Knives in CS2 cost a lot. However, there are still some budget knife options that will make you look cool without breaking your bank.
Counter-Strike 2 is the latest entry in the fan-favorite FPS series. Utilizing the power of the Source 2 engine, the new game comes with modernized graphics, upgraded rendering and lighting effects, a better sound experience, and many more. However, the core fundamentals of CS:GO still remain. Even all of the skins, including the knives of CS:GO are carried over to the new CS2.
The knives in Counter-Strike 2 are some of the most expensive skins in the game and are owned by a very small percentage of players. These skins have cool animations and are unique as they completely change the knife instead of just recoloring it like weapon skins. With each knife skin, you get a completely different knife with new animations.
But the biggest obstacle to owning a shiny new knife is the price. For a decent knife costing a few hundred to thousands of dollars, it becomes really expensive really fast as you go up the chain of the best knives in CS2.
In recent times, due to the massive surge of players, increased demands, and crypto miners bailing the scene and liquidating their assets in the CS2 marketplace, the prices of most skins, especially knives, shot up sky-high.
But do not fret, as we have gathered a list of the best cheap knives that look decent and don’t end up costing an arm and a leg. We will be going over a knife tier list to give you an idea of the best knife types and suggest the best knives to buy in multiple budget ranges.
Valve has released 19 different types of knife skins in the Counter-Strike series so far. Each knife also comes in different finishes and wears, so every knife’s price can significantly vary. The lowest-grade finishes (Scorched, Safari Mesh) in the worst wear can be very cheap, while high-grade finishes (Doppler, Fade) in the best wear can end up costing up to 5 times that of the cheap variants.
Among all the knife skins released in CS2 so far, we have taken some budget ranges: under $150, $150–$200, $250-350, $350-$500, $500–$1000, and up to $1500. Now you might wonder how $1500 is even considered cheap. But you’ll get to know those are still considered affordable compared to the best knives in CS2 that can easily be worth much more.
Best CS2 Knife under $150
This will be your entry point into the world of CS2 knives. There are very minimal knives in this price range, but if you’re willing to compromise looks and your main objective is to have anything except the default knife at a bare minimum price, then this price range that you’ll be looking at. Expect the worst-tier knives with medium to low-tier finishes.
Navaja Knife Ultraviolet FT
Steam Market Price: $99
Another option is to go for a Navaja Knife Ultraviolet FT, which looks pretty sleek.
Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT
Steam Market Price: $109
The Shadow Daggers are dual-wielded daggers and are the only two-handed melee in the game. This knife is often made fun of by the community, but regardless, the Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT can be a pretty cool knife, especially considering its low price.
Bowie Knife Boreal Forest FT
Steam Market Price: $137
The Bowie Knife is the biggest knife available in the game, and it definitely has a menacing vibe. You can pick up the Bowie Knife Boreal Forest in FT for $137, and the forest theme really suits this rugged knife.
Best CS2 Knife under $250
At this range, you’ll have a few more options that are pretty decent but expect the same lower-tier finishes. This would be a better budget to have if you want to buy a knife since you’ll actually get more knife types to choose from.
Navaja Knife
Steam Market Price: $156
A good option is to go for a Navaja Knife Vanilla, which looks pretty sleek.
Shadow Daggers Lore FT
Steam Market Price: $172
If you like the Shadow Daggers and want a beautiful finish, you can definitely pick up the Shadow Daggers Lore FT.
Gut Knife Vanilla
Steam Market Price: $195
After you increase your budget a bit more, you gain access to the Gut knife. This knife was added to the game back in 2015 and has a decent equip animation. The Gut Vanilla is a pretty decent purchase at just over $195.
Falchion Knife Vanilla
Steam Market Price: $245
The Falchion knife was added to the game in 2015 and is available from the Falchion case. You can pick up the Falchion Vanilla, which is overall a decent-looking knife with a secret inspect animation coming in at just under $250.
Best CS2 Knife under $350
Now you’re a bit more serious about choosing a knife to buy. Around $350, you’ll gain access to the mid-tier knives of the game as well as high-end finishes to the previous knives on the list. You get a bit more freedom to choose here, as you can pick between a better knife or a prettier finish.
Flip Knife Ultraviolet FT
Steam Market Price: $255
The Flip knife was added to the game back in 2015 and is available in multiple finishes. Among them, the Flip Knife Ultraviolet is a sleek-looking knife coming in at $255. You can get it in the FT condition for good value for money, as it still looks pretty decent.
Bowie Knife Case Hardened WW
Steam Market Price: $300
Usually, Case Hardened skins are like a hit or miss, well, mostly a miss. The main value of a case-hardened skin comes from how much blue it has, so if you’re a fan of the case-hardened knives and spot a Bowie in WW condition with decent blue at around $300, you can definitely go for it.
Huntsman Knife Vanilla
Steam Market Price: $348
The Huntsman knife is one of the meaner-looking knives in the game, with a bulky but cooler appearance. It also has the spinning equip animation like the gut knife, but it suits the Huntsman knife much better. At $348, you really can’t go wrong with the Huntsman Knife Vanilla.
Best CS2 Knife under $500
At this price point, you pretty much gain access to the medium-high-tier knives in the game. Although you have to settle for lower-grade finishes, the animation and gameplay experience of these knives will truly allow you to fully enjoy the experience of owning a cool knife. You can also choose to go for medium/lower tier knives but with the top tier finishes.
Talon Knife Night Stripe FT
Steam Market Price: $369
The Talon knife looks more like Karambit’s younger brother, with a worse equip animation but cooler inspect animation. If you always wanted to own a Karambit, but you aren’t legally able to sell off one of your kidneys, you can definitely settle for a Talon knife. The Night Stripe FT is going to allow you to get a knife with a very fun inspect animation at just under $370 if you don’t mind a few scratches.
Bayonet Blue Steel WW
Steam Market Price: $399
The Bayonet probably has one of the coolest standard equip animations in the game. The entire knife flips around the outside of the hand, seemingly defying all laws of physics that are known to man. We are very fortunate to be able to find this knife in a decent-looking Blue Steel WW finish for just under $400.
Huntsman Knife Tiger Tooth FN
Steam Market Price: $398
If you’re more into high-tier finishes, you can definitely check out the Huntsman Knife Tiger Tooth FN. The Tiger Tooth is one of the most vibrant knife finishes in the game, and it perfectly suits the Hunstman knife.
Skeleton Knife Stained WW
Steam Market Price: $442
The Skeleton knife is one of the newer knives in the game and features a unique appearance with it being almost all-blade and a center ring, which is often used to maneuver the knife. The knife also comes with extremely cool secret equip and inspect animations where the knife is spun around the center ring. The Skeleton knives are one of the most expensive knives in the game, but you can snag a Stained WW for under $500.
Best CS2 Knife Under $1000
Now you’re getting really serious. You saved up all your birthday money and Christmas money and are committed to spending it all on the game you love the most. At $1000, you gain access to the high-tier knives of the game.
Karambit Boreal Forest FT
Steam Market Price: $660
The Karambit is by far one of the best knives in CS2 history. The knife features a claw-like blade with a ring at the end held with a reverse grip, making it stand out from most other knives. The primary and secondary attacks of these knives are swipes of the curved blade, which looks really cool. Now, at this price range, just be thankful you’re getting a Karambit at all, and the Boreal Forest in FT looks pretty decent.
Bayonet Tiger Tooth FN
Steam Market Price: $773
The Tiger Tooth is one of the most colorful and vibrant finishes, and coupled with the insane equip animations of the Bayonet, the Bayonet Tiger Tooth is a beautiful high-tier knife.
M9 Bayonet Damascus Steel FT
Steam Market Price: $855
The M9 Bayonet is the bigger brother of the Bayonet, and it is also one of the classic high-tier knives in CS2. It features a military-grade build with a sharp edge on one side and a serrated edge on the other. The M9 Bayonet Damascus Steel FT is a very good-looking knife for just over $850.
Talon Knife Slaughter MW
Steam Market Price $870
At this price range, you can afford a much better-looking Talon knife. We recommend going for the Talon Knife Slaughter as it is a vibrant and colorful high-tier finish for this knife. The Talon Knife Slaughter MW will be setting you back a hefty $870.
Karambit Freehand FN
Steam Market Price: $992
The prices of Karambit knives are so high that even close to $2000, you cannot hope to get one of the more vibrant finishes. But for just over $900, the Karambit Freehand is definitely a decent-looking Karambit with a mid-tier finish.
Best CS2 Knife Under $1500
So you’re finally here, the point of no return. You have stolen your mom’s credit card, and irresponsible spending is the number one priority in your feeble mind. You think of spending $1500 to get some of the craziest and coolest looking knives CS2 begins to offer. Jokes aside, at this range, the Knives get really good. Karambits, Bayonets, Doppler knives, and even the elusive Butterfly Knife seem to come within reach at this budget.
Butterfly Knife Stained MW
Steam Market Price: $1145
Finally, we are able to snag the elusive Butterfly knife, which is notorious for its ridiculously high prices. Even stretching to $500, we are only able to purchase one of the lower-tier finishes for this skin. But the knife itself is so good with its beautiful animation, it earns its rightful place on our list.
M9 Bayonet Doppler FN
Steam Market Price: $1491
Another high-tier finish is the Doppler skin. Available in 4 phases and 3 gems, the M9 Doppler FN is one of the most beautiful M9s out there. You can grab a Phase 2 M9 Doppler for around $1491.
Read More: The Most Expensive AWP Skins in CS2
So, this wraps up the best cheap CS2 knife skins in the game. There might be other decent options in the budget ranges, but these are the best-looking and best-value knives you can get. Now you can get to flexing with your shiny new knife without going broke.