Counter Strike 2 skins feature some rare and expensive choices, but one of the most popular skins family by far is the legendary Case Hardened pattern. One of the first skins added to the game, Case Hardened is a legendary skin pattern, which features some of the most expensive CS2 skins, worth millions of dollars (yes, you’ve read that right!). The AK-47, as one of the most popular assault rifles in gaming, is especially sought after in its Case Hardened variant.

Traders are constantly on the lookout for any kinds of Case Hardened skins, thanks to their high price and trade value. Not only pretty visually, these skins are virtually always a great investment. Their unique, signature appearance makes them stand out in any match, giving your weapons a classy look with a neat visual upgrade. In addition, some of the rare and legendary skin patterns can be worth a literal fortune, with price tags easily crossing the $10 000 barrier.

But what makes Case Hardened skins so rare and desirable in the game? Here’s all you need to know about Case Hardened skins!

Remember, if you ever want to get your hands on the Case Hardened skins, make sure to head over to SkinsMonkey, where you can trade CS2 skins for the best prices possible!

Key takeaways:

  • Case Hardened skins in CS2 are some of the rarest and most expensive skins in the game
  • Rare patterns of Case Hardened skins can be worth over one million dollars
  • If you want to trade Case Hardened skins, you should use a dedicated third-party trading site, like SKinsMonkey

What are Case Hardened Skins?

Case Hardened skins are weapon skins with unique, multicolored patterns. The design is inspired by the color case hardening process, also known as surface hardening, which involves heating the surface of iron or steel with elements like carbon at high temperatures. In the traditional process, wood charcoal and a concentrated liquid are used to heat the metal, producing a hardened surface layer and the distinctive color case hardened appearance. This process results in a mix of blues, purples (which are also present in some patterns), and gold on the surface, creating a luxurious and expensive-looking visual pattern. While Case Hardened are some of the rarest CS2 skins, the real reason why they are so popular is the legendary Blue Gem patterns.

The blue gem pattern, featuring a high concentration of blue, is the rarest and most valuable among Case Hardened patterns. The amount of blue present on the surface determines the rarity and value of the skin, and typically, Blue Gems have a large blue area. These are the rare Case Hardened skin variants, which have a float value and skin pattern which creates a blot of blue paint somewhere on the skin, which resembles a literal blue gem. To take a deeper look at the different forms and patterns, for example, the AK-47 | Case Hardened #661 is a famous Blue Gem skin. Blue Gem skins in CS2 can greatly differ in price, and while some cost less than one thousand, the most rare Blue Gem skins can easily cost over one million dollars! The rest of the patterns are less valuable, but even a little color variation can enhance the appearance and never hurt the skin’s appeal.

Check out this video by Alti Gaming about Case Hardened skins to learn more:

Why are Case Hardened Skins so expensive?

If you’ve been browsing trade offers for some of the Case Hardened skins on the market, you’ve probably already noticed that they often carry high price tags. An average Case Hardened pattern skin can be easily worth at the very least $1000.

One of the most important aspects of their price is the CS2 rarity. The Case Hardened skins are virtually or at least Covert rarity or above, and some are even classified rarity, making them especially scarce and desirable. This means that they are some of the rarest skins in the game, particularly when it comes to case hardened knives. These are the rarest in the entire family, which elevates their price tags to high value.

In addition, some of the Case Hardened pattern index versions can be worth even more, and are often hunted by big-time collectors, looking to improve their CS2 inventory. Because of this, these rare Case Hardened patterns are constantly a hot commodity, only driving their prices even further.

What are the best Case Hardened skins?

If we’ve captured your attention, here is a lsit of the best Case Hardened skins you can get in CS2:

1. AK-47 | Case Hardened

The AK-47 Case Hardened is the crown jewel of Case Hardened skins. Introduced in the Arms Deal Collection, one of the first CS2 weapon cases ever, Case Hardened is one of the best AK-47 skins available in the game. Renowned as a reliable assault rifle used by players around the world, the AK-47 | Case Hardened can be obtained by opening specific weapon cases. The rarest blue gem AK-47 has been unlocked recently, with a price tag of over one million dollars, making it one of the most expensive CS2 skins in the history of the game. In addition to blue gems, collectors also seek out other rare gems such as gold gems and silver patterns, with the scar pattern being a highly sought-after feature. Players often inspect the skin to verify the presence of blue blade or knife blade features, which can significantly increase its value. In gameplay, the AK-47 is most effective when fired in controlled bursts for maximum damage.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $300
  • Highest Steam Price: $100,000

2. Karambit | Case Hardened

karambit case hardened

The Karambit Case Hardened knife is the most expensive CS2 knife skins in the game. If you’re looking for expensive skins to add to your collection, Karambit Blue Gem is what you need. One of the most expensive skins in the game, the rarest Karambit Glue Gem patterns cost over one million dollars. If you want to try your luck and open cases, check out our Karambit Case guide as well!

  • Lowest Steam Price: $1,500
  • Highest Steam Price: $50,000

3. Five-Seven | Case Hardened

The Five-Seven Case Hardened is one of the cheapest CS2 skins on this list With its vibrant patterns, this hardened skin is perfect for players seeking a great-looking CS2 pistol without breaking the bank. With the case-hardened patina colors over the gun’s body, it gives your Five-SeveN a mesmerizing look, that’s still within the bounds of the realistic CS2 aesthetic.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $20
  • Highest Steam Price: $1,000

4. Butterfly Knife | Case Hardened

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Case Hardened is one of the best Butterfly Knife skins in CS2. It’s reflected for its price, however, and you probably won’t find a Butterfly Knife Case Hardened of your own for less than $1000. If you want an expensive and beautiful knife skin, but can’t afford the legendary Karambit Blue Gem, Butterfly Knife Case Hardened will be the best second choice.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $1,000
  • Highest Steam Price: $40,000

5. Desert Eagle | Heat Treated

The Desert Eagle Heat Treated technically isn’t part of the Case Hardened family, however, it looks very similar, and even features its own Desrt Eagle Blue Gem patterns. At the moment the skin is either available only via trading with other players, or with credits from the CS2 armory pass. Its price highly depends on every individual skin pattern index, and while some of them cost only a couple of dollars, the most expensive ones are generally about couple of thousands of dollars.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $50
  • Highest Steam Price: $5,000

6. M9 Bayonet | Case Hardened

m9 bayonet case hardened

The M9 Bayonet Case Hardened is another classic knife from the Arms Deal Collection that remains one of the best knife skins to this day. It combines the realistic and deadly look with the luxurious Case Hardened visuals and even features some blue gem patterns if you’re really looking to splurge on the best M9 Bayonet skins.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $1,200
  • Highest Steam Price: $30,000

7. Hydra Gloves | Case Hardened

We couldn’t have a list of the best Case Hardened skins without the mention of Hydra Gloves Case Hardened, one of the best CS2 gloves skins. You won’t find a better gloves skin to go with your Case Hardened weapons, and the deadly Hydra Gloves aesthetic makes the visuals look even cooler. They aren’t the most expensive CS2 gloves as well, so if you’re looking for an upgrade, make sure you consider Hydra Gloves Case Hardened as well.

  • Lowest Steam Price: $10
  • Highest Steam Price: $500

What CS2 cases have Case Hardened skins?

Since there’s quite a large number of many different Case Hardened knives in the game, there are also many different weapon cases, which can give you at least one Case Hardened skin if you get lucky. Here re all the Case Hardened skins in CS2:

Players often use the search function or filters within these cases to find specific Case Hardened skins or patterns.

How to get Case Hardened skins?

If you want to get your hands on Case Hardened skins, there are three ways to do that, just like with other weapon skins in CS2. You can open CS weapon cases, use the Steam Community Market, or trade skins at a third-party trading market.

While opening CS weapon cases to get Case Hardened skins might seem like an attractive method, you have to keep in mind that with the CS case odds your chanes of opening a single Case Hardened item are extremely low, and this goes double if you’re aiming for a specific Case Hardened pattern index. While you only need a weapon case together with the CS2 case key, opening a single Case Hardened skin can can eventually come up to a higher price than simply buying the skin.

Because of this, it might seem attractive to buy Case Hardened skins at the Steam community market, but keep in mind, that this isn’t the best idea. Although the integrated Steam trading features are easy to use, Valve takes a small cut out of every transaction made on the market, effectively shifting the costs on potential buyers. While it’s not much in theory, with high prices of Case Hardened skins this small cut can come up to quite a lot of money.

If you want to get Case Hardened skins, the best way to do this is to trade CS2 skins on a dedicated third-party market, like SkinsMonkey. With an instant bot-trading feature at SkinsMonkey, you can trade skins instantly at any time, and you’re always bound to get the best deals possible. In addition, you can also use various different payment methods, like crypto.

In Conclusion

As you can see, Case Hardened skins are certainly a CS2 staple. If you want to add them to your inventory, check out our CS bot trading feature, and trade CS2 skins for best prices possible!

If you enjoyed this article, make sure yo check out our other guides, incluidng:

FAQ

Why are Case Hardened skins so expensive?

Case Hardened skins are expensive because of their rarity, unique patterns, and high demand among CS2 collectors. Special Blue Gem patterns make some of these skins extremely valuable.

How can you get Case Hardened skins in CS2?

You can get Case Hardened skins by opening CS2 cases, buying them on the Steam Market, or using third-party trading sites like SkinsMonkey for better prices and faster deals.

What is the most expensive Case Hardened skin in CS2?

The most expensive Case Hardened skin in CS2 is the Karambit | Case Hardened Blue Gem. Some of the rarest patterns have sold for over one million dollars, making it the priciest Case Hardened skin ever.