The first skins in CS2 appeared about eleven years ago, and since then their collection and sale have turned into a whole separate economy. Although over the years, Valve developers have experimented a lot with different themes in skin design, releasing new cases and selecting the best works of the community, in the first collections there are many skins that retain their unwavering popularity to this day. We present a selection of skins that can rightfully be called eternal classics, which, by the way, are used by CS2 pro players.

AWP | Asiimov

This iconic AWP skin was added to the game in 2014, becoming the first in a series of items named after the famous science fiction author. AWP | Asiimov drops from the Operation Phoenix weapon case. The skin quickly grew in popularity within the community, and over the years has been seen in the hands of famous players including G2 Esports’ m0NESY, Navi’s s1mple, and G2 Esports’ kennyS.

USP-S | Stainless

This skin from 2014 is practical and minimalistic. The USP-S | Stainless features a black and gray body. It may seem a bit too simple compared to the other skins on this list, but it remains quite popular among players who prefer realistic designs or use solid skins as a base for stickers.

M4A1-S | Dark Water

Another option that will appeal to fans of camouflage skins in CS2 is the M4A1-S | Dark Water. The black and gray geometric pattern covering the surface of this rifle is not very striking, but this design is still quite popular.

AK-47 | Case Hardened

AK-47 | Case Hardened became one of the skins that started another trend - collecting skins with rare pattern indices. There are thousands of options for applying texture to the surface of the weapon, and some of them can cost thousands of dollars, for example, if the pattern is dominated by one color. However, regardless of the pattern index, this machine gun with gold, silver, and blue-violet stains looks impressive, and it was added in the very first case, in August 2013.

AWP | Boom

This skin, which appeared in 2013 in the eSports 2013 Case, was one of the first designs to replace the camouflage pattern with a bright pattern. While the developers initially preferred more realistic muted tones, the popularity of the AWP Boom showed them that colorful patterns in the style of comics or graffiti would be equally popular with players. It is no surprise that this skin is still in high demand today.

Desert Eagle | Hypnotic

CS2 skins with unusual optical effects have also appeared in the first cases. The surface of the Desert Eagle | Hypnotic, which was added to the CS:GO Weapon Case, is covered with diverging circles that distort its shape and create a hypnotic effect. Hopefully, they will confuse the enemy!

Desert Eagle | Blaze

In terms of popularity, the Desert Eagle | Blaze can probably compete with the AWP | Asiimov. This pistol design, in which the barrel seems to be engulfed in flames, cannot be confused with anything else. Its only drawback is the high price. Due to the fact that this skin cannot be obtained from cases at the moment, its cost is inevitably increasing. If you consider skins as an investment, this one is definitely worth a closer look.

AK-47 | Fire Serpent

The source of inspiration for the design of the AK-47 | Fire Serpent, which was added to the game in September 2013, became traditional Aztec ornaments, and the drawing on the body depicts a fire serpent, which was revered in the myths of this people. Despite the fact that a significant part of the surface of the machine remains unpainted, this skin is still popular.

AK-47 | Red Laminate

AK-47 | Red Laminate, released in August 2013, is a more minimalistic version of the skin for the AK-47 in CS2. Despite the fact that the design is dominated by only two colors, black and red, it looks quite recognizable. The coloring emphasizes the texture of the wood, which is also present in the regular AK-47, turning it into a bright ornament.

Five-SeveN | Retrobution

Added to the game in 2015, Five-SeveN | Retrobution features muted colors reminiscent of the fifties or sixties. The abstract design of smooth curved lines definitely gives off a retro-futuristic vibe. If you prefer skins with a classic design, this is worth checking out.

UMP-45 | Grand Prix

This is a racing inspired skin that was added to the game in 2015. The UMP-45 | Grand Prix features a muted color scheme (beige and white with red accents). It only comes in Field-Tested condition, so if you're looking for a skin that looks like a weapon with an interesting combat history, this is definitely your choice.

P90 | Fallout Warning

This skin was added to CS in August 2013. The skin looks dangerous, in particular, due to the radiation sign on the surface. It is made in gray-red tones and looks best in Factory New condition. Fallout Warning is available in the Souvenir version and goes great with stickers.

Karambit | Vanilla

Like the gun designs, the knives didn't immediately become as bright and unique as they look now. First, Valve added Vanilla variants of the knives to the game. These skins replaced the default knives but did not have unusual patterns. Perhaps someone will like this version of the Karambit, in which nothing distracts from the unique shape of the knife. There are other interesting knives with incredible history, which are still in the hearts of CS fans.

Wrapping It Up

The average monthly player count for CS2 in 2024 is 800,000-900,000 people, which indicates the high popularity of the game, which is supported in particular by cool skins. If you want to learn more about the best skins, as well as about player settings, we recommend the Profilerr service. It is available to players from all over the world - from New York to London. Here you can find such useful functionality as Steam ID finder, crosshair generator, console commands, inventory calculator, and others.