CS2 Knife Buying Guide 2025: All 20 Knife Types, Prices & Best Value Knives
Choosing the Perfect CS2 Knife
Buying your first (or next) CS2 knife is a major decision. With 20 unique knife types, hundreds of skins, and prices ranging from $200 to $100,000+, choosing the right knife requires understanding animations, price trends, value retention, and personal preferences. This comprehensive 2025 guide covers every knife type, current price ranges, best value options for budget buyers, investment-grade knives for collectors, and expert recommendations to help you make the perfect choice. Use our CS2 Float Checker to analyze float values and ensure you get the best version of your chosen knife.
Understanding CS2 Knife Tiers
CS2 knives fall into three distinct value tiers based on popularity, animation quality, and market demand. Understanding these tiers helps you make informed purchasing decisions based on your budget and goals.
Premium Tier ($500-$100,000+)
Knives: Karambit, M9 Bayonet, Butterfly Knife, Talon, Stiletto
Premium knives command the highest prices due to iconic animations, prestige, and strong investment value. These are status symbols in CS2 and retain value better than other tiers. Most popular among collectors and professional players.
Best For: Players with $500+ budgets, investors seeking appreciation, collectors wanting prestige knives, or anyone who values elite animations and status.
Mid Tier ($300-$700)
Knives: Bayonet, Bowie, Huntsman, Flip, Ursus, Skeleton, Nomad, Paracord
Mid-tier knives offer excellent animations and visual appeal at more accessible prices. These are the "sweet spot" for most players—high quality without premium price tags. Good balance of aesthetics and value retention.
Best For: Players with $300-700 budgets seeking great animations, those wanting solid knives without paying premium, or buyers prioritizing value-for-money.
Budget Tier ($150-$400)
Knives: Falchion, Navaja, Gut, Shadow Daggers, Classic Knife, Survival, Kukri
Budget knives provide knife ownership at entry-level prices. While less prestigious than premium tiers, they still offer unique animations and the satisfaction of owning a knife. Some have cult followings (Shadow Daggers, Gut Knife).
Best For: First-time knife buyers, players with $150-400 budgets, those testing knife ownership before upgrading, or anyone who loves a specific budget knife's animation.
Complete Guide to All 20 CS2 Knife Types
Here's the comprehensive breakdown of every CS2 knife, including animations, price ranges, pros/cons, and who should buy each one.
Karambit
PremiumDetails:
- • Price Range: $800-$100,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Gamma
- • Animation: Iconic spin, reverse grip
- • Investment Grade: 10/10
Why Buy:
- • Best animation in CS2
- • Ultimate status symbol
- • Strongest value retention
- • #1 collector favorite
Verdict: The king of CS2 knives. If budget allows, Karambit is always the right choice. Doppler Sapphire/Ruby reach $50,000+. Even basic skins hold value excellently. Not for beginners due to price, but every serious collector ends up wanting one.
M9 Bayonet
PremiumDetails:
- • Price Range: $600-$15,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Slaughter, Crimson
- • Animation: Military flip, tactical
- • Investment Grade: 9/10
Why Buy:
- • Classic military aesthetic
- • Premium but cheaper than Karambit
- • Excellent investment value
- • Professional player favorite
Verdict: Second only to Karambit in prestige. M9 offers premium status at 20-30% less cost. Perfect for players who want an elite knife but find Karambit prices too steep. Outstanding investment with strong demand.
Butterfly Knife
PremiumDetails:
- • Price Range: $1,000-$20,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Marble Fade
- • Animation: Flashy flipping tricks
- • Investment Grade: 9/10
Why Buy:
- • Most entertaining animation
- • Unique flipping mechanics
- • Strong collector demand
- • Great investment potential
Verdict: The showstopper. Butterfly animations never get old. Costs more than M9 but offers unique appeal. Perfect for players who want constant visual entertainment. Highly liquid—easy to resell due to popularity.
Talon
PremiumDetails:
- • Price Range: $700-$12,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Tiger Tooth
- • Animation: Modern tactical, aggressive
- • Investment Grade: 8/10
Why Buy:
- • Modern, aggressive design
- • Premium tier at entry price
- • Unique claw aesthetic
- • Growing popularity
Verdict: The "budget premium" knife. Talon offers premium-tier status for $200-400 less than Karambit/Butterfly. Great value play—quality animation at accessible prices. Excellent for players graduating from mid-tier knives.
Stiletto
PremiumDetails:
- • Price Range: $600-$10,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Slaughter
- • Animation: Sleek, Italian switchblade
- • Investment Grade: 8/10
Why Buy:
- • Elegant, sophisticated look
- • Smooth animation
- • Premium without extreme cost
- • Niche collector favorite
Verdict: The gentleman's knife. Stiletto appeals to players wanting elegance over flashiness. Less popular than Karambit/Butterfly but strong dedicated fanbase. Good investment due to limited supply and premium classification.
Bayonet
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $400-$3,500+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Autotronic, Gamma
- • Animation: Classic military flip
- • Investment Grade: 7/10
Why Buy:
- • Classic, timeless design
- • Best mid-tier value
- • Similar to M9, cheaper
- • Solid investment
Verdict: The best value-for-money knife. Bayonet delivers M9-quality animation at 40% less cost. Perfect first serious knife. Doppler variants are especially affordable. Excellent for players wanting quality without premium pricing.
Bowie Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $350-$2,800+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Marble Fade, Slaughter
- • Animation: Large blade, dramatic flip
- • Investment Grade: 7/10
Why Buy:
- • Large, imposing blade
- • Great value mid-tier option
- • Satisfying animation
- • Affordable Fade/Marble Fade
Verdict: Underrated mid-tier knife. Bowie's large blade looks impressive and animation is smooth. Fade variants are much cheaper than Karambit Fade. Perfect for players who want colorful patterns (Fade/Marble) without premium prices.
Huntsman Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $300-$2,200+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Tiger Tooth
- • Animation: Tactical survival knife
- • Investment Grade: 6/10
Why Buy:
- • Solid mid-tier choice
- • Affordable Doppler options
- • Clean animation
- • Good value retention
Verdict: Reliable mid-tier workhorse. Huntsman doesn't excel in any category but provides solid quality across the board. Great first knife or budget Doppler option. Holds value reasonably well.
Flip Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $300-$3,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Marble Fade
- • Animation: Quick flip open/close
- • Investment Grade: 6/10
Why Buy:
- • Fast, satisfying animation
- • Compact, clean design
- • Affordable premium skins
- • Nostalgic from CSGO
Verdict: Classic CSGO knife with dedicated fanbase. Flip animation is quick and satisfying. Not as prestigious as premium tier but offers charm. Great for players who prioritize animation speed over size.
Ursus Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $280-$1,800+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Slaughter
- • Animation: Curved survival blade
- • Investment Grade: 6/10
Why Buy:
- • Unique curved design
- • Affordable entry mid-tier
- • Decent animation
- • Undervalued currently
Verdict: Solid value play. Ursus offers mid-tier quality at near-budget prices. Not popular enough to command premiums, which benefits buyers. Good for players wanting quality knife on tight budget.
Skeleton Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $350-$2,500+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Doppler
- • Animation: Reverse grip tactical
- • Investment Grade: 7/10
Why Buy:
- • Unique skeletal design
- • Tactical reverse grip animation
- • Growing collector interest
- • Distinctive in-game look
Verdict: The tactical enthusiast's choice. Skeleton's reverse grip and minimalist design appeal to players wanting something different. Investment potential growing as appreciation spreads. Good mid-tier alternative.
Nomad Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $300-$2,000+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Doppler
- • Animation: Fixed blade tactical
- • Investment Grade: 6/10
Why Buy:
- • Survival knife aesthetic
- • Affordable Fade options
- • Clean animation
- • Niche appeal
Verdict: Solid middle-of-the-pack option. Nomad doesn't stand out but provides good quality at fair prices. Best for players who like survival/outdoor knife aesthetics. Not investment-focused.
Paracord Knife
Mid TierDetails:
- • Price Range: $280-$1,900+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Case Hard
- • Animation: Paracord-wrapped handle
- • Investment Grade: 6/10
Why Buy:
- • Unique wrapped handle
- • Budget-friendly mid-tier
- • Distinctive texture
- • Good starter knife
Verdict: Budget entry to mid-tier. Paracord's wrapped handle offers unique aesthetic at affordable prices. Not prestigious but provides knife ownership without large investment. Decent first knife option.
Falchion Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $180-$900+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Doppler, Marble Fade
- • Animation: Curved blade flip
- • Investment Grade: 5/10
Why Buy:
- • Cheapest Doppler/Fade access
- • Unique curved blade
- • Good first knife
- • Decent animation
Verdict: Best budget knife for premium skins. Falchion offers affordable access to Doppler, Fade, Marble Fade patterns. Animation is solid despite budget tier. Perfect first knife for players on tight budgets.
Shadow Daggers
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $180-$1,000+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Fade, Marble Fade
- • Animation: Dual wield daggers
- • Investment Grade: 5/10
Why Buy:
- • Dual wield unique factor
- • Cult following
- • Affordable premium patterns
- • Entertaining animation
Verdict: Love-it-or-hate-it knife. Shadow Daggers' dual wield creates meme status but dedicated fanbase exists. Budget access to Doppler/Fade. Buy if animation appeals, skip if you want prestige.
Gut Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $150-$700+
- • Most Popular: Doppler, Autotronic, Gamma
- • Animation: Basic utility knife
- • Investment Grade: 4/10
Why Buy:
- • Cheapest knife entry
- • CSGO classic nostalgia
- • Cult following
- • Testing knife ownership
Verdict: The original budget knife. Gut Knife is polarizing—some love the simplicity, most prefer other options. Cheapest knife ownership. Good for testing if you want a knife before committing more capital.
Navaja Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $160-$750+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Doppler, Slaughter
- • Animation: Spanish folding knife
- • Investment Grade: 4/10
Why Buy:
- • Unique Spanish design
- • Very affordable
- • Interesting animation
- • Underrated aesthetics
Verdict: Underrated budget option. Navaja's Spanish folding design is unique and animation is satisfying. Very affordable. Good for players who want something different at budget prices.
Classic Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $200-$900+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Night
- • Animation: Traditional fixed blade
- • Investment Grade: 5/10
Why Buy:
- • Classic military style
- • Clean, simple design
- • Budget-friendly
- • Growing appreciation
Verdict: Simple elegance. Classic Knife appeals to players wanting traditional military aesthetic without frills. Gaining popularity—potential value growth. Solid budget option for minimalists.
Survival Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $180-$800+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Case Hard
- • Animation: Serrated tactical blade
- • Investment Grade: 5/10
Why Buy:
- • Tactical operator aesthetic
- • Serrated blade unique look
- • Affordable patterns
- • Solid animation
Verdict: Budget tactical option. Survival Knife's serrated blade creates distinctive look. Good for players wanting tactical aesthetic at budget prices. Undervalued—potential for appreciation.
Kukri Knife
BudgetDetails:
- • Price Range: $200-$950+
- • Most Popular: Fade, Slaughter, Doppler
- • Animation: Curved Nepalese blade
- • Investment Grade: 5/10
Why Buy:
- • Unique curved blade design
- • Cultural aesthetic
- • Budget Doppler access
- • Newer knife (potential growth)
Verdict: Newest budget addition. Kukri's dramatic curve creates distinctive profile. Still establishing market position—could appreciate. Good for players wanting unique budget knife.
Best Value Knives by Budget
Based on animation quality, price, and value retention, here are the best knife recommendations for each budget level:
Budget $150-$300: Best First Knives
#1 Recommendation: Falchion Knife Doppler (~$230)
Best budget knife period. Gets you into premium Doppler patterns at entry-level price. Solid animation, good aesthetics, respectable ownership.
#2 Alternative: Gut Knife Doppler (~$180)
Absolute cheapest knife ownership. Good for testing if you want a knife. Cult following. Doppler pattern makes it respectable.
#3 Dark Horse: Shadow Daggers Fade (~$280)
If dual wield appeals, this is your pick. Entertaining animation, affordable Fade access. Polarizing but fans love it.
Budget $300-$600: Best Mid-Tier Value
#1 Recommendation: Bayonet Doppler (~$450)
Best value-for-money knife in CS2. Near-premium animation at mid-tier price. Looks professional, holds value well, widely respected.
#2 Alternative: Bowie Knife Fade (~$380)
Affordable access to Fade pattern. Large blade looks impressive. Great value for colorful patterns without Karambit prices.
#3 Underrated: Skeleton Knife Fade (~$420)
Growing popularity. Unique tactical reverse grip. Good investment potential as more players discover it.
Budget $600-$1,500: Premium Entry
#1 Recommendation: M9 Bayonet Doppler (~$850)
Entry to premium tier. Iconic military knife with professional player popularity. Excellent investment, strong value retention.
#2 Alternative: Talon Knife Doppler (~$800)
Budget premium with aggressive modern aesthetic. Growing collector interest. Best value in premium tier.
#3 Save More: Karambit Doppler (~$1,200-1,500)
If you can stretch budget, Karambit is worth it. Best animation, best investment, best prestige. Save an extra $200-400 for this.
Budget $1,500+: Investment Grade
#1 Recommendation: Karambit Fade 90/10 (~$3,000-5,000)
Elite collector piece. Perfect Fade pattern on best knife. Strong appreciation history, high liquidity, maximum prestige.
#2 Alternative: Butterfly Knife Marble Fade (~$2,500-4,000)
Unique animation with premium pattern. Excellent investment. Fire & Ice variants command highest premiums.
#3 Ultimate: Karambit Doppler Sapphire/Ruby ($40,000-100,000+)
The holy grail. Maximum rarity, maximum prestige. For serious collectors with significant capital. Best investment in CS2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best first knife to buy?
Falchion Knife Doppler (~$230) offers the best value for first-time buyers. You get access to premium Doppler patterns at budget price with respectable animation. If budget allows, Bayonet Doppler ($450) is the ultimate value-for-money knife.
Are knives good investments?
Premium knives (Karambit, M9, Butterfly) with desirable patterns (Doppler, Fade, Marble Fade) are excellent investments. They hold value well and often appreciate 10-30% annually. Budget knives have weaker investment potential but are fine for personal use.
Should I buy Factory New or Minimal Wear?
For knives, always prioritize Factory New if budget allows. Knives show wear prominently, and FN holds value better. If FN is too expensive, look for Minimal Wear with floats 0.07-0.10 (low MW)—they look nearly identical to FN but cost 20-30% less.
What knife skin is best for investment?
Doppler variants (especially Sapphire/Ruby/Black Pearl) and Fade patterns hold value best. These rare patterns on premium knives (Karambit, Butterfly, M9) offer the strongest appreciation potential. Avoid common skins like Case Hardened or Rust Coat for investment purposes.
How much should I spend on a knife?
Spend what you're comfortable losing (skins are not guaranteed investments). For first knife: $200-500. For serious upgrade: $500-1,500. For investment/collection: $1,500+. Never buy a knife with rent money or essential funds.
Does float matter for knives?
Yes, significantly. Low float Factory New knives (0.00-0.01) command 20-50% premiums over high float FN (0.06-0.07). Knives show wear aggressively, so float directly impacts appearance and value. Always check float before buying—use our Float Checker.
Check Knife Float Values Instantly
Install CS2 Float Checker to see instant float values, investment scores, and pattern analysis on every knife listing. Ensure you get the best float and avoid overpaying for high-float knives. Make informed decisions based on precise data.
Install Free Chrome ExtensionJoin thousands of knife buyers using CS2 Float Checker to find the perfect knife with optimal float values.
Conclusion
Choosing the right CS2 knife requires balancing budget, personal preferences, and long-term value considerations. Premium knives like Karambit, M9 Bayonet, and Butterfly offer the best animations and investment potential but require significant capital. Mid-tier knives like Bayonet, Bowie, and Huntsman provide excellent value—quality animations at accessible prices. Budget knives like Falchion, Gut, and Shadow Daggers offer entry-level ownership for players testing the knife market.
The single best value knife in CS2 is the Bayonet Doppler (~$450). It delivers near-premium quality at mid-tier pricing, making it the ultimate value play. For first-time buyers on tighter budgets, the Falchion Doppler (~$230) provides respectable ownership with premium pattern access. For serious collectors and investors, Karambit Doppler variants (especially Sapphire/Ruby) represent the pinnacle—maximum prestige, strongest appreciation, highest liquidity.
Remember that float value significantly impacts knife pricing and appearance. Always verify float values before purchasing—low float Factory New knives (0.00-0.02) look dramatically better than high float FN (0.06-0.07) and hold value better long-term. Use our CS2 Float Checker to analyze every knife before buying.
Explore our other guides for comprehensive CS2 knowledge: Gloves Guide for pairing knives with gloves, Investment Guide for maximizing returns on knife investments, and Marketplace Comparison for finding the best prices on your chosen knife.