Knife skins are a huge part of Counter-Strike. They are some of the most coveted and expensive skins in the market, making buying one a significant milestone in a player’s life. I prefer ones with bright colors and a blinding glimmer to them. Luckily, the new engine takes advantage of this and levels up the look of existing CS2 knife skins.
There are thousands of knife skins in the marketplace, and deciding what to splurge on can be tricky. I’ve compiled a list of the best CS2 knife skins to help you determine the prime choice for your taste. Don’t let that money go to waste!
Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade
Release Date: March 15, 2017
Case: Spectrum and Spectrum 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $1,900 – $2,100
The Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade flutters to the top of my rankings. Blending the blue, yellow, and red metallic colors is just a thing of beauty. The black and orange handle complements the blade and stands out without overshadowing it.
Marble Fade is already pretty amazing; when matched with the Butterfly Knife base, you get this top-tier combination. You can inspect this every match and never get tired of how the Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade looks.
Karambit | Doppler (Ruby)
Release Date: January 8, 2015
Case: Chroma, Chroma 2, and Chroma 3 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $6,500 – $13,000
The Karambit | Doppler (Ruby) slashes its way through our hearts with its blood-like finish. The Karambit alone is already a pretty awesome knife; add the different Doppler phases, and you’ve got yourself one of the best weapon skins in CS2.
The Doppler is one of the more unique skins because it has different phases. Each of the phases are beautiful in their own right, but the Ruby variant simply stands out. The full dark red finish looks amazing and disguises the blood of your enemies.
Bayonet | Gamma Doppler (Emerald)
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Case: Gamma and Gamma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $4,600 – $7,500
Next up, we have another Doppler skin on our list. The Bayonet | Gamma Doppler. has this military feel to it and honestly looks stunning, regardless of the phase. However, when paired with the Emerald phase, the knife just hits a whole nother level.
These rare Doppler variants can go for thousands of dollars, but sometimes, you need to pay to get the best. The bright green shine combined with the smoke-like lines completes the look of the Bayonet | Gamma Doppler.
Falchion Knife | Marble Fade
Release Date: March 15, 2017
Case: Spectrum and Spectrum 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $290 – $360
The first budget knife skin appearance is brought to us by the Falchion Knife | Marble Fade. It features playful colors that make it stand out even more in CS2. It’s one of my personal favorites because of its exquisite look while still being very wallet-friendly.
Like other Marble Fade skins, it highlights the combination of red, blue, and yellow shades, along with smoke-like textures. The bare-metal handle can be an eyesore for some, but I think it helps add some uniqueness to the knife. However, I can see why others might dislike it.
Butterfly Knife | Crimson Web
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Case: Operation Breakout Weapon Case
Estimated Price Range: $990 – $8,400
Another Butterfly Knife sighting cracks the top 5 best knife skins in CS2. Any Crimson Web design will typically attract eyes, no matter the knife it’s attached to. However, the Butterfly Knife makes for the perfect base because of how well the black handle parallels the webbing.
There’s no denying that the Butterfly Knife | Crimson Web is an excellent addition to any CS2 player’s skin collection. I mean, who can resist an iconic knife such as this one?
Karambit | Case Hardened
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Case: CS:GO Weapon 1-3 Cases, Operation Bravo, Phoenix, and Vanguard Weapon Cases, Revolver Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case, and eSports 2013, Winter 2013, and 2014 Summer Cases
Estimated Price Range: $670 – $2,250
Our second Karambit CS2 knife skin on the list is the Karambit | Case Hardened. The skin features a black handle paired with a gold and blueish burnt blade. The look of the blade is determined by the different pattern index numbers.
This truly bright and shiny skin looks fantastic when equipped in-game. Even some of the best Valorant Karambit knife skins can’t match the look of CS2’s Karambit | Case Hardened skin.
Flip Knife | Doppler (Sapphire)
Release Date: January 8, 2015
Case: Chroma, Chroma 2, and Chroma 3 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $3,300 – $7,150
The Doppler skinline makes another appearance on our list. It’s just one of those skins that you can’t get enough of. The Flip Knife | Doppler is one of the knives that greatly benefitted from the engine switch. The already majestic-looking skin just became better.
The Sapphire variant of the Flip Knife Doppler appears with a fully violet shine. The base remains unchanged and still appears black in color. Its gem-like resemblance is going to cost you an arm and a leg. You’ll definitely shine bright like a jewel, though.
Stiletto Knife | Doppler (Ruby)
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Case: Prisma and Prisma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $2,100 – $5,250
Stilettos have a long, thin blade that most players don’t vibe with. Since the blade area is small, the skins often don’t look as good. However, the one exception might be the Doppler. The shimmering effect of the Doppler Ruby Phase is too hard to pass on and brings life to the Stilleto Knife.
The handle retains its bare color but complements the look nicely. The scratches and rusting on the base create a solid pairing with the metallic red paint on the blade.
Talon Knife | Marble Fade
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Case: Prisma and Prisma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $1,000 – $1,450
The Talon Knife is commonly labeled as the “budget Karambit” because of how similar the two knives look. The Marble Fade looks marvelous on the curved blade of the Talon Knife, and the colors blend well with the three black knobs.
One thing I don’t like about the Talon Knife | Marble Fade is its unpainted handle, which blemishes an otherwise incredible skin. However, it does get covered with your gloves when held, so it shouldn’t be that big of an issue.
Ursus Knife | Marble Fade
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Case: Prisma and Prisma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $640 – $730
We’ve yet another stunning Marble Fade skin brought to us by the Prisma and Prisma 2 Cases; those two are shaping up to be valuable cases to open. If you’re lucky enough to unbox an Ursus Knife | Marble Fade, you’re in for a treat. Thanks to the CS2 engine, the knife skin radiates and will definitely have you become the star of the lobby.
The red, blue, and yellow gradient makes another appearance on a jagged and wide enough blade. The handle is the skin’s weakest point, being a completely different military-green shade; even that can’t bring down the Ursus Knife | Marble Fade.
M9 Bayonet | Lore
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Case: Gamma and Gamma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $750 – $4,450
Although there are many great CS2 Lore knife skins, the M9 Bayonet is one of the few blades that nobody will fault you for buying. It’s a classic knife paired with an equally classic skin.
The M9 Bayonet | Lore emphasizes a sparkling gold blade with Celtic chain patterns. The untouched, deep military green handle couples well with the golden knife. I know it’s expensive, but it’s one of the best-looking skins in CS2 by far.
Bowie Knife | Gamma Doppler (Phase 4)
Release Date: September 22, 2021
Case: Operation Riptide and Dreams & Nightmares Cases
Estimated Price Range: $440 – $700
Let’s take a quick break from the Rubies, Sapphires, and Emeralds of the world and show some love to the Phase 4 Gamma Doppler. It’s the brightest Phase, instantly making it look good in CS2.
The Bowie Knife | Gamma Doppler Phase 4 features neon-like shades of green with a darker patch in the middle. The vivid green gradient looks fantastic on the wide blade, with a pleasing light green outline on the base and the guard.
Shadow Daggers | Case Hardened
Release Date: September 17, 2015
Case: Shadow Case
Estimated Price Range: $140 – $460
I don’t understand the hate the Shadow Daggers receive from the community. The knife type may be unorthodox, but it still looks good in-game. I guess it’s better that way; at least it remains a niche and unique pick you’ll rarely encounter in random lobbies.
Hopefully, the Case Hardened stains will sway your views on the Shadow Daggers. It’s worth considering, especially if you’re in the market for budget skins.
Gut Knife | Autotronic
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Case: Gamma and Gamma 2 Cases
Estimated Price Range: $210 – $460
Plenty of bangers hide within the cheaper knives in plain sight; you just have to know where to look. The Gut Knife | Autotronic is a solid example, boasting a unique look that many players will surely appreciate.
The handle and half of the blade are painted in a metallic red coat. The other half remains unpainted but has three holes with a metallic mesh. At the handle, there’s also a black metal layer complimented by metallic mesh.
Skeleton Knife | Slaughter
Release Date: November 18, 2019
Case: Fracture and Shattered Web Cases
Estimated Price Range: $1,050 – $1,400
I hope you’re not tired of red CS2 knife skins because another one is closing our list. I know the Skeleton Knife isn’t a popular first option, but it might grow on you if you’re willing to give it a chance.
The Skeleton Knife | Slaughter appears pinkish because of the translucent red paint on the blade. It covers the entire knife with a flowing pattern, while the black wrap adds a neutral color.
Conclusion
The Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade stays a class above the rest as the best knife skin in CS2. The glimmering combination of colors, matched with the sought-after Butterfly base knife, makes for an unbeatable skin.
All of these CS2 knife skins are worthy additions to your collection. Hopefully, you were able to find one that fits your taste.
