The M4A4 | Howl is the only skin in CS2 with the Contraband rarity, and one of the most legendary items in the game. It launched in the Huntsman case in 2014, but about six weeks later Valve pulled it from the drop pool over a copyright problem with its artwork — since then the Howl cannot be unboxed, only bought secondhand. That keeps the price high: the normal version runs from roughly $4,700 for a Field-Tested to about $6,750 for a Factory New, and StatTrak is far pricier; check the live price on the item page. Below is the whole story: why the Howl became Contraband, what its artwork was replaced with, how many exist and how to get one now. This is an overview, not a price list.
Why the Howl is Contraband
The Howl artwork turned out to be plagiarized. The real artist was CanisAlbus, whose howling-wolf piece "Aggression" was used in both the skin and the Howling Dawn sticker without permission. Once that surfaced, Valve received a formal copyright complaint (a DMCA notice) and had to act: it could not leave someone else's art in the game.
On June 11, 2014 Valve replaced the artwork with its own design by the CS:GO team, pulled the skin and sticker from circulation and gave them a new Contraband rarity. It is a one-off orange tier made just for this case — not red like Covert, not gold like knives. No other skin has ever become Contraband, so the Howl is unique not only in looks but in class.
Which case the Howl came from
The Howl dropped from the Huntsman Weapon Case, released on May 1, 2014 — the same set that first brought the Huntsman Knife into the game. After the June rework the skin was removed from the drop pool for good: the Huntsman still exists and still drops other skins and knives, but the Howl no longer comes from it. So the common question "what case do I open for a Howl" has no practical answer today — you cannot unbox one from the Huntsman or any other case.
What the artwork was replaced with
It was the artwork that was replaced, not the item itself. The original plagiarized wolf gave way to a new "howling" design by the CS:GO team — the one you see on the Howl now. For owners the swap was seamless: the skin and sticker stayed in their inventories, only the art and rarity changed, and nothing was lost or reset.
The Howling Dawn sticker, which used the same art, was discontinued and reworked as well. So the Howl was not replaced by a different skin — it was given Valve's own art; the M4A4 | Howl as an item never went anywhere.
How many Howls exist
Valve never published an exact number, but it is fixed and small. The Howl only entered inventories for about six weeks in 2014 before it was pulled — a very short window for a game where popular cases are opened for years. No new copies have appeared since, and supply only shrinks as some Howls settle into collections and never return to the market.
StatTrak versions are even scarcer — StatTrak drops roughly one time in ten, so far fewer accumulated in that same six-week window. That is why the StatTrak Howl is the rarest and most expensive variant.
Why the Howl is so expensive
The Howl price rests on three things: a fixed, small supply, the fact that it cannot be unboxed or crafted, and its status as the only Contraband in the game. On top of that sits demand: the Howl became a symbol of an expensive inventory, streamers and pros show it off, and for many collectors it is a grail worth owning for its story.
Over time it has behaved like a scarce asset: since 2014 the Howl has climbed from a few hundred dollars to thousands, and it sits near the top of most expensive CS2 skin lists. A few skins cost more — Contraband is not the ceiling of the market — but for the mix of rarity and recognition the Howl stays one of the most status-carrying items around.
Price and the StatTrak version
The Howl comes in Factory New through Well-Worn — there is no Battle-Scarred, as its float is capped. Wear shows on this finish, so clean copies are valued higher: the normal version runs from roughly $4,700 for a Field-Tested to about $6,750 for a Factory New.
The StatTrak version costs one and a half to two times more — from about $8,000 up to around $15,000 for Factory New — because of the counter's added rarity. Prices on items like this swing with the market, so check current figures before you buy.
How to get a Howl now
There is one way: buy a copy from another player. You cannot unbox the Howl, and you cannot craft it through a trade-up — Contraband is never a trade-up output, and the skin has long been out of the drop pool. That leaves the secondhand market, where the Howl trades between players.
On LIS-SKINS you can buy one directly, usually faster and cheaper on fees than through Steam; the how to buy skins guide covers the process. Given the sums involved, it is worth checking a specific copy's condition and float before the deal. And if a legend is out of budget for now, a striking look can be had for far less — see other M4A4 skins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still unbox the M4A4 Howl?
No. Since June 2014 the Howl has been removed from the Huntsman case and no longer drops. The only way to get one is to buy a copy from another player.
Why doesn't Valve make Contraband skins anymore?
After the Howl, Valve hit new copyright issues (for example the M4A4 Griffin and AWP Doodle Lore) but handled them differently — fully replacing the skin in inventories with another one rather than assigning Contraband. That avoids repeating the Howl unique status and the market speculation around it, so the Howl will most likely stay the only Contraband.
Is the Howl worth the money?
As a game item, no: for $5,000+ you get the same M4A4 as with a $20 skin. The Howl value is purely collector and status: its fixed supply and unique rarity have historically held price and liquidity. It is a buy for people who care about the legend and the investment, not the in-game look.
How is the Howl different from any other expensive skin?
Its rarity. Every other expensive skin is Covert (red) or a knife or glove (gold ★); the Howl is the only one with the orange Contraband rarity, which was never given to anything else. That is what makes it special.
