Phases are the variants of the Doppler and Gamma Doppler finishes, defined by which colors appear and in what proportion. Each finish has four regular phases (Phase 1 to Phase 4) plus rare single-color variants known as gems: Ruby, Sapphire and Black Pearl for Doppler, and Emerald for Gamma Doppler. The phase can multiply a knife's price: a Butterfly Knife | Doppler Phase 3 costs about $2,050, while a Ruby on the same model is around $10,500. Below we cover how each phase looks and what it costs on LIS-SKINS.
How Doppler and Gamma Doppler Phases Work
Both finishes are almost exclusive to knives: Doppler exists on 18 knife models, Gamma Doppler on 10 knives and the Glock-18. Doppler knives come from the Chroma, Chroma 2, Chroma 3, Spectrum, Spectrum 2, Prisma, Prisma 2 and Fever cases, while Gamma Doppler knives come from the Gamma, Gamma 2, Operation Riptide and Dreams & Nightmares cases. The float range is 0 to 0.08, so these skins exist only in Factory New and Minimal Wear, and wear barely changes the look. What sets the price is the phase, which is fixed when the item drops. For a comparison with another popular finish, see Fade vs Doppler.
Types of Gamma Doppler Skins
Gamma Doppler splits into four phases and the rare Emerald. The phases differ in their color mix: Phase 1 combines black and green with black dominating, while Phase 2 uses the same colors with more green. Phases 3 and 4 are three-tone: one adds an aquamarine shade to the green and black, the other a lime shade. Among the regular phases, Phase 2 is usually the most expensive because of its large share of bright green. Emerald is fully green and far rarer than the phases, so it costs several times more. For a deeper breakdown, see our dedicated guide to Gamma Doppler phases.
Here are approximate LIS-SKINS prices for the Karambit | Gamma Doppler, from the most expensive variant down:
Karambit | Gamma Doppler Emerald (Factory New): ~$7,300
Karambit | Gamma Doppler Phase 2 (Factory New): ~$2,500
Karambit | Gamma Doppler Phase 1 (Factory New): ~$1,850
Karambit | Gamma Doppler Phase 4 (Factory New): ~$1,650
Karambit | Gamma Doppler Phase 3 (Factory New): ~$1,600
The gap is clear: Emerald costs about 4.5 times as much as the cheapest phase, and Phase 2 runs roughly a third above Phases 3 and 4. Other skins from that case are in our roundup of the best Gamma Case skins, and the knife itself is covered in our guide to Karambit skins.
Types of Doppler Skins
Doppler follows a similar system. The most expensive variants, the gems, are single-color: Ruby is dominated by red and Sapphire by blue. Black Pearl is also highly prized: an almost black pattern with small flecks of purple and blue. The more affordable variants are four phases built the same way as Gamma Doppler, only with different colors:
Phase 1: black and red, with more black;
Phase 2: also black and red, but with more red and pink;
Phase 3: black and blue, with more black, sometimes with green tints;
Phase 4: black and blue, but with more blue.
Among the regular phases, Phase 2 is usually the most expensive, and collectors call its pinkest copies Pink Galaxy. Phase 4 with its bright blue usually comes next, while Phases 1 and 3 are the most affordable.
As an example, here is how the Butterfly Knife | Doppler looks in each variant, with prices from the most expensive down:
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Black Pearl (Factory New): ~$15,500
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Ruby (Factory New): ~$10,500
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Sapphire (Factory New): ~$6,450
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Phase 2 (Factory New): ~$4,150
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Phase 4 (Factory New): ~$2,850
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Phase 1 (Factory New): ~$2,500
Butterfly Knife | Doppler Phase 3 (Factory New): ~$2,050
Black Pearl on this model has only a couple of listings, so its price is especially volatile. Other finishes for this knife are in our list of the best Butterfly Knife skins.
How the Phase Affects Price
Gem vs phase. Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl and Emerald cost several times more than regular phases: on the Butterfly Knife | Doppler, Ruby is about 5 times the price of Phase 3.
Phase within one knife. Phase 2 is usually the priciest of the four, Phases 1 and 3 the cheapest; the gap can reach two times (on the Butterfly Knife: about $4,150 vs $2,050).
Knife model. The same phase on a Karambit, Butterfly Knife or M9 Bayonet costs far more than on less popular models.
Wear and StatTrak. The difference between Factory New and Minimal Wear is small here, while StatTrak versions usually cost more than standard ones.
Doppler and Gamma Doppler knives can be bought or unboxed, and since fall 2025 they can also come from a trade-up contract: 5 Covert skins give a random knife or gloves from the inputs' collections. Details are in our guide to crafting knives and gloves.
FAQ
Which Doppler phase is the most expensive?
The gems: Black Pearl, Ruby and Sapphire, with their order depending on the knife model. Among regular phases, Phase 2 is usually the priciest.
What is the difference between Doppler and Gamma Doppler?
Doppler is built on red, pink, blue and black tones, while Gamma Doppler is green. Doppler has three gems (Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl), Gamma Doppler has one, Emerald.
What are Doppler gems?
Gems are the rarest single-color variants: Ruby, Sapphire and Black Pearl for Doppler, Emerald for Gamma Doppler. They cost several times more than regular phases of the same knife.
How can I tell a knife's phase?
You can judge it by the colors on the blade using the descriptions above. On LIS-SKINS the phase is shown right in the item name, for example "Karambit | Gamma Doppler Phase 2," so you do not need to check it by eye when buying.
