CS2 Pattern Guide 2025 - Blue Gems, Fade, Marble Fade, Crimson Web & Pattern Indexes

What Are CS2 Pattern Seeds?

Every CS2 skin with a custom paint finish (not solid colors) is assigned a pattern seed number from 1 to 1000 when created. This pattern seed determines where the texture is applied on the weapon model, creating unique visual variations. Pattern seeds are permanent and never change—they're as fundamental to a skin's identity as its float value.

For most skins, pattern seeds don't matter much—a Glock Water Elemental with pattern #1 looks nearly identical to pattern #999. However, certain finishes have extreme pattern-dependent value. Case Hardened skins can show mostly blue (valuable) or mostly gold (less valuable). Fade skins can have 100% fade (max fade) or 70% fade. Crimson Web patterns can have 1 web or 5 webs on the playside.

Understanding patterns is crucial for advanced CS2 trading because it's where massive profits hide. While casual buyers ignore pattern seeds, informed traders can identify underpriced gems that are worth 10x-100x the listing price. Pattern trading requires more knowledge than float or phase trading, but the rewards are proportionally higher.

Case Hardened Patterns: The Blue Gem System

Case Hardened skins are the most pattern-dependent finish in CS2. The pattern determines the ratio of blue (valuable), purple (mid-tier), and gold (least valuable) colors. "Blue gems" with 90%+ blue coverage on the playside are legendary status symbols worth thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Blue Gem Tier System

The community has established a tier system for Case Hardened patterns based on blue coverage percentage and positioning:

Tier 1 - Legendary Blue Gems

95-100% Blue

Near-perfect blue coverage with minimal purple/gold. These are the holy grail patterns that command six-figure prices on premium knives.

Famous Patterns:

• Pattern #661 "Scar Pattern": Most famous AK-47 blue gem, $50,000-$150,000
• Pattern #387: Legendary Karambit blue gem, $100,000-$300,000+
• Pattern #670: Another top-tier Karambit, similar value to #387
• Pattern #321: Perfect 5-7 blue gem, $10,000-$30,000

Tier 2 - High-Tier Blue Gems

85-95% Blue

Excellent blue coverage with small purple/gold elements. Still highly valuable and collectible.

Value Range:

Karambit: $20,000-$80,000 | AK-47: $5,000-$20,000 | 5-7: $2,000-$8,000

Tier 3 - Mid-Tier Blue Gems

70-85% Blue

Good blue coverage but noticeable purple/gold. Budget-friendly entry into blue gem collecting.

Value Range:

Karambit: $3,000-$15,000 | AK-47: $500-$3,000 | 5-7: $300-$1,500

Tier 4 - Low Blue / Gold Gems

Below 70% Blue

Mostly gold/purple with some blue elements. Limited collector interest, close to standard Case Hardened prices.

Note:

Some traders collect "full gold" patterns as the opposite extreme of blue gems, but this is a very niche market.

Blue Gem Trading Strategy

Finding Underpriced Blue Gems: Most sellers don't check pattern seeds, especially on lower-tier weapons (5-7, AK-47, Galil). Use CS2 Float Checker to scan marketplace listings for high blue % patterns listed at standard Case Hardened prices.

Verification: Always inspect patterns in-game or use CSGOFloat database screenshots. Blue % calculations can vary—visual confirmation is essential before large purchases.

Liquidity Considerations: Tier 1 blue gems are extremely illiquid. You might wait months to find a buyer at full value. Tier 2-3 blue gems offer better liquidity while still commanding strong premiums.

Fade Patterns: Understanding Fade Percentages

Fade finish skins display a gradient from purple to pink to yellow to red. The "fade percentage" indicates how much of the full color spectrum appears on the weapon. Higher fade percentages show more yellow/red (the end of the spectrum) and command premium prices.

Fade Percentage Tiers

Fade percentages range from roughly 70% (minimum fade) to 100% (max fade). Different weapons have different fade calculation methods and tier definitions:

Karambit Fade Tiers

• 100% / 90-10 (Max Fade): 98-100% fade, yellow tip + red base. Premium: 80-150% over 70/30
• 95% / 90-5-5: 95-97% fade, mostly yellow tip. Premium: 50-80% over 70/30
• 90% / 90-7-3: 92-95% fade, balanced yellow/purple. Premium: 30-50% over 70/30
• 80% / 80-17-3: 85-92% fade, more purple. Premium: 10-30% over 70/30
• 70/30 (Low Fade): 70-85% fade, mostly purple. Base Karambit Fade price

Glock-18 Fade Tiers

• Max Fade (100%): Full red on rear. Premium: 100-200% over low fade
• Near Max (95-99%): Almost complete red. Premium: 50-100% over low fade
• Mid Fade (85-95%): Partial red coverage. Premium: 20-50% over low fade
• Low Fade (70-85%): Minimal red, mostly pink/purple. Base Glock Fade price

Huntsman Fade Tiers

• Full Fade (95-100%): Complete gradient with gold tip. Premium: 40-80%
• Standard Fade (80-95%): Good coverage, minimal premium: 10-30%
• Low Fade (70-80%): Incomplete gradient. Base price or slight discount

Visual Verification

Fade percentages are calculated differently for each weapon. CSGOFloat and CSGOZone provide accurate fade % calculators. Always verify visually—some "95% fade" listings might actually be 80% fade. Our extension flags high-fade patterns automatically.

Marble Fade Patterns: Fire & Ice and Variants

Marble Fade is a finish with red, yellow, and blue color mixing. The pattern determines the color distribution, creating highly sought-after variants like "Fire & Ice" (red + blue, no yellow) and "Max Fire & Ice" (perfect 50/50 red/blue split).

Marble Fade Pattern Categories

Fire & Ice (F&I)

No Yellow

Fire & Ice patterns have zero yellow—only red ("fire") and blue ("ice") colors. These are the most valuable Marble Fade variants, commanding 150-400% premiums over standard Marble Fade.

Fire & Ice Tiers (Karambit):

• Max Fire & Ice (412, 616, 413): Perfect 50/50 red/blue. $8,000-$15,000
• 2nd Max Fire & Ice: Near-perfect split. $6,000-$10,000
• 3rd Max Fire & Ice: Good split, slight imbalance. $5,000-$8,000
• 4th Max Fire & Ice: Entry-level F&I. $4,000-$6,000

Note: Standard Karambit Marble Fade without Fire & Ice: $2,000-$3,500

Fake Fire & Ice (FFI)

Minimal Yellow

Patterns with tiny amounts of yellow that almost look like Fire & Ice. Often misidentified or deliberately mislisted as real F&I by sellers.

Value: 20-50% premium over standard Marble Fade, but 50-70% less than real Fire & Ice. Always verify with pattern databases before paying F&I prices.

Ice & Gold / Tricolor

All Colors

Standard Marble Fade patterns with visible red, yellow, and blue. Some patterns with heavy blue coverage ("blue dominant") command small premiums.

Value: Base Marble Fade price with 0-20% premium for blue-heavy patterns. Focus on float value more than pattern for these variants.

Fire & Ice Verification Warning

Many sellers list "Fake Fire & Ice" or yellow-dominant patterns as real "Fire & Ice" to command higher prices. This is one of the most common pattern scams in CS2.

How to Verify Real Fire & Ice:

• Check pattern index against known F&I lists (CSGOFloat Database, CSGOZone)
• Inspect in-game—real F&I has zero yellow on playside
• Use CS2 Float Checker to see pattern index instantly
• If seller won't provide pattern index, assume it's not F&I
• Real F&I patterns for Karambit: 412, 413, 555, 616, 648, 809, 868, 888, and a few others

Crimson Web Patterns: Web Positioning

Crimson Web skins feature red webs on a black base. Pattern determines the number and positioning of webs on the playside and backside. More webs (especially centered on playside) create significant value premiums, particularly on knives and gloves.

Crimson Web Valuation System

Crimson Web value is determined by web count and positioning. Centered, large webs on playside are most valuable:

Perfect Patterns (3+ Centered Playside Webs)

Karambit/M9 with 3+ big centered playside webs: 200-500% premium. These are extremely rare and command five-figure prices in Minimal Wear or better condition. Pattern indexes with perfect web placement are tracked in community databases.

Good Patterns (2 Centered Playside Webs)

Knives with 2 well-positioned playside webs: 50-150% premium. Still desirable for collectors but more common than perfect patterns. Combine with low float (0.08-0.10 MW) for maximum value.

Average Patterns (1 Playside Web or Off-Center)

Standard Crimson Web patterns with 1 web or poorly positioned webs: 0-30% premium. Most Crimson Web skins fall into this category. Float value matters more than pattern for these variants.

Webless Patterns (No Visible Playside Webs)

Patterns with no webs on playside: potential discount or neutral. Some collectors avoid webless Crimson Webs, though low float can compensate for lack of webs.

Crimson Web Gloves

Gloves with good web patterns are even rarer than knives. Sport Gloves Adrenaline MW with 3+ centered webs can exceed $10,000. Specialists track web patterns for popular glove finishes in dedicated databases.

Other Valuable Pattern Finishes

Beyond the "big four" (Case Hardened, Fade, Marble Fade, Crimson Web), several other finishes have pattern-dependent value:

Slaughter Patterns

Slaughter patterns can show diamonds, hearts, angels, or dog bones. Centered diamond patterns command 30-80% premiums on knives. "Double diamond" or "triple diamond" patterns are particularly valuable.

Value Drivers: Centered patterns, multiple diamonds, symmetry

Amber Fade Patterns

Amber Fade (on gloves) has yellow-to-brown gradient. "Max fade" with full brown coverage commands premiums. Pattern + float combination determines value, similar to traditional Fade skins.

Value Drivers: Brown coverage %, float value, glove condition

Printstream Patterns

Printstream has "code text" patterns. Some patterns show more readable text or specific words/phrases. Niche collector interest in specific readable patterns, especially on AK-47 and Deagle.

Value Drivers: Text readability, specific words/phrases, positioning

Acid Fade Patterns

Acid Fade on gloves has green-to-orange gradient. "Max fade" with more orange/red tones preferred. Similar to Amber Fade, pattern seed affects color distribution and value.

Value Drivers: Orange/red coverage %, color vibrancy, glove condition

Advanced Pattern Trading Strategies

Pattern trading offers some of the highest profit margins in CS2, but requires expertise and research. Here are proven strategies:

Strategy 1: Pattern Seed Hunting

Scan marketplaces for valuable patterns listed without pattern information. Sellers who don't check seeds often list blue gems or max fades at standard prices.

Execution:

• Use CS2 Float Checker to see pattern indexes on all listings instantly
• Cross-reference pattern indexes with databases (CSGOFloat, CSGOZone)
• Focus on Case Hardened, Fade, and Marble Fade skins
• Buy immediately when you find valuable patterns at standard prices
• Resell on specialized platforms where pattern collectors actively search

Example: AK-47 Case Hardened with pattern #661 (legendary Scar pattern) listed at $500 (standard CH price). Actual value: $50,000+. Profit: $49,500.

Strategy 2: Budget Blue Gem Collecting

Lower-tier weapons (5-7, Galil, Mac-10) have blue gems selling for $200-$2,000 instead of $20,000-$100,000 like Karambit. These are accessible entry points with strong appreciation potential.

Target Weapons:

• Five-SeveN CH: Tier 1 blue gems $5,000-$20,000 (pattern #321, #868, #278)
• AK-47 CH: Tier 2-3 blue gems $1,000-$10,000 (pattern #670, #179, #555)
• Butterfly Knife CH: Tier 2-3 blue gems $3,000-$15,000 (pattern #494, #809)
• Galil CH: Budget blue gems $200-$1,500 (great starter patterns)

These weapons appreciate as more traders enter blue gem collecting and demand grows while supply remains fixed.

Strategy 3: Max Fade Arbitrage

Buy "regular" Fade skins that are actually max fade or near-max fade based on pattern seed, then resell at appropriate premium prices.

Best Opportunities:

• Glock-18 Fade: Max fade (100%) commands 2-3x standard price
• Karambit Fade: 90/10 (max) commands 2-2.5x base Karambit Fade price
• MAC-10 Fade: Full fade patterns significantly undervalued vs actual rarity
• SSG 08 Detour: Max fade variants with 50-100% premiums

Use fade calculators to verify exact percentages before buying. Many "max fade" claims are incorrect.

Strategy 4: Crimson Web + Float Combination

Maximum value comes from combining excellent web patterns with low float values. A 3-web Crimson Web MW with 0.08 float is worth far more than sum of parts.

Targeting Criteria:

• Minimal Wear with 0.08-0.10 float (best MW range)
• 2+ centered playside webs
• Popular knife types (Karambit, M9, Butterfly, Talon)
• Gloves with visible large webs (Sport Gloves especially)

Crimson Web FN is extremely rare (float cap 0.06-0.07) making MW the primary collector condition. Perfect web MW can exceed mediocre FN prices.

Pattern Verification Tools and Resources

Successful pattern trading requires reliable tools for verification and research:

Essential Pattern Tools

Tool #1

CS2 Float Checker Extension

Instantly displays pattern seeds/indexes on marketplace listings. No manual checking required. Highlights valuable patterns automatically.

Tool #2

CSGOFloat Database

Comprehensive pattern database with screenshots and rankings. Blue gem tiers, fade percentages, Fire & Ice verification, and Crimson Web patterns tracked.

Tool #3

CSGOZone Pattern Tools

Fade calculators, pattern visualizers, and historical price tracking. Useful for verifying fade percentages and marble fade variants.

Tool #4

In-Game Inspect

Always inspect high-value patterns in-game before purchase. Screenshots can be manipulated, but Steam inspect links show the actual skin. Verify lighting and angles to confirm pattern quality.

Common Pattern Trading Mistakes

Avoid these costly mistakes when trading pattern-dependent skins:

Mistake: Not Checking Pattern Index

Buying a "blue gem" or "max fade" without verifying the pattern index is asking to be scammed. Always check pattern with CS2 Float Checker or similar tools before paying premium prices.

Mistake: Trusting Seller Screenshots Only

Screenshots can be edited or taken in misleading lighting. Always use Steam inspect links or marketplace preview tools to verify actual appearance.

Mistake: Confusing Fake Fire & Ice with Real

Fake Fire & Ice patterns with minimal yellow are often listed as real F&I. Real Fire & Ice has zero yellow. Verify against known F&I pattern lists before buying.

Mistake: Overpaying for Tier 3-4 Blue Gems

Low-tier blue gems (70-80% blue) don't command significant premiums. Don't pay Tier 1 prices for Tier 3 patterns. Know the tier system and price accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the pattern seed of a skin?

Install CS2 Float Checker to see pattern seeds instantly on marketplace listings. Alternatively, use CSGOFloat's item inspector by pasting the inspect link.

Are pattern seeds random or predictable?

Pattern seeds are randomly assigned when a skin is created (unboxed, traded up, or crafted). There's no way to predict or control what pattern you'll get from unboxing—it's completely random within the 1-1000 range.

What's the most valuable pattern in CS2?

Karambit Case Hardened #387 or #661 Blue Gem in Factory New with low float. These can sell for $100,000-$300,000+ depending on float and market conditions. The AK-47 Case Hardened #661 "Scar Pattern" is also legendary at $50,000-$150,000.

Can I change the pattern on my skin?

No, pattern seeds are permanent and cannot be changed. The pattern assigned when the skin was created stays with it forever. This is why pattern checking before purchase is critical.

Should I prioritize pattern or float value?

For pattern-dependent finishes (Case Hardened, Fade, Marble Fade, Crimson Web), pattern is usually more important. However, the best investments combine excellent patterns with good float values. A Tier 1 blue gem with 0.01 float is worth far more than the same pattern at 0.06 float.

Where do I sell high-tier pattern skins?

For premium patterns ($5,000+), use specialized communities: Reddit trading forums, Discord servers, pattern collector groups, and private dealers. CSFloat and Buff163 work for mid-tier patterns ($500-$5,000). Very high-tier patterns often require private sales through trusted middlemen.

Master Pattern Trading Today

Install CS2 Float Checker to see pattern seeds instantly on every listing. Never miss an underpriced blue gem, max fade, or Fire & Ice again. Our extension highlights valuable patterns automatically as you browse.

Install Free Chrome Extension

Join 50,000+ pattern traders using CS2 Float Checker to identify valuable patterns and avoid overpaying.

Conclusion

Pattern trading represents the highest-skill, highest-reward segment of CS2 trading. Understanding pattern seeds unlocks opportunities that casual traders never see—blue gems listed at standard prices, max fades selling for base values, Fire & Ice patterns misidentified as regular Marble Fades.

The pattern market rewards knowledge and research. Traders who invest time learning pattern databases, tier systems, and verification tools consistently generate 10x-100x returns on individual trades. The key is identifying valuable patterns before sellers realize what they have, then reselling to collectors who understand and appreciate pattern quality.

Start your pattern trading journey by mastering one finish at a time. Learn the blue gem tier system for Case Hardened, understand fade percentages, or study Fire & Ice patterns. As your expertise grows, expand to other pattern-dependent finishes and larger investments. With the right knowledge and tools like CS2 Float Checker, pattern trading can be extraordinarily profitable.

Ready to expand your knowledge? Check out our guides on blue gem investing, Doppler phases, and float value optimization.

CS2 Pattern Guide 2025: Master Blue Gems, Fade, Marble Fade & Pattern Seeds

Understanding CS2 Pattern Trading