Complete CS2 Pattern Guide

Master Blue Gems, Doppler phases, Fade percentages, Pattern IDs, and tier systems for profitable CS2 trading

Understanding CS2 Pattern IDs

Every CS2 skin has a Pattern ID that determines its unique visual appearance. This system is fundamental to understanding pattern value and rarity.

How Pattern IDs Work

πŸ”’ Pattern ID Fundamentals
  • Range: Pattern IDs range from 1 to 1000 (1001 total possible patterns)
  • Assignment: Randomly assigned when the skin is created/unboxed
  • Immutable: Cannot be changed through trading or modifications
  • Impact: Determines texture placement, color distribution, and visual elements

Pattern Types Classification

Static Patterns

Minimal visual variation across different Pattern IDs

Examples AK Redline, M4A4 Howl
Value Impact Minimal

Semi-Dynamic Patterns

Moderate visual differences between Pattern IDs

Examples AK Vulcan, AWP Asiimov
Value Impact Low to Moderate

Dynamic Patterns

Significant visual transformations between Pattern IDs

Examples Case Hardened, Fade, Marble Fade
Value Impact Extreme
πŸ’‘ Pattern ID Tip: Our CS2 Float Checker extension automatically displays Pattern IDs alongside float values, making it easy to identify valuable patterns while browsing the Steam Market.

Case Hardened Patterns & Blue Gems

Case Hardened skins are the most sought-after patterns in CS2, with "Blue Gem" patterns commanding premium prices due to their rare blue coloration.

Blue Gem Tier System

Tier 1 Blue Gems

Maximum blue coverage, most valuable patterns

Blue Coverage 90%+ Blue
Investment Score 9-10 Points
Market Premium 500-2000%

Tier 2 Blue Gems

High blue coverage with excellent trading potential

Blue Coverage 70-90% Blue
Investment Score 7-8 Points
Market Premium 200-500%

Gold Gems

Minimal blue, maximum gold/bronze coloration

Gold Coverage 80%+ Gold
Investment Score 6-7 Points
Market Premium 50-200%

Case Hardened Weapons

πŸ”« Weapons with Case Hardened Patterns

AK-47 Case Hardened

Most iconic Blue Gem weapon

Famous Patterns #661, #670, #387
Max Value $50,000+

Five-SeveN Case Hardened

Rare blue slide patterns highly valued

Blue Focus Entire slide blue
Premium $1,000+

Karambit Case Hardened

Blue gem knives with extreme value

Blade Coverage Playside + Backside
Record Sales $100,000+
πŸ’Ž Blue Gem Detection: While our extension doesn't currently include Blue Gem detection (due to complexity), it provides Pattern IDs that you can cross-reference with community Blue Gem databases for identification.

Doppler Phases

Doppler knives are among the most valuable patterns in CS2. Our extension automatically detects all Doppler phases and provides accurate investment scoring.

Special Doppler Phases

Ruby

Extremely rare red phase with deep crimson colors

Rarity Ultra Rare
Investment Bonus +4 Points
Market Premium 300-500%

Sapphire

Legendary blue phase with brilliant sapphire appearance

Rarity Ultra Rare
Investment Bonus +4 Points
Market Premium 400-600%

Emerald

Exclusive gamma case phase with vibrant green colors

Rarity Ultra Rare
Investment Bonus +4 Points
Market Premium 250-400%

Black Pearl

Mysterious dark phase with subtle color shifts

Rarity Ultra Rare
Investment Bonus +4 Points
Market Premium 200-350%

Standard Doppler Phases

Phase 1

Balanced mix of colors with purple and pink tones

Investment Bonus +0.5 Points
Market Position Standard

Phase 2

Pink galaxy phase - highly sought after by collectors

Investment Bonus +2 Points
Market Position Premium

Phase 3

Green and blue mix with moderate appeal

Investment Bonus +0.5 Points
Market Position Standard

Phase 4

Blue-dominant phase with good trading potential

Investment Bonus +1 Point
Market Position Above Average
πŸ’Ž Pro Tip: Our extension automatically detects Doppler phases and adds appropriate investment score bonuses. Ruby, Sapphire, Black Pearl, and Emerald get the maximum +4 bonus, while Phase 2 gets +2 for its pink galaxy appeal.

Fade Patterns

Fade patterns transition from yellow to red to purple. Higher fade percentages are more valuable and automatically detected by our extension.

Fade Percentage Scale

0% Fade 50% Fade 100% Fade

Fade Weapons Supported

πŸ”« Weapons with Fade Detection

Glock-18 Fade

100% Fade Most Valuable
95% Fade High Premium
<90% Fade Standard

Huntsman Fade

Full Fade Top Tier
Near Full Premium
Partial Lower Value

Investment Scoring for Fades

95%+ Fade
+3 Investment Points
90%+ Fade
+2 Investment Points
80%+ Fade
+1 Investment Point
<80% Fade
No Bonus

How CS2 Float Checker Detects Patterns

Doppler Phase Detection System

πŸ” Technical Implementation

Our extension uses paint index mapping to identify Doppler phases:

Paint Index β†’ Phase Mapping: 415: Ruby 416: Sapphire 417: Black Pearl 418-421: Phases 1-4 568: Emerald (Gamma) And more...

This ensures 100% accurate phase detection across all Doppler knives.

Fade Percentage Calculation

πŸ“Š Algorithm Overview
  • Analyzes weapon type and skin name to identify fade items
  • Uses paint seed ranges to calculate fade percentage
  • Applies weapon-specific fade calculations
  • Provides accurate fade percentages for supported weapons
⚑ Instant Detection: All pattern analysis happens instantly as you browse Steam Market listings. No need to manually check patterns - our extension does it automatically.

Pattern-Based Trading Strategies

πŸ’Ž The Doppler Arbitrage Strategy

Look for mis-priced special phases:

  • Ruby/Sapphire listed at regular Doppler prices
  • Phase 2 "pink galaxy" patterns undervalued
  • Emerald knives from Gamma cases often overlooked

Our extension's investment scoring automatically flags these opportunities with 8+ scores.

🌈 The Fade Percentage Play

Target high-fade items at low-fade prices:

  • 95%+ fades often listed without premium pricing
  • Full fade Glock-18s significantly undervalued
  • Huntsman full fades rare and valuable

Items with 95%+ fade get +3 investment bonus points automatically.

🎯 Pattern Recognition Workflow
  1. Install CS2 Float Checker extension
  2. Browse Steam Market with automatic pattern detection
  3. Look for items scoring 8+ (special patterns detected)
  4. Verify pattern premium in current market
  5. Execute trades on undervalued pattern items

Pattern Investment Priorities

Tier 1: Maximum Investment Potential

Ruby Dopplers

Always profitable, consistent demand

Sapphire Dopplers

Highest market premium of all phases

Max Fade Items

95%+ fade percentage weapons

Tier 2: Strong Investment Potential

Emerald Dopplers

Growing popularity, undervalued

Phase 2 Dopplers

Pink galaxy collectors' favorite

90%+ Fades

High fade percentage, good returns

πŸ“ˆ Investment Insight: Items that score 9-10 with our algorithm typically have special patterns (Ruby, Sapphire, max fade) combined with excellent float values. These represent the safest pattern investments.

Other Notable Pattern Systems

Beyond Doppler and Case Hardened, many other skins feature distinctive pattern variations that affect their market value.

Marble Fade Patterns

Fire & Ice

Red and blue without yellow, extremely rare

Pattern Requirement No yellow section
Market Premium 300-800%

Tricolor

Even distribution of all three colors

Colors Red, Blue, Yellow
Market Premium 50-150%

Crimson Web Patterns

πŸ•ΈοΈ Web Pattern Features
  • Centered Webs: Web patterns positioned in the center of the weapon
  • Multiple Webs: Multiple web patterns visible on playside
  • Clean Webs: Web patterns without scratches or wear marks
  • Mirrored Webs: Symmetrical web placement on both sides

Special Pattern Recognition

AWP PAW

Centered golden cat/grenade patterns

Feature Centered imagery

Glock Moonrise

Rare star placement patterns

Feature Horizontal star movement

AK Redline

Clean minimal pattern variations

Feature Consistent appearance

Pattern Identification Tools & Resources

Mastering pattern identification requires the right tools and knowledge resources. Here's your complete toolkit for pattern analysis.

Essential Pattern Tools

πŸ› οΈ Pattern Analysis Toolkit

CS2 Float Checker Extension

Our primary tool for instant pattern ID detection

Features Pattern ID, Float, Investment Score

Community Databases

Pattern wikis and classification systems

Examples CSGOStash, Pattern.wiki

Steam Inspect Links

Direct pattern verification method

Access Copy inspect link from Steam

Pattern Research Workflow

πŸ“Š Professional Pattern Analysis
  1. Initial Scan: Use CS2 Float Checker to identify Pattern ID and float value
  2. Pattern Lookup: Cross-reference Pattern ID with community databases
  3. Value Assessment: Check recent sales of similar patterns
  4. Rarity Confirmation: Verify pattern tier and market position
  5. Investment Calculation: Compare current price to pattern premium
  6. Market Timing: Assess market conditions for pattern type
⚑ Pro Research Tip: Always verify pattern information across multiple sources. Market values can fluctuate rapidly, and pattern tiers may change as new discoveries are made in the community.

Advanced Pattern Trading Strategies

Master-level pattern trading requires understanding market cycles, pattern psychology, and advanced valuation techniques.

Market Timing Strategies

Pattern Cycle Trading

Buy patterns during low periods, sell during hype cycles

Meta Shift Anticipation

Predict which patterns will gain popularity

Cross-Platform Arbitrage

Exploit price differences across trading platforms

Risk Management for Pattern Investments

βš–οΈ Pattern Investment Risk Factors
High Risk
Unverified patterns, new discoveries
Medium Risk
Tier 2-3 patterns, emerging categories
Low Risk
Established T1 patterns, proven history
🎯 Advanced Strategy: Focus on patterns that score 8+ with our extension but are priced like regular items. These represent the highest potential return opportunities with algorithmic validation.