The Armory Pass in CS2 is a paid pass introduced with The Armory update in October 2024. One pass gives 40 stars: you earn them through XP in any mode and spend them in the Armory on charms, skins from exclusive collections, cases and sticker capsules. Below is how the pass works and what stars could buy at launch; Valve has refreshed the Armory lineup since, and the new collections are covered in our piece on Season 5.
The Armory update itself was long-awaited: players spent months guessing what the next update would bring, and the developers delivered improvements in several areas at once.
The headline feature was the Armory Pass. It works much like an operation, but without new modes or maps: players earn stars through XP and exchange them for items. Earning stars is straightforward, since any mode that grants XP counts. At launch the pass had no extra missions.
One pass gives 40 stars, and you can get more by buying several passes, each paid for separately. At launch up to five passes could be leveled at the same time.
What Can Be Purchased With Stars in the Armory Pass
At launch the most expensive item available for stars was the Desert Eagle Heat Treated. Its design is similar to Case Hardened: the metallic surface is also covered with swirls that seem to have arisen as a result of processing. The color balance of each copy depends on its pattern index, and several dozen patterns were found where blue covers most of the surface. Those copies sell at a premium, while a regular Desert Eagle Heat Treated now costs from about a dollar, around $30 in Factory New.
Charms in the Armory Pass
Another new item type in The Armory Pass is charms: small decorations you hang on a weapon. At launch there were two charm collections:
Small Arms Charms includes miniature models of the most popular types of weapons, from knives to sniper rifles.
Missing Link Charms — these are images of various characters, including a chicken, an armed cat, agents, and other amusing characters.
One charm capsule costs three stars. A charm can be attached anywhere on the weapon, and if you change your mind, a Charm Detachment Pack from the in-game store removes it so you can reuse it. At launch the pack cost a dollar and covered three uses. Every way to get a charm is covered in our guide on how to get a charm in CS2.
New Case
The new case is named Gallery, and not without reason. It includes seventeen skins, which can indeed be viewed as a picture gallery, as many of them were inspired by various styles in art — from Eastern calligraphy to avant-garde and retro wave. Some skins, such as the M4A1-S Vaporwave, caught collectors' attention in the first days; it now costs from $35. The case itself has dropped below a dollar, and its contents are covered in our roundup of the brightest Gallery Case skins.
New Weapon Collections
The cosmetics did not stop at the new case. At launch, pass holders could get weapons from three collections.
Graphic Collection is inspired by various directions of graphic design. If you want to see truly stylish skins in your collection, this is definitely your option.
Overpass 2024 includes skins inspired by this classic map. This collection features many bright colors and graffiti-style designs.
Sport & Fields will appeal to those who love minimalist designs in two or three colors. This collection includes the Five-seveN Heat Treated, which has every chance of becoming popular.
One collection container costs four stars. Unlike a case, it needs no key, which can make collection skins the better deal.
Sticker Capsules
Finally, sticker capsules can also be purchased with stars. The update added two, Character Craft and Elemental Craft. The first shows the faces of various characters, the second elemental effects such as water or fire. Such stickers will come in handy for crafts.
By the way, using stickers has become even more convenient — you can try them on your skin before buying. And if you want the sticker to look worn, you can set the desired degree accurately with a special slider.
For players who play CS2 regularly, the pass is a reasonable purchase, since the stars come from normal play. But if you want specific skins from the Armory collections, buying them on LIS-SKINS is simpler than relying on chance. For the ones in highest demand, see our roundup of the most popular Armory Update skins.
