CS:GO Skins: What Are the Rarest Weapon Finishes?

You probably know that some Counter Strike items are worth a considerable fortune. It’s no secret that nowadays you can make quite a bit of money by exchanging items. However, it may come as a surprise that there are skins that reach a value of up to several hundred thousand dollars. How is this possible? You’ll find out about that in just a moment. What’s more, we will give you a list of the rarest skins in CSGO, whose prices can reach amounts equal to a down payment on a house. 

Making Money From CSGO Trading

Counter Strike is becoming more and more popular, especially since Valve announced that it will finally switch to its state-of-the-art game engine – Source 2. As the popularity grows, so does the economy of CS items. People are buying, selling, and trading weapon finishes in preparation for what’s to come in the summer of 2023. Nowadays, it is possible to make a small fortune by simply swapping in-game items. However, this is only possible if you manage to get your hands on some of the most expensive and rare skins in the game.

How Are Some Skins So Expensive?

Although the Counter Strike economy has been booming for years, it may still come as a surprise that some items fetch such shocking prices. After all, these are virtual goods. So why would anyone want to pay so much for them?

It’s actually quite simple to explain. 

As with any other market, the market for weapon skins is driven by the law of supply and demand. Think about it like the case of NFTs, which are virtual pieces of art. The rarest the piece and the less likely you are to get your hands on it, the higher the price. People want something they can’t have and always have. That’s why some rare CSGO skins can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars, while the more common ones go for as little as few cents. 

Why Are Some Weapon Skins So Rare?

There are many factors that determine whether one skin is rare and others are not. First, it may simply be a matter of its design. If it looks really cool, and players will be interested in it as soon as it is first shown, the more likely it is to sell out immediately, and therefore getting it becomes much more difficult. There are also instances in which only a small number of copies of an item are released to the market. If that is the case, the skin is basically bound to become a hot commodity. 

Finally, there are skins that have been suddenly withdrawn from the market for a very specific reason. Then only those who originally bought them are in possession of them. Since obtaining them borders on the miraculous, these types of weapon skins are the most expensive and popular on the market.

Top 5 Rare Skins CSGO

Now that you’ve got to know the basics of CSGO skin economy, here is a full list of the rarest and most expensive skins in the game. 

1. M4A4 Howl

The M4A4 Howl has become somewhat of a legend in the Counter Strike community, as it earned the status of a rare skin under rather unusual circumstances. The item was initially released in 2014 along with The Hunt Begins update. Shortly thereafter, it was removed from the market due to a DMCA complaint that was filled by its creator. The designer accused Valve of illegally using his project without any permission or compensation. The company reacted immediately and withdrew this weapon finish from Steam, making it impossible to get it on the original market. Thus, it became one of the rarest skins in the history of the game.

• Flavor Text: none
• Lowest Steam Price: $3,245.54
• Highest Steam Price: $13,437.02

2. Karambit Case Hardened (Blue Gem)

Another legend in the Counter Strike world is the Karambit Case Hardened Blue Gem. Skins in this series are usually some of the most expensive items in the entire game, but this one is literally the MOST expensive. Why? Well, it’s one of a kind. Seriously. Only one exists, and it is currently in the possession of Newb Rage, who bought it in 2016 for $100,000. Yes, such an investment may seem unbelievable, but we assure you that it has paid off. If this knife were to hit the market today, its value could reach up to $1 million. 

Current Blue Gem prices are impossible to determine. The following rates are for the Karambit Case Hardened knife.

• Flavor Text: A little color never hurt anyone
• Lowest Steam Price: $676.17
• Highest Steam Price: $2,043.51

3. Sport Gloves Pandora’s Box

Pandora’s Box is not only one of the most expensive glove skins, but also one of the most expensive CS:GO skins in general. These beautiful handwraps initially hit the market in 2016 with the Brother’s in Arms update. Their unique design quickly caught the attention of all purple gear enthusiasts, as well as the entire Counter Strike community, making them some of the rarest finishes in the entire game. In fact, their price skyrocketed and reached a staggering amount of over $50,000. Therefore, even though Pandora’s Box is not a weapon skin, we decided to include it in our list.

• Flavor Text: A must have for any demolitions expert with sweaty palms
• Lowest Steam Price: $1,350.69
• Highest Steam Price: $58,695.98

4. AK-47 Wild Lotus

Wild Lotus is probably the most beautiful skin on our list, thanks to its beautiful floral design and unique color palette. The entire gaming community fell in love with it as soon as it was released, making it one of the most expensive and rarest skins in the game. Actually, it’s not surprising when you consider the fact that not only does it look great, but it was also created for the AK-47, which happens to be by far the most popular rifle in CS, as well as the most popular weapon in general. In fact, people love to wield the legendary AK, and if they combine it with a beautiful finish, like the Wild Lotus, it makes them feel like winners before they even set foot on the map.

• Flavor Text: Muck or nettles
• Lowest Steam Price: $2,485.80
• Highest Steam Price: $11,321.96

5. AWP Dragon Lore

Now, let’s talk about the legendary Souvenir AWP Dragon Lore. This weapon skin has become a status symbol among the CSGO community. It was released not too long ago, along with the Operation Breakout update in 2018. Its golden design quickly attracted the attention of players and made its price reach unbelievable levels. The regular versions are among the most expensive AWP skins, but the souvenir Dragon Lore skins are among the most expensive finishes in the entire game. Realistically, they are almost impossible to find on the market, but if you manage to get your hands on one, you should expect to pay at least $400,000 for it (yes, you read that right).

The prices below are for the souvenir version of the Dragon Lore.

• Flavor Text: 200 keys could never unlock its secrets
• Lowest Steam Price: $414,324.56
• Highest Steam Price: $41,432.45

6. M9 Bayonet Crimson Web

The list would not be complete without a Crimson Web skin. These unique knife finishes are not only a treat for any fan of good old red loadout, but also an amazing item that would fit perfectly into any player’s collection. Of course, they are all extremely rare. As soon as they hit the market, crimson web knives took the CSGO community by storm and reached unbelievable prices. Everyone wanted to lay their hands on them, and the M9 bayonet was by far the most popular. If you have enough money in your bank account and enough patience to look for one of these knife skins, you should definitely add them to your inventory. With such blade in hand, everyone on CS:GO maps will have to respect you.

• Flavor Text: 200 keys could never unlock its secrets
• Lowest Steam Price: $414,324.56
• Highest Steam Price: $41,432.45

Conclusions

These rare skins will certainly bring your inventory to a whole new level. If you manage to find one on the market and actually have the money to buy it, be sure to flaunt them on the maps or make even more money on them. However, if you’re not one of the lucky few who are able to add them to their collections, check out other items on third-party websites such as SkinsMonkey, or earn some extra cash by selling your items on SkinCashier.