Rare patterns in CS2 are copies of a skin whose pattern index places the design on the weapon in an especially desirable way: a blue top on the AK-47 | Case Hardened, an almost fully purple Glock-18 | Fade, the blue leaf on the XM1014 | Seasons, the golden cat on the AWP | PAW, or the star by the trigger on the Glock-18 | Moonrise. These copies sell above ordinary ones of the same wear, sometimes several times higher. Below are six skins where the index has a real effect on price, from rare Case Hardened patterns to variants that cost a dollar or two.
What a Pattern Index Is
A skin's look in CS2 depends on its float and on its pattern index, a number from 0 to 1000 that is assigned at random when the item is created and never changes afterward. The index matters most for finishes with geometric or abstract designs: depending on the number, the texture shifts and lands on the weapon differently. Most variants trade at roughly the same price, but some values produce an unusual or especially attractive layout, and collectors pay extra for it. For the mechanics, see what the pattern index affects, and to read the index of a specific item, follow the guide on how to check a skin pattern in CS2.
AK-47 | Case Hardened
The AK-47 | Case Hardened is covered in irregular spots that imitate the look of heat-treated metal. Its mix of blue, gold and purple produces a huge range of layouts, and no other skin's price depends on the pattern index as heavily. The most valuable copies show the most blue, especially when it covers the entire top of the rifle (the so-called blue gem). Gold-dominant versions also attract collectors, but they are valued below the blue ones.
An ordinary copy runs from about $160 in the worn grades to around $430 in Factory New, while strong blue patterns sell for many times that. The most famous example, pattern #661, is covered in our article on the most expensive skin in CS2, and the full index ranking is in the AK-47 Case Hardened pattern guide.
Glock-18 | Fade
Fade finishes are the other famous pattern category next to Case Hardened. A good example is the Glock-18 | Fade. It exists only in Factory New and Minimal Wear and has no StatTrak version. An ordinary copy costs around $1,350, while variants dominated by purple, with almost no white near the end of the barrel, can sell noticeably higher. How fade percentages work is explained in our piece on the characteristics of Fade skins.
XM1014 | Seasons
Many more skins have a pattern index that matters, and plenty of them are cheap. This shotgun skin from the Spectrum Case is covered in a design that resembles autumn leaves, and among the red, yellow and green leaves there is a single blue one. XM1014 | Seasons copies that show the blue leaf are valued higher; examples include patterns #26 and #78. An ordinary copy costs about $1 to $2, and StatTrak about $2 to $4.
AWP | PAW
This sniper rifle skin from the Horizon Case is covered in bright cartoon dogs and cats, and the pattern index decides which of them end up on the visible side. The most valuable variants show the golden cat, a Chinese symbol of good luck; examples include the AWP | PAW with patterns #19 and #35. An ordinary copy costs $2 to $7 and StatTrak $4 to $15, so even a premium for a good pattern stays small. Every golden cat variant is listed in the AWP | PAW patterns guide.
Glock-18 | Moonrise
Another popular skin in this group is the Glock-18 | Moonrise from the Clutch Case. The top of the pistol shows a purple and black cityscape, and on some copies a star lands right next to the trigger. Those copies are uncommon and are considered more valuable. An ordinary Field-Tested copy costs under a dollar, and StatTrak Factory New around $6. Which indexes put the star in the best spot is shown in the Glock-18 Moonrise pattern tier list.
Galil AR | Sandstorm
One of the most affordable skins whose pattern index affects the price is the Galil AR | Sandstorm from the Winter Offensive Collection. Its texture ranges from dark brown to bright yellow. Most copies come out light gray and dark brown, but yellow-gold variants such as #555 can sell a little higher. It is available only from Minimal Wear to Battle-Scarred, and an ordinary copy costs about $1 to $2 (around $6 in Minimal Wear).
How to Buy a Skin with a Rare Pattern
Find out which indexes are valued for the specific skin: popular finishes have pattern tier lists.
Check the index and float of every listing, not just the name and wear. Two skins with the same name can differ in price several times over.
Treat the price of an ordinary copy on LIS-SKINS as the floor. A pattern premium makes sense only if the layout is genuinely one of the rare ones.
Keep liquidity in mind: expensive patterns take longer to sell than ordinary copies because fewer buyers want them.
If you are interested in other unusual items beyond patterns, see our list of rare skins with interesting pattern indices.
FAQ
What is a rare pattern in CS2?
It is a copy of a skin whose pattern index produces an unusual look: more of a rare color, a well-placed design element or a clean fade. Such copies cost more than ordinary ones of the same wear.
Can you choose the pattern when opening a case or crafting?
No. The index is assigned at random when the item is created, whether from a case, a drop or a trade-up contract, and it never changes. The only way to get a specific pattern is to buy that exact copy.
Which pattern is the most expensive?
The best known is the AK-47 | Case Hardened with pattern #661, one of the most expensive skins in the game's history. Case Hardened knives have their own blue patterns that also sell far above ordinary copies.
Does the pattern matter on cheap skins?
Yes, but the premium is usually small. On the XM1014 | Seasons, AWP | PAW or Glock-18 | Moonrise a good index can multiply the price, but the difference is measured in dollars, not hundreds of dollars.
