The AWP remains the most iconic and expensive weapon skin category in CS2, and in 2026 the market is more competitive than ever. Prices for top-tier AWP skins continue to be driven by discontinued collections, limited souvenir drops, float rarity, and long-term collector demand. This guide ranks the best AWP skins in CS2 based on real market factors: starting price, rarity tier, collection availability, liquidity, and investment potential.
From ultra-rare skins like AWP | Gungnir and Dragon Lore to high-demand classics such as Asiimov and Hyper Beast, and budget-friendly options like Atheris and Ice Coaled, this list covers every major price segment in the CS2 skin market. If you’re evaluating value, prestige, or resale strength in 2026, these are the AWP skins that matter.
Contents
- 1 Top 15 AWP Skins in CS2 (2025 Update)
- 2 AWP | Gungnir
- 3 AWP | Dragon Lore
- 4 AWP | The Prince
- 5 AWP | Medusa
- 6 AWP | Desert Hydra
- 7 AWP | Fade
- 8 AWP | Lightning Strike
- 9 AWP | BOOM
- 10 AWP | Asiimov
- 11 AWP | Printstream
- 12 AWP | Hyper Beast
- 13 AWP | Redline
- 14 AWP | Green Energy
- 15 AWP | Ice Coaled
- 16 AWP | Atheris
- 17 What is the rarest AWP skin in CS2?
- 18 Which AWP skins are best for investment in 2025?
- 19 What’s the cheapest popular AWP skin in CS2?
- 20 Final Thoughts – Which AWP Skin Should You Choose in 2025?
Top 15 AWP Skins in CS2 (2025 Update)
Here’s the full breakdown of the 15 best AWP skins in CS2 for 2026. We’ll cover their release dates, price ranges, and what makes each skin stand out in today’s market.
AWP | Gungnir
- Release Date: November 18th, 2019
- Price: ~$7,600.00 — $13,050.63
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Collection: The Norse Collection
AWP | Gungnir is one of the rarest and most prestigious sniper rifle skins in CS2. Released as part of the Norwegian folklore-inspired “Shattered Web” case, it features a striking blue-and-white design with Norse patterns resembling icy runes and legendary spears.
Its clean yet detailed artwork makes it a favorite among collectors, and its extreme rarity keeps prices sky-high — often reaching well over $15,000 on the market. Owning a Gungnir is considered a status symbol, rivaling iconic skins like the Dragon Lore in both prestige and demand.
AWP | Dragon Lore
- Release Date: July 1st, 2014
- Price: ~$4,850.00 — $11,980.18
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Cases: Atlanta 2017 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Boston 2018 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Cologne 2016 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, DreamHack 2014 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, ESL One Cologne 2014 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, ESL One Cologne 2015 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, ESL One Katowice 2015 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Krakow 2017 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, MLG Columbus 2016 Cobblestone Souvenir Package
- Collection: The Cobblestone Collection
AWP | Dragon Lore is perhaps the most iconic skin in Counter-Strike history. It features a medieval-inspired design with a fire-breathing dragon stretched across a beige background. Because Cobblestone drops were extremely limited and discontinued, Dragon Lore quickly became a symbol of prestige in the CS2 skin market. It is not just a weapon skin, but one of the most legendary digital collectibles in gaming.
AWP | The Prince
- Release Date: November 18th, 2019
- Price: ~$3,441.05— $3,441.05
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Collection: The Canals Collection
This skin was Gungnir’s main competitor shortly after its release. The skin has a complex look, with golden vines on a red background, the inscription “Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus”, and a medieval pattern in blood red, black, and gray tones. However, such a luxurious look comes with an equally luxurious price.
A favorite skin among collectors, it is often sought after due to its rarity. This skin is rare in the Steam Marketplace, and players must resort to other sites to acquire it.
AWP | Medusa
- Release Date: May 26th, 2015
- Price: ~$1,818.04 — $4,900.00
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Collection: The Gods and Monsters Collection
AWP | Medusa is a highly coveted Covert skin from CS:GO and it showcases a haunting Gorgon Medusa in blues and greens over a Patina-style AWP design, with unpainted accents that emphasize its artistry. The skin spans all wear levels but reveals a charming “Green Witch” patina in higher float states, making condition especially impactful. Favored by pros and collectors alike, this skin is a true myth brought to life in digital form.
AWP | Desert Hydra
- Release Date: September 21st, 2021
- Price: ~$1,388.55 — $2,909.72
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Case: Antwerp 2022 Mirage Souvenir Package, Austin 2025 Mirage Souvenir Package, Budapest 2025 Mirage Souvenir Package, Copenhagen 2024 Mirage Souvenir Package, Paris 2023 Mirage Souvenir Package, Rio 2022 Mirage Souvenir Package, Shanghai 2024 Mirage Souvenir Package, Stockholm 2021 Mirage Souvenir Package
- Collection: The 2021 Mirage Collection
The skin is one of the most popular: it allows the user to showcase an extremely colorful, distinctive look! By the way, Desert Eagle | Fennec Fox is made in the same style: there is no collection, but the same artist created the skins. So, owners of the desert hydra or the desert fox must get the second one!
AWP | Fade
- Release Date: December 3rd, 2020
- Price: ~$980.00 — $1,014.99
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Collection: The Control Collection
Its design features a dazzling gradient built from an anodized airbrushed finish over chrome, blending purples, pinks, and yellows for a sleek, eye-catching look. Condition matters—it only appears in Factory New or Minimal Wear due to its narrow float range (0.00–0.08), and there are no StatTrak™ or Souvenir versions.
Rare variants such as “Full Fade” patterns (e.g., seeds #146, #359, #649) are especially prized for their dominant yellow hues. Though drop rates are low (around 0.64%), Fade remains among the more coveted AWP skins thanks to its visual flair and collectible potential.
AWP | Lightning Strike
- Release Date: August 14th, 2013
- Price: ~$613.57 — $624.54
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Case: CS:GO Weapon Case
- Collection: The Arms Deal Collection
Its design—featuring a bold, purple anodized base with a striking white lightning bolt—captures both elegance and ferocity. Accented by unpainted components such as the barrel and stock, the skin projects high contrast artistry, further enhanced by its nostalgic flavor text: “Sometimes you don’t need to strike the same place twice.”
Float values are tightly controlled between 0.00–0.08, confining the skin to Factory New or Minimal Wear conditions, and a StatTrak™ variant is available for added collector value.
AWP | BOOM
- Release Date: August 14th, 2013
- Price: ~$117.36 — $589.00
- Quality: Classified Sniper Rifle
- Case: eSports 2013 Case
- Collection: The eSports 2013 Collection
Its bold hydrographic finish showcases explosive comic book graphics—think “BOOM!” and “POW!”—over a vivid orange-and-black backdrop, offset by unpainted metallic components for striking contrast.
With a float range of 0.06–0.28, the skin appears only in Factory New, Minimal Wear, and Field-Tested conditions, and StatTrak™ versions are available throughout these tiers. Its drop rate stands at about 3.2%, making it a rarer find among Classified-tier skins.
AWP | Asiimov
- Release Date: February 20th, 2014
- Price: ~$77.73 — $124.96
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Case: Operation Phoenix Weapon Case
- Collection: The Phoenix Collection
Asiimov is a skin that needs no introduction. This skin is made in a futuristic science fiction theme. The striking contrast of white, black, and orange colors gives it a unique look that makes it stand out in any game. This skin symbolizes the player’s advanced skills and strategic prowess.
No matter how outdated the skin is, holding an AWP Asiimov will always stay popular.
AWP | Printstream
- Release Date: March 31st, 2025
- Price: ~$46.86 — $405.00
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Case: Fever Case
- Collection: The Fever Collection
Created by JTPNZ, its bold design features a minimalist black-and-white motif with pearlescent highlights, rendered through a Gunsmith finish over a clean white base. The visual remains uniform across pattern indexes and spans all float values (0.00–1.00), with StatTrak™ versions available in every wear tier.
This skin is rare—with a premium drop chance of ~0.64% in Standard cases and ~0.064% for StatTrak™.
AWP | Hyper Beast
- Release Date: May 26th, 2015
- Price: ~$34.36 — $246.69
- Quality: Covert Sniper Rifle
- Case: Falchion Case
- Collection: The Falchion Collection
This skin is a classic from days gone by. It is probably the most famous skin. Moreover, everyone’s favorite! Many people love the Hyper Beast: orange, blue, red, and green colors, as well as the image of a creature with extremely dangerous jaws! With its bright colors, intricate design, and sense of power, this skin leaves no one indifferent.
AWP | Redline
- Release Date: December 18th, 2013
- Price: ~$29.30 — $195.64
- Quality: Classified Sniper Rifle
- Case: Winter Offensive Weapon Case
- Collection: The Winter Offensive Collection
This is a classic choice for players who appreciate a minimalistic but colorful design. It would seem simple black skin with a red line in the middle. But it became one of the best-selling weapon skins in the game.
The reason is that the collection of skins with a red line has become a kind of “gold standard” in the skins market for Counter-Strike 2. Redline is considered one of the most liquid skins in the game.
This skin is a reflection of the player’s precision and focus.
AWP | Green Energy
- Release Date: March 31st, 2025
- Price: ~$14.17 — $120.98
- Quality: Classified Sniper Rifle
- Collection: The Boreal Collection
Its clean, futuristic design—a green metallic flake base pierced by a bold yellow streak—captures the theme of “Energy amplified.” The design is rendered in a Custom Paint Job finish, uniform across all pattern variants.
With a float range of 0.00–0.75, the skin is accessible in all wear tiers—from Factory New to Battle-Scarred—but does not include StatTrak™ or Souvenir versions.
AWP | Ice Coaled
- Release Date: September 16th, 2025
- Price: ~$6.95 — $55.00
- Quality: Classified Sniper Rifle
- Quality: Sealed Genesis Terminal
- Collection: The Genesis Collection
AWP | Atheris
- Release Date: March 13th, 2019
- Price: ~$3.91 — $24.22
- Quality: Restricted Sniper Rifle
- Quality: Prisma Case
- Collection: The Prisma Collection
FAQ
What is the rarest AWP skin in CS2?
The AWP | Gungnir is widely considered the rarest AWP skin in CS2. Released in The Norse Collection (2019), it features icy Norse patterns and commands prices starting above $15,000. Other ultra-rare skins include the AWP | Dragon Lore (Cobblestone Collection) and AWP | Medusa (Gods and Monsters Collection), both of which are discontinued and highly sought after by collectors.
Which AWP skins are best for investment in 2025?
For long-term value, discontinued collection skins like the AWP | Dragon Lore, AWP | Medusa, and AWP | Gungnir remain the safest investments. Their rarity ensures steady price growth over time.
Newer releases like the AWP | Printstream and AWP | LongDog also show strong demand in 2025, making them promising options for collectors looking to invest in newer, trending skins.
What’s the cheapest popular AWP skin in CS2?
If you’re on a budget, the AWP | Redline is one of the cheapest yet most popular skins, with starting prices around $58. It’s minimalistic, highly liquid on the market, and a fan favorite for players who want style without breaking the bank. Other affordable options include the AWP | Wildfire ($59) and AWP | Hyper Beast ($31), which remain widely recognized and loved in the CS2 community.
Want to understand the market side of skins better? Check our full CS2 economy guide for insights on pricing, trading, and investment strategies.
Final Thoughts – Which AWP Skin Should You Choose in 2025?
Choosing the best AWP skin in CS2 really depends on your budget and personal style. If you’re after prestige and long-term value, ultra-rare skins like Gungnir, Dragon Lore, or Medusa remain unmatched in 2025. For players who want something stylish but more affordable, community favorites like Redline, Hyper Beast, and Wildfire deliver strong visuals without extreme prices.
Collectors should also keep an eye on newer releases such as Printstream and LongDog, which are gaining popularity quickly and could become future investment pieces.
At the end of the day, the best AWP skin is the one that matches your personality—if that means a legendary collectible or a budget-friendly design that still turns heads in-game.
