Surprisingly, CS: GO offers a collection of highly valuable weapon skins that come with a hefty price tag. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 11 of the most expensive and sought-after CS: GO skins, providing their price range and additional details.
CS: GO, a widely acclaimed first-person shooter (FPS) game, captivates players with its precise gun mechanics, tactical complexity, and its extensive virtual marketplace filled with skins and in-game items. This game provides players with a plethora of customization choices to personalize their appearance, ranging from weapon skins and knives to badges, stickers, and character cosmetics. Nevertheless, obtaining these customization elements comes at a price.
Skin prices have witnessed a significant surge due to the impending release of Counter-Strike 2, as players eagerly anticipate the ability to transfer their skins to the upcoming game and enjoy the utilization of beloved console commands.
Given the vast array of skins available, newcomers to the game may find themselves perplexed as to what distinguishes a valuable skin and why certain individuals invest significant amounts of money in them. In order to shed light on this matter, we will elucidate the factors that influence skin prices in Counter-Strike and present you with a compilation of the game’s most exorbitant skins.
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- Most expensive CSGO skins
- What is the reason behind the high prices of CSGO skins?
Most expensive CSGO skins
As of September 2023, provided below is a comprehensive table displaying the costliest CSGO skins available.
| RANK | SKIN NAME | PRICE | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | AK-47 – Fire Serpent | $500 – $8,000 | This classic and rare skin, released back in 2013, can cost upwards of $6,000 for a StatTrack Factory New version. |
| 10 | AK-47 – Gold Arabesque (Souvenir) | $1,500 – $10,000 | Once priced under $2,000 due to oversupply, this flashy skin’s cost has risen significantly since Dust2 was removed from the map pool. A Factory New souvenir version can now cost over $10,000. |
| 9 | M4A4 – Howl | $2,000 – $20,000 | The unique ‘Contraband’ grade Howl skin is exceptionally rare. A Factory New, StatTrak version can fetch up to $20,000, and with expensive stickers applied, it can sell for over $100,000. |
| 8 | AK-47 – Wild Lotus | $3,000 – $20,000 | This relatively new and short-supplied skin from the St. Marc collection, released in 2019, is in high demand. A Factory New version can cost over $8,000. |
| 7 | Crimson Web knives (Factory New) | Over $8,000 | These rare and popular knife skins can fetch substantial prices, depending on their condition. |
| 6 | AWP Gungnir | $6,000 – $25,000 | One of the newer skins, added in 2019 as part of the Norse collection. Even a battle-scarred version costs thousands, with Factory New versions priced over $8,000. |
| 5 | Karambit / Butterfly / M9 Bayonet (Sapphire) | $15,000 – $20,000 | These Doppler knives, especially in Sapphire, command high price tags, often over $10,000. Their stunning appearance in Counter-Strike 2 has caused prices to surge to over $20,000 for skins like the Emerald Butterfly Knife. |
| 4 | Vice / Pandora’s Box Sport Gloves (Factory New) | Over $20,000 – $50,000 | These vibrantly colored Sport Gloves are among the most valuable glove skins in CS:GO. Only 92 pairs of Factory New Vice Gloves exist, pushing their prices as high as $20,000 while their Pandora’s Box version can go up to $50,000 |
| 3 | AK-47 – Case Hardened (661) | $30,000 – $120,000 | The pattern number 661 skin, with its ‘blue gem’ appearance, is highly desired. If Titan stickers are applied, it can inflate the price to over $100,000. |
| 2 | AWP Dragon Lore (Souvenir) | Over $150,000 | Souvenir versions of the Dragon Lore skin, especially when Factory New, can fetch more than $150,000. These commemorate specific esports matches and feature gold stickers with the teams and event. |
| 1 | Karambit – Case Hardened (Blue Gem) | Over $2 million | This exceptionally rare and almost mythical skin is currently the most expensive CS: GO skin. Its owner even turned down an offer of around $1.5m USD. |
ValveThe Case Hardened (Blue Gem) Karambit is CSGO’s most expensive weapon.
Why are CSGO skins so expensive?
Mainly, the rarity factor determines the expensive nature of a CSGO skin. The rarity is categorized into eight levels.
- Consumer – White
- Industrial – Light blue
- Mil-Spec – Blue
- Restricted – Purple
- Classified – Pink
- Covert – Red
- Contraband – Orange
- Extraordinary – Gold
Additional factors to consider are the wear and pattern of a CSGO skin. As wear increases, the skin becomes scratched and its visual appeal diminishes in-game, leading to a decrease in value. Moreover, each skin boasts a plethora of distinctive patterns, with those deemed more desirable commanding higher prices.
Our guide on CSGO’s priciest skins concludes here. For those interested in Call of Duty, take a look at our guides on Modern Warfare 2.
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