I get asked by a lot of people what my top 5 Counter-Strike skins are and why, so I thought rather than just replying on stream or on social media, I would write an article about it, list them all out, and explain why.
To start with, I should say that I’m more of a personal Counter-Strike skin collector. I don’t try to go for the lowest float or the rarest patterns—I choose all my skins and loadout based on what I personally like. Some of them I haven’t been able to purchase yet, and others I’ve been lucky enough to get over time.
For me, collecting Counter-Strike skins is about enjoyment, not investment. I like to have the skins I enjoy the most, which is probably why one of them is saved for last—even though I don’t use the weapon much in-game, I love the skin.
5 – Talon Knife | Doppler (Ruby)
For a long time, I was a huge fan of the Karambit—it was my go-to knife—but once I saw the Talon Knife that came out in the August 2018 update, that changed. I feel like this comes down to personal preference, because I meet a lot of people who ONLY like Karambits, and others who only like Talons. I like both, but the Talon has become my personal favorite.
I really enjoy the lighter bone-colored handle, especially on my Ruby, which makes it pop more when you’re looking at it. I don’t like it when it’s too dark. The animation perk of a constant loop is also a big win for me—just holding it down as I run, spinning it freely in the air.
4 – AK-47 | Wild Lotus
This might be a more obvious choice for many, but it’s actually one I don’t currently have. Right now, I’m using the AK-47 | Vulcan, which is one of the classics.
The Wild Lotus, for me, is the perfect AK skin. If you’ve seen me at events, you’ll know I have a traditional Japanese tattoo sleeve on my left arm, and my chest features lotus flowers. The lotus is a very prominent flower in Japanese culture, also known as “hasu”. This design is so clean, stands out beautifully, and on some maps like Mirage, Dust2, and Anubis, I think it looks its absolute best. One day I’ll get my hands on this beauty!
3 – Skeleton Knife | Case Hardened (Blue Gem)
Honestly, this is the only Case Hardened I really like. I don’t own it, but I’ve been borrowing it for quite some time from a friend. The dream would be to get the #403 pattern, but I don’t think I could ever justify getting that skin for myself—unless I become a millionaire. There are just other things I’d spend money on. The 96% blue on the play side with that pattern is just perfect.
Paired with some really nice gloves, this is actually the best knife in the game for me. It just can’t be beaten. It’s also one of the weapons that gets commented on the most when I’m playing. As with my Talon Knife, I love the spinning animation, which is another reason I love it so much!
2 – M4A4 | Howl
The craziest situation we’ve had in Counter-Strike—the gun was added to the Huntsman Collection but then removed on June 11, 2014, over 11 years ago now, due to copyright issues. For those who don’t know, this is the ONLY contraband skin in the game. The only other contraband is a sticker. This happened because the original artwork belonged to an artist who did not give permission for it to be used in the game, so Valve had to take action. However, those who already had the skin got to keep it.
This is one of the skins most players dream of. I often drop it for teammates so they can play a few rounds with it. It’s highly valued. The story of how I got this skin goes back to the Stockholm Major in 2021, where I bought it for myself as a present. It was to commemorate the first Major I worked as a stage host—a huge turning point in my career—and I wanted to have something to remember that milestone forever. I’ve used it nonstop ever since and don’t think I’ll ever sell it. It’s the most beautiful and unique M4A4 skin—truly special because of how limited it is.
1 – AWP | Dragon Lore
Over the years, as more AWP skins have been released, we’ve seen players gravitate toward some of the more modern options like the Desert Hydra or Medusa. But for me, the AWP Dragon Lore still stands as the best original design we’ve ever had—and one of the rarest. It’s still used by many top players and carries a lot of legacy.
The Dragon Lore was released as part of the Cobblestone Collection and, for me, hits all the nostalgia that watching Counter-Strike during that era brings. It even makes me wish for Cobblestone to return. The Dragon Lore became a symbol of the elite at the time and still holds its place today, with many of the best players equipping one of the most valuable skins in the game—even before you apply any stickers.
Everything about this skin was carefully thought out, down to the smallest detail. It isn’t a simple design, but it’s aesthetically pleasing. The green and black scope contrasts perfectly with the rest of the skin, and the dragon breathing fire—it’s just EPIC. No detail was missed.
This is another one I don’t currently own, mainly because I don’t AWP much, but it’s a dream skin of mine and definitely one I hope to purchase one day.
While I don’t currently own the skin, I did upgrade to a Battle-Scarred version on Skin.Club while I was live on stream—check out the video below:
One day, we’ll make it to a Factory New version!
There you have it—my Top 5 Ultimate Counter-Strike skins. Some I own, one I borrow, and some I’m yet to get… but maybe one day!
