelated patterns and bright 80s-inspired neon colors. As the first Zeus-themed skin, we think it might even eventually become one of the most collectable items in the game.
- Who Is It For? This is definitely one for the old-school players out there who want a trip down memory lane.
- Best Wear Condition: It’s not expensive, so we recommend going for Factory New for a nice and sharp color contrast.
- Price Range: It will go out for between $10 – $20 USD – so very affordable and definitely worth getting.
Desert Eagle | Sunglasses Fade
The Desert Eagle | Sunglasses Fade comes with a really stunning fade pattern – as it transitions from bright yellow to metallic blue – really packing a punch. The gradient effect on this skin will give your gun a cool and sleek look – making you standout from your comrades.
- Who Is It For? This is a standout choice for anyone who wants to add a fresh and modern look to their weapon.
- Best Wear Condition: If you get a Factory New one, you’ll get the cleanest gradient
- Price Range: Depending on wear, you can get one for between $50 and $80 USD
USP-S | SPLASHES
Then, we have the USP-S | SPLASHES, which is a very bold skin that adds a burst (or splash) of color to your weapon. It comes with various splashes of blue and purple – and really stands out against the gun’s black background of the gun.
- Who Is It For? If you have a taste for color and like to stand out – and don’t have too much of a big budget, this is for you.
- Best Wear Condition: We’d go for a Minimal Wear or Field-Tested skin for the best splash effect.
- Price Range: It’s nice and cheap – and available for around $10 – $20 USD.
GLOCK-18 | REFLEXIS
The penultimate on our list is the GLOCK-18 | REFLEXIS, which comes with a sleek and sophisticated look, thanks to its light-reflecting material. The skin has reflective textures that help to create optical illusions, where the light interacts with the folds, seams, and logos on the weapon, making it quite a sight for you and your enemies.
- Who Is It For? This has a really modern design that is perfect if you want to add a high-tech, rather chic appearance to your Glock-18.
- Best Wear Condition: The Factory New is best for showing off its reflective effects
- Price Range: It’s a very affordable skin that you can find for around $5 – $15 USD.
AWP | GOLDEN DRAGON
Finally, we have the AWP | GOLDEN DRAGON, which is a majestic-looking skin that contrasts a beautiful golden dragon with a sleek, dark black background. The dragon has a stunningly intricate design and the skin’s gold and black color scheme really adds a touch of elegance to the gameplay.
- Who Is It For? This skin is perfect if you’re looking to wield a weapon that radiates power and wealth.
- Best Wear Condition: This skin is at its best if you can afford to get it in Factory New wear.
- Price Range: It’s not one of the cheaper ones on the market, so you’ll need to be prepared to pay somewhere around $80 – $120 USD.
Steam Workshop Skins: Conclusion
There are some seriously incredible CS2 workshop skins available now – with unique-looking designs for all types of players with all different tastes. Whether you’re looking to add some class and style to your gameplay, some grittiness to your guns – or just bring a little bit of old-school gaming nostalgia, the choices are plentiful. Whether you just have a few dollars to spare or don’t mind spending hundreds, there are options for all budgets – and more are being released all the time.
So, look through our list, see which one you like the look of, and add a bit of you to your weaponry!