29 Best CS2 Skins (For Each Weapon Type)

Over the years, Counter-Strike 2 became so much more than just a competitive PC game. It is a renowned international cyber sport discipline and popular hobby in which players invest a lot of time, energy, and even money. The latter is spent on various cosmetics, which the game provides in abundance. Of course, donning even the best skins in CS2 doesn’t affect your skills, but they surely help to make games more enjoyable and express your mood.

It’s no secret that weapon skins hold a special place in the game’s ecosystem. Getting a shiny new cosmetic for a gun you’ve overlooked before can also motivate you to try unfamiliar gameplay styles, which is a nice design trick. Some people even research and purchase the best CS2 skins to sell them at a later date, which is a valid investment strategy if we take into account the prices of the game’s most famous items.

Evaluate your collection's worth with the CS2 inventory value calculator.

Therefore, it’s unsurprising that lots of people, even those who don’t play CS, wonder what are the best weapon skins in Counter-Strike 2. And while there's no single definitive answer, we have compiled a selection of the 30 most beautiful, iconic, and visually interesting skins that will help you stand out among the other players or make good money.

!Please note that prices are current at the time the article was written and may change over time!

Best Pistols Skins

If you’ve played Counter-Strike for any length of time, you can probably name the most used pistols in the game — Glock-18 and USP-S are the default ones you get for free, and Deagle is the single most lethal weapon of its type. Let’s take a look at the CS2 best skins in the pistol category and find out the reasons behind their popularity.

Vogue | Glock-18

The Glock-18 pistol is an unchangeable default for Terrorists, and having an eye-catching design was always an aim for players who want to show off. The Vogue painting isn’t among the most expensive CS2 skins, but the bright colors all over the pistol make it pretty popular in the community. There are as many as 12k trade offers for selling on various platforms and many more copies in players’ personal collections.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $1.9 (BS) — $7.2 (FN)

ST: $3.8 (BS) — $16 (FN)

Water Elemental | Glock-18

Another eye-catching Glock to look for is Water Elemental, which has a pretty unique combination of colors and style. Despite being released in the middle of 2014, it’s still among the best-looking skins in CS2.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $2.8 (BS) — $10.4 (FN)

ST: $8.9 (BS) — $41.1 (FN)

Cortex | USP-S

As you might have noticed, we believe the most beautiful CS2 skins should have a unique design that can be easily identified at a glance. Of course, when reviewing the skins for USP-S, the Cortex fits this requirement to a tee, and is also extremely widespread with more than 18,000 copies available for purchase.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $1.3 (BS) — $8.2 (FN)

ST: $2.9 (BS) — $23.4 (FN)

Kill Confirmed | USP-S

We know you expected to see The Traitor, Prinstream, or Monster Mashup here, but we decided to go for time-tested Kill Confirmed instead. It’s just hard to beat that value and style of the old guard! Although presented in late 2015, its design still looks great and is among the coolest CS2 skins according to the community, attracting new connoisseurs over and over again over the years.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $29.5 (BS) — $133.6 (FN)

ST: $72.5 (BS) — $426.6 (FN)

Ocean Drive | Desert Eagle

With only four Covert rarity skins for Desert Eagle, we focused our attention on two of them, with Ocean Drive being undoubtedly one of the best skins in Counter-Strike 2. You may disagree with our selection, but you can’t find something similar on any other weapon. If you plan to buy this Deagle, we recommend you go for at least a field-tested one, as float is not kind to this colorful design.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $9.9 (BS) — $108.8 (FN)

ST: $27.2 (BS) — $368.2 (FN)

Printstream | Desert Eagle

The previous five pistols in our rating are cool and all, but the Prinstream is just iconic. Its sophisticated look and combination of black and white is not only recognizable, but also classy in the best sense of the word. Additionally, after Valve has allowed placing stickers anywhere on your weapons, having lots of white and free space opens lots of opportunities for further customization.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $22.8 (BS) — $77.9 (FN)

ST: $40.6 (BS) — $148.2 (FN)

Best Knife Skins

Without a doubt, knives are the most expensive skin category. Getting one from the case is already an event worth celebrating, and considering that there are 20 knife types with lots of available skins and finishes for each one, every copy is likely to be pretty unique and, hence, pricey. When dealing with high-cost items, it’s advisable to stick to the best sites to buy CS2 skins to avoid shady market practices and high fees.

Some skins like Crimson Web or Slaughter even appear on several knife types, but most players agree that they look the best on the Falchion and M9 Bayonet. Rating the most beautiful skins in CS2 is especially challenging when dealing with knives, but here’s what we’ve found:

Doppler | Bayonet

Despite Bayonet’s fairly standard look, it is much coveted by the players going for a realistic look. Meanwhile, Doppler finish is quite popular and widespread, appearing on several knife types. Unsurprisingly, such a combination looks pretty attractive despite the advanced age of both, making it one of the best CS2 weapon skins.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $585.9 (MW) — $590 (FN)

ST: $600 (MW) — $640 (FN)

Gamma Doppler | Butterfly Knife

What can beat the looks of a Doppler skin? A Gamma Doppler with even more patterns and colors! However, you will have to cash out quite a sum for this variety and brightness. Still, it may be worth it, especially on the knives with the good animations like Butterfly, as you’ll get one of the top weapon skins in Counter-Strike 2.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $2,239 (MW) — $2,400 (FN)

ST: $2,347 (FN) — $2,417 (WM)

Marble Fade | Butterfly Knife

The series of Marble Fade skins has stayed popular for more than seven years that have passed since the release of the Spectrum 2 Case. The shimmering colors on the knife’s edge is its most prominent feature, even on a blade as small as a Butterfly knife.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $1,846 (MW) — $1,950 (FN)

ST: $1,850 (MW) — $1,913 (FN)

Lore | Karambit

Not all golden-like paintings automatically become the best weapon skins in CS2, but the Lore is much more than just a shiny finish. Karambit is a traditional choice for this skin, making it a popular cosmetic option and a valuable purchase.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $545 (BS) — $1,480 (FN)

ST: $656 (BS) — $1,839 (FN)

Case Hardened | Karambit

A true legend even among the best CS skins, Case Hardened finish was released just after the presentation of weapon customization in 2013. Karambit became one of the first daggers to boast a hardening design and remains one of the best to this day, especially if the pattern’s color palette includes lots of blue.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $671 (BS) — $1,480 (FN)

ST: $678 (BS) — $2,422 (FN)

Best Rifle Skins

Any list of the best CS2 skins can’t be complete without including the top rifles, like the famous AKs, M4s, and AWPs. However, we decided to exclude some of the less popular weapons, like SSG 08, AUG, SG 553, and auto sniper rifles, so we could focus on the ones players love the most.

Nightwish | AK-47

Undoubtedly one of the best skins for this weapon, especially among those that came out relatively recently. Starry sky, psychedelic circles as a reference to shamanism, and the central figure of the monster on the receiver draws attention like nothing else in the game. Nextgenz, the designer behind Nightwish, claims that the creature is a spirit of a dead deer, although it is hard to tell while looking at these sharp fangs.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $4.1 (BS) — $63.9 (FN)

ST: $11.2 (BS) — $130.4 (FN)

Wild Lotus | AK-47

AKs have probably the highest number of potential options to include in our list of the best skins for Counter-Strike 2, but we have to make a choice. As you can notice, we rarely include the most expensive cosmetics as they are rarely that well-designed, but that is not the case for AK-47 | Wild Lotus. The combination of a green background and chaotic flower growth covering the entire gun looks great, while the absence of StatTrak or Souvenir options increases the skin’s price even further.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $2,800 (BS) — $11,580 (FN)

Neon Revolution | AK-47

Another unique and coveted design to look for is Neon Revolution for AK-47. Despite plenty of bright colors and diverse looks available on the market, the acidic combination of pink and green still makes this rifle one of the prettiest CS2 skins in the game. If you compare it with the Legion of Anubis, Elite Built, or The Empress, the Neon Revolution delivers a much brighter impression and seems to have its own unique flavor.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $10.8 (BS) — $58 (FN)

ST: $31.5 (BS) — $126.6 (FN)

Atheris | AWP

At first glance, it’s hard to tell why both casual and pro players are so fond of this skin. Perhaps it’s because of the gun’s relatively low price, or, more likely, its sleek design. The emerald viper and the scales texture on the rifle’s sides look great on the AWP and emphasize its one-shot lethality.

Rarity: Restricted

Price: $1.7 (BS) — $11.9 (FN)

ST: $3.9 (BS) — $31.8 (FN)

Asiimov | AWP

The Asiimov family of skins is no longer just a coloring for a weapon; it's a legend, and the Asiimov for the AWP is the most striking specimen of its kind. Many decisive headshots were delivered with one of these, and given its popularity, this is only the beginning of this white-orange reaper's journey. An absurd number of players want to own this futuristic masterpiece, and that's why it deserves its place among the most popular CS2 weapon skins.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $63.8 (BS) — $111.5 (FT)

ST: $103.3 (BS) — $208 (FT)

Chrome Cannon | AWP

The newest addition to the list of AWP skins marked a breakthrough for the game as it is here that players first saw how the Source 2 engine processes new light features. The Chrome Cannon has no definite color and changes depending on the lighting and viewing angle, granting it a visual range only the best-looking CS2 skins can compete with. Since the Chrome Cannon caused a real buzz, we expect to see more weapons with similar visuals in the future.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $37.4 (BS) — $158.9 (FN)

ST: $79.2 (BS) — $420.6 (FN)

Player Two | M4A1-S

The M4A1-S is another great gun that boasts some of the best skins in CS, which makes choosing the items for this category extremely difficult. Still, Player Two was as near to an auto-include as it could be, mainly because of its unique design. Also, the price for the copies with higher wear is pretty reasonable.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $10.8 (BS) — $85.9 (FN)

ST: $27.6 (BS) — $199 (FN)

Chantico’s Fire | M4A1-S

Another unique design for the M4A1 boasting a silencer is Chantico’s Fire, which is a combination of bloody red background and light-golden contours. Since selecting the best CS2 skins for each weapon is often all about unique designs, this one definitely warrants a spot on our list.

Rarity: Restricted

Price: $13.2 (BS) — $97.4 (FN)

ST: $30.7 (BS) — $245.4 (FN)

Temukau | M4A4

A classic 30-bullet counterpart to AK on the Counter-Terrorists' side, the M4A4 also has a wide range of extraordinary skins. Of course, some may praise The Emperor, In Living Color, or Howl as the better options, but we decided to give the spotlight to Temukau, a relatively new but exceedingly popular anime-inspired skin. This item uses an unusual combination of white and light blue to create a pleasant background, while the CT anime girl with purple hair is the centerpiece of the design.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $5.9 (BS) — $109.5 (FN)

ST: $14.6 (BS) — $221 (FN)

Desolate Space | M4A4

Desolate Space is a design with lots of meaning behind it that still manages to look great, especially on lower float values. The combination of acid blue and purple is a striking color palette, while the artwork is a reference to the 80s space horror movies. Maybe the skin’s age has reduced its popularity, but having a fair price for a unique design will surely keep it at the top of lists like our own.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $3.4 (BS) — $19.4 (FN)

ST: $9.1 (BS) — $65.8 (FN)

Chromatin Aberration | Galil AR

Despite its popularity at the pro scene, Galil-AR never received much attention from skin developers. Of course, there are a few pretty expensive options here, but Chromatic Aberration easily beats them in terms of style.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $1 (BS) — $8.1 (FN)

ST: $2.7 (BS) — $21.6 (FN)

Best SMG Skins

SMGs are rarely brought up when discussing the best skins to buy for CS2, but there are plenty of great items here! Let’s take a look at some of the most notable ones.

Neon Rider | MAC-10

Some of you probably expected to see Neon Rider in the AK category, right? However, the skin competition among the 47s is fierce, while MAC-10 has few decent options. Interestingly, this skin appeared in 2015 and still looks astonishing, with lots of professional players using it even now.

Rarity: Covert

Price: $5.25 (WW) — $8.9 (FN)

ST: $13.5 (FT) — $29.7 (FN)

Disco Tech | MAC-10

Smooth color transitions are what CS players love to see, praising the designs of Doppler, Fade, Case Hardened, and many more. Disco Tech is quite a fresh take on this design approach, offering a great color mix in blue and light purple, making the SMG look pretty bright. Moreover, the price for such this gun is relatively low right now, starting from a single buck for the BS one.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $1.1 (BS) — $10.4 (FN)

ST: $4.3 (BS) — $33.2 (FN)

Food Chain | MP9

Food Chain has a special place on our list because of its great cost-to-quality balance. Since the skin is of the Classified rarity, its minimal price is quite low, but it still looks astonishing with a mad mix of colors and characters. Since the release of Food Chain in early 2021, it has conquered many ratings, and now it finally appears on one of our.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $1 (BS) — $7.4 (FN)

ST: $2.3 (BS) — $21.7 (FN)

Mount Fuji | MP9

With the majority of the skins relying on bright colors and clearly defined shapes, there is a category of designs that instead return to the basics, resembling old-school pictures. Mount Fuji is one of these. The image of a legendary Japanese mount and unusually soft colors with smooth transitions are truly a sight for sore eyes. Some players claim that this MP9 lacks brightness, but for us, this is one of the top skins in CS2, especially in its price category.

Rarity: Restricted

Price: $2.2 (BS) — $8.2 (FN)

ST: $3.5 (BS) — $22 (FN)

Best Heavy Skins

Let’s finish our list with some Heavy skins. Since those weapons are a rare sight in the game,  they receive little love from both players and developers. Still, we found a few notable ones worth your attention.

Hyper Beast | Nova

Many of you probably expected to see Hyper Beast in the rifles category, with both AWP and M4A1-S looking pretty solid with this skin. However, those rifles receive quite a lot of spotlight already, while a humble Nova looks just as stunning with this predatory design. The combination of green and red bestial shapes covers almost all the shotgun, making it look incredible. You’ll just have to wait for the next major balance shift to start using this one competitively.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $15.9 (BS) — $27.7 (FN)

ST: $19 (BS) — $56 (FN)

XOXO | XM1014

The XOXO skin on the XM1014 is one of the cheapest entries in our list of the best skins for CS2. Maybe it’s because the skin does not cover the entirety of the gun, but hey, it just means more room for stickers! Of course, this shotgun is rarely used in the game because of its price, but the $900 reward might be worth it sometimes, and having a colorful skin for such occasions might brighten your match.

Rarity: Classified

Price: $0.9 (BS) — $6.5 (FN)

ST: $1.7 (BS) — $20 (FN)

Monster Call | MAG-7

The shooting speed of the MAG-7 is its most significant drawback, but in the right hands and on the right spot it can be deadly. If you are one of the few who can make it work, you’ll definitely appreciate Monster Call. The shark-like beast on the front grip is such a great idea that it alone makes the skin notable. As an added bonus, it is also pretty cheap and accessible.

Rarity: Restricted

Price: $0.2 (BS) — $1.3 (FN)

ST: $0.4 (BS) — $3.8 (FN)