An Explanation of the CS2 Skin Rarity
Key Points
- The rarity tiers in CS2 include Consumer Grade, Industrial Grade, Mil-Spec, Restricted, Classified, Covert, and Contraband.
- Not every skin can be discovered in cases; certain ones can solely be obtained through in-game events and operation collections that are no longer available.
- Various factors, including the distinct design and level of usage, can impact the scarcity of skin.
- Various items like agents, stickers, and music kits possess distinct rarity systems and methods of acquisition.
In CS2, the scarcity of skin significantly impacts its worth. It's clear that frequently dropped standard skins will have less value compared to skins that are only unboxed occasionally. It's just the basic principle of supply and demand. Within this article, we shall delve into the various tiers of rarity found in CS2 skins and explore the multitude of factors that can impact the rarity of a skin.
What Does CS2 Skin Rarity Mean?
In CS2, players have multiple options to obtain different skins. There are various ways to get other items in your weekly care package, such as drops. Additionally, you have the option to open cases or acquire skins during operations. If you prefer, you can also create your skins by utilizing a Trade Up contract. Additionally, there is the option of trading, but for this article, we will set that aside as it is not relevant to the topic at hand.
In simple terms, the rarity of CS2 skins is a measure of the level of difficulty in obtaining a particular skin. CS2 features a total of eight different tiers of skin rarity:
- Mil-Spec (blue)
- Restricted (purple)
- Classified (pink)
- Consumer Grade (grey/white)
- Industrial Grade (light blue)
- Covert (red)
- Contraband (yellow)
Everyday skins are the most frequently encountered ones, while covert skins are the most elusive.
It's worth noting that knives and gloves are classified as covert skins, but they have their distinct tier within that category. Opening a knife from its case is less common than opening a Covert gun skin.
CS2 Case Odds
In 2017, Valve was required to reveal the probabilities of case contents in order to adhere to Chinese regulations. Here is a list of the following:
Please be aware that cases do not include skins of Consumer Grade or Industrial Grade.
StatTrak
Whenever a weapon is unboxed from a case, there is a 10% probability that it will be a StatTrak variant. A StatTrak weapon keeps track of the number of kills you achieve with the gun, specifically on human players. It's worth noting that kills made on bots are not counted. Regarding firearms, this process involves the incorporation of a compact digital module into the weapon. The blade of a knife bears the marks of the kills made with this weapon.
StatTrak weapons do not provide any in-game advantages compared to non-StatTrak weapons. Nevertheless, they are significantly less common than regular skins, resulting in them being consistently pricier. Knives are a unique case, as individuals prefer to avoid any unsightly blemishes on the surface of their blades. As a result, StatTrak knives tend to have a price range similar to those of their regular counterparts. They can be more challenging to trade, though they are not highly sought after.
Exclusive Skins and Map Collection Bundles
During a significant competition, participants have the opportunity to obtain Souvenir Packages. These include skins adorned with stickers representing the teams and maps that were in play during that period. Souvenir skins can only be obtained by opening a Souvenir Package, which makes them quite scarce. Please note that these packages do not include knives or gloves.
Ever since Anubis was introduced, Valve has also been rolling out frequent Collection Packages. You can purchase these items in-store, even when no major event is happening. They include skins from the map's collection. In previous times, it was not possible to directly open map-specific collection items from cases. Instead, they had to be acquired through operations or by opening Souvenir Packages.
CS2 packages can be accessed without a key, making them more cost-effective to open than cases. However, the chances of obtaining a rare skin in packages are even slimmer compared to regular cases. The precise percentage is uncertain, but a Covert collection skin is significantly more uncommon than a Covert case skin.
Skin Collection
Several skins belong to sets that were exclusively available during certain in-game events or had a limited-time availability. These skins have never been included in any Packages or cases. These skins are inherently more scarce and, therefore, significantly pricier.
The AWP Dragon Lore is widely recognized as one of the most well-known instances of this phenomenon. This item is from the Cobblestone Collection, which could only be obtained during specific in-game events or through Cobblestone Souvenir cases. Even during its decline, players needed a stroke of luck to acquire the Dragon Lore. Given its Covert rarity, the chances of obtaining this skin as a reward during an operation were quite slim.
It is impossible to accurately forecast the future (Valve can reintroduce old collections at any time if they so desire). Still, currently, Covert collection skins are considered to be extremely rare.
CS2 Agents
Agents in CS2 are not derived from cases, but rather from operations. Higher-tier agents are more challenging to obtain as they require a more significant number of operation stars. As a result, they are considered to be rare. However, the precise probabilities of obtaining them are not publicly disclosed. Agents do come in different levels of rarity, and here are the tiers:
- Distinguished (Blue)
- Exceptional (Purple)
- Superior (Pink)
- Master (Red)
Stickers in CS2
Stickers can be acquired through the process of unlocking sticker capsules. These capsules mysteriously appear on players' homepages for purchase and can be exchanged with other players. Sticker capsules can be opened without the need for a key.
Similar to weapon skins, stickers come in various tiers of rarity:
- High-Grade (blue)
- Remarkable (purple)
- Exotic (pink)
- Extraordinary (red)
- Contraband (yellow)
The contraband tier features a solitary sticker known as the Howling Dawn, which draws inspiration from the artwork of the M4A4 Howl.
Major Stickers
Valve consistently introduces sticker capsules that are tailored to each Major event. These include either autographs from players or logos representing the teams and players who participate in the mentioned Major. The Major sticker capsules are exclusively available during the specific Major event and cannot be purchased once they are removed from the in-game store.
Due to the limited availability, the prices of specific stickers have skyrocketed. An excellent illustration of this can be seen with the iBUYPOWER Holo sticker. This team participated in only a few Majors during a period when the player base was relatively small. As a result, their stickers are highly uncommon and greatly coveted by specific enthusiasts.
There is a whole community within the CS2 skins scene that focuses on exchanging skins adorned with vintage Major stickers. Among these stickers, the ones from Katowice 2014 are particularly sought after.
CS2 Trade Ups
In CS2, players have the option to gather a collection of 10 skins and exchange them for different skins. This is referred to as a Trade Up Contract. When you engage in trading, you will be rewarded with skin that is of a higher rarity tier than the skins you have traded for. The origin of the new skin is determined by the skins you have utilized for Trade Up purposes. Therefore, there is no certainty that you will obtain the exact skin you desire.
With the help of Trade Up Contracts, players have the opportunity to create skins that are no longer available or have become exceedingly scarce. Nevertheless, to make these skins, you would require a variety of weapons from the identical collection that you desire to Trade Up to. Due to the high demand for Trade Ups to obtain the most coveted firearms in the game, the prices of the 'Trade Up fodder skins' from those collections have skyrocketed. Therefore, opting to trade for an AWP Dragon Lore involves a significant level of risk, both in terms of finances and overall uncertainty.
Unfortunately, it is not feasible to exchange knives or gloves in CS2.
Other Factors
The rarity of a CS2 skin is not the sole determinant of its elusiveness and price. Various factors, including the state of wear and their distinct pattern, can exert a significant impact, too. An absolutely pristine StatTrak variant of the AK Case Hardened with the most sought-after pattern, for instance, was exclusively released in 2024. It has been more than a decade since it was initially launched. As expected, this skin is highly sought after and is expected to fetch a price well above $1,000,000.
19 May 2024, 13:37