Knives are the most desired items in CS2. With over 20 models and dozens of skins, choosing can be difficult. This guide ranks the most popular knives based on usage from 850+ professional players.
Popularity Ranking (Pro Players 2026)
🥇 1. Butterfly Knife
The most popular knife in CS2- Pro usage: ~25%
- Minimum price: ~$700 (Safari Mesh BS)
- Maximum price: $25,000+ (Doppler Sapphire FN)
- Animation: The famous "balisong flip" - mesmerizing
- Why #1: Unique animation, satisfying sound, status
- Doppler (all phases)
- Fade
- Marble Fade
- Tiger Tooth
- Gamma Doppler
🥈 2. Karambit
The prestige knife- Pro usage: ~20%
- Minimum price: ~$350 (Rust Coat BS)
- Maximum price: $50,000+ (Case Hardened #387 Blue Gem)
- Animation: Finger spin with curved blade
- Why popular: Aggressive design, clean animation
- Doppler Phase 2
- Fade
- Marble Fade "Fire & Ice"
- Tiger Tooth
- Case Hardened (Blue Gems)
🥉 3. M9 Bayonet
The elegant classic- Pro usage: ~15%
- Minimum price: ~$550 (Forest DDPAT FT)
- Maximum price: $16,000+ (Gamma Doppler Emerald FN)
- Animation: Elaborate inspect with spin
- Why popular: Long blade, imposing visual
- Doppler Sapphire
- Fade
- Tiger Tooth
- Lore
- Gamma Doppler
4. Talon Knife
- Pro usage: ~10%
- Minimum price: ~$280
- Highlight: Animation similar to Karambit but smoother
- Value: Cheaper than Karambit with similar vibe
5. Bayonet
- Pro usage: ~8%
- Minimum price: ~$250
- Highlight: Classic military design
- Animation: Elegant back spin
6. Flip Knife
- Pro usage: ~6%
- Minimum price: ~$200
- Highlight: More accessible, fluid animation
- Great for: First knife with good skin
7. Skeleton Knife
- Pro usage: ~4%
- Minimum price: ~$400
- Highlight: Unique "skeleton" design
- Animation: Different finger spin
Price Table by Knife (Popular Skins)
| Knife | Vanilla | Doppler P2 | Fade | Tiger Tooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly | $1,300 | $2,200 | $2,800 | $1,500 |
| Karambit | $550 | $1,100 | $1,400 | $700 |
| M9 Bayonet | $750 | $900 | $950 | $600 |
| Talon | $500 | $650 | $700 | $500 |
| Bayonet | $400 | $500 | $550 | $400 |
| Flip | $300 | $450 | $500 | $350 |
Budget Knives (Under $200)
If you want a knife without spending much:
Gut Knife (~$100-150)
- Pros: Cheapest, all skins available
- Cons: Simple animation, less prestige
- Best budget skin: Doppler Phase 4 (~$150)
Navaja Knife (~$100-120)
- Pros: Very cheap, unique design
- Cons: Small, less impactful
- Best budget skin: Doppler (~$130)
Shadow Daggers (~$90-130)
- Pros: Two knives (!), cheap
- Cons: Some people find them ugly
- Best budget skin: Doppler (~$140)
Falchion Knife (~$150-180)
- Pros: Interesting animation
- Cons: Controversial design
- Best budget skin: Doppler Phase 4 (~$180)
Most Valued Skins by Type
Doppler (and variants)
- Sapphire: Most expensive (~2-10x base price)
- Ruby: Second most expensive (~1.5-8x)
- Black Pearl: Third (~1.5-6x)
- Phase 2: Most expensive standard
- Phase 4: Second standard
Case Hardened
- Blue Gem patterns: 10-100x normal price
- Examples: Karambit #387, M9 #601
Fade
- 100% Fade: 20-50% premium
- 90%+ Fade: Standard value
- Low Fade: Discount
Marble Fade
- Fire & Ice: 50-200% premium
- Tricolor: Standard value
- Piss & Ice: Discount (too much yellow)
Animations - Which Knife to Choose?
For animation lovers:
- Butterfly Knife - Most satisfying
- Karambit - Iconic spin
- Skeleton Knife - Different
For simplicity:
- M9 Bayonet - Elegant but not over the top
- Bayonet - Classic
- Talon Knife - Smooth
For something unique:
- Shadow Daggers - Two knives
- Kukri Knife - Different design
- Nomad Knife - Military style
Buying Tips
✅ Do:
- Set your budget before starting
- Watch animation videos in-game
- Consider combos with gloves
- Check float and pattern for special skins
❌ Don't:
- Buy impulsively
- Ignore pattern on Case Hardened/Fade
- Forget you'll see the knife A LOT
- Spend more than you can afford
Popular Knife + Glove Combos
| Knife | Glove | Total FT Price |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfly Sapphire | Pandora's Box | $25,000+ |
| Karambit Fade | Vice | $2,500 |
| M9 Tiger Tooth | Omega | $1,000 |
| Talon Doppler P2 | Crimson Kimono | $2,500 |
| Flip Marble Fade | Vice | $1,600 |
Knives as Investment
Best to invest in:
- ✅ Butterfly Knife (any skin) - always appreciates
- ✅ Karambit Fade/Doppler - constant demand
- ✅ Case Hardened Blue Gems - fixed supply
Caution:
- ⚠️ Cheap knives (Gut, Navaja) - depreciate
- ⚠️ Unpopular skins (Safari Mesh, Forest DDPAT)
- ⚠️ High float without being collectible
Rarest Knives
- Karambit Case Hardened #387 - ~$50,000+
- M9 Crimson Web FN - ~$40,000+ (extremely rare)
- Butterfly Doppler Sapphire - ~$25,000
- Sport Gloves + Knife Combos - Legendary combinations
Updated February 2026