All About CS2 Cases - The Ultimate Guide

CS2 cases can make the game even more exciting by imparting an all-new look to many weapons. But how do they actually work?

Today, I will answer that question in great detail by covering every detail about CS2 cases. What are CS2 cases?

CS2 cases are literally that, cases. Some players also call them treasures, packages, or boxes. When opened, they provide you with a cosmetic item known as a skin, which can change the look of a certain weapon. Additionally, the case can also offer gloves or knives.

The new look of the weapon is often bragged about among teammates, and you can even sell the skin.

While skins might seem like a small detail in the game, but they are big business, with some of them selling for over $1000.

Opening a case can provide you with 1 skin from the many possibilities. It is like a lucky draw since you can't predict which exact skin you will get.

Game developer Valve has been clear that the CS:GO skins will work in CS2 as well.

Therefore, the skins that players already own can be migrated to CS2, which has again rekindled players' interest in skins and cases.

A brief history of CS cases

Original CS didn't have the concept of cases. The first weapon case was launched in CS:GO in August 2013. Players could get cases only after playing in special matches on VAC-secured servers.

The first case released was the CS:GO weapons case and the Esports 2013 case. However, after their success, the developers consistently launched 4 more cases that very year. Ever since then, Valve has been releasing new cases, including 1 this year named Revolution case.

How to get CS2 cases?

Since now you know what CS2 cases are, it's time to understand how to get these.

1. Weekly rewards

CS2 offers a weekly reward system where you can choose 2 from the 4 cases when you gain an XP point. If you gain another XP point in the same week, you get the other 2 cases. The problem is you are likely to get only low-tier skins through those cases.

That's why, even if you play the game regularly for weeks together, the probability of gaining a case that provides you with a highly valued skill is limited.

Keep in mind that merely getting the case doesn't mean that you can open it right away. Opening it requires another digital resource (covered below). So, be prepared to spend some money if you are serious about procuring the items.

2. Purchase cases

Another option is to buy cases. The advantage is you can buy the exact case you want. Of course, everybody would prefer to purchase a case that provides a higher probability of getting rare skins. However, the prices of those cases are also on the higher side.

The procedure to purchase the cases is easy.

Step 1: Open CS2.
Step 2: Go to the store section on top of the screen.
Step 3: Navigate to the market section after that.

Once in that tab, you can go through numerous cases and choose the one that is likely to offer the skin type you want.

3. Third party marketplaces

If you don't mind shelling out money for cases, then it's worth checking the third-party marketplaces. The advantage of these marketplaces is that the fee is low, and often, the price is lower as well. When you browse through numerous such marketplaces, you might get an opportunity to buy some rare cases as well.

4. Post-match drop

Not everyone wants to spend money on CS2 cases. If you are one of them, just keep playing CS2, and you might receive a free drop after the match.

5. Twitch Stream Drops

Many Twitch streams of major tournaments allow viewers to get free drops. While it is rare that the viewers might get a rare skin out of these cases, it is worth trying.

Read more in our: Top 15 Most Expensive Cases in CS2 and How To Get Them

Types of CS2 cases

Before you go on a case-buying spree, it's important to understand the different types of cases.

1. Black

Black cases offer skins created by Valve, the game developer. While it might seem like all skins would be created by Valve, that's not always the case.

2. eSports

Esports cases provide skins created by Valve. However, there is a distinct difference. A portion of the revenue made by selling these cases is devoted to the CS:GO esports gaming community. Therefore, when buying this case, you are doing your bit for the CS:GO community.

3. Yellow

How about skins created by the community?

That's what the yellow case offers. The revenue generated through the sale of these cases helps the skin authors.

What do you need for opening CS2 cases?

For opening CS2 cases, you essentially need 2 things:

1. The case (of course, Duh!)

2. A key

The same key will not work for every case. The key you need depends on the type of case you have.

How to get CS2 keys?

The in-game store is the only option to purchase new keys. A few years back, CS2 developers made keys untradeable. There are a few keys still available on sale on third-party marketplaces, but the cost is higher, and you can buy them cheaper from the in-game store.

How to open CS2 cases?

Fortunately, opening CS2 cases is relatively easy, but you have a few options to open the cases.

Option 1: Open them within the game

Opening the case is extremely easy.

Step 1: On the home screen of CS2, click on the inventory icon and then decide on the case you want to open and click on it.

Step 2: Click on the unlock container button, and it will open if you have the right key.

Step 3: Opening it will lead to an animation similar to roulette, and you will get a skin once the animation ends.

That's it! You can easily get a skin in under 1 minute if you have the case and a corresponding key.

Option 2: Use third-party sites

As highlighted above, Valve has been releasing cases consistently since 2013. However, many third-party websites have also developed unique cases that offer sets of skins different from the regular cases. It means there are cases on these websites that offer more rare skins than a regular case.

To open such cases, you need to make a deposit and open the required case.

Truth be told if you choose a trusted third-party case opening site, the odds of getting rare skin are higher. Using such a third-party site for getting rare skins is easy.

Step 1: Select the right third-party case opening site.

Step 2: Create your account and deposit the funds.

Step 3: Select the right case from the options available.

Step 4: Click on the open case button, and you will get a skin.

Step 5: Follow the steps to transfer highlighted by the website the skin to Steam inventory.

The first step of this procedure recommends choosing a trusted third-party site. But how to do so? The section below covers that.

How to choose the right third-party case opening site?

When comparing third-party case opening sites, consider the factors below:

Choose a website having positive reviews and has been around for the last few years. It instantly helps you eliminate fly-by-night operators.

When choosing such a website, ensure it offers trustworthy money deposit options.

The website interface should be easy to understand.

Of course, the case inventory matters a lot. If the website is great but doesn't offer enough case options, there is no point in signing up on such a website.

Some third-party websites do provide some bonus and promotional offers. Consider those as well.

Let me stress that the first parameter, the legitimacy of the website, is the most important factor to consider.

What to expect on case opening?

According to the figures released by Valve, the probability of getting items of various rarities are as followers:

Rare: 0.26%

Covert: 0.64%

Classified: 3.2%

Restricted: 15.98%

Mil-spec: 79.92%

Since these figures were released in 2017, sure enough, there might be some changes in the probability, but broadly, these figures remain true.

The problem is if you plan to make money by opening CS2 cases, you will have to open hundreds of cases before you get something rare that you can sell for more money. Until you reach that stage, you are likely to lose money. Therefore, if you want to bag something rare to sell, it's best to buy the case that can offer the item you want and open it rather than wait for the drops.

Should you open CS2 cases?

While the short answer is Yes, truth be told, there are a few factors at play here.

1. Purpose

If you are opening cases to get a rare item that you can sell for thousands of dollars, let me tell you, you need to invest a significant sum in cases and keys before you get there.

Then, too, it's a game of probability. If you are ready for that, sure, go ahead and open the cases.

On the other hand, if you plan to use the cosmetic items yourself, you can open cases since there is no ROI aspect involved.

2. Types of cases

If you are getting cases through the weekly drops, getting a rare case is extremely difficult. So, opening cases makes little sense.

However, if you cherry-pick the case from the marketplace, opening it makes sense since it offers a higher chance of getting the skin you want.

Read more in our: Best CS2 Guns and Weapons

Best cases to open in CS2

It's now time to understand the best cases to open in CS2.

1. Revolver case

The numerous knives the revolver case offers make it worth opening. Regarding weapon skins, it can help you bag valuable things like the Royal Paladin M4A4 skin, which sells for over $50, or the R8 Revolver Fade skin, which can help you get over $15. The Point Disarray AK47 skin is another excellent option in this case, as it sells for over $15 most of the time.

Knife skins that this case offers vary from Bayonet and Karambit to flip knife skin. Due to this, the demand for this case is always on the higher side.

Considering the fact that the case can help you get a classified or a covert skin, it's worth opening.

2. Prisma 2 Sase

Prisma 2 case is famous for offering skins that have high visibility, making this case pretty popular. Primary among such skins is the Doppler skin or the Marble fade skin for the Stiletto knife. When it comes to knife skins, it offers 48 different options. As for gun skins, it can help you win some popular ones like the M4A1-S Player Two skin or the Glock-18 Bullet queen skin, which can sell upwards of $15.

Besides these skins, you can win skin of either the Mac-10 or AK-47 or the Mag-7. Skins on offer vary from Covert to Classified to Restricted. A variety of skins on offer makes this case popular among players.

3. Wildfire Case

Operation wildfire case can help you win one of the 13 knife skins. Besides that, it provides the opportunity to win the Fuel Injector AK-47 skin, which sells upwards of $ 100. Kumicho Dragon Desert Eagle is another popular skin it offers, which can sell quickly for more than $ 20.

Among knife skin options, it provides the Fade and Crimson web skin for knives like the Bowie Knife. The ability to either win a knife skin or one of the unique skins for AK-47 or Deagle certainly makes this case worth opening.

Tips to use CS2 cases wisely

Among so many case and skin options, it's easy to get confused when opening cases. Stick to the tips below, and opening cases shouldn't be a problem.

1. Earmark a budget

When trying to get a skin, you might have to first shell out money on the case and then the key. The excitement of unboxing can easily lure you to overspend.

Don't fall into that trap and simply have a specific budget for case unboxings every month. Once you reach that limit, don't buy more cases or keys, no matter what.

Doing so helps you take a balanced approach towards case unboxing.

2. Research before deciding

Every CS2 case has different rewards. Fortunately, when you search for the name of the case online, you can know the items it can offer and the probability of winning those items. Many websites analyze the probable ROI of such cases as well. Instead of impulsively opening the cases, it's best to look at the ROI before deciding.

If your gaming goals aren't aligned with what the case offers, it's a good idea to sell the case, as that will help you gain at least some money instead of spending more on a key to unbox it.

3. Check the market

Prices of skins and cases change all the time. Many times, you might have calculated the ROI using old skin prices.

Since the prices change daily, it's best to get the latest prices to determine the value of the case and the skins. Doing so helps you understand whether it's worth opening the case.

4. Don't open every case

Most beginner players make the mistake of opening every case. Analyze the type of skins on offer, the categories of those skins, and whether or not you want to use those skins.

Once you find answers to all these, you can shortlist the cases you want to open and the cases you want to let go.

Cherry-pick the right cases, and the chances of finding useful skins increase.

5. Time the opening right

Did you know the timing of case unboxing matters?

If you open a case during in-game events or updates, the game developer might have altered the drop rates of certain items, increasing your chances of getting a rare item. Keeping track of such events can help you bag such opportunities and gain rare skins.

FAQs

Can You Open CS2 Cases Without a Key?

No, you can't open CS2 cases without a key. For almost all cases, you need to buy the key separately. Apart from buying the key within the game, there is no other option to buy since the keys aren't transferable as well.

How many CS2 cases are opened daily?

At the start of this year, someone tracked 23.5 mn case openings between Jan 1 and Feb 1, 2023. The openings came to around 7,80,000 daily. If I go by this number, it means around 32,000 cases are opened every minute.

With the launch of CS2, the popularity and player base of the game has gone up. That means, currently, this number can be even higher.

What is the CS2 case opening simulator?

Opening a case requires you to spend money on the case and the key. A case simulator, in turn, provides you with the same excitement of opening the case without spending money. Of course, you don't get those digital items, but the excitement of unboxing is retained.

Such case simulators provide you with limited virtual currency, using which you can buy the case and the key. Keep in mind that these simulators just allow you to experiment.

After trying a few cases in simulators, if you think a certain case provides a decent win-win proposition, you can go ahead and spend some real money on a real case.

Can you get free case keys in CS2?

Currently, no. You will have to buy the keys within the game. Since keys aren't transferable, you can't get it from a friend or buy the keys at a discount.

How many cases are available in CS2?

Currently, the game has 41 cases, but not all of them are offered as a reward after playing the games. Therefore, the true number can be considered to be around 35.

Wrapping it up

CS2 cases can certainly make the game more exciting by providing certain skins that enhance weapon looks. However, to get such skins, you need to know more about the cases and the probability of winning rare skins. My post above solves all those issues by covering everything about CS2 cases.

Apart from the skins, if you want to enjoy the perks that come with a high rank within the game, try out CS 2 premier rating boost and CS 2 competitive rank boost. It saves you time and helps you attain the rank you want.