Counter-Strike
December 5, 2023
Daniel Morris
When looking for the best CS2 knife, the game has plenty of options for you to choose from. But to find the best of them all, you’re looking at paying a pretty penny. Overall, what is the best knife CS2 has to offer?
Here’s our full CS2 knife ranking, from worst to best.
19. Gut Knife
The ugliest knife in the game – the Gut Knife. It doesn’t even have the decency to be cheap either – you’re spending a hefty fee to downgrade on the vanilla knife to arguably the worst knife in CS2.
We don’t know who the Gut Knife is even for. Collectors who want all 19 might pick this one up, but if you’re looking for the best CS2 knife, look elsewhere.
Gut Knife Price: $240
Gut Knife Release Date: August 14th, 2013
18. Navaja Knife
The Navaja Knife holds the title of cheapest CS2 knife, and with good reason. It’s just… bleh. Unexciting, uninspiring, and certainly not worth the cost.
We wouldn’t even recommend the Navaja Knife to players looking for their first knife. Just save for one of the best CS2 knives instead.
Navaja Knife Price: $180
Navaja Knife Release Date: August 3rd, 2018
17. Paracord Knife
The Paracord Knife is fine. It’s not ugly, but you’d be hard-pressed to say it was particularly nice looking. At best, it’s a lateral movement from the vanilla knife.
Because of what you get for the price, it’s unsurprisingly rare that you see the Paracord Knife on the server.
Paracord Knife Price: $400
Paracord Knife Release Date: November 18th, 2019
16. Flip Knife
It’s expensive, it’s boring, and it has no unique animations. Unless this is your exact cup of tea, we wouldn’t bother with the Flip Knife.
For what it’s worth, some feel the Flip Knife is the best CS2 knife for AWPing after a flick.
Flip Knife Price: $650
Flip Knife Release Date: August 14th, 2013
15. Bowie Knife
The Bowie Knife has some cool skins and animations, but it has one massive drawback we can’t ignore. You can only see one hand! This means that if you’re a collector of the best CS2 gloves, you can only see half of your investment at a time!
If nothing else, the Bowie Knife isn’t too expensive to pick up. But again, we think there’s better value among the best CS2 knives.
Bowie Knife Price: $270
Bowie Knife Release Date: February 17th, 2016
14. Survival Knife
The Survival Knife has a strong base appearance but lacks in the animation department. It’s just a little boring.
If it were cheaper, maybe it’d be higher on the list. But for now, the Survival Knife sits at 14.
Survival Knife Price: $400
Survival Knife Release Date: November 18th, 2019
13. Classic Knife
We can’t ignore the nostalgia hit of the Classic Knife. Modeled after old Counter-Strike knives from the older games, the Classic Knife is a real throwback.
Once you look past that, the Classic Knife has little to offer, with arguably the blandest animations of them all.
Classic Knife Price: $585
Classic Knife Release Date: October 18th, 2019
12. Falchion Knife
We don’t love its overall appearance, but there’s no denying that the Falchion Knife has some great animations.
At a pretty low price point, we’d recommend the Falchion Knife as a cool starting point for wannabe collectors.
Falchion Knife Price: $260
Falchion Knife Release Date: May 27th, 2015
11. Huntsman Knife
For many, the Huntsman Knife is the very best CS2 knife. Not for us. Its appearance is strong, but again it’s let down by the animations.
You can get some amazing skins for the Huntsman Knife, so big points for that.
Huntsman Knife Price: $390
Huntsman Knife Release Date: May 1st, 2014
10. Bayonet
It’s the M9 Bayonet but with less pizazz. Spend the extra few hundred dollars for the upgrade – it’ll be worth it.
The Bayonet’s pull-out animation is cool, but beyond that, it has little to offer.
Bayonet Price: $1100
Bayonet Release Date: August 14th, 2013
9. Ursus Knife
Slick simplicity. If you enjoy the finer things in life, you’ll love the Ursus Knife. It’s not the most detailed, but it doesn’t try to be – that’s why we like it.
It loses some points for being on the expensive side, though.
Ursus Knife Price: $490
Ursus Knife Release Date: August 3rd, 2018
8. Shadow Daggers
This is an unpopular opinion, but we take the Shadow Daggers as some of the best CS2 knives on the market. Out of every CS2 knife, it offers the biggest deviation from the default, with some cool animations to boot.
Don’t sleep on the Shadow Daggers. In terms of value, it earns its place among the best CS2 knives. Because of these factors, these could make them the best CS2 knife to invest in, too.
Shadow Daggers Price: $265
Shadow Daggers Release Date: September 17th, 2015
7. Stiletto Knife
Pointy.
Stiletto Knife Price: $690
Stiletto Knife Release Date: August 3rd, 2018
6. Nomad Knife
Its pull-out animation is the best in the game bar none, and it earns its spot on that alone. The solid aesthetic is just a bonus.
Nomad Knife Price: $850
Nomad Knife Release Date: November 18th, 2019
5. Talon Knife
You get the amazing animations of the Karambit for a fraction of the price. For sure, the Talon Knife sits among the best CS2 knives.
Talon Knife Price: $850
Talon Knife Release Date: August 3rd, 2018
4. M9 Bayonet
When you think of CS2, you think of the M9 Bayonet – it’s thaticonic. It might not be the best CS2 knife, but a great animation set and brilliant skin availability take the M9 Bayonet up several notches in the list of best CS2 knives.
M9 Bayonet Price: $1500
M9 Bayonet Release Date: August 14th, 2013
3. Skeleton Knife
The Skeleton Knife just makes you feelpowerful. Twirl this thing around your finger, and you’ll feel ready to slash some enemies. Its variety of animations makes the Skeleton Knife one of the most-wanted CS2 knives.
You can unbox this from the Shattered Web Case, but the CS2 case odds won’t be in your favor.
Skeleton Knife Price: $1500
Skeleton Knife Release Date: November 18th, 2019
2. Butterfly Knife
The Butterfly Knife was added to the game in 2014 alongside Operation Breakout. Now almost a decade since its release, it has become one of the rarest and most sought-after knives in CS2.
Its flick animation is a thing of beauty, and can be the perfect celebration after stomping an opponent. Its high price tag also makes it the most valuable knife in CS2.
Butterfly Knife Price: $2100
Butterfly Knife Release Date: July 1st, 2014
1. Karambit
Its unique design makes this the best looking CS2 knife of all time. An iconic shape, legendary animations – what’s not to love about the Karambit (other than the price)?
In any competition to decide the best CS2 knives, the Karambit wins every time.
Karambit Price: $1750
Karambit Release Date: August 14th, 2013
The Future of CS2 Knives
With no new case released in 2022, the CS2 knife market is stable at the moment. It remains safe to assume that 2024 will be a busier year for CS2 and Valve will release more knives at some point during the year. It’s a huge market, and Valve would be silly to ignore it for another twelve months.
FAQs
CS2 knives are so expensive for players to buy as they’re the rarest possible drop from any kind of CS2 case. When opening a case, the chance of receiving a knife is 0.3%, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll have a good wear rating either. It’s entirely a rarity thing – despite how many cases are being opened by players on a daily basis, there just aren’t that many of them coming into the game. Even as Valve adds new knives, the prices will remain extremely high, as the drop rates always stay the same for a knife drop. The value of CS2 knives is entirely subjective, and is something you would have to weigh up against your own situation. Collecting the best CS2 knives will require you to have a lot of disposable income, and for many players that isn’t always the case. It also depends on the purpose of the purchase. Some players collect the best CS2 knives as an investment, and for a few of them that decision might pay off handsomely. The CS2 knife market always fluctuates, and if you make a purpose at the right time there’s definitely money to be made. However, as with any investment, there’s always an element of risk involved. You just have to ask yourself – is this money I can afford to lose? A knife in CS2 is purely cosmetic. Luckily, it isn’t pay-to-win, so you won’t get any skill benefit as a result of your purchase. If you do spend lots on a knife, be prepared for plenty of attention on the server, with many players asking questions. It’s inevitable that some are going to take interest in such a flashy item, as most players just use the default knife. There’s no doubt they look extremely cool, though. Of course, there’s always the chance that the value of your knife increases. This means that despite your initial investment, you can actually make money on the purchase of a CS2 knife. There are a few online sources for CS2 knives. The easiest is, of course, the Steam marketplace. This is the safest and most legit way to buy CS2 knives online. If this is your first time, it’s definitely the place to start. If Steam prices aren’t working for you, check out some legit third party marketplaces and trading sites. You can often get rare skins at a better price. You’ll need to do your research though, only use sites that are fully legit. The CS2 cases that have historically had a higher chance of containing valuable and desirable knife skins are generally considered to be: However, it’s important to note that the chances of obtaining a knife from any specific case are still relatively low, and the contents of cases are ultimately determined by chance. Annoyingly, the best answer here is “it depends”. While some rare knife skins have appreciated in value over time, it’s important to remember that the market can be unpredictable. Factors like supply, demand, and market trends heavily influence prices. Changes in the game or the introduction of new knife designs can impact the value of existing skins. Therefore, treating the best CS2 knives solely as an investment can be a risky business and not something that should be relied on. There aren’t many budget friendly CS2 knives out there. This is simply because of the rarity. Because they drop so infrequently, the price gets driven up. There are some that come close but you might struggle to find a knife that actually comes in at under $100. This is also why many fans will resort to waiting for a knife to drop from a case. Obtaining a knife in CS2 can be a combination of luck, patience, and strategy if you’re not willing or able to buy them outright. The most direct way to acquire a knife is by opening weapon cases, as they sometimes drop knife skins. Expensive cases might not be the best route though. Alternatively, head over to trading communities where you can buy, sell, and trade knife skins with others. You can find good deals and get the best CS2 knife for the best price. Ultimately, the “best” way to get a knife varies based on an individual’s budget, luck, and willingness to invest time and resources. In CS2, the idea of the “worst” knife is pretty subjective. However, if we think about factors like popularity and market value, the Gut Knife generally tends to be considered one of the worst knife skins by players. It has a distinct, curved blade shape but not in the way you want. That’s pretty much why it ended up at the bottom of our list. Gut Knives are more common and less expensive compared to rarer and more coveted knife skins, which might contribute to their reputation as being less desirable in the Counter-Strike community. Why is every knife in CS2 expensive?
Are CS2 knives worth the money?
What is the benefit of CS2 knives?
Where can I buy a CS2 knife?
Which CS2 case has the best knives?
Are CS2 knives a good investment?
What is the best CS2 knife for under $100?
What is the best way to get a knife in CS2?
What is the worst knife in CS2?
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I'm no stranger to the world of Counter-Strike and its array of knives. The intricacies of CS2 knives, their rarity, price fluctuations, and desirability are fascinating. Let's break down the concepts mentioned in that article:
Knife Rankings:
- Gut Knife: Considered unattractive and pricey, it's not a popular choice.
- Navaja Knife: Cheap but unremarkable; not recommended even for beginners.
- Paracord Knife: Middle ground, unexceptional but not disliked.
- Flip Knife: Expensive, lacking uniqueness, though favored by some AWP players.
- Bowie Knife: Cool skins but visually limited; reasonable price.
- Survival Knife: Basic appearance, lacking in animations; could be better if cheaper.
- Classic Knife: Evokes nostalgia, yet animations are bland.
- Falchion Knife: Moderate appearance, praised for its animations, good entry for collectors.
- Huntsman Knife: Strong appearance but let down by animations; notable for its skins.
- Bayonet: Similar to M9 Bayonet but less appealing, decent pull-out animation.
- Ursus Knife: Simple and sleek but expensive.
- Shadow Daggers: Underrated with unique animations, offering good value.
- Stiletto Knife: Sharp and pointy, priced higher for its appearance.
- Nomad Knife: Celebrated for its pull-out animation and solid aesthetic.
- Talon Knife: Resembles the Karambit's animations at a lower price.
- M9 Bayonet: Iconic, great animations, wide skin availability.
- Skeleton Knife: Empowering animations, highly desired but hard to obtain.
- Butterfly Knife: Rare, highly sought after, distinct flick animation.
- Karambit: Universally acclaimed for its design and animations, though pricey.
CS2 Knife Concepts:
- Rarity and Price: CS2 knives are rare drops from cases with a 0.3% chance, contributing to their high prices.
- Subjective Value: The value of CS2 knives varies; some see them as investments, while others focus on their cosmetic appeal.
- Cosmetic Nature: Knives offer no in-game advantages, but they attract attention and can increase in value.
- Purchasing: Steam marketplace is a safe option; third-party sites require caution.
- Best Cases: Cases like Chroma 2, Gamma, Operation Breakout, and Spectrum historically had desirable knife drops.
- Investment Risks: CS2 knives can appreciate but are subject to market fluctuations and game changes.
- Budget Options: Knives under $100 are rare due to their rarity and high demand.
- Acquisition Methods: Luck in case openings or trading communities can help acquire knives.
- Worst Knife: Subjectively, the Gut Knife tends to be less desirable due to its appearance and relative commonality.
This CS2 knife world is a blend of art, rarity, market dynamics, and personal preferences, making it an intriguing aspect of the Counter-Strike universe.
