Best CS2 Knife Skins Ranked by Rarity and Design

At the pinnacle of skins in CS2 are the coveted CS2 knife skins. A rare and visually stunning knife can enhance your gameplay and showcase your unique style.

These gleaming, sharp masterpieces have become prized possessions for CS2 players. The Blix team has selected the ten best CS2 knife skins and revealed their unique features.

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Highlights

• List of TOP 10 skins for knives in CS2 in 2025 with pattern descriptions
• Information about the release date, quality, and prices for each skin is provided in this article

There’s been an update to the game for a while now:

Top 10 CS2 Knife Skins for 2025

• Huntsman Knife | Doppler Ruby
• Bowie Knife | Crimson Web
• Talon Knife | Slaughter 
• Classic Knife | Fade
• Gut Knife | Autotronic
• Falchion Knife | Damascus Steel
• Butterfly Knife | Lore
• Skeleton Knife | Vanilla
• Karambit | Fade
• M9 Bayonet | Doppler Black Pearl

Some players are advised about the best way to get a knife. It may be helpful.

What’s the best way to get a knife in cs2?
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Huntsman Knife – Doppler Ruby

• Release Date: March 15, 2017
• Price: From ~$614
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Spectrum Case, Spectrum 2 Case

Next is one of the most beautiful knife skins we’ve ever seen on the battlefield. The Doppler Ruby blade has a deep ruby red hue that transitions into purple and blue.

The smooth and curved shape of the Huntsman knife emphasizes the elegance of the Doppler Ruby’s leather. Unfortunately, as you can see from the suggested price of this skin, it won’t be easy to get your hands on one.

 The Doppler Ruby is limited to values between 0.00 and 0.08, making the skin only available in “Factory New” and “Well-Worn” states. Recently, the skin has become extremely rare in sale and costs more than 2 thousand dollars. And last year its price was as high as 4 thousand.

Bowie Knife – Crimson Web

• Release Date: February 18, 2016
• Price: From ~$249.43
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Operation Wildfire Case

The price of this skin started at $201 for Battle-Scarred and peaked at over $1,900 last year for Factory New. Even though this skin has the lowest base price among all the skins in the Crimson Web series, it can still provide an attractive finish. 

It is a colorful skin that exudes a sense of danger and intrigue. The skin’s design features a spider web pattern intricately woven throughout the blade, creating an aesthetic reminiscent of a spider trap. This skin embodies the essence of mystery and stealth, making it a favorite among players.

Talon Knife – Slaughter 

• Release Date: August 1, 2018
• Price: From ~$978.22
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Danger Zone Case, Horizon Case

During the first wave of CS2 knife skins, the Slaughter skin design, an outstanding skin for the Talon knife, attracted much attention from those looking to buy skins. Its popularity was primarily influenced by the brilliant red color of the blade, reminiscent of a ruby.

The skin price rose sharply in 2023 but fell sharply in June 2024. It has started to increase slightly, which may be a basis for investment in general. 

Classic Knife – Fade

• Release Date: October 18, 2019
• Price: From ~$749.46
• Quality: Covert
• Case: CS20 Case

Fade perfectly combines nostalgia and modern design. It is a polished version of an old knife, serving as a stylish alternative to the standard knife. 

The knife’s simple design, wave engraving, and carbon fiber handle make it stylish. It has hidden secret animations, such as a rare flip when the player tosses it in the air and another where the thumb holds the tip of the blade, making you admire the skin. Its record price on the Steam Market was $1,586. 

Gut Knife – Autotronic

• Release Date: June 15, 2016
• Price: From ~$217.33
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Gamma 2 Case, Gamma Case

Unlike many other knives, Autotronics doesn’t scratch as they darken with increased wear. This skin takes on a brutal crimson hue, making it a great knife in CS2 with high float. The unpainted part fades to match the handle: Voila, a beautiful and cheap-looking knife.

Why does everybody dislike the Gut Knife so much?
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Falchion Knife – Damascus Steel

• Release Date: March 15, 2017
• Price: From ~$190.59
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Spectrum 2 Case, Spectrum Case

This skin features a rugged yet refined appearance, making it a favorite among players. The Damascus steel skin gives the Falchion knife a distinctive look characterized by dark, weathered shades of gray interspersed with subtle shades of blue, giving it a raw, industrial charm. 

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Butterfly Knife – Lore

• Release Date: September 21, 2021
• Price: From ~$1425.68
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Dreams & Nightmares Case, Operation Riptide Case

The Lore skin is one of the most popular among CS2 knife skins. It is a favorite for Butterfly Knife, M9 Bayonet, and Karambit. 

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The Lore skin exemplifies legendary craftsmanship inspired by epic medieval knowledge. Upon closer inspection, the blade’s design tells the story of ancient tales.

This skin brings fantasy to life, complete with images of dragons and knights, which will appeal to players who appreciate rich colors.

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Skeleton Knife – Vanilla

• Release Date: November 18, 2019
• Price: From ~$897.53
• Quality: Covert
• Case: Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case

A simple but stylish design that appeals to community players. You won’t see any bright colors here, but it’s minimalistic and stark.

Karambit – Fade

• Release Date: August 14, 2013
• Price: From ~$2395.21
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: CS:GO Weapon Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case, etc.

The skin is among the popular skins but rarely found in the game due to its high cost. Its distinctive design, curved blade, and hook at the end distinguish it from popular knife skins.

Karambit’s eye-catching animations and striking visual appeal make it one of the best skins. Prices for this skin are stubbornly rising and can reach up to $5,000 for Factory New.

M9 Bayonet – Doppler Black Pearl

• Release Date: January 8, 2015
• Price: From ~$4918.79
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: Chroma 2 Case, Chroma 3 Case, Chroma Case

It is one of the CS2 community’s favorite skins, and many consider it perfect for this knife. It’s understandable, with beautiful shimmers of different shades of purple (primarily dark) and black streaks. 

In CS2, the Black Pearl is a rare Doppler skin version known for its unique, dark finish.

What's Your Ideal CS2 Knife?
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Most Expensive and Sought-After CS2 Knife Skins in 2025

Of course, we couldn’t leave out the most luxurious and expensive skins that any player in the community covets. The top-4 most expensive and desirable skins are in front of you:

Karambit – Case Hardened Blue Gem

• Release Date: August 14, 2013
• Price: N/A
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, CS:GO Weapon Case, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, etc.

This skin is a record-breaker in CS2 and is in high demand due to its exceptional pattern and vibrant color scheme. This skin is decorated with bright shades of blue and light purple that gracefully cross the blade. It does not show any gold at all, making it extremely rare.

The highest bid for the Karambit Case Hardened Blue Gem skin with pattern 387 is currently $1,500,000. Due to its legendary price, this knife is considered one of the best CS2 skins ever.

CS2 Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern Guide
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Butterfly Knife – Doppler Sapphire

• Release Date: March 15, 2017
• Price: From ~$11923.10
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: Spectrum 2 Case, Spectrum Case

The Doppler Sapphire bow knife is one of the most expensive skins in CS2, with prices ranging from $15,500 to $26,000. It’s all about the fact that the skin’s hue is similar to the magical bright blue color of the gemstone. 

Skeleton Knife – Crimson Web

• Release Date: November 18, 2019
• Price: From ~$755.33
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: Fracture Case, Shattered Web Case

The spider web-like pattern on top of the bright red base layer looks mesmerizing, and many in the CS2 community agree with us. This knife skin is considered rare and very sought after. The Minimal Wear variant of this skin has a high price tag of $1,200+, making it a valuable purchase for any avid CS2 player.

Butterfly Knife – Gamma Doppler Emerald

• Release Date: September 22, 2021
• Price: From ~$13461.50
• Quality: Cowert
• Case: Dreams & Nightmares Case, Operation Riptide Case

Another gem in the collection. Only now, Emerald. This exclusive skin was introduced during Operation Riptide and can be obtained by opening the Operation Riptide Waters briefcase container. However, it takes work to get. You can read about the odds in our CS2 Case Odds: Drop Rates article.