Perhaps one of the greatest additions not just to Counter-Strike, but to the landscape of gaming as a whole – skins in CS are as synonymous to the franchise as the game itself. With an extensive amount of options for people to try their luck at through cases or simply buy straight up with real money, customized weapon finishes are always sought after by people be it from the humblest design to the most extravagant.
What Makes CSGO/CS2 Skins Valuable?
Like any collectible, rarity is a major factor. Some skins are much harder to come by, either due to limited release methods or simply how rarely they drop from loot boxes. On top of that, not all rare skins are equally desired. Some have unique designs or features that make them highly attractive to players, driving the price up even more. For some, these skins become potential investments. With a limited number in circulation and continued demand, the value of certain ones can rise over time. Online marketplaces where players can trade skins create a fluid market where prices can be influenced by trends and speculation. Finally, the recent update of CSGO’s engine upgrade to Source 2, becoming CS2, has even increased the value of said skins due to assurance about the game’s future and their overall design under the new engine It’s important to remember that the worth of a CS skin ultimately depends on what someone is willing to pay. While some can be incredibly expensive, there are also many affordable options for players who simply want to customize their weapons. The ones in this list, however, are the true holy grails for any serious collector.
Top 10 Most Expensive Skins in Counter-Strike
1. Karambit | Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern 387 – Around $1-1.5 million (World Record)
You read that right. This specific set of pixels and code cost more than a person might even touch in their entire lifetime. This Blue Gem Karambit holds the record as the single most expensive skin ever sold in Counter-Strike, going for a staggering $1.5 million dollars. There are an endless number of cars and properties you can buy whose value will never even come close to that of this one specific skin. By virtue of price and the fact that someone was willing to pay for it makes it the undisputed most valuable skin in Counter-Strike.
2. Souvenir AWP | Dragon Lore – Around $50,000 to $200,000+
Quite possibly the single most famous skin in the entire game and one that makes heads turn a lot more than others, the Souvenir Dragon Lore is one of the greatest skins ever created and only belongs to a handful of people due to how rare it is. Only obtainable through a drop from a Cobblestone case, which has since become increasingly valuable due to the map’s absence from the active duty pool, the Souvenir Dragon Lore will only get more expensive depending on the stickers it comes with. It is priced around $50,000 to $100,000 on average, with certain versions of the skin coming with a gold autograph of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev or Kenny “kennyS” Schrub placed on the scope fetching the highest prices ever.
3. StatTrak AK-47 | Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern 661 – Around 50,000+
The equivalent of the Karambit Blue Gem in the top spot, this specific pattern in Factory New is the single cleanest, bluest, and most valuable AK-47 that money can buy. With a base market value of around $50,000, that price will only go up depending on the stickers it comes with. Having a complete craft of holographic team stickers from Katowice 2014 will drive up the price by a significant margin and can even reach the six-digit mark.
4. StatTrak M4A4 | Howl – Around 20,000+
There is no debate that this specific weapon finish is the rarest in the game – because it is the only one that can no longer be obtained through any natural means. Forever in infamy due to its status as a controversial skin based on stolen artwork, the Howl can never be dropped from cases or even in-game rewards and can only switch hands from someone that owns it trading it to someone else. This drives up the price by a huge margin as year after year, the amount of Howls in circulation decrease due to accounts getting banned among other reasons.
5. Sport Gloves | Pandora’s Box – Around $15,000
The most sought-after pair of gloves in the entire game, the Pandora’s Box Sport Gloves are one of the rarest finds from any collection. They were one of the first gloves ever introduced as part of the Glove Case, and are also one of the most expensive. Getting these gloves for $6,000 is already on the lower end of the market, as they fetch a much higher price for the Minimal Wear and Factory New variants. Prices for the models with lower floats tend to reach the $10,000 to $15,000 range on average.
6. AWP | Gungnir – Around $15,000
One of the more recent additions to the game but still an extremely valuable skin, the Gungnir has become a quick favorite for professional players and collectors over the last few years it has been in the game. World class AWPers such as s1mple and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut can be seen wielding a Gungnir from time to time, further adding to its desirability. The average price is around the $10,000 range considering even the ones with high float values, but for the most premium ones it will cost you a few more stacks of cash as the market prices can reach the $12,000 to $15,000 range.
7. AK-47 | Wild Lotus – Around $10,000
Just like the Gungnir, this skin in particular is quite new to the game but still a very sought-after weapon finish. The Wild Lotus is among the higher-tier when it comes to skins for the beloved AK-47, and buying one will set you back a good amount. Prices start around the $2,000 range for its worst condition and will extend to upwards of $10,000 in Factory New.
8. StatTrak Butterfly Knife | Lore – Around $10,000
One of the best knives in terms of pull out animation and inspect animation, the Butterfly Knife Lore is like having a pocket AWP | Dragon Lore due to its resemblance with the gold finish and inscriptions on the blade. Owning one in its best condition will cost you around $8,000 to $10,000, with the non-StatTrak version costing a few thousand less should that be a better option for you.
9. Crimson Web Knives – Around $6,000
A unique entry on this list since this particular weapon finish does stand out to one knife, but to many. The Crimson Web line is best known for being a beautiful shade of red on any blade, making it valuable for those who appreciate full colors. Owning any knife that has this specific finish in Factory New can cost around $4,000 to $6,000.
10. Souvenir AK-47 | Gold Arabesque – Around $6,000
Another skin that was added much more recently than others but is still a valuable find is the Gold Arabesque. Often compared to the golden skins in popular FPS Call of Duty, this specific weapon finish becomes more valuable as a drop from a souvenir case. Pricings for its Factory New condition come at around $6,000, but they can get more expensive depending on how the market goes and may even return to its peak at the five-digit range.