Karambit is undoubtedly the most iconic knife in the world of Counter-Strike. Its unique tiger claw inspired shape and distinctive draw animation have made it a symbol of prestige among players. In Counter-Strike 2, its rarity and price have not dropped – quite the opposite. The new graphics engine has refreshed the appearance of many skins, making the knife even more desirable. If you’re planning to hunt for this specific knife by opening cases, you should know that Karambit does not drop from every case. It is tied to specific case series, which determine not only the drop pool but also the available finishes.
Where to find Karambit? Case series breakdown
In CS2, knives are assigned to specific generations of finishes. Karambit appears in three main groups of cases, and each of them offers a completely different set of skins.
1. Classic Cases (original finishes)
This is where the Karambit legend began. These cases include the most classic and prestigious finishes, such as Fade, Slaughter, Crimson Web, or Night. In total, there are 11 cases in this category, most of which are now considered collector’s items with very high individual prices.
- CS:GO Weapon Case (1, 2, and 3) – the first cases in the history of the game. Opening them today is extremely expensive, making Karambit hunting highly unprofitable, although a potential drop (for example, a Karambit Case Hardened “Blue Gem”) can be worth a fortune.
- Operation Bravo, Phoenix, and Vanguard – cases connected to historic operations.
- eSports (2013, 2013 Winter, 2014 Summer) – cases that once helped fund tournament prize pools.
- Winter Offensive Weapon Case – contains classic skins and is now very rarely seen.
- Revolver Case – the cheapest case in this group. If you’re aiming for a classic Karambit (for example, Vanilla or Crimson Web), the Revolver Case is the most economical option in terms of case price alone.
2. Chroma Cases (modern color finishes)
The Chroma series introduced some of the most visually impressive skins in the game. This is where you can find major highlights such as Doppler (including rare phases like Sapphire or Ruby), Marble Fade, and Tiger Tooth.
In CS2, skins like Doppler and Marble Fade gained a second life thanks to the new lighting system, which made opening Chroma cases popular again among streamers and collectors.
3. Gamma Cases (exotic finishes)
The Gamma series is the last group of cases where you can find Karambit. It introduced unique finishes that differ significantly from previous generations, including Gamma Doppler, Lore, Autotronic, and Black Laminate.
The Lore finish is especially sought after because of its visual connection to the legendary AWP Dragon Lore, while Emerald (the rarest Gamma Doppler variant) is considered one of the most desirable knife finishes in the game.
Complete list of cases with Karambit drops
Below is a full overview of all 16 cases where the “Rare Special Item” icon includes a chance to drop a Karambit:
| Case Name | Finish Series | Market Status |
| CS:GO Weapon Case | Classic | Very expensive / Rare |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 2 | Classic | Very expensive / Rare |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 3 | Classic | Very expensive / Rare |
| Operation Bravo Case | Classic | Very expensive / Collector’s |
| Operation Phoenix Case | Classic | Mid-priced |
| Operation Vanguard Case | Classic | Mid-priced |
| Revolver Case | Classic | Cheapest in the classic series |
| Winter Offensive Case | Classic | Expensive |
| eSports 2013 Case | Classic | Collector’s |
| eSports 2013 Winter | Classic | Collector’s |
| eSports 2014 Summer | Classic | Collector’s |
| Chroma Case | Chroma | Affordable |
| Chroma 2 Case | Chroma | Affordable |
| Chroma 3 Case | Chroma | Affordable |
| Gamma Case | Gamma | Affordable |
| Gamma 2 Case | Gamma | Affordable |
Drop chances and opening math
It’s important to approach this realistically. Valve has disclosed (due to legal requirements, including regulations in China) that the chance of receiving a knife is roughly 1 in 385 (about 0.26%). However, getting a knife does not automatically mean getting a Karambit. In these cases, Karambit usually shares the knife pool with other knives (such as M9 Bayonet, Gut Knife, Flip Knife, or Bayonet). This means that after rolling the gold “Rare Special Item,” you typically have about a 1 in 5 chance (20%) that it will specifically be a Karambit – which lowers the effective odds even further. Naturally, the chance of receiving a specific Karambit skin is significantly lower.
Why isn’t Karambit available in newer cases?
Players often ask why newer cases – such as Kilowatt or Fracture – do not include Karambit drops. The answer lies in Valve’s knife rotation policy. Karambit is considered a “premium” item and appears only in selected case generations to help maintain its high market value. Newer cases introduce different knife types (for example, Kukri, Skeleton, Nomad, or Paracord) to keep the market diverse and prevent saturation.
