Ever since the Arms Deal update, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive fans can equip nearly every in-game weapon with lots of different textures or finishes, known as skins.
Skins are purely cosmetic, which means they can’t affect any weapon’s performance or the overall gameplay. Their purpose is to help players express their personality and stand out on the battlefield.
Some players may deem them unnecessary, but most find them super-exciting. It’s fun when you open a case and find a rare skin to embellish your weapon, especially if that skin is worth thousands of dollars on the market.
Yes, rare CS:GO skins can be quite valuable, which is all the more reason to join the skin craze and try and get your hands on some of the best out there.
But first, let’s see how many skins there are in CS:GO, how the system works, and what types of skin conditions are available.
There Are Lots of Skins in CS:GO
When we say lots, we really mean it. There are almost 1,000 different skins in CS:GO, so you have an opportunity to decorate your weapons in many different styles.
There are futuristic skins to show off your cyberpunk style, antique skins for vintage enthusiasts, and a bunch of other styles to match anyone’s taste.
They’re available in different colors, too, each representing a certain quality grade based on their value and rarity.
CS:GO skins are available in eight quality or rarity grades, which impact the chances of different skins appearing in in-game drops or various weapon and promotional cases.
The quality grades are as follows:
- Consumer-grade (white) – the most common
- Industrial-grade (light-blue) – a bit uncommon
- Mil-spec or High-grade (blue) – every weapon case contains them
- Restricted or Mythics (purple) – harder to obtain, can cost hundreds of dollars
- Classified or Legendary(pink) – quite rare and valuable
- Covert or Ancient (red) – the rarest and very expensive
- Melee Weapons (gold) – exceedingly rare, can cost thousands of dollars
- Contraband or Immortal (orange) – there’s only one, available with the StatTrak counter and reserved for the M4A4 Howl.
Let’s see how you can get these skins to understand the system better.
The System Can Get Confusing for Beginners
When you’re just entering the world of CS:GO, everything can seem a bit confusing, especially the skin system.
You can get some common skins in random drops or as weekly rewards, but what’s up with all those weapon cases? How do you even open them?
You need keys, which you can buy in the Steam shop. You can’t trade or sell them.
You can get rare skins in weapon cases and Trade Up Contracts, as well as by trading with other players in the Steam Community Market.
Trade Up Contracts allow you to trade 10 normal or StatTrak skins from any collection for one random, higher-grade skin.
Another way to obtain CS:GO skins is through CSGO gambling, which doesn’t require real money. You use virtual money to win various skins and many other in-game items.
Now that you have a better understanding of different quality grades and how you can obtain CS:GO skins, let’s explore the five types of skin conditions. They differ in terms of wear, expressed by different float values.
The best part about the float values is they don’t change. Your CS:GO skins won’t degrade with time and usage.
Battle-Scarred Skins
The name says it all. Battle-Scarred skins make weapons look like they’ve been through the wringer.
They are the most rugged type of skins. They have a heavily-worn design with lots of scratches, dents, and blemishes. But that doesn’t mean they look ugly or are worthless, although they are generally the cheapest.
For instance, higher-grade Battle-Scarred skins can cost a lot more than, say, Consumer-grade BS skins. It all depends on their float value, which can be anything between 0.45 and 1.
Well-Worn Skins
Well-Worn skins have a float value between 0.38 and 0.45. They’re extremely worn, with lots of serious tears, scratches, and large blemishes.
Some Battle-Scarred skins look quite nicer than some Well-Worn skins, but the latter’s design is often less disintegrated. Also, some WW skins are barely any different from some higher-grade skins with lower float values.
Field-Tested Skins
Field-Tested skins have less prominent scratches and dents but a better-looking design overall. Their float value ranges between 0.15 and 0.38.
They’re right in the middle in terms of quality, but the lower demand makes them quite cheap, especially if they have large blemishes that negatively affect the design. Of course, if you’re all for a rugged look, Field-Tested skins can make your weapons look a bit vintage.
Minimal Wear Skins
Minimal Wear skins are pretty self-explanatory. They have just a few minor scratches or other signs of usage, which are barely visible.
With a float value between 0.07 and 0.15, they have an almost perfect appearance. There are lots of Minimal Wear skins on the market, many of which are quite inexpensive.
Factory New Skins
As you may have guessed, Factory New skins are the best type of skins in CS:GO. Fresh out of the factory, they’re brand new and have a float value between 0 and 0.07.
They haven’t been out in the field, so their paint is typically flawless. There are very few Factory New skins that sport extremely minor scratches.
Because of their top-notch quality, Factory New skins tend to be the most expensive. The highest-grade FN skins with any float value, especially one closer to zero, can cost thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
CS:GO skins are some of the most exciting features you can enjoy in this world-famous video game. They won’t improve your gameplay, but they’ll make your weapons look fantastic, not to mention that they can help you earn a lot of money.
