Counter-Strike has attracted millions of players worldwide since its early days, and with the introduction of the skin system in 2013, the game acquired an additional layer of personalization and collectible value. The first set of skins was not just a visual addition but also set the beginning of an entire industry, where rarity, exclusivity, and history became key factors in the success of each skin. In this article by the author eZstah, we offer to evaluate the very first skins in the game, some of which have remained popular to this day. You can get inspired by stavn, Spinx, or reck cs2 stats and inventory on the Profilerr website.
Desert Eagle | Blaze
The iconic fire image on the Desert Eagle barrel remains a popular choice among eSports athletes and casual players to this day. For example, Blaze is in the inventory of Ilya m0NESY Osipov and Daniil donk Kryshkovets, and Nikola NiKo Kovac made a legendary miss in the back in the major finals with this Desert Eagle.
The skin was introduced into the game on August 14, 2013, as part of the Dust collection and has Restricted quality. Its cost is currently estimated at about $545, regardless of the degree of wear. Blaze is the undisputed main skin of the entire Dust collection, having by far the highest price among other skins.
M4A4 | Faded Zebra
Like many other skins in this article, the M4A4 | Faded Zebra was released as part of The eSports 2013 Collection on August 14, 2013, and initially had a hefty price tag along with the rest of the skins. Over time, more colorful sets for this weapon were introduced into the game, which made the first M4A4 skin simply irrelevant and boring. Even the most recent M4A4 | Faded Zebra will not cost more than $6.
M249 | Blizzard Marbleized
Despite the low popularity of the weapon in matchmaking, the rarity and minimalism of this skin encourage players to purchase a historical copy for almost $350. This skin is not a fine piece of art, but depending on the lighting, the tone of the weapon changes to a lighter one. This skin is perfect for minimalist inventories.
MP9 | Bulldozer
The Bulldozer skin for the MP9 from The Assault Collection is beautiful, rare, and popular in the gaming community. The recognizable bright yellow Bulldozer costs about $600, and thanks to the rough shape of the weapon, it really does refer to the vehicle. However, it is not easy to acquire such a classic. Lots with this skin appear very rarely on online platforms, usually worn and used for years.
Glock-18 | Dragon Tattoo
Dragon Tattoo is a great symbol of minimalism, more like a cheap and barely noticeable tattoo on a person's body. Imagine: a slightly updated gray tone of the Glock-18 is neatly complemented by a small silhouette of a black dragon on the barrel itself. Players, however, did not appreciate such subtlety: without the StatTrak version, the skin costs only about $ 80, with the StatTrak counter – a little over $ 250.
XM1014 | Blaze Orange
Almost no player remembers the Militia map, once popular in older versions of Counter-Strike. But many players remember the slightly annoying Blaze Orange skin that often drops as a reward in the game. Due to this phenomenon, the skin cannot be called rare, and the cost of the skin is only $ 20. If the Bulldozer skin for the MP9 is almost never sold due to its rarity, then the inexpensive Blaze Orange skin is simply left as the first and only skin for a useless type of weapon.
P90 | Fallout Warning
This skin, although minimalistic, perfectly reveals the concept of something dangerous and radioactive. The reddish coloring for the legendary P90 with the chemical contamination logo is the case when players show respect for history. The skin belongs to The Nuke Collection and has a Souvenir version. Its cost in Factory New condition can exceed $120. By the way, it goes well with the Radiation Hazard skins, which are available for weapons such as the M4A4 and AUG.
Glock-18 | Brass
Possibly one of the most boring historical examples in the game, along with the M4A4 | Faded Zebra, the Brass skin is simply a dirty yellowish addition to the top of the gun for the T-side. Unsurprisingly, the price is only high for the newest versions (around $80), with the well-worn versions costing around $12. Unlike the Dragon Tattoo, this skin doesn't even have a memorable twist.
AK-47 | Black Laminate
In the case of the AK-47, minimalism can actually give brutality, rather than look boring. This is exactly what happened with the Black Laminate for about $260, which turns the legendary machine gun into a strict headshot machine. By the way, the black version of the AK-47 even visually resembles newer versions of the real machine gun: the latest AKs are truly completely monochromatic.
M4A4 | Tornado
The last skin from this selection proves that the M4A4 was really unlucky in the early days of CS:GO. Even the StatTrak version, which did not exceed the original in price, did not save the situation with the Tornado. The geometrically strict blue and yellow coloring is so boring that players do not buy it for more than $20. The situation, as with the M249 or P90, is not saved even by the historical status.
Final Thoughts
In 2024, the average monthly player count for CS2 is maintained at a high level, namely around $850,000. Of course, in such a competitive environment, every player wants to at least stand out with their style preferences through different skins. Fortunately, CS has collected a lot of cool skins since 2013, including the very first ones worth paying attention to. These skins remain iconic elements, as they remind us of their origins, and are still popular among collectors and players. Find out more about current tournaments, and the best pro teams, including Team Vitality and G2 Esports on the Profilerr website, accessible to players from all over the world – from Toronto to Rome.
