The Best CS2 Knives & Skins (Top 10 Skins)

The launch of CS2 has resulted in a lot of hype around rifles, SMGs, etc. Among all the limelight, only seasoned players remember the humble knife. Today, I will speak about the humble knives. Which are the best knives in CS2? What skins go well with them? I will answer all this and more in today's post.

Before highlighting the 5 best knives, I would like to state that there are currently 21 different knives in CS2.

Top 5 CS2 Knives

1. Karambit

Karambit is certainly a distinct knife because of the curved blade and finger hole in the handle. While it is extremely effective in slaying enemies, it is also aesthetically pleasing because of the curved blade. When it comes to Karambit skins (covered in the section below), they further enhance the aesthetics of the knife.

While the knife is Indonesian ever since it became a part of CS:GO and now CS2, it became popular globally. It is modeled around the United Cutlery Honshu Karambit knife.

While it has a knife-type grip, in the game, players hold it using a pistol-style grip. The knife is perfect for quick and sudden attacks. Its swift motion comes in handy when trying to inflict some quick damage. In CS:GO it is one of the most expensive and sought-after knives. Let's see how it fares among CS2 players.

2. M9 Bayonet

While CS2 doesn't provide knife stats, the M9 bayonet blade arguably seems to inflict maximum damage. The large blade, along with serrated edges, is what makes this knife special. The M9 bayonet is a status symbol in the CS universe, which is why it is on this list.

The knife is based on the Smith and Wesson SW3B knife. It is one of the five original knives released by the developers in 2013.

3. Butterfly Knife

Butterfly Knife is very popular among seasoned CS players. In terms of skins, it offers you numerous options as well. Its pivoting blade certainly makes it aesthetically pleasing. Add to that it's rapid deployment, and it is easy to understand why it is such a good option.

It is based on the Terry Guinn Gargoyle Scimitar Hybrid knife. Only seasoned players are aware that Butterfly Knife has multiple animations. The knife originated in the Philippines and was used like a razor before the invention of conventional razors.

Numerous animations have certainly made this knife popular.

4. Talon Knife

If you don't observe it closely, you can mistake the Talon knife for Karambit. However, on closer look, you will certainly notice many differences. For example, the Talon knife has an ivory handle. The karambit has a darker handle. Thus, on inspection, it is easy to detect the difference.

Apart from that, it has saw tooth ridges. This feature is inspired by the Kiaslore Tiger claw knife. The inspection animation is also unique and memorable. If you consistently press the Reload and Inspect buttons when equipped with the knife, the character twirls the knife, which makes it aesthetically pleasing.

5. Skeleton Knife

Purely in terms of price, the skeleton knife is certainly expensive. The reason is that it is not available in many cases. In terms of looks, it is lethal.

Performance-wise, it is very similar to the default knife. However, the pullout animation is certainly attractive.

According to the Counterstrike fan Wiki page, the knife is modeled around the Renegade Tactical Steel G4 Stryker knife. If you use the inspection animation right, the player is likely to insert a finger in the gap at the center of the knife and spin it. That certainly makes the animation unique than any other.

Read more in our: The Best CS2 Settings For Max FPS and Performance

How To Get a Knife In CS2?

Now that you are aware of the top 5 best knives, it is time to understand how to get a knife in CS2.

1. Steam Market

The simplest way to get a knife in CS2 is the steam marketplace. It's also the fastest way to get a knife. However, be prepared to pay a transaction fee (up to 15%) when you do so. This fee is why the Steam marketplace is expensive compared to our next option.

2. Third-Party Marketplaces

Third-party marketplaces have lower fees than the steam marketplace. You can expect prices to be 30% cheaper on such marketplaces. Some of the trusted marketplaces include:

CSFloat

DMarket

CS.Money

As always, conduct due diligence before making any transaction on these platforms. Such platforms might be trusted, but you never know when a scammer might be lurking on these platforms.

3. Trading up

Don't want to spend so much to buy a knife?

If yes, trading is the best way forward. You can trade up a weapon skin for a knife. Sure enough, it is a manual and tedious process, but plenty of walkthroughs are available on how to do this.

4. Cases

Another way in which you can get a knife is by opening cases in CS2. Some cases lead to rare knives, which are worth a lot, but in most case unboxings, you are likely to lose money if you purely go by the probability.

If you want to know the odds of getting a rare knife when you open a case, there is a 0.26% chance of the same happening. That is 1 knife in 385 cases. Certainly not a profitable endeavor in the long term.

5. In-game drops

Do you have Prime status?

If yes, you can get a knife without spending money through in-game drops. Once again, the process is not easy.

CS2 offers 2 case drops every week to active players. The first case drop happens after playing a few games. However, the second case drop is usually after playing the game for long hours.

The problem is that even with this method, the probability of getting a rare knife drop is as low as 1%. However, it is still higher than the 0.26% probability of the option mentioned above.

Best CS2 Knife Skins

Now that you know the best CS2 knives, it is time to understand the best skins that can go with such knives.

1. Karambit Fade

Since karambit is the best knife on this list, it's skin features on top as well. Karambit Fade provides a coated look to the knifeblade. The pattern formed consists of pink, yellow and purple colors. While the exact pattern can vary, the blade does become aesthetically pleasing. Handle remains unchanged. Price of $3,000 approximately doesn't make it an expensive skin.

The good news, however, is that the skin, up until now, has been present in numerous cases like Revolver case, Winter Offensive case, and esports case.

Animations associated with this skin have made it famous. The good news is that multiple cases can provide you with this skin. This knife's unique hook finish and dazzling curvature have made it famous. The effect is visible during the inspection animations as well. Among the top-tier CS2 knives, it certainly holds a special place.

2. Butterfly Knife Marble Fade

While the butterfly knife in itself is iconic, this skin makes it even more mesmerizing. Not only does the skin offer a variety of colors, but the fading, like that of marble, gives the knife an entirely new look. The intricate patterns due to the fading are visible when you flick the knife or twirl it.

The problem is the drop probability of this knife is only 0.63%, which makes it rare. Regarding popularity among skins, it is in the top 35%. It is also evident from the high price it commands. If you want to know its rarity tier, that's "Classified". In the past, it was present in the Spectrum case and Spectrum 2 case. With a price tag of around $ 2.5k, it is comparatively affordable. Acquire it, and you will have something prestigious in your arsenal.

3. M9 Bayonet Crimson Web

A few CS2 skins have legendary status, and this skin is one of them. Chroma cases are the ones that can provide you with this skin. The skin imparts various colors to the blade, like silver and black. The dominant color of the blade is red. The seamless transition of colors certainly makes the knife unique. Whether you pull out the knife, use the inspection animation, or flick it, the skin certainly adds to the grandeur of the knife in all these.

Since it greatly enhances the knife's appeal, it doesn't come as a surprise that it usually commands a price of around $3000.

4. Skeleton Knife Fade

Want to make your skeleton knife look more vibrant?

If yes, this skin can help you achieve that. It adds multiple colors to the blade.

For example, at the tip is blue, which transitions to various colors like purple, red, and finally yellow. There are different shades of these colors in this skin.

Overall, the color scheme is similar to what you would associate with sunrise or sunset.

Since the skeleton knife is unique, this skin makes it even more visually appealing. The problem is that the skin is available only in cases like Fracture or Shattered web. No wonder the skin can sell for as high as $3,000.

5. Talon Knife Doppler Ruby

There are a few skins that make the knife look even more aggressive. If you prefer such a skin, the doppler ruby skin certainly fulfills that requirement. It makes the blade look chaotic and yet more aggressive.

Primarily, the skin turns the blade into different shades of red. Move the knife quickly enough, and you will notice a crimson flare. Since red is mostly associated with passion, intensity, and aggression, there is no doubt that it makes the knife more aggressive.

Rarity of the skin can be gauged from the fact that it has been drawn out of only 2 cases: Prisma 2 and Prisma case. That is the primary reason it sells for up to $7,000. The distinct look it offers certainly makes the skin worth it.

6. Talon Knife Doppler Sapphire

Talon Knife Doppler Sapphire paints the knife with metallic colors and wavy lines resembling the movement of smoke. As for the color scheme, it uses various shades of blue. True to its name, it resembles sapphire's texture and color. Unlike some other skins, the handle remains untouched.

The skin was first launched in 2018 and is now available in Prisma 2 and Prisma cases. If you observe the shade variations, you will realize that the knife offers light and dark variations, which certainly provide an aggressive look. The aim here is to make the blade reflect the raw, uncut sapphire colors, and it does that pretty well.

With a price of around $8,000 currently, it is certainly one of the more expensive skins.

7. Butterfly Knife Doppler Sapphire

Butterfly Knife Doppler Sapphire skin was introduced to the game in the "Take a Trip to the Canals" update in 2017. Since then, it has become one of the rarest knife skins in the game.

Once again, this skin adorns the blade with metallic paints and translucent lines that mimic the wavy movement of smoke. The color of this skin is blue, and of course, multiple variants of blue are imprinted on the blade.

Similar to the above skin, the aim here is to provide the look of uncut raw sapphire, and the skin does succeed with that. The handle remains untouched in this skin as well. Due to its rare nature, the price of this skin has gone as high as $25,000 in the past. Cases in which it can be found are spectrum case and spectrum 2 case.

8. Karambit Gamma Doppler Emerald

Karambit Gamma Doppler Emerald is one of the game's older skins, which is also currently present in CS2.

Most knife skins in the game seem to use metallic paint, including this one. This skin uses gradients of green color. Primarily, the skin turns the knife blade into an emerald itself. That is possible due to the exact mimicking of the emerald colors. Smoke-like patterns further adorn the blade, which is another reason that this skin is so popular.

As for the cases, Gamma 2 case and Gamma case have offered it in the past. With a price tag above $10,000, it is rare and expensive.

9. Talon Knife Blue Gem

If you are looking for a more affordable skin, talon knives offer a very good option in the form of Talon Knife Blue Gem.

It might not be the most popular, but its appearance certainly makes it one of the best. To start with, the striking blue shades ensure it is in sharp contrast with the dull colors of most CS2 maps. That is why you would certainly stand out from the crowd with this in your hand. Icy blue colors reflect the light pretty well, making it even more unique. If you look at the color variations, those are from icy blue to burnt purple to rich gold.

Usually, the more blue shades the skin has, the higher its price. This one can be bought by shelling out around $1,200.

10. Karambit Doppler Sapphire

Deep purple shades, along with a metallic finish, are what makes Karambit Doppler Sapphire unique. Of course, to impart that marble appearance, there are vein-like lines on the blade. Combining these features makes the blade appear like sapphire while the handle remains unchanged. However, the ring on the other side of the handle does experience a color change.

This skin was first introduced in the full spectrum update in 2015. The skin is available in Chroma 2 case, Chroma 3 case, and Chroma case.

Wondering about its price? It routinely sells over $9,000, which makes it another expensive skin on this list.

Read more in our: Top 25 Beginner Tips for New CS2 Players (2023)

How to get CS2 Knife Skins?

With the skins covered, it is time to understand how to procure them.

1. Cases

The most common way to get these skins is to unbox the cases. For most skins discussed above, I have also mentioned the cases in which they can be found. While not every case unboxing can offer you that skin, there is a probability of getting that knife skin when opening the respective case.

2. In-game drops

CS2 has made it possible to get such knife skins simply by doing two things:

Attaining higher ranks by playing more

Playing on VAC-enabled servers

Fulfill these two conditions, and you will likely receive random skin drops.

Sure enough, most skins you get in this manner might not be high value, but occasionally, there is a chance to get such a skin.

A few other ways in which you can get skins for free are:

Giveaway or promotion participation

Participating in loot sites

Enrolling on trusted daily CS2 reward sites

Some of these websites might require you to complete some action, like complete a survey or watch a video. However, go with a trusted website to keep your data safe.

3. Steam marketplace

Steam also has a community marketplace to buy knife skins from different players. Apart from knife skins, the market also offers you skins for other weapons. Depending on the rarity of the skin, the price, of course, varies.

There are a few disadvantages of buying from steam like:

Not being able to move funds from the steam marketplace to another

No discounts

Platform fees

However, since it is managed by steam, there is an element of safety. Also, the overall inventory of skins on this marketplace is higher than many other marketplaces.

4. Third party marketplace

Numerous third-party marketplaces like tradeit.gg offer premium weapon skins for sale.

Advantages of such a marketplace include:

Affordable pricing

User-friendly interface

Low fees

Discounts available

Apart from the above-mentioned marketplace, there are numerous others. Check their reputation and inventory before making any transaction to avoid getting scammed.

5. Skin trading

Buying skins is not the only way to upgrade. You can also trade skins. However, this is a slow route to get a premium skin. You will trade up slightly every time you trade a skin until you eventually acquire a premium skin.

While trading skins, ensure you consider the following features of the skin you are acquiring:

Skin value

Special skin features

After that, you can determine whether you are getting a good deal.

6. Promotions and giveaways

If you have more time and don't mind waiting, you can acquire some CS2 skins for free.

Multiple ways to do so include:

Weekly and daily giveaways

Playing on idle servers

Social media giveaways

It is best to have a strong network of CS2 players to find opportunities for such giveaways.

FAQs

What knife to invest in for CS2?

Because of its unique curved blade and finger hole, Karambit certainly is a good CS2 knife to invest in.

Will CS2 keep skins?

Yes, CS2 keeps the skins of CS:GO. Most skins covered in the list above were first introduced in CS:GO. However, their distinct appearance still makes them popular.

Wrapping it up

The next time you buy a knife or a skin in CS2, refer to this list of Best CS2 knives & skins above to know the best resources to invest in CS2. With these knives and skins, you can't go wrong with the investment.

As highlighted above, attaining a higher rank can also help you get more skins. If you don't want to play for hours to attain that rank, simply use our CS 2 premier rating boost and CS 2 competitive rank boost services to get your desired rank, stress-free!