The Karambit is one of the most popular and wanted knives in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). It has a curved blade that looks like a tiger’s claw and cool spinning animations that players love. First added in August 2013 with the Arms Deal Update, the Karambit has become a symbol of status in the game. Some rare versions, like the Karambit | Blue Gem, have sold for over $1.2 million. Whether you're a trader, collector, or just hoping to get lucky in a case, it’s important to know which CS2 cases can drop a Karambit. This guide lists all 16 cases that can drop Karambit knives, details their available skins, drop rates, and tips for maximizing your chances, all while keeping the thrill of the chase alive. 

Why Karambits are so popular

Karambits stand out in CS2 for several reasons, as noted by sources like DMarket and Skin.Club:

• Iconic Design: The curved blade, rooted in Southeast Asian martial art silat, mimics a tiger’s claw, giving it a fierce, unique look.
• Smooth Animations: The Karambit’s spinning animation, using its index finger ring, is a fan favorite, often showcased by pros like cadiaN at ESL One Cologne 2015.
• High Value: Even Battle-Scarred Karambits start at $350, while rare Factory New variants like Gamma Doppler Emerald can exceed $20,000.
• Skin Variety: With 25 Karambit skins, from vibrant Doppler to classic Vanilla, there’s a style for every player.

The drop rate for knives, including Karambits, is a mere 0.26% per case making them exceedingly rare. Since cases also contain other knives (e.g., Bayonet, M9 Bayonet), the odds of unboxing a specific Karambit are even slimmer – around 1 in 2500. This rarity fuels their allure, but smart case selection can improve your chances.

List of all CS2 Cases with Karambits

There are 16 CS2 cases that can drop Karambit knives, divided into three groups based on their skin sets: Original, Chroma, and Gamma. Below, we detail each case, its Karambit skins, notable other drops, and current market prices (as of June 2025, per Steam Market).

Original Karambit Cases (11 Cases)

These cases, released between 2013 and 2015, contain the “original” 13 Karambit skins introduced with the Arms Deal Update. Skins include: Vanilla, Fade, Slaughter, Case Hardened, Crimson Web, Blue Steel, Night, Stained, Boreal Forest, Scorched, Safari Mesh, Forest DDPAT, and Urban Masked. Notable high-value skins are Fade and Crimson Web, with Case Hardened’s Blue Gem variant being the most expensive at over $1,200,000.

CS:GO Weapon Case (August 14, 2013)

• Price: ~$130 (case)
• Notable Drops: AWP | Lightning Strike, AK-47 | Case Hardened (Blue Gem)
• Why Open: The first CS:GO case, it’s a collector’s item with iconic skins. High price reflects rarity, but AK-47 drops add value.

eSports 2013 Case (August 14, 2013)

• Price: ~$50
• Notable Drops: P90 | Death by Kitty
• Why Open: Cheaper than the Weapon Case, with decent Mil-Spec skins like MAG-7 | Memento.

Operation Bravo Case (September 19, 2013)

• Price: ~$70
• Notable Drops: AK-47 | Fire Serpent, Desert Eagle | Golden Koi
• Why Open: High-value AK-47 skin boosts ROI. Popular among collectors.

CS:GO Weapon Case 2 (November 8, 2013)

• Price: ~$20
• Notable Drops: P90 | Cold Blooded, SSG 08 | Blood in the Water
• Why Open: More affordable, with solid firearm skins.

eSports 2013 Winter Case (December 18, 2013)

• Price: ~$15
• Notable Drops: M4A4 | X-Ray
• Why Open: Budget-friendly, but fewer high-value drops.

Winter Offensive Weapon Case (December 18, 2013)

• Price: ~$10
• Notable Drops: M4A4 | Asiimov, AWP | Redline
• Why Open: Affordable with strong AWP and M4A4 skins.

CS:GO Weapon Case 3 (February 12, 2014)

• Price: ~$8
• Notable Drops: CZ75-Auto | Victoria
• Why Open: Cheap, but weaker firearm drops.

eSports 2014 Summer Case (July 10, 2014)

• Price: ~$12
• Notable Drops: AK-47 | Jaguar, Desert Eagle | Crimson Web
• Why Open: Decent ROI with valuable AK-47 and Desert Eagle skins.

Operation Phoenix Weapon Case (February 20, 2014)

• Price: ~$5
• Notable Drops: AWP | Asiimov, AUG | Chameleon
• Why Open: One of the cheapest cases with high-value AWP skin, offering great ROI.

Operation Vanguard Weapon Case (November 11, 2014)

• Price: ~$4
• Notable Drops: AK-47 | Wasteland Rebel
• Why Open: Low cost, solid AK-47 drop.

Revolver Case (December 8, 2015)

• Price: ~$3
• Notable Drops: M4A4 | Royal Paladin, R8 Revolver | Fade
• Why Open: Cheapest original case at $1.89, but weak non-knife drops. Ideal for pure Karambit hunters.

Chroma Karambit Cases (3 Cases)

These cases, released in 2015–2016, contain six vibrant Chroma Karambit skins: Doppler (Sapphire, Ruby, Black Pearl), Marble Fade, Tiger Tooth, Damascus Steel, Ultraviolet, and Rust Coat. Doppler’s Sapphire and Black Pearl patterns can fetch over $18,000.

Chroma Case (January 8, 2015)

• Price: ~$3.50
• Notable Drops: Galil AR | Chatterbox, AWP | Man-o’-war
• Why Open: Vibrant Karambit skins, but expensive keys lower ROI.

Chroma 2 Case (April 15, 2015)

• Price: ~$3.50
• Notable Drops: M4A1-S | Hyper Beast, MAC-10 | Neon Rider
• Why Open: Iconic M4A1-S skin adds value, but high key cost hurts.

Chroma 3 Case (April 27, 2016)

• Price: ~$2.20
• Notable Drops: M4A1-S | Chantico’s Fire, P250 | Asiimov
• Why Open: Cheapest Chroma case, but fewer valuable non-knife drops.
• Best Pick: Chroma 3 for budget-conscious players chasing Doppler or Marble Fade.

Gamma Karambit Cases (2 Cases)

Released in 2016, these cases offer six premium Gamma Karambit skins: Gamma Doppler (Emerald), Lore, Autotronic, Freehand, Bright Water, and Black Laminate. Gamma Doppler Emerald is the priciest, starting at $8,500.

Gamma Case (June 15, 2016)

• Price: ~$2.50
• Notable Drops: M4A1-S | Mecha Industries, Glock-18 | Wasteland Rebel
• Why Open: Affordable with high-value Karambit Lore and M4A1-S skins.

Gamma 2 Case (August 18, 2016)

• Price: ~$2.40
• Notable Drops: AK-47 | Neon Revolution, Tec-9 | Fuel Injector
• Why Open: Slightly cheaper than Gamma, with strong AK-47 skin.

Notable Karambit skins

• Karambit | Blue Gem (Case Hardened): The holy grail, with a Factory New 387 pattern valued at $2,000,000. Found in original cases.
• Karambit | Gamma Doppler Emerald: Starts at $8,500, with Factory New at $13,000. Exclusive to Gamma cases.
• Karambit | Doppler Sapphire/Ruby: Vibrant Chroma skins, fetching $18,000+ for rare patterns.
• Karambit | Fade: A gradient classic from original cases, starting at $2,600.
• Karambit | Lore: Mythical design from Gamma cases, starting at $650.

Conclusion

Chasing a Karambit in CS2 is a thrilling but risky endeavor, with 16 cases offering a shot at this legendary knife. The Revolver Case is the cheapest for original skins like Fade, while Chroma 3 and Gamma Case balance cost and vibrant skins like Doppler and Lore. With a 0.26% drop rate, unboxing requires luck, so consider trading on platforms. Whether you’re after the $2,000,000 Blue Gem or a sleek Marble Fade, these cases are your gateway to CS2’s most prestigious blade.