The CS2 release hasn’t slowed down the skin economy. If anything, it has made it stronger. With a growing player base, limited collections, and increasing demand from collectors and investors, certain skins are almost guaranteed to appreciate in value over the next few years. Below is a breakdown of concrete examples of skins that are expected to rise in price in 2025 and 2026. This is not investment advice. The CS2 skin market is unpredictable, and while some skins historically rise in value, nothing is guaranteed.
Why Some Skins Go Up in Price?
- Discontinued collections – once Valve removes a case or souvenir package, supply stops but demand keeps climbing.
- Prestige items – legendary skins with cultural status (like Dragon Lore) continue to rise.
- Tournament souvenirs – rare drops tied to Major tournaments with team stickers become historical collectibles.
- Knives and gloves – especially those locked to a single case or collection, which reduces future supply.
AWP | Dragon Lore (Cobblestone Collection)
- No longer obtainable through regular drops.
- Souvenir versions with Major stickers are some of the most expensive items in CS history.
- Expectation: steady growth, especially in Factory New and Souvenir variants.
M4A4 | Howl
- The only skin in CS classified as Contraband.
- Removed from cases permanently, making supply fixed.
- Expectation: prices continue to climb, with Factory New and StatTrak versions seeing the biggest gains.
AK-47 | Case Hardened Blue Gem Seeds
- Specific seeds with full-blue coverage are considered “holy grails.”
- Supply is fixed since seeds are limited, and demand keeps growing among collectors.
- Expectation: Tier 1 Blue Gems will break new price records.
- Read: AK-47 Case Hardened: Blue Gem Patterns & Seeds
Karambit | Case Hardened (Blue Gem)
- The Karambit is one of the most iconic knives.
- Blue Gem patterns have historically reached six-figure sales.
- Expectation: strong upward trend, especially for Factory New and StatTrak Tier 1 seeds.
- Read: Blue Gem Karambit – All You Need to Know
AWP | Gungnir (The Norse Collection)
- Droppable only from expensive operation cases, with very low odds.
- Known as one of the cleanest high-tier AWP designs.
- Expectation: value increases as Norse Collection supply continues to shrink.
AK-47 | Wild Lotus (The St. Marc Collection)
- Bright, iconic design, very low drop availability.
- Popular among collectors and streamers, boosting visibility.
- Expectation: steady growth, especially in Factory New condition.
Desert Eagle | Blaze
- One of the oldest and most iconic pistol skins.
- High recognition factor makes it desirable at all times.
- Expectation: prices rise steadily as supply remains limited.
Specialist Gloves | Crimson Kimono
- Rare gloves with strong visual appeal.
- Often paired with red knives (like Karambit Fade or Crimson Web).
- Expectation: premium variants will keep increasing in value.
Quick Summary Table
| Skin / Item | Reason for Growth | 2025–2026 Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| AWP Dragon Lore | Discontinued, legendary status | Strong increase |
| M4A4 Howl | Contraband, fixed supply | Very strong |
| AK-47 Case Hardened (Blue Gem) | Rare pattern seeds | Record highs |
| Karambit Case Hardened (Blue Gem) | Iconic knife + Blue Gem rarity | Record highs |
| AWP Gungnir | Expensive, rare drop | Strong increase |
| AK-47 Wild Lotus | Unique design, low supply | Strong increase |
| Desert Eagle Blaze | Iconic pistol, collector favorite | Steady growth |
| Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono | Rare, paired with high-tier knives | Strong increase |
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