Counter-Strike is utterly unique in how it’s skin market operates as it’s own economy and sub-culture. The most expensive skins in Counter-Strike can cost thousands of dollars, leaving players shell-shocked by how valuable they are. For example, the most expensive CS2 skin ever sold was an AK-47 Case Hardened that sold for $400,000 because it was also adorned with four stickers of the organisation Titan.

While all types of weapons have expensive skins available, some of the most expensive CS2 items are gloves and knives. This is because they are exceedingly rare and are the items from cases with the lowest probability of dropping.

Although skin prices have currently dropped due to the influx of new players in Counter-Strike 2, it’s worth knowing which are the most expensive so you can invest in them and make a profit in the future.

That being said, be careful where you sell the skins. Use a site like Skinport instead of the Steam Community Market, as Valve take a percentage of everything sold on the market.

It’s also worth knowing that skin prices will vary depending on the wear of the skin. These wears range from: Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, and Battle-Scarred. Factory new skins are often the most expensive, however, lower-wear skins can be valuable if it changes the design in desirable ways like with the AWP Asiimov. 

Skins will also be more expensive if they are StatTrak skins. These skins track the amounts of kills you get with the weapon.

Now that’s all out of the way, you’re probably wondering what is the most expensive CS2 skin, so let’s take a look at some of the rarest and most expensive skins in CS2.

(Souvenir) AK-47 Gold Arabesque

Price: $1,500 - $6,000

The AK-47 Gold Arabesque is one of the most glamorous skins in the game due to it’s golden body. The Souvenir version of the gun is more expensive because it is found in the Dust2 collection, which has now become rarer because Dust2 has been removed from the competitive map pool.

AWP Gungnir

Price: $6,000 - $12,000

One of the most expensive AWP skins in CS2, the AWP Gungnir is a beauty. Based on Nordic mythology, the Gungnir has a blue body that is covered in runes. There are only around 3,000 of these in circulation.

M4A4 Howl

Price: $3,000 - $15,000

The M4A4 Howl is one of the most iconic skins to ever be added to Counter-Strike and is the most expensive skin for the M4. A “Contraband” grade skin, it was given that title because of an ownership issue with the artwork on the skin.

With expensive stickers applied, M4A4 Howls can easily fetch upwards of $100,000, and there is currently one on the market for over double that price.

AK-47 Wild Lotus

Price: $2,500 - $11,000

One of the newer skins on this list, despite its rarity, the AK-47 is a fan-favourite. It is also one of the most expensive AK-47 skins in CS2. The gun is one of the very few AK-47 skins with green features, making it perfect for a themed inventory.

(Souvenir) AWP Dragon Lore

Price: $50,000 - $200,000+

Perhaps the most iconic skin in the history of Counter-Strike, the AWP Dragon Lore is one of the most expensive guns in CS2. There are less than 200 of these in existence, which is why they are so valuable and desired.

Karambit Case Hardened (Blue Gem)

Price: $1.5 million +

Karambit knives are the knife of choice for many CS players, and Blue Gem Case Hardened Karambit knives are some of the most expensive in CS2. Although not all Case Hardened skins will be worth this amount, ones with this particular pattern, pattern 387, are some of the highest-value CS2 skins. This is due to their extreme rarity. 

Sport Gloves Pandora’s Box 

Price: $20,000 - $40,000

As we said before, Gloves are some of the most expensive skins in Counter-Strike, and these are no different. Gaining this value because of their eye-catching purple colour, they are incredibly hard to obtain and incredibly valuable as a result.

Glock-18 Fade

Price: $1,400 - $2,750

If we’re talking about iconic skins in Counter-Strike, then the Fade skins are up there with the most iconic of all. For players who wish to collect an expensive inventory, they should look no further than the Glock-18 Fade for their T side pistol rounds.

AWP The Prince

Price: $2,600 - $5,300

Added at a similar time to the AWP Gungnir, the AWP The Prince is the perfect choice for players who wish to put together a red-themed inventory. That is if they have a few thousand dollars to spare at least.

AWP Medusa

Price: $2,275 - $5,200

One of the few skins to ever challenge the value of the AWP Dragon Lore, the AWP Medusa is one of the most expensive skins in Counter-Strike history. A blue skin featuring the icon of Greek mythology Medusa, it is an old and very rare skin for players to get their hands on.

Desert Eagle Blaze

Price: $770 - $1,200

Just like the Glock-18 Fade, the Desert Eagle Blaze is perfect for players who just wish to build the most expensive inventory in CS2. A choice for many professional players, The Desert Eagle Balze features a black body with flames running through it.

Sport Gloves Hedge Maze

Price: $1,300 - $8,000

The glove of choice for players looking to put together a green-themed inventory, the Sport Gloves Hedge Maze will go really well next to an AK-47 Wild Lotus. 

M9 Bayonet Doppler variants

Price(s): $1,500 +

Similar to Case Hardened skins, Doppler skins prices vary based on their float or pattern, Some Emerald Dopplers are greener than others, while regular dopplers will be more purple, red, or blue than others. Because of this, Doppler knives can become some of the most expensive skins in CS2, and this is incredibly true for M9 Bayonets.

Talon Knife Fade

Price: $1,500 + 

A great alternative to Karambit knives, Talon knives are an incredibly popular choice for Counter-Strike players. Talon knives are some of the newest knife skins in the game, but they already have the iconic Fade skin. The Talon Knife Fade is amongst the most expensive Talon Knife skins in CS2.

Stiletto Knife Doppler

Price: $1,500 + 

Stiletto Knives are some of the most expensive knife skins in CS2. This is because of their unique inspect animation where players balance the knife’s tip on their finger. As with the M9 Bayonet Doppler skins, these skins are expensive due to the amount of variations in the patterns and finishes.