It is difficult to imagine the CS:GO game that won the hearts of many gamers around the world without skins. The rather complex, but extremely exciting in-game economy of the shooter instills in players a strong enthusiasm not only for victories but also for collecting valuable items. Skins can tell a whole story about a player, and in this article, you will learn more about these unique artifacts in CS:GO.

What are CS:GO Skins?

Skins are graphic 3D models that are focused on changing the appearance of items in CS:GO. Skins bring new colors and meanings to the game. In addition, skins are collectibles that have formed a unique in-game economy. All skins in CS:GO are divided into categories. They are distinguished mainly by grade, float value, and finish.

The rarity level of a skin is indicated by its belonging to one of the following categories:

•     Consumer.
•     Industrial.
•     Mil-Spec.
•     Restricted.
•     Classified.
•     Covert.
•     Rare Special.
•     Contraband.

Skins from the Consumer category are the most common in the game, they have a cheap cost. The Rare Special category includes valuable knife skins, and the Contraband category includes one skin - M4A4 | Howl.

Each skin has a level of wear, which is reflected in its appearance. The float value of a skin can range from 0 to 1. The skin with the lowest float value has a shiny, polished appearance, while the skin with the highest float value has scuffs and scratches, and its color may be dull. The wear level of the skin can be as follows:

•     Factory New.
•     Minimal Wear.
•     Field Tested.
•     Well Worn.
•     Battle-Scarred.

In addition, each skin has its own finish style. This attribute indicates the skin painting technique. A skin can belong to one of the following categories:

•     Solid Color.
•     Spray Paint.
•     Hydrographic.
•     Anodized.
•     Anodized Airbrushed.
•     Anodized Multicolored.
•     Patina.
•     Custom Paint.
•     Gunsmith.

What are the Ways of Obtaining CS:GO Skins?

CS:GO players have several options to get the skin. If you want to get a certain skin, you should look at the Steam market, as well as third-party platforms that specialize in the exchange and sale of skins between players.

You can also get a skin during the game by reaching certain ranks. Such drops are random, so if you are not ready to wait for such surprises, you may like the CS:GO case opening option on 3-rd party autorized platforms. Normally, each case contains about 17 items. Knowing the contents of the case, you can expect to receive one or another skin. To open cases, you will need to purchase special keys. An interesting way to receive a new skin is to participate in giveaways and sweepstakes.

What are the Most Popular CS:GO Skins?

There are quite a lot of skins in CS:GO that amaze with their design idea and collectible properties. Let's take a look at the most popular items.

AK-47

The AK-47 is a legendary rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov. These weapons are used by irregular forces, armed forces and insurgents around the world. Among the most popular skins for AK-47 in CS:GO:

•     AK-47 | Redline.
•     AK-47 | Slate.
•     AK-47 | The Empress.

M4A4

M4A4 is one of the most popular weapons in CS:GO. An assault rifle from the USA with a magazine capacity of 30/90 is a worthy analog of a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Among the most popular skins for M4A4:

•     M4A4 | Spider Lily.
•     M4A4 | Desolate Space.
•     M4A4 | Hellfire.

Glock-18

The Glock-18 is popular with CS:GO players who play on the T side. This effective weapon, which fires bursts of three rounds, has won the hearts of gamers. They tend to look for skins with elegant designs. Among the best skins for Glock-18: 

•     The Glock-18 | Neo Noir.
•     The Glock-18 | Fade
•     The Glock-18 | Wasteland Rebel.

Desert Eagle 

The Desert Eagle is a pistol that many people compare to a sniper rifle in terms of shooting style. The weapon has a magazine with a capacity of seven bullets. Among the most popular skins for the powerful Desert Eagle gun: 

•     Desert Eagle | Code Red.
•     Desert Eagle | Fennec Fox.
•     Desert Eagle | Ocean Drive.

AWP 

AWP is the most deadly and valuable weapon in CS:GO. The kin for a sniper rifle had a record price tag in the whole history of CS:GO. The cost of the AWP | Dragon Lore skin signed by Skadoodle made over $61,000. Among the most popular skins for AWP:

•     AWP | Desert Hydra.
•     AWP | Dragon Lore.
•     AWP | Wildfire.

How Much do CS:GO Skins Cost? 

The cost of a skin in CS:GO can vary from a few cents to several thousand dollars. The cost of an item is influenced by various factors. For example, the higher the rarity level of a skin, the higher its cost. Also, the level of wear of the item affects the price tag. Factory New skins always have a higher cost. The skin's support for the StatTrak counter also increases its cost. This technology allows players to keep track of the number of opponents hit with a weapon. You can check out market prices on trustworthy CS:GO trading platforms as well, to be updated. 

To Wrap Up!

Even though skins in CS:GO play a purely cosmetic role, for many players they are as important as game mechanics and teamwork. Skins have an amazing visual effect and energize players to win.