After the latest CS2 update, players can now use Trade Up Contracts to craft knives and gloves — a major change to the in-game economy. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to craft one of the most iconic weapons in Counter-Strike 2: the Butterfly Knife. You’ll learn which skins and cases to use, the crafting requirements, and how to maximize your odds of success.
You can also read more about how this update reshaped the skin economy and created new CS2 millionaires in Blix.gg’s coverage of the Knife Crafting Update.
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How to Craft a Butterfly Knife in CS2
Counter-Strike 2 features a wide range of Butterfly Knife skins, but crafting a specific one depends on the five Covert skins you use in the Trade Up Contract. To improve your chances of getting the desired Butterfly Knife, make sure all five skins come from the same case collection.
You can currently obtain Butterfly Knives from the following cases:
- Operation Breakout Weapon Case
- Operation Riptide Case
- Dreams & Nightmares Case
- Spectrum Case
- Spectrum 2 Case
When crafting, if you use five Covert-quality skins, your resulting item will also be Covert. Keep in mind that skins of lower rarity than Covert cannot be used in the new Trade Up system.
The Process of Crafting a Butterfly Knife in CS2
Let’s walk through the step-by-step process of crafting a Butterfly Knife using the Spectrum 2 Case as an example, with P250 | See Ya Later skins as inputs.
- Open the Trade Up Contract – From the Inventory tab in the main menu, select the Trade Up option.
- Add Your Skins – Place five Covert skins from the same collection (in this case, P250 | See Ya Later from the Spectrum 2 Case).
- Confirm and Proceed – Click Proceed to finalize the trade-up.
Your freshly crafted Butterfly Knife or Gloves instantly appear in your inventory— no animation or delay is involved. Remember, once the contract is completed, the outcome is final and cannot be undone.
Your new item will be immediately available for trade or sale. You can list it directly on the Steam Market or through trusted third-party trading platforms.
Best Skins to Use for Crafting a Butterfly Knife in CS2
All Covert-quality skins from the collections listed below can be used to craft a Butterfly Knife. However, keep in mind that many of these items are expensive, and the investment may not always be worth it depending on market prices.
Here are the key collections and their Covert skins:
| Case Name | Covert Skins |
|---|---|
| Spectrum Case | AK-47 | Bloodsport USP-S | Neo-Noir |
| Spectrum 2 Case | AK-47 | The Empress P250 | See Ya Later |
| Dreams & Nightmares Case | MP9 | Starlight Protector AK-47 | Nightwish |
| Operation Breakout Weapon Case | P90 | Asiimov M4A1-S | Cyrex |
| Operation Riptide Case | AK-47 | Leet Museo Desert Eagle | Ocean Drive |
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly crafting setup, use P250 | See Ya Later or MP9 | Starlight Protector — they’re usually the most affordable options among the required collections.
Some players believe that using M4A1-S | Cyrex and P90 | Asiimov slightly increases the chance of getting a Butterfly Knife, though this theory remains unconfirmed.
Useful Tips for Crafting a Butterfly Knife in CS2
Limit the Number of Collections
Each additional collection you include in a Trade Up Contract expands the potential outcome pool. This drastically reduces your odds of crafting the specific Butterfly Knife you want. For more consistent results, stick to one or two collections only.
Track Market Trends
Since the knife crafting update, prices for Covert skins have surged — but this hype may not last. Keep an eye on market analytics tools to catch early price drops or rising trends before they shift.
Mind the Trade Cooldown
Items received through player trades come with a 7-day cooldown before they can be used in crafting contracts.
If you want to craft instantly, buy skins directly from the Steam Market, which skips the waiting period.
Use Tools to Plan Smart
- To calculate the average investment and crafting odds, visit CSROI.
- To check which cases are currently popular or profitable, use CSGO Case Tracker.
The Bottom Line: Strategy Over Luck
The new knife crafting update is one of the biggest game-changers CS2 has ever seen.
It adds depth, strategy, and a whole new layer of risk to the economy — but for those who play it smart, it’s an exciting opportunity to profit and experiment.
Understand the mechanics, pick collections wisely, and follow real-time market data — and your next Trade Up Contract might just land that dream Butterfly Knife.
FAQ – Butterfly Knife Crafting in CS2
Can you craft a Butterfly Knife in CS2 with different collections?
Yes, but doing so lowers your odds significantly. Each collection you mix expands the outcome pool, meaning you’re less likely to land the specific Butterfly Knife you want. For the best results, stick to one collection only.
Do I get a 100% chance of getting a Butterfly Knife by using Covert items from the same collection?
No — using five Covert skins from the same collection only increases your chances, it doesn’t guarantee a Butterfly Knife. The result is randomly selected from all possible Covert outputs in that collection, so luck still plays a role.
What are the cheapest Covert skins for Butterfly Knife crafting?
The most cost-efficient options right now are P250 | See Ya Later (Spectrum 2 Case) and MP9 | Starlight Protector (Dreams & Nightmares Case). Both are popular picks for affordable crafting setups.
Is it possible to get StatTrak™ Butterfly Knives from Trade Up Contracts?
Yes — but only if every input skin is also StatTrak™. Mixing standard and StatTrak™ items will always result in a regular, non-StatTrak™ knife.
