What CS2 Cases Have Karambits?

The Karambit is one of the most iconic and sought-after knives in CS2 history, so it's no surprise that CS2 cases with Karambits top the list for anyone chasing a legendary gold drop. But unlike the Butterfly Knife, which drops exclusively from five cases, every single Karambit case shares its Rare Special Item slot across a multi-knife pool. To put it bluntly, the chances of actually getting a Karambit when you do get the coveted gold drop are still not in your favor.

From early CS: GO Karambit cases that contained the legendary Case Hardened Blue Gems,to modern Doppler Karambit cases, here is the ultimate breakdown of every container in the game.

CS:GO Weapon Case (2013)

Released in August 2013, the CS:GO Weapon Case holds a legendary place in Counter Strike history as the first case to feature the Karambit. As its supply continues to decrease, the dwindling supply has seen the case sell for as much as 160$. It remains popular largely because of the famous Karambit Case Hardened #387 Blue Gem, while also featuring iconic skins such as the AK-47 | Case Hardened and AWP | Lightning Strike. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened (Blue Gem)
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

The ultimate masterpiece: Standard Case Hardened Karambit prices range from $800 to $1,500, while a Factory New Karambit with Pattern 387 can exceed $1.5 million. A 100% pure blue playside makes Pattern 387 the most expensive knife in CS2 history. 

CS:GO Weapon Case 2 (2013) 

Arriving in November 2013, CS:GO Weapon Case 2 served as the official follow-up to the original Weapon Case. The container remains exceptionally rare and expensive on the modern market, with prices reaching around $33.

Unboxing gold here gives you an honest 20% shot at classic Karambit finishes like the Crimson Web. The case also contains the famous covert SSG 08 | Blood in the Water.

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

CS:GO Weapon Case 3 (2014) 

Launched in February 2014, this case introduced a selection of sidearm skins while keeping the same classic 1 in 5 Karambit drop chance as its predecessors. It contains almost entirely pistol skins, making it less appealing to players who are looking for a wider selection of weapons to unbox. However, collectors hunting for vintage Karambits can still find plenty of value in it. The case is currently priced at around $20 on the Steam Market. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

Operation Bravo Case (2013) 

Released in September 2013, the Operation Bravo Case is an iconic container from one of CS:GO's earliest operations. With its supply becoming increasingly limited, the case is now worth around $90. It remains one of the most expensive non knife cases for collectors chasing classic Karambit finishes. Its high price is partly driven by the well known AK-47 | Fire Serpent. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

Operation Phoenix Weapon Case (2014)

Released in February 2014, Operation Phoenix delivered one of the most beloved community skin selections in CS:GO. It quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its high value weapon drops and includes the legendary AWP Asiimov. For many players, unboxing a Karambit Crimson Web or Fade from this case remains a dream pull. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

Operation Vanguard Weapon Case (2014)

Introduced in November 2014, Operation Vanguard focused heavily on rugged primary weapon designs. It holds a valued place in CS:GO history, with its supply becoming increasingly limited. The chances of getting a gold item are extremely low, and landing a Karambit makes the unboxing even more special. Alongside classic knives, the case contains popular rifle skins such as the AK-47 | Wasteland Rebel. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

Winter Offensive Weapon Case (2013)

Launched in December 2013, the Winter Offensive Weapon Case was the first community created weapon container. It remains nostalgic for veteran players because it comes from an earlier era of CS:GO operations. The container features 13 classic Karambit finishes, making it an interesting target for collectors. It also contains popular trade up items such as the M4A4 | Asiimov and AWP | Redline. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

Revolver Case (2015) 

Released in December 2015, the Revolver Case is one of the cheapest containers for classic Karambit finishes. It offers the same gold pool as several older cases at a much lower price. Millions of these cases were opened during their active era, keeping the current price relatively low for budget unboxers. At around $4 on the Steam Market, it gives players an affordable way to hunt for finishes such as Case Hardened and Fade. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

eSports 2013 Case (2013)

Released in 2013, the eSports 2013 Case was created to help support CS:GO Major tournament prize pools, with a portion of its sales going toward the competitive scene. This gave the case an important place in CS:GO history. Unboxing a gold item gives you a 1 in 5 chance of getting a classic Karambit finish. Supply is extremely low today, making the case difficult to find and giving collectors a chance to unbox nostalgic skins such as the P90 | Death by Kitty. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

eSports 2013 Winter Case (2013)

Launched in winter 2013, the eSports 2013 Winter Case continued supporting competitive prize pools. It featured the same 13 Karambit finishes as its predecessor, giving players another chance to unbox a valuable gold item. The case also has a strong weapon lineup, featuring popular skins such as the M4A4 | X-Ray and AWP | Electric Hive. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

eSports 2014 Summer Case (2014)

Closing out Valve’s esports funding series, this container offered bright, colorful skins alongside iconic original knives. Landing a gold drop gives you a 20% chance to unbox a vintage Karambit. Alongside classic knives, it contains the famous AK-47 | Jaguar for high-value crafts.

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Fade, Crimson Web, Case Hardened
• Mid-Tier: Slaughter, Blue Steel, Vanilla
• Low-Tier: Night, Stained, Urban Masked, Forest DDPAT, Scorched, Safari Mesh

The Chroma Series: The Chroma series changed high-tier trading forever in 2015, introducing iconic Doppler and Marble Fade Karambits to CS2. 

Chroma Case (2015)

Released in January 2015, Chroma Case completely transformed the CS skin market overnight. It introduced metallic finishes to the Karambit blade, dropping Dopplers and Marble Fades as status symbols.

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Doppler Gems (Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl), Marble Fade
• Mid-Tier: Doppler (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4), Tiger Tooth
• Base-Tier: Damascus Steel, Ultraviolet, Rust Coat

Chroma 2 Case (2015)

Launched in April 2015, Chroma 2 arrived to meet the high demand for Doppler Karambits. It shares the same high tier knife finish pool as its predecessor. The case remained in the active drop rotation for longer, leaving it with a significantly higher circulating supply. It provides an accessible way to hunt for Dopplers and also features the popular M4A1-S | Hyper Beast. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Doppler Gems (Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl), Marble Fade
• Mid-Tier: Doppler (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4), Tiger Tooth
• Base-Tier: Damascus Steel, Ultraviolet, Rust Coat

Chroma 3 Case (2016)

Released in April 2016, Chroma 3 is one of the best budget cases for players hunting for Karambits. It shares an identical knife pool featuring Marble Fades, Tiger Tooths, and Doppler gems. Its large supply keeps the case price relatively low, making it more affordable to unbox. It remains a popular choice for players hunting for Karambit Dopplers.

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Doppler Gems (Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl), Marble Fade
• Mid-Tier: Doppler (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4), Tiger Tooth
• Base-Tier: Damascus Steel, Ultraviolet, Rust Coat

The Gamma Series: The Gamma series brought modern green tones and luxury aesthetics to the Karambit blade.

Gamma Case (2016)

Released in June 2016, the Gamma Case introduced modern green finishes to the high tier skin market. Karambits with Gamma Doppler finishes quickly became highly sought after by collectors and traders. Besides its valuable knives, the case also features popular rifle skins such as the M4A1 S | Mecha Industries. 

The Crown Jewel: Gamma Doppler Emerald Standard Gamma Doppler Phases 1-4 range from $1,800 to $2,800 on the market. On the other hand, a true Karambit Emerald commands between $9,000 and $18,000+.

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Gamma Doppler Emerald
• Mid-Tier: Gamma Doppler (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4), Lore, Autotronic
• Base-Tier: Black Laminate, Freehand, Bright Water

Gamma 2 Case (2016)

Launched in August 2016, the Gamma 2 Case continued offering players access to green gems and Lore finishes at a lower price than the original Gamma Case. It is more cost effective and cheaper to open, making it a popular alternative for budget players. If you do not hit a gold item, you can still unbox popular skins such as the cyberpunk styled AK-47 | Neon Revolution. 

Finish Tiers:

• Top-Tier: Gamma Doppler Emerald
• Mid-Tier: Gamma Doppler (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4), Lore, Autotronic
• Base-Tier: Black Laminate, Freehand, Bright Water

Final Verdict: Which Karambit Case Should You Open?

• For Classic Finishes: The Revolver Case is by far the most cost-effective option. It provides access to original Karambit finishes at a tiny fraction of vintage case costs.
• For Dopplers & Marble Fades: The Chroma 3 Case offers the highest value-to-cost ratio. It provides access to Phase 1-4 Dopplers and rare gems while remaining cheap to open.
• For Gamma Dopplers & Lore: The Gamma 2 Case is the top pick for green gem Emeralds. You avoid paying the steep container premium of the Gamma Case.

Frequently Asked Questions