What are CSGO skins and how do you use them?

Counter-Strike is one of the most popular first-person shooter games, but the gameplay itself isn’t the primary reason for its traction. The developers of the game, Valve, decided to implement weapon skins into the game, allowing players to customize their loadouts. 

Though the concept of in-game skins is nothing new, Counter-Strike skins are unique, as they can be traded, bought, and sold to other players for real money. As a result, a market circulating with Counter-Strike skins is present, and millions of dollars worth of these items are being exchanged every week.

If you are reading this guide, there is a solid chance the concept of CSGO skins is new to you. Here is everything you need to know about skins to help get you started

In 2013, as a part of the Arms Deal CSGO update, Valve introduced custom weapon skins into the game, now simply known as “skins” in Counter-Strike. Skins are cosmetic items that alter the appearance of weapons in game, and feature different colors, concepts, and design to appeal to a wider audience.

Like almost every other game that sells weapon skins, skins in Counter-Strike cost real money to obtain, but they are also tradable, meaning they can be bought and sold. Though you’ll have to spend cash to buy them, skins do affect gameplay mechanics, so there is no pay-to-win incentive for players to buy them. 

Skins in Counter-Strike fall under different categories, including rarities and other special categories such as StatTrak or Souvenir skins. These categories play a role in how the items are priced in the market.

Obtaining CSGO skins can be done through multiple ways. Here is a list of all possible ways to get CSGO skins for yourself.

One of the most popular, yet not recommended, ways of getting Counter-Strike skins is through opening weapon cases. Weapon cases are essentially loot boxes that contain Counter-Strike skins. A player can purchase a weapon case key to unbox the container, and will receive a random skin from it. The odds of obtaining skins vary depending on the rarity of the items.

The safer way of obtaining Counter-Strike skins instead of “gambling” through opening cases is to directly purchase them from the Steam Market. The Steam Market is the Steam platform’s official marketplace where players can buy and sell CSGO skins using Steam Wallet funds.

Another common way of obtaining skins is through trading with other players, in other words, bartering. Players send others trade offers, where they will give up skins in exchange for their partner’s skins. Trading isn’t limited to bartering skins for other skins, as players can also use cash as a means of exchange.

If you want to receive skins without any financial investment, the final way of obtaining them is through in-game drops. Players who actively play Counter-Strike will be eligible to receive free in-game items through the Weekly Drop System. The Weekly Drop System rewards players with free CSGO items including skins and weapon cases.

CSGO skins can be used through various means, as it is not limited to equipment for display. Here are the different ways a player can use CSGO skins.

The first thing that pops up into your head when we say “use CSGO skins” is to equip the skin and use it in-game. Equipping skins in CSGO is very simple. 

Follow the steps below:

1. Obtain the skin through the four methods discussed above.
2. Next, launch Counter-Strike and go to the Inventory tab.
3. In the Inventory tab, left-click your desired skin.
4. Once multiple options appear, select the option to equip the skin.

Apart from equipping the skin itself, players can also customize their CSGO skins by pasting stickers or name tags. 

Stickers allow players to express themselves and sprinkle additional designs that enhance the skin’s appearance.

As briefly covered above, CSGO skins also hold real-world value, which means it can be traded, bought, or sold for real money. Many Counter-Strike traders make a living through transacting CSGO skins, as the skins market is worth a billion dollars.

If you are still learning about skins and how the economy works, here are some things you want to keep in mind.

There are several factors that influence the market value of skins. Here are some of the primary ones to keep track of:

1. Rarity: The rarer a skin is, the higher its potential value. Skin rarities range from Consumer Grade all the way to Exceedingly Rare, which is the category that knives and gloves belong to. 
2. Condition: Skins are also graded by wear levels, also known as condition, ranging from Battle-Scarred to Factory New. Skins with lower wear have less scratches, leading to higher prices. 
3. Collection: All weapon skins belong to a collection, sort of like a skin family. Some collections are extremely rare and difficult to obtain, which will also drive up prices due to scarcity. 
4. Popularity: Skins that have appealing designs and are popular among the community will generally have higher prices due to the increased demand.

The CSGO trading community is essentially the backbone of the skin economy. Thousands of players actively trade their items daily in hopes of upgrading their collections, investing in skins, and trying to turn a profit from various deals. 

Players can directly trade skins for other skins, or can use real cash to purchase skins from other players. It is important to remember that the prices for skins change, so keeping up with market trends is highly recommended.

There are third-party marketplaces beyond the Steam Market, where players can buy, sell, and trade their Counter-Strike skins. These third-party platforms offer competitive fees and advanced tools to help players make informed decisions. 

Though most third-party websites are reputable and trusted by the community, new players must be careful of potential scams and frauds. You can visit our website to see a list of recommended marketplace websites that are safe to use.