The best AK-47 | Case Hardened patterns are the Blue Gems, seeds that cover the top of the receiver in blue, and the benchmark among them is pattern #661, the "Scar." Below it in the tier list sit Blue Gem Tier 1 (151, 955, 321, 387, 670, 179) and Tier 2, while Gold Gems and Blaze patterns form separate collector categories. A regular copy with an ordinary pattern costs about $160 to $430 depending on wear, but top seeds sell for many times that, and the very best for thousands of times more. This guide explains why and lists every pattern number by tier.
What Makes the AK-47 Case Hardened So Special
Anyone who follows the skin market knows how sought-after Case Hardened skins are, especially the "Blue Gems." The AK-47 | Case Hardened was added to CS:GO on August 14, 2013, as part of the Arms Deal Collection, and it drops from the CS:GO Weapon Case. It is a Classified skin that carried over to CS2 with every other inventory item. The case itself now costs around $100, plus a $2.49 key, and the odds of getting this exact AK from it are low, so unboxing a specific pattern is not a realistic plan.
The real price driver is how the finish works. Case hardening is a real metal-treatment process that uses extreme heat and leaves patches of blue, purple and gold on the surface. In the game, the placement of those patches is set by the pattern index, a number from 0 to 1000, so every seed looks different while two copies with the same seed look the same. The finish also behaves differently from most skins as float rises: the paint does not scrape or peel off. Instead, the surface darkens, loses its shine and looks more oxidized. Float and pattern are fixed when the item drops and never change afterward.
The community worked out the most valuable seeds soon after release. The patterns with the most blue were dubbed "Blue Gems," a label now used across the whole Case Hardened family. The extreme prices apply only to a limited set of blue-dominant seeds; most copies, where yellow and orange dominate, trade at the normal price for their wear. Beyond Blue Gems, collectors also value "Gold Gem" and "Blaze" patterns.
What a Regular AK-47 Case Hardened Costs
Without a notable pattern, price depends mainly on wear and StatTrak. Current LIS-SKINS reference points (no pattern premium):
Battle-Scarred and Well-Worn: from about $160;
Field-Tested: around $200;
Minimal Wear: around $260;
Factory New: around $430;
StatTrak™ version: from about $360 in Battle-Scarred to $970 in Factory New.
A Souvenir version exists as well, but only a handful of copies are listed at any time. Once a copy shows noticeably more blue on the visible side, its price breaks away from these figures and is set by the pattern rather than the wear.
The AK-47 Case Hardened Pattern Tier List
When comparing different Case Hardened AKs, collectors group them by the share of blue or gold and by how the pattern looks on the side of the rifle you see in first person. You can find the seed of any copy when you inspect it; our guide on how to check a skin pattern in CS2 walks through it.
The Blue Gem AK-47 Case Hardened Tier List
Blue Gems are by far the most desirable patterns on the market. They show a large amount of blue across the visible side of the receiver. Owners of the best copies routinely turn down five- and six-figure offers, and top-tier copies rarely appear in public listings. The best Blue Gem is pattern #661, also known as the Scar Pattern. According to community reports, a copy with this seed sold for around $1,000,000 in 2024. The deal was private, so treat the figure as a reference point; the full story is in our article on the most expensive skin in CS2.
The Scar Pattern: True Blue Gem #661
Pattern number: 661
Blue Gem Tier 1 Patterns
Pattern number: 151, 955, 321, 387, 670, 179
Blue Gem Tier 2 Patterns
Pattern number: 592, 4, 905, 13, 168, 429
Blue Gem Tier 3 Patterns
Pattern number: 555, 442, 978, 139, 828, 969, 750, 695, 103, 112, 733, 844, 228, 868, 434, 698, 74, 996, 760, 375, 708, 823, 690, 791, 278, 917, 463, 711, 849, 92, 82, 450, 512, 310, 713, 11, 721, 236, 172, 950, 147, 782, 322, 363, 189, 961, 497, 430, 887, 426, 862
Blue Gem Tier 4 Patterns
Pattern number: 770, 648, 28, 575, 73, 798, 557, 627, 532, 541, 935, 453, 479, 872, 522, 525, 664, 622, 494, 344, 965, 775, 847, 209, 689, 306, 803, 169, 577, 381, 878, 2, 888, 526, 879, 126, 605, 468, 269, 891, 481, 985, 715, 248, 456, 420, 681, 32, 397, 493, 788, 256, 470, 418, 927, 182, 178, 685, 407, 507, 65, 200, 694, 922, 795, 809, 296, 842, 194, 431, 341, 447, 130, 205, 428, 230, 458, 1000, 242, 34, 325, 724
The Gold Gem AK-47 Case Hardened Tier List
Gold Gems cost far less than Blue Gems and are much easier to find on marketplaces. Unlike Blue Gems, these patterns have little to no blue on the upper receiver, which is covered mostly in an even gold tone.
Gold Gem Tier 1 Patterns
Pattern number: 784, 219
Gold Gem Tier 2 Patterns
Pattern number: 473, 538
The Blaze AK-47 Case Hardened Tier List
Blaze patterns are known for a high-contrast mix of all the traditional Case Hardened colors: blue, orange and purple. They resemble tongues of fire covering the upper receiver of the AK.
Blaze Tier 1 Patterns
Pattern number: 571, 323, 118
Blaze Tier 2 Patterns
Pattern number: 365, 819
Other skins with rare finishes have similar tier systems; see our overview of rare patterns in CS2. If you are building an AK collection, the list of the most expensive AK-47 skins in CS2 is a useful next read.
FAQ
What is the most expensive AK-47 Case Hardened pattern?
Pattern #661, the "Scar." It is considered the best Blue Gem, and community reports put the sale of a copy with this seed at around $1,000,000.
Which AK-47 Case Hardened patterns are the best?
After #661 come Blue Gem Tier 1 (151, 955, 321, 387, 670, 179) and Tier 2 (592, 4, 905, 13, 168, 429). Collectors also value Gold Gems (784, 219) and Blaze patterns (571, 323, 118).
How do I check the pattern of my AK-47?
The pattern index is shown when you inspect the item in game and on marketplace listings. Compare it with the tier lists above.
Does wear change the pattern?
No. The seed sets where the patches go in every wear. Higher float darkens the surface and dulls the shine, so the same Blue Gem is worth more in Factory New than in Battle-Scarred.
