Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been a mainstay of both PC gaming and eSports. The first Counter-Strike game was launched in 1999 and kicked off one of the most iconic game series on Windows. When you talk about iconic in terms of CS:GO, you cannot forget about its weapons skins.
Skins in CS:GO not only show off your love for the game, but also your dedication as a collector. There are plenty of rare skins in the game, and what makes these items rare can be their patterns, float, how many are in circulation, and their condition.
10 Tec-9 | Nuclear Threat
Souvenir drops in CS:GO are given to spectators during professional games. Each map can drop some pretty rare items that are only exclusive to its collection. One of those rare items is the Souvenir Tec-9 Nuclear Threat.
What makes this skin so rare is the fact that Nuke is one of the least-played maps in the active pool. The Nuclear Threat is also a rare drop no matter what condition it is in. The mix of different green colors with shades of black really makes this a perfect skin for Nuke. Not to mention the bright green radiation warning sign.
9 M4A4 | Poseidon
Skins from the Gods and Monsters Collection are very well-designed skins. Their colors and depictions of mythical beings only add to the beauty of the skins. One of the most sought-after skins from that collection is the M4A4 Poseidon.
This stunning blue and green skin really pops on the weapon along with the God of the Sea. The collection was only available during Operation Bloodhound, so finding this skin could be very hard and would cost a pretty penny if you were looking to buy it for your collection.
8 AK-47 | Wild Lotus
The AK-47 Wild Lotus might just be one of the most beautiful skins in CS:GO. This weapon skin is adorned with many vibrant flowers, leaves, and plants. What really makes this weapon pop is the green body along with orange and purple accent colors.
Added in 2019 as part of the St. Marc Collection, the Wild Lotus is truly one of a kind. It does come in all conditions; however, its quality is Classified. There are no StatTrak versions of the weapon either. Finding this drop in-game would be lucky for any player due to the skin selling anywhere between $6,000-12,000.
7 Glock-18 | Fade
The Fade skins might be some of the most vibrant skins in CS:GO. It is easy to see why with the different shades of bright pink, purple, and yellow that are on the skin. When the Glock Fade came out, this become a must-have skin.
The Glock Fade also only comes in two different conditions: Factory New and Minimal Wear. This skin is part of the Assault Collection which is no longer in circulation. That means the only way to get this is either through very expensive trade-ups or buying one if it is on the market.
6 SSG 08 | Detour
There have been many iconic moments during CS:GO eSports events, but the one that most likely comes to mind is the famous Fnatic three-man boost on Overpass. This saw Olofmeister looking down from CT Spawn into the sewers area of the map and taking out his opponents with a scout.
At the end of that game, the Souvenir SSG 08 Detour was dropped and anyone lucky enough to get one of these got a rare piece of history. Like all Souvenir items, the weapon skin comes with stickers from pro players or teams. The Detour with a Fnatic or Olofmeister sticker definitely makes this an extremely rare and valuable skin.
5 M4A4 | Howl
The M4A4 Howl might just be one of the most exclusive skins in CS:GO history. If you were fortunate to get one during its one-month availability, you basically hit the jackpot. The reason behind this is the skin was pulled due to copyright issues from the original artist.
The Howl was already a red-tiered weapon in the game, but after the artist disputes, it became a Contraband weapon. The skin features one of the most recognizable artworks in the game with its wolf head in a bright fire-red color. The only way you can get this skin is through trading, which can set you back a few thousand dollars.
4 M9 Bayonet | Crimson Web
The Crimson Web knives are all highly priced items and some of the most favored of all the knife skins. The Crimson Web series was introduced into CS:GO in 2013, making these some of the oldest skins in the game.
While all the Crimson Web knives could’ve been added as one pick, there are a few that really stand out. The main one is the M9 Bayonet. This knife has been a top pick in the community since its addition to CS:GO in 2013. Combining the M9 Bayonet with the crimson red color and unique web pattern really makes it stand out.
3 AK-47 | Fire Serpent
The Fire Serpent is a very well-known skin within the CS:GO community. It may just look like a stock AK-47 with a green serpent on it, but players know it is so much more than that. This skin was added to the game in 2013 during Operation Bravo.
The case itself was already expensive, but trying to unbox one of these can be even more expensive when it first dropped. Now the only means of getting this skin is by trading or with any luck finding it on the market. The chances of seeing this skin or its extremely rare StatTrak Factory New variant are very slim.
2 Karambit | Case Hardened (Blue Gem)
The Case Hardened skins are very much like the Fade patterns. A certain color pattern offers the best value and rarity for the skin. When it comes to highly sought-after rare patterns, the Case Hardened Blue Gem is the cream of the crop.
There are a variety of pattern numbers that offer the Blue Gem. For those who don't know what the Blue Gem is, it’s when blue covers the entire side of the skin which makes it that much more valuable. The bright blue color is almost like a diamond in terms of beauty and expensive. The Blue Gem is very expensive and prices offered for this skin have been up to $1.4 million.
1 AWP | Dragon Lore
If you’ve been playing CS:GO for a little bit, chances are you know of the most iconic weapon skin in the game’s history. The Dragon Lore is not only the rarest skin but is a status symbol in the community.
Just owning a Dragon Lore shows off your dedication to collecting one of the most expensive skins. The only way to get this weapon is by either trading or shelling out a ridiculous amount of money. The case doesn't drop anymore, meaning the Souvenir Dragon Lore is an even more rare variant of the skin.