Introduction
In CS2, skins are like the ultimate fashion statement for your weapons. They make your guns look cool and can even show off your status. Therefore, it is important to understand how skins and the skin market work. To begin to understand them, we have to start with the very basics but really important stuff: skin rarity and wear levels. If you are new to the game, it is normal that you don’t know much about them, but professional players know everything about them by heart. In this article, we will focus on the rarity and wear levels of CS2 skins, discussing what they are, how they affect skin prices, and more. Let’s begin!
What is Skin Rarity in CS2
Skin rarity determines how common or rare a skin is, and it’s a huge part of the game’s economy. The rarer the skin, the more exclusive and valuable it becomes.
The Rarity Tiers
There are several tiers of skin rarity in CS2, and each one has its own level of coolness:
Consumer Grade (White): These are the most common skins. You’ll find these a lot, and they don’t usually have much market value. But hey, everyone starts somewhere!
Industrial Grade (Light Blue): A step up from consumer grade, but still pretty common. You might find something you like here, but don’t expect to get rich off these.
Mil-Spec (Blue): Now we’re talking! These skins are less common and start to have a bit more flair. They can be a nice upgrade to your collection.
Restricted (Purple): These skins are getting rarer and more stylish. If you unbox one of these, you’re on your way to a sweet-looking arsenal.
Classified (Pink): Now you’re in serious territory. Classified skins are pretty rare and often highly sought after. Unboxing one of these from the best CS2 cases always makes for a good day.
Covert (Red): These are the top-tier regular skins. Super rare, super flashy, and super expensive. If you get one, you’re basically CS2 royalty.
Exceedingly Rare (Gold): This isn’t a skin tier but includes things like knives and gloves. These are the holy grail of CS2 skins. Getting one of these is like hitting the jackpot!
How Rarity factor Affects Skin Prices
If you’ve been trading or buying skins, you’ve probably noticed that some can cost a small fortune while others are pretty cheap. So, what’s the deal? How does skin rarity affect prices?
Here is how:
- Supply and Demand: The rarer the skin, the fewer there are available. This limited supply makes them more desirable, driving up their price. Everyone wants what’s hard to get, right?
- Exclusivity: Rare skins are like limited edition collectibles. Owning a rare skin can give you major bragging rights. Players are often willing to pay big bucks to show off these exclusive items.
- Market Trends: Just like in any market, trends can influence prices. If a certain rare skin becomes popular due to a streamer or a pro player using it, its value can skyrocket.
- Investment Potential: Some players see rare skins as investments. They buy and hold onto them, hoping the value will increase over time. This speculation can drive prices even higher.
All You Need to Know about Skin Wear Levels in CS2
Have you noticed that in some cases two skins of the same type can look totally different? That difference is all about wear levels. So, what’s the deal with wear levels, and why should you care? Let’s break it down:
There are five main wear levels in CS2:
Factory New: This is the cream of the crop. Factory New skins look pristine, with no noticeable wear and tear. They’re the most visually appealing and often the most expensive.
Minimal Wear: These skins are in great shape with only minor signs of wear. They still look pretty slick and are usually a bit cheaper than Factory New skins.
Field-Tested: Here, you start to see some more noticeable scratches and blemishes. Field-Tested skins strike a balance between cost and appearance, making them a popular choice for many players.
Well-Worn: These skins show a lot more wear and tear. They’re not as shiny and new-looking, but they’re usually more affordable.
Battle-Scarred: The name says it all. These skins look like they’ve been through a lot. They have significant scratches and wear, making them the cheapest option among the wear levels.
The wear level also affects the float value, which is a numerical value that precisely indicates the exact wear of a skin within its wear level category. This value ranges from 0.00 (pristine) to 1.00 (extremely worn). For instance, a skin with a float value of 0.07 might be considered Factory New, while a float value of 0.75 would be Battle-Scarred.
Wear Levels and Skin Prices
Wear levels impact both the appearance and price of a skin significantly. A Factory New skin often commands a much higher price compared to a Battle-Scarred version of the same model. This preference stems from players generally favoring skins that appear newer and well-maintained. Interestingly, wear levels often play a more crucial role in determining skin prices than skin rarities themselves. Take the USP-S | Printstream as an example: a Battle-Scarred version without the StatTrak feature sells for approximately $20 in the skin market, whereas the Factory New version can cost around $90 — nearly four times the price. However, it’s important to note that some players enjoy the worn-out appearance of Battle-Scarred skins and actively seek them out.
Conclusion
Here we are, covering the most important concepts about CS2 skins. Remember in the introduction, we mentioned that professional players know everything about skin rarities and wear levels by heart. Now, after reading this article, you know just as much as they do. Throughout the article, we explored everything you need to know about these two concepts, including their individual definitions, the tiers they encompass, and their impact on skin prices. Now the stage is yours: choose a skin that suits your taste and budget, and start playing. Good games!
