Butterfly Knife in CS2: Skins, Cases & Prices
The Butterfly Knife is one of the two most wanted knives in CS2, alongside the Karambit. Its balisong flipping animation is the whole appeal. Here is which Butterfly skins are worth looking at, where it drops, and how to get one for the least money.
Best Butterfly Knife skins
| Finish | Why people want it |
|---|---|
| Doppler (Sapphire, Ruby, Black Pearl) | The jackpot phases; among the priciest knives in the game |
| Doppler (Phase 1–4) | Colorful and more affordable; Phase 2 is often the favorite |
| Fade | Pink/purple/yellow gradient; higher fade % costs more |
| Case Hardened | Price depends heavily on the pattern; blue gems are collector items |
| Crimson Web | Classic look; low-float FN is rare and expensive |
| Marble Fade | Red, blue and yellow pattern; "fire and ice" patterns cost extra |
| Tiger Tooth | Bright gold stripes, strong mid-tier pick |
| Slaughter | Red and white pattern; some patterns (e.g. "diamond") cost more |
| Vanilla (no finish) | Plain steel with a clean look; surprisingly popular |
| Safari Mesh, Boreal Forest, Scorched, Forest DDPAT | The cheapest way to own a Butterfly |
Which cases drop the Butterfly Knife?
The Butterfly Knife was added with the Operation Breakout Weapon Case (2014), which carries the original finishes. Its Chroma finishes (Doppler, Marble Fade, Tiger Tooth, Damascus Steel, Rust Coat, Ultraviolet) came later in the Spectrum cases. The chance of any knife from a case is about 0.26%, and each case's pool holds several knives and finishes, so the odds of a Butterfly specifically are far lower.
Cheapest way to get a Butterfly Knife
- Buy one in a budget finish and heavy wear. That's by far the cheapest route to a Butterfly.
- Knife trade up: five Covert skins from a case whose rare pool includes the Butterfly give you a chance at one, but you'll often get a different knife from the same pool. See the knife trade up guide, and check the odds in the knife trade up calculator.
- Unboxing for a Butterfly is a very expensive lottery.
Compare it with the other top knife: the Karambit. Or see where it sits among the most expensive knives.
Frequently asked questions
What case has the Butterfly Knife?
The Butterfly Knife first appeared in the Operation Breakout Weapon Case in 2014. It's also in the rare pool of later cases, including the Spectrum cases, which carry its Chroma finishes such as Doppler, Marble Fade and Tiger Tooth.
Why is the Butterfly Knife so expensive?
Demand. Its draw, inspect and flipping animations are the most popular in the game, and like every knife it only drops about 0.26% of the time from the right cases.
What is the cheapest Butterfly Knife?
Usually a worn Safari Mesh, Boreal Forest, Scorched, Forest DDPAT or Urban Masked. It's still pricier than most other knives in the same finish.