All CS2 Skin Rarities Explained

Whether you’re opening cases or trading on the Steam Market, every skin you see carries one of seven (plus a few legacy) rarity levels. They’re color-coded, determine drop rates, and have a huge impact on value. Let me break them all down.

1. Consumer Grade (White)

• Color: Light gray / White
• Drop Rate: about 57%
• Where You Find It: Most case drops and mission rewards
• Examples:
  • P2000 | Urban DDPAT
  • Dual Berettas | Colony
• Value and Use: Entry-level skins, often under $0.05. Great for beginners or for adding a bit of style without spending much.

2. Industrial Grade (Light Blue)

• Color: Light blue
• Drop Rate: about 28%
• Where You Find It: Common case contents
• Examples:
  • Glock-18 | Blue Fissure
  • Galil AR | Jungle Dashed
• Value and Use: Still very common (under $0.10), but a step up in style. Perfect for filling out your collection on a budget.

3. Mil-Spec Rare (Blue)

• Color: Blue
• Drop Rate: about 11%
• Where You Find It: Standard case drops
• Examples:
  • M4A1-S | Nightmare
  • USP-S | Cyrex
• Value and Use: The first tier of skins that people really start to notice—usually $0.10 to $1. Still inexpensive, but more collectible.

4. Restricted (Purple)

• Color: Purple
• Drop Rate: about 7%
• Where You Find It: Weapon cases and operation cases
• Examples:
  • AK-47 | Redline
  • Desert Eagle | Blaze
• Value and Use: These skins typically go for $1 to $10. They’re popular for both looks and trading, especially during case opening events.

5. Classified (Pink)

• Color: Pink
• Drop Rate: about 3%
• Where You Find It: Mid-tier case items
• Examples:
  • M4A4 | Howl (contraband)
  • AWP | Asiimov
• Value and Use: Usually $5 to $50. These are the first high-tier skins that collectors and traders chase.

6. Covert (Red)

• Color: Red
• Drop Rate: about 0.6%
• Where You Find It: Top tier of every case
• Examples:
  • AK-47 | Fire Serpent
  • AWP | Dragon Lore
• Value and Use: $20 to $500 or more. These are marquee skins that define a case and hold value, especially in Factory New condition.

7. Exceedingly Rare (Gold)

• Color: Gold
• Drop Rate: about 0.26%
• Where You Find It: Special items in every case
• Examples:
  • Knives like Karambit and M9 Bayonet
  • Gloves like Sport Gloves and Driver Gloves
• Value and Use: $100 to $2000 or more. The ultimate prize in a case opening.

Legacy and Special

• Contraband (Orange)
  • Only M4A4 | Howl is officially contraband. It was reclassified after a copyright issue.
• Souvenir Skins
  • Have the same rarity tiers but come with tournament stickers and yellow borders. Extremely collectible.
• StatTrak™ Variants
  • Any skin can have a StatTrak™ version with a kill counter. Adds about 20% to 30% to the price.

Why Rarity Matters

1. Drop Rates and Excitement
   • Higher rarity means lower odds and more thrill when you land one.
2. Market Dynamics
   • Supply and demand drive prices. Fewer Covert drops means higher value.
3. Aesthetic and Prestige
   • Gold items are a status symbol. Pink and red skins often headline big trades.

Tips for Collectors

• Case Openings: If you love the thrill, focus on cases with high-value Covert or gold items.
• Investing: Classified and Covert skins can appreciate over time, especially discontinued patterns.
• Budget Builds: Consumer and Industrial grades let you sample dozens of skins for just a few dollars.

With this guide, you’ll know exactly what each color means, how rare the drops are, and why the economy revolves around these rarity tiers. Good luck and happy collecting!