This CS2 knife tier list ranks all 20 blade models by market logic, from blue-chip grails down to the cheapest entry. A model's place comes from three things: entry price, price ceiling (top Doppler gems) and liquidity, not looks alone. The cheapest ★ knives (Shadow Daggers, Navaja) start around $35, while the top is held by the Butterfly Knife, where a Doppler Black Pearl costs about $15,500. For most players the safe status pick is S-tier: the Butterfly, Karambit and M9 Bayonet. Below is every model by tier: how it looks, what it is known for, what it costs and who it suits. For a full catalog with prices by finish, see all CS2 knives.
How the tiers work
This ranks knife models, not individual skins: each model has dozens of finishes, but its spot on the list is set by the market. A tier comes down to entry price (the cheapest finish), ceiling (what the top Doppler gems and rare patterns cost) and liquidity (how fast the knife sells). S-tier holds the models with the highest ceiling and demand; C-tier is the cheapest entry. Prices in each section are approximate and based on the live LIS-SKINS export; "from" means the cheapest finish and wear.
Butterfly Knife (S-tier)
The Butterfly Knife is still the peak of the knife market and the priciest model in CS2. Its flashy opening animation made the blade iconic: it is a status piece and a showcase at once. Plain camo finishes start around $410, a Fade costs about $2,100, and a Factory New Doppler Black Pearl reaches roughly $15,500. Liquidity is high but the entry is steep, a model for buyers ready to invest seriously.
Karambit (S-tier)
The Karambit is the most recognizable knife in the game, a curved claw with its signature ring grip. It matches the Butterfly for prestige and is one of the most liquid knives on the market. The floor is around $370 for plain finishes, and the ceiling sits with the gems: Doppler Ruby and Black Pearl cost roughly $7,300 to $8,300. The best pick if you want a status knife with strong resale demand at a lower entry than the Butterfly.
M9 Bayonet (S-tier)
The M9 Bayonet stands out with a large blade and an aggressive profile. It is the bigger brother of the plain Bayonet and the third pillar of S-tier. Cheap finishes start around $260, while a Factory New Doppler Ruby goes for about $7,500. For the balance of prestige, blade size and liquidity, it is one of the best models to hold long term.
Talon Knife (A-tier)
The Talon Knife is close to the Karambit in shape but with a beefier blade, a premium model just below S-tier. Entry is around $180, and a Doppler Ruby climbs to roughly $2,800. A good Karambit alternative when you want a curved knife with a high ceiling but not a grail price.
Stiletto Knife (A-tier)
The Stiletto Knife is a switchblade with a thin blade and a quick animation, one of the most popular newer knives. The floor is around $115, top gems cost up to about $2,000. Good liquidity and a moderate entry make it a frequent pick among premium but not top-tier models.
Bayonet (A-tier)
The Bayonet is the classic military bayonet from the game's earliest days, a simple silhouette that never goes out of demand. Entry is around $110, a Doppler Ruby costs about $1,800, and a Black Pearl reaches roughly $4,300. An iconic model with excellent liquidity and one of the most reliable choices for a first expensive knife.
Skeleton Knife (A-tier)
The Skeleton Knife is a solid-steel blade with a cut-out handle and noticeable weight in hand, one of the most sought-after modern knives. The floor is around $105, but Doppler gems run from roughly $2,400 to $4,800, so its ceiling beats many A-tier models. Bought for its distinctive look and high price ceiling.
Flip Knife (A-tier)
The Flip Knife is a classic flip-out with a satisfying animation, long loved for its balance of price and looks. Entry is around $105, a Gamma Doppler Emerald costs about $1,300, and a Doppler Ruby reaches roughly $1,900. A solid A-tier model with good liquidity and a low entry bar.
Nomad Knife (B-tier)
The Nomad Knife is a large folding knife with a tool-style handle, from the newer wave of models. The floor is around $60, Doppler gems run from roughly $1,100 to $1,900. A distinctive look at a moderate price earns it a solid mid-tier spot.
Classic Knife (B-tier)
The Classic Knife is a nod to the CS 1.6 knife, a strict straight blade for fans of retro looks. Entry is around $55, Slaughter and Blue Steel cost roughly $100 to $200, and the priciest finish, a Factory New Crimson Web, reaches about $1,000. The model has no Doppler, so its ceiling is lower than its tier neighbors.
Falchion Knife (B-tier)
The Falchion Knife is a curved single-edged blade with a fast inspect animation. The floor is around $45, a Crimson Web starts at about $100, and the ceiling is a Doppler Ruby at around $900. A cheap entry with a clear ladder of finishes above it.
Ursus Knife (B-tier)
The Ursus Knife is close in shape to the Bayonet, only with a slightly beefier blade, and it is often confused with the Bowie. Entry is around $45, while Doppler Ruby and Black Pearl cost about $850. An affordable model with a pleasant silhouette.
Huntsman Knife (B-tier)
The Huntsman Knife is a classic mid-size hunting blade, one of the first models added to the game. The floor is around $45, and a Doppler Black Pearl costs about $1,450. A reliable middle option with a long market history.
Bowie Knife (B-tier)
The Bowie Knife is a wide, heavy blade with a distinctive clip point, brutal and recognizable. Entry is around $40, and top Dopplers cost about $1,200. One of the most affordable full-size knives.
Gut Knife (C-tier)
The Gut Knife is a small hooked blade and one of the cheapest ways into a ★ knife. Entry is around $40, and the ceiling is modest: a Gamma Doppler Emerald costs about $800. A practical budget entry with no status pretensions.
Survival Knife (C-tier)
The Survival Knife is a large tactical blade with a serrated spine, cheap for its size. The floor is around $35, and top Dopplers cost about $750. A lot of knife for the money.
Paracord Knife (C-tier)
The Paracord Knife is a fixed blade with a paracord-wrapped handle, from the newer wave of models. Entry is around $35, and the priciest finish, a Factory New Crimson Web, costs about $1,250; at base, though, this is a budget model.
Kukri Knife (C-tier)
The Kukri Knife is a distinctive forward-curved Nepalese blade and the newest model, added in 2024 with the Kilowatt Case. The floor is around $35, and the priciest finish, a Factory New Crimson Web, costs about $380. The cheapest way into a new knife with a bold silhouette.
Navaja Knife (C-tier)
The Navaja Knife is a small folding knife, one of the most compact and cheapest in the game. Entry is around $35, and a Doppler Black Pearl costs about $400. Its small size means the blade is barely visible in first person.
Shadow Daggers (C-tier)
The Shadow Daggers are twin short blades, the cheapest ★ item in the game and an offbeat choice. The floor is around $35, and a Doppler Black Pearl costs about $700. Bought for the unusual look and the minimal entry price.
What sets a knife tier
A few factors decide a model's place in the tier list:
Prestige and animation. The Karambit, Butterfly and M9 hold S-tier on recognition and a flashy inspect animation, which is what buyers pay up for.
Top finishes and gems. The ceiling is set by Doppler and Gamma Doppler phases: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Black Pearl. The pricier a model's gems, the higher its tier: a Butterfly Black Pearl costs about $15,500, a Shadow Daggers one about $700.
Liquidity and supply. The faster a knife sells, the easier it is to exit without a loss: S-tier models have a deep market, budget ones a thinner one. The priciest combinations are collected in our list of the most expensive CS2 knives.
Float and pattern. Case Hardened prices are driven by the pattern index, other finishes by float: clean copies cost more.
StatTrak. The kill-counter version usually costs more than the plain one, especially on rare finishes.
Getting a knife
Knives are gold-tier ★ items, and there are two ways to get one. The first is to unbox it. The odds of a knife or gloves are the same in every weapon case, about 0.26%, or roughly 1 in 385 openings, and every opening is independent. Which cases drop knives and whether they are worth opening depends on the model you want, but at those odds the market is usually the better route.
The second route arrived in October 2025: you can craft a knife with a trade-up contract. You put in exactly 5 Covert skins, all normal or all StatTrak, and get a random ★ item (a knife or gloves) from the collections of those skins. Targeting a specific model this way is hard, so for the knife you want the market is simpler. The cheapest entry is the budget knives of C-tier.
Knife models compared
Every model from the tier list in one table, from S-tier down to the cheapest entry:
| Knife | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly Knife | S | from $410 | Top grail and status |
| Karambit | S | from $370 | Maximum demand and liquidity |
| M9 Bayonet | S | from $260 | Big blade, long-term hold |
| Talon Knife | A | from $180 | Curved knife without the grail price |
| Stiletto Knife | A | from $115 | Popular switchblade |
| Bayonet | A | from $110 | Classic with great liquidity |
| Skeleton Knife | A | from $105 | Distinctive look, high ceiling |
| Flip Knife | A | from $105 | Balance of price and animation |
| Nomad Knife | B | from $60 | Distinctive look on a budget |
| Classic Knife | B | from $55 | CS 1.6 retro looks |
| Falchion Knife | B | from $45 | Cheap entry, Crimson Web from ~$100 |
| Ursus Knife | B | from $45 | Nice silhouette on the cheap |
| Huntsman Knife | B | from $45 | Reliable middle option |
| Bowie Knife | B | from $40 | Affordable full-size blade |
| Gut Knife | C | from $40 | Budget entry |
| Survival Knife | C | from $35 | A lot of knife for the money |
| Paracord Knife | C | from $35 | Budget newer model |
| Kukri Knife | C | from $35 | Cheapest new knife |
| Navaja Knife | C | from $35 | Most compact and cheapest |
| Shadow Daggers | C | from $35 | Cheapest ★ item |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best knife in CS2?
By the combination of prestige, liquidity and price ceiling, the top is held by the three S-tier models: the Butterfly Knife, Karambit and M9 Bayonet. For status and the highest ceiling take the Butterfly; for resale demand at a lower entry, the Karambit.
What is the cheapest knife in CS2?
The most affordable ★ knives are the Shadow Daggers and Navaja, with plain finishes starting around $35. The Kukri, Paracord and Survival Knife cost almost the same. That is the cheapest way into the knife segment if status and blade size do not matter.
Is a knife worth buying as an investment?
S-tier models (Karambit, Butterfly, M9) hold price and liquidity best, so they are easier to sell without a loss. Budget C-tier knives are cheaper, but demand for them is thinner, which makes them weaker as an investment. Prices change daily, so no model comes with guaranteed growth.
How is S-tier different from the rest?
S-tier is the three models with the highest price ceiling (top gems cost roughly $7,500 for the M9 up to $15,500 for the Butterfly), the deepest liquidity and iconic animations. A and B tiers hold solid models with ceilings of roughly $1,000 to $4,800; C-tier is the cheapest entry with a thin market.
