A good M4A1-S skin in CS2 easily costs under $15: Emphorosaur-S, Fizzy POP and Black Lotus fit the budget in any wear, while Party Animal, Basilisk, Leaded Glass and Nightmare are affordable in almost every wear except the pricier Factory New. Below are nine options with a look at each design and approximate LIS-SKINS prices by wear.
The silenced M4A1-S is the usual alternative to the M4A4 and suits players who prefer a measured style and medium to long-range fights (see the full M4A1-S vs M4A4 comparison). If you prefer the M4A4, check our list of budget M4A4 skins.
M4A1-S Emphorosaur-S
M4A1-S Emphorosaur-S arrived in early 2023 with the Revolution Case and quickly became popular. Most of the body is painted bright green with brown stripes, reminiscent of the pattern on dinosaur skin. But what really makes the design stand out are the claw marks tearing through the metal. The regular version sells for under a dollar in every wear except Factory New, which costs about $2.
M4A1-S Nightmare
For M4A1-S Nightmare, the inspiration came from fantasy monsters rather than real ones. The weapon is painted in various shades of black and blue, and the main notable design detail is the image of a creepy demon head in the central part of the body. If you like skins that look menacing, this one is worth a look. Battle-Scarred and Well-Worn cost about $6 and Field-Tested about $8; Minimal Wear is already around $20.
M4A1-S Leaded Glass (Crystal)
Another skin for fans of geometric patterns is M4A1-S Leaded Glass. The coloring creates an unusual three-dimensional effect: it seems as if the rifle body is assembled from multi-colored glass shards. As the float increases, the surface darkens, but scratches and abrasions do not appear on it, so the skin still looks good in high-wear copies. Every wear except Factory New (about $40) costs around $10 to $11.
M4A1-S Fizzy POP (Fizzy)
If the previous skin resembles ancient glass mosaics, this one borrows from modern art. The abstract pattern on M4A1-S Fizzy POP, released in 2021, consists of straight lines and multi-colored squares, like in avant-garde paintings. The texture overlay depends on the pattern index, and, if you're lucky, not only patterns but also lettering may be visible. After the Emphorosaur-S it is the cheapest pick here: from $1 for worn copies and about $9 for Factory New.
M4A1-S Party Animal
M4A1-S Party Animal adds even more color to the selection. The whole rifle is covered in a bright neon animal-print pattern that mixes almost every color of the spectrum. The skin is Classified grade and belongs to the Harlequin Collection. It comes in all five wears, and every one except Factory New (about $25) fits the budget: Field-Tested and Battle-Scarred cost about $7, Well-Worn about $9 and Minimal Wear just under $15.
M4A1-S Control Panel
M4A1-S Control Panel is a skin for fans of technical aesthetics. Multicolored dials, switches and indicators are laid over a blue base, so the rifle looks like an instrument panel. This Classified skin belongs to the 2018 Nuke Collection and comes in every wear from Factory New to Battle-Scarred. Field-Tested already costs about $25, so to stay within budget you will have to go for Well-Worn (about $5) or Battle-Scarred (about $4).
M4A1-S Decimator
Another futuristic skin worth a look is M4A1-S Decimator, covered in neon abstract patterns. The triangular mesh covering the magazine, handle and butt folds into an unusual pattern, and some elements of the weapon are painted the same color. Within $15 you can get Battle-Scarred or Field-Tested, both currently around $10 to $11.
M4A1-S Basilisk
Fans of detailed artwork may also like M4A1-S Basilisk. The rifle body carries an engraving of a basilisk, the mythical serpent whose gaze, according to legend, turns people to stone. This Restricted skin was introduced in the Operation Vanguard Weapon Case and comes in all five wears. Every wear of the regular version except Factory New (about $25) fits the budget: Field-Tested costs about $7 and Minimal Wear about $9.
M4A1-S Black Lotus
The selection closes with M4A1-S Black Lotus, a truly striking skin. The center of the body features a black lotus flower on a blue-purple background. This Classified skin drops from the Kilowatt Case and comes in all five wears. Even Factory New fits the budget: such a copy costs about $11, while Field-Tested goes for about $3.
For an even smaller budget, see the best cheap M4A1-S skins, and for the high end, the list of the best M4A1-S skins.
