The competitive aspect of Counter Strike plays an important role in the game’s series, ever since the days of CS 1.6. As one of the most popular e-sports games in the world, Counter Strike 2 has a thriving tournament scene.
Since the competitive scene and all the big-money tournaments play such an important role in the game, Valve has given the players an awesome way to commemorate their favorite e-sports moment with historical souvenir skins.
Currently, there are many different Souvenir skins available for gamers who want to add some serious swag to their CS2 skins collection. If you want to buy CS2 souvenir skins but can’t make up your mind, we’re here to help! Here’s our pick of the best CS2 souvenir skins available in the game today!
What Are The CS2 Souvenir Skins?
Souvenir skins are special versions of regular weapon skins available in the game, but with special stickers to commemorate big-time tournament matches. They come with special stickers featuring teams, tournament logos, active duty map pool icons, and more. Thanks to how rare these souvenir skins are, they can often cost a lot of money. In addition, there are some rare and expensive CS2 skins, which also come in souvenir form, only adding to their price.
In the past souvenir skins were available to anyone watching a tournament from their game client. Any player spectating a tournament in-game had a chance to obtain souvenir packages, with different souvenir cases for every map in the tournament. The souvenir package would contain a skin from a competitive map pool collection, in the Souvenir variant.
Today, gamers still need to open souvenir packages to receive their souvenir skins, however, their distribution has been updated. Instead of having a chance to get a souvenir package randomly when watching a match, gamers can collect special souvenir tokens for completing different challenges, which they can later exchange for weapon cases containing rare souvenir skins.
What Are The Best CS2 Souvenir Skins?
Many awesome, eye-catching and unique skins are available in the souvenir variant. Most collectors are willing to pay huge sums for some rare souvenir skins, making them a really good investment. If you’re wandering which Souvenir skins to purchase, here’s our guide:
1. Souvenir AWP | Dragon Lore
This is one of the most prestigious skins in CS2 history. The Dragon Lore features an incredibly detailed dragon’s design, with a beautiful ivory body. It’s one of the rarest and most expensive skins in the game, and many of the most expensive CS2 inventories calculate their worth in the amount of souvenir Dragon Lores owned. It was available only during a finale of major tournaments early on in the game, and is no longer obtainable aside from other players who trade CS2 skins, only adding to this weapon’s rarity.
- Flavor Text: 200 keys could never unlock its secrets
- Lowest Steam Price: $10,000
- Drops from The Cobblestone Collection Case
- First added: 1st July 2014
2. Souvenir AK-47 | Safari Mesh
Safari Mesh is one of the best cheap skins you can get for the AK-47, but it’s also a great choice if you want a great-looking souvenir skin without spending tons of money. The Safari Mesh skin replaces the standard AK-47 body with a solid green camo finish covering the entire gun. It’s a great skin if you want a break from the default look, without getting too flashy. Gamers who sell CS2 skins often want around $10 for a souvenir version of this skin.
- Flavor Text: A predator is a predator, no matter the environment
- Lowest Steam Price: $10.25
- Drops from The Dust 2 Collection Case
- First added: 27th November 2013
3. Souvenir M4A1-S | Master Piece
One of the best and most expensive skins for M4A1-S is the Master Piece skin. It features a fiery graffiti image against a darker blue background. This rare M4A1-S weapon skin is already quite expensive in its standard form, the souvenir variant can cost well above $1000.
- Flavor Text: None
- Lowest Steam Price: $99
- Drops from The Overpass Collection Case
- First added: 1st July 2014
4. Souvenir Tec-9 | Nuclear Threat
This skin is a part of the Nuke Collection. The artwork is fascinatingly detailed, with radioactive symbols and biological hazard signs along the weapon. The green hues give it a deadly look, almost as if it’s sitting right next to a nuclear reactor. By itself, Nuclear Threat is easily one of the best Tec-9 skins in the game, and if you’re looking for an impressive terrorist souvenir skin, Nuclear Threat is a great choice.
- Flavor Text: None
- Lowest Steam Price: $90.24
- Drops from The Nuke Collection Case
- First added: 14th August 2013
5. Souvenir AWP | Desert Hydra
Although not as legendary as the Dragon Lore, the Desert Hydra absolutely deserved a spot on our list. Its an extremely rare AWP skin in itself, and one of the most expensive AWP skins you can get. The souvenir variant, available in the 2021 Mirage collection, is one of the rarest and most expensive souvenir skins in the game, with Factory New versions available for around $6000.
- Flavor Text: Cutting off one head means two more appear—is that a risk you’re willing to take? – Valeria Jenner, Revolutionary
- Lowest Steam Price: $1800
- Drops from The 2021 Mirage Case
- First added: 22 September 2021
6. Souvenir Glock-18 | Reactor
Another weapon skin with a nuclear theme, Glock-18 Reactor is perfect for anyone who wants to add some gold skins to their inventory without spending tons of cash. This weapon finish features orange and golden hues, making your Glock-18 look like a nuclear sundown. It’s also not extremely expensive, making it a perfect compromise between the price and quality.
- Flavor Text: None
- Lowest Steam Price: $9.29
- Drops from The Cache Collection Case
- First added: 8th August 2014
7. Souvenir M4A1-S | Control Panel
One of the weirdest skins available for the M4A1-S, Control Panel is a great pick if you want to give your assault rifle a more mechanical edge. As its name implies, this skin adds a small control panel to your weapon’s side, complete with buttons, keys and screens. This weapon skin already features many small details, and the souvenir version stickers will only add more to this look. Control Panel is one of the best M4A1-S skins for every gamer who likes a detailed look for their rifle.
- Flavor Text: “Is this line secure?”
- Lowest Steam Price: $51.70
- Drops from The 2018 Nuke Collection Case
- First added: 1st September 2018
8. Souvenir Desert Eagle | Hand Cannon
The Hand Cannon, is one of the best Desert Eagle skins in CS2. Its patina-colored look is meant to evoke the look of old large-scale cannons that were fielded on the battlefield. This gives it a fancy look, somewhat similar to a brighter version of the popular Case Hardened skins. If you want a souvenir version of the Hand Cannon skin, get ready for some bigger investment, since it can cost a couple hundred dollars.
- Flavor Text: Be prepared to encounter many thorns in the trials to come
- Lowest Steam Price: $265.10
- Drops from The Cobblestone Collection Case
- First added: 1st July 2014
In Conclusion
Souvenir skins can be a great way to expand your collection. If you’re looking to really treat yourself, a souvenir skin will be a great addition to your CS2 inventory. If you liked this article, make sure to check out the rest of the Skinsmonkey website, with more guides, top lists and even free CS2 skins available in our regular giveaways!
A true gaming enthusiast, especially Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rust. At SkinsMonkey, he is involved in creating game guides based on his own experience.
