Opening CS2 cases may be alluring, however, it is important to be aware of certain things before doing so.
Despite being known primarily for its competitive matches, captivating esports scene, and smooth gameplay, CS:GO, now CS2, also boasts a lucrative in-game economy worth billions. This economy has mainly been fueled by the sale of in-game cases, which players can purchase and potentially receive rare, valuable items from.
Since the release of Counter-Strike 2, there has been a revival in case openings, leading both new and returning players to question their value. Valve has also introduced the first new case for the game, the Kilowatt Case, which features the new Kukri Knife.
Table of Contents
- How to get cases in CS2
- How to open CS2 cases
- CS2 case odds
- Best cases to open
- Knives in CS2 cases
- Most Expensive CS2 cases
- Cheapest CS2 cases
How to get cases in CS2
There are two methods of obtaining cases in Counter-Strike 2: through case drops or by purchasing them.
Case Drops
The first method is free and involves playing the game. If you rank up your account level for the first time in a week, you will receive a weekly drop. As part of your rewards, you can select a case, which will be chosen at random from the ‘active drop pool’. This includes the Revolution Case, Recoil Case, Dreams & Nightmares Case, Snakebite Case, and Fracture Case with a 99% probability.
There is a 1% possibility that you will receive a ‘rare’ case drop, which will usually be a pricier case. We will provide further details on case prices at a later time.
Cases are dropped to players after ranking up for the first time each week.
Shopping for Cases
The second method for obtaining cases, and the one that must be utilized if you wish to acquire multiple cases, is purchasing them. Cases can be purchased from the Steam Market or from third-party websites.
It is common for third-party websites to offer cases at lower prices than the Steam Market. Therefore, if you are looking to purchase cases in large quantities, it would be beneficial to use a site such as Skinport or other platforms where players usually sell cases in bulk.
Once you purchase a case, or multiple cases, they will automatically be added to your inventory and can be opened at any time. This allows you to buy any case you desire and discover the available skins and knives within each one.
If you choose not to open the cases, you can resell them on the market. However, keep in mind that there is a 15% fee on the Steam Market, so you will not receive the full purchase price unless the case’s value has risen.
How to open cases in CS2
After selecting the case or cases you wish to open, you will need one more item before proceeding: a key.
Each individual case will need to have its own unique key, which is exclusive to that particular case. It should be noted that these keys cannot be returned or traded on the Steam market, so it is advisable not to purchase them unless you intend to utilize them.
Before opening the case, you will see all the skins you could get, and the price of the key you need to buy.
What Is the Cost of CS2 Case Keys?
To purchase case keys, it is recommended to buy them directly from the in-game store rather than from the Steam Market, as they will be significantly more expensive. The cost of a case key is a flat price of $2.49 or the equivalent in your currency.
If you purchase a key from the Steam Market, it will be tradeable, as it was obtained before Valve’s update that made all keys untradeable. In order to recoup your expense, it is recommended to resell the key on the Steam Market.
CS2 Case Odds
The chances of obtaining a rare item, such as a covert skin, knife, or gloves, from opening cases are naturally low.
For the majority of cases that you open, you can expect to receive a ‘Mil-Spec’ (blue rarity) item, with the occasional chance of obtaining a Restricted (purple) or Classified (pink) item. You can view the odds for each case in CS2 here:
| Skin Rarity | Non-StatTrak | StatTrak |
|---|---|---|
| Mil-Spec (Blue) | 79.92% | 7.99% |
| Restricted (Purple) | 15.98% | 1.59% |
| Classified (Pink) | 3.2% | 0.32% |
| Covert (Red) | 0.64% | 0.064% |
| Rare Special Item (Gold) | 0.26% | 0.026% |
Each item in a case has a 10% probability of being a ‘StatTrak’, which includes a kill counter on the weapon or knife (but not gloves, as they cannot be used to eliminate enemies).
Are Cases Worth It?
As evident, the majority (95%) of cases will yield either a Blue or Purple skin, with the former being more common. These skins are consistently the most affordable, usually priced between a few cents to a few dollars, unless they come from a highly costly case.
On average, purchasing a case and key will result in a loss of 60-70% of your money. This means that if you spend $100 on cases, you can expect to receive around $30-$40 in value with average luck.
It is possible, of course, that you may be extremely fortunate and open a Knife with your first case, resulting in a significant profit. However, the likelihood of this occurring is slim.
By purchasing the specific skin or knife you desire from the Steam Market or third-party sites, you can save money compared to spending it on cases.
Best CS2 Cases to Open: Case ROI
If you are unable to resist the temptation to try your luck on some cases, despite the unfavorable odds, it is recommended that you at least choose to open cases with the highest potential return.
After analyzing the average price of skins in the case and comparing it to the price of the case and key, it can be concluded that these are the most profitable CS2 cases to open in 2024 based on their return on investment (ROI).
| Case | Price (+ Key) | ROI % |
|---|---|---|
| Kilowatt Case | $1.22 (+$2.49) | 79.17% |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 2 | $12.91 (+$2.49) | 73.59% |
| CS:GO Weapon Case 3 | $7.46 (+$2.49) | 71.68% |
| Operation Wildfire Case | $2.61 (+$2.49) | 67.04% |
| Winter Offensive Weapon Case | $6.05 (+$2.49) | 66.51% |
| Esports Winter 2013 Case | $10.89 (+$2.49) | 64.87% |
| Operation Vanguard Case | $3.06 (+$2.49) | 63.98% |
| Horizon Case | $0.85 (+$2.49) | 63.60% |
| Huntsman Weapon Case | $10.32 (+$2.49) | 60.66% |
| Prisma Case | $0.66 (+$2.49) | 60.58% |
Despite having these supposedly “best”cases to open, it is evident that you will still lose approximately half of your money on average by opening them.
If you are searching for the most profitable CS2 cases, please note that they do not exist. To make a profit from opening cases, you would need to have a stroke of luck.
Knives in Counter-Strike 2 Cases
The main draw of opening cases is undoubtedly the knives. On average, you can expect to receive a knife (or gloves) from approximately 400 cases, with a 0.26% probability.
A rare Emerald Butterfly Knife like this is worth over $20,000.
Despite the wide variety of knives available in CS2, not all of them can be found in every case. This includes the highly coveted Butterfly Knife, which is known to be the most expensive type of knife. It can only be found in three specific cases. Here is a list of some of the most sought-after knives in CS2, along with the cases in which they can be found.
Butterfly Knife Cases
- Operation Breakout Case
- Dreams & Nightmares Case
- Operation Riptide Case
Karambit Knife Cases
- Gamma Case
- Gamma 2 Case
- Chroma Case
- Chroma 2 Case
- Chroma 3 Case
- Revolver Case
- Operation Vanguard Weapon Case
- Operation Pheonix Weapon Case
- eSports 2014 Summer Case
- Winter Offensive Weapon Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case 3
- eSports 2013 Winter Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case 2
- eSports 2013 Case
- Operation Bravo Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case
M9 Bayonet Cases
- Gamma Case
- Gamma 2 Case
- Chroma Case
- Chroma 2 Case
- Chroma 3 Case
- Revolver Case
- Operation Vanguard Weapon Case
- Operation Pheonix Weapon Case
- eSports 2014 Summer Case
- Winter Offensive Weapon Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case 3
- eSports 2013 Winter Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case 2
- eSports 2013 Case
- Operation Bravo Case
- CS:GO Weapon Case
Skeleton Knife Cases
- Fracture Case
- Shattered Web Case
Pandora’s Box Gloves Cases
- Glove Case
- Operation Hydra Case
Vice Gloves Cases
- Clutch Case
- Revolution Case
The cases for Kukri Knives.
- Kilowatt Case
Top-Rated CS2 Cases
- CS:GO Weapon Case: $91.81
- eSports 2013 Case: $53.47
- Operation Bravo Case: $47.95
- Operation Hydra Case: $19.02
- CS:GO Weapon Case 2: $12.35
- eSports 2013 Winter Case: $10.39
- Huntsman Weapon Case: $9.89
- eSports 2014 Summer Case: $9.66
- Operation Breakout Case: $7.55
- CS:GO Weapon Case 3: $7.37
The costly CS2 cases are generally attributed to their age, rarity, or even discontinuation. As a result, each time one is opened, the supply decreases.
Cheapest CS2 Cases
- Recoil Case: $0.17
- Snakebite Case: $0.25
- Fracture Case: $0.26
- Revolution Case: $0.36
- Clutch Case: $0.50
- CS20 Case: $0.60
- Prisma Case: $0.64
- Prisma 2 Case: $0.70
- Danger Zone Case: $0.71
- Horizon Case: $0.84
Typically, the least expensive cases are comprised of less sought-after skins and are readily available, indicating that they are not particularly rare. These prices may vary on the Steam Market, but as of April 2024, they generally remain at this range.
Despite the possibility of seeing friends or popular streamers getting lucky and unboxing valuable items such as knives and gloves, it should be understood that opening cases is not a profitable pursuit. In reality, even those who have had successes with unboxing may have ultimately incurred a loss due to the sheer number of cases they have opened.
While it is possible to come across stories of a new player obtaining a knife valued at over $150,000, it is important to keep in mind that the chances of this happening are extremely slim, similar to playing the lottery.
Despite the introduction of Counter-Strike 2, the trend of increasing case openings is expected to persist. However, it is important to remember the golden rule of purchasing skins: instead of buying cases, simply purchase the skin you desire.
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