This CS2 knife tier list ranks all 20 blade models by market logic, from blue-chip grails down to the cheapest entry. A model 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 $40, while the top is held by the Butterfly Knife and Karambit, where the best copies clear $10,000. For most players the safe status pick is the S-tier: Butterfly, Karambit and the M9 Bayonet. Below is every model by tier: how it looks, what it is known for, what it costs and who it suits.
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 three things, entry price (the cheapest finish), ceiling (what the top Doppler gems and rare patterns cost) and liquidity (how fast the knife sells). S-tier is the models with the highest ceiling and demand; C-tier is the cheapest entry. All prices below are starting prices, "from" the cheapest wear.
Butterfly Knife — S-tier
The Butterfly Knife is 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 finishes (Boreal Forest, Blue Steel) start around $440 in Battle-Scarred, while top Doppler gems clear $13,000. Liquidity is high but the entry is steep, a model for those 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 often beats it on liquidity: karambits sell fastest of all. The floor is around $390 for plain finishes, the ceiling Black Pearl and other gems past $10,000. The best pick if you want a status knife with maximum resale demand.
M9 Bayonet — S-tier
The M9 Bayonet is a large blade with an aggressive profile, the bigger brother of the plain Bayonet and the third pillar of S-tier. Cheap finishes start around $290, while Doppler Ruby and other gems reach $9,000. 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 $200, top Doppler gems climb to $4,000. A great 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 modern knives. The floor is around $120, top gems up to $2,200. 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 earliest days, a simple and forever in-demand silhouette. Entry is around $115, the top a Doppler Ruby past $2,200. An iconic model with excellent liquidity: one of the most reliable first expensive knives.
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 $110, but top Dopplers shoot up to $2,700-4,900, 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 $110, the top a Gamma Doppler Emerald at $1,800. 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 $70, top Doppler gems up to $1,500-1,700. A distinctive look at a moderate price, a solid mid-tier.
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 $65, and rare finishes like Blue Steel and Slaughter reach $1,000-2,000. A niche but recognizable model.
Falchion Knife — B-tier
The Falchion Knife is a curved single-edged blade with a fast inspect animation. The floor is around $60, and the iconic Crimson Web in clean float clears $2,000, a rare ceiling for B-tier. A cheap entry with a couple of pricey exceptions.
Ursus Knife — B-tier
The Ursus Knife is close in shape to the Bayonet, only with a slightly beefier blade, and the two are often confused. Entry is around $55, the top a Doppler Ruby up to $1,000. 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 $55, top Doppler gems up to $1,600. 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 $50, the top Dopplers up to $1,100-1,850. One of the most affordable full-size knives.
Gut Knife — C-tier
The Gut Knife is a small hooked blade, one of the cheapest ways into a ★ knife. Entry is around $45, the ceiling modest, up to about $800 for Dopplers. 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 $45, top Dopplers up to $600-740. 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 $45, and a rare StatTrak Crimson Web can go notably higher; at base, though, this is a budget model.
Kukri Knife — C-tier
The Kukri Knife is a distinctive forward-curved Nepalese blade, the newest model (added in 2024). The floor is around $42, the top a Crimson Web up to $700-1,400. 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 $40; a few rare Case Hardened patterns cost a lot, but overall this is the most budget segment. 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 $40, the top a Black Pearl up to $700. Bought for the unusual look and the minimal entry price.
What sets a knife tier
A few factors decide a model 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 people pay up for.
Top finishes and gems. The ceiling is set by Doppler phases — Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Black Pearl; the pricier a model gems, the higher its tier.
Liquidity and supply. The faster a knife sells, the pricier it effectively is: S-tier models have a deep market, budget ones a thinner one (see what affects knife prices).
Float and pattern. Case Hardened runs on the pattern index; other finishes on float: clean copies cost more.
StatTrak. The kill-counter version (what StatTrak is) usually costs more than the plain one, especially on rare finishes.
Getting a knife
Knives are Extraordinary-rarity items (the gold ★ tier), and there are two ways to get one. The first is to unbox it: almost any case with a key gives a chance at a knife from its collection. Which cases drop knives and whether they are worth opening depends on the model you want, but the odds are low, so the market is usually the better route.
The second route arrived in autumn 2025 — you can craft a knife with a trade-up contract: you put in exactly 5 Covert skins of one type and get a random gold 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, the priciest the grails of S-tier.
Knife models compared
Every model from the tier list in one table, from S-tier down to the cheapest entry:
| Knife | Tier | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly Knife | S | $440 | Top grail and status |
| Karambit | S | $390 | Maximum demand and liquidity |
| M9 Bayonet | S | $290 | Big blade, long-term hold |
| Talon Knife | A | $200 | Curved knife without grail price |
| Stiletto Knife | A | $120 | Popular switchblade |
| Bayonet | A | $115 | Classic with great liquidity |
| Skeleton Knife | A | $110 | Distinctive look, high ceiling |
| Flip Knife | A | $110 | Balance of price and animation |
| Nomad Knife | B | $70 | Distinctive look on a budget |
| Classic Knife | B | $65 | CS 1.6 retro looks |
| Falchion Knife | B | $60 | Cheap entry, pricey Crimson Web |
| Ursus Knife | B | $55 | Nice silhouette on the cheap |
| Huntsman Knife | B | $55 | Reliable middle option |
| Bowie Knife | B | $50 | Affordable full-size blade |
| Gut Knife | C | $45 | Budget entry |
| Survival Knife | C | $45 | A lot of knife for the money |
| Paracord Knife | C | $45 | Budget newer model |
| Kukri Knife | C | $42 | Cheapest new knife |
| Navaja Knife | C | $40 | Most compact and cheapest |
| Shadow Daggers | C | $40 | 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 maximum resale demand take the Karambit; for the flashy animation and status, the Butterfly.
What is the cheapest way to get a knife?
The most affordable ★ knives are the Shadow Daggers and Navaja: plain finishes in Battle-Scarred start around $40. 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. Top Doppler gems are the most stable but also the priciest option.
How is S-tier different from the rest?
S-tier is the three models with the highest price ceiling (top copies past $10,000), the deepest liquidity and iconic animations. A and B are solid models with a lower ceiling; C is the cheapest entry with a thin market.
