Tools

Pattern Finder

CS2 rolls a random paint seed (0–999) for every item, deciding where a finish lands on the model. A handful of seeds produce the legendary blue gems, full fades, Fire & Ice marbles and gem-phase Dopplers that trade far above the base skin. This is a curated map of what to hunt — each pattern links to its live, lowest-price listing.

Live per-item seed lookup is coming. Reading the exact paint seed of a specific listing requires a float/inspect source (an inspect-link API). That source is gated behind the same decision as the Float Checker — until it's wired, this guide gives you the seed tiers to look for and the live price of each pattern skin.

Case Hardened — Blue Gems

The Case Hardened finish randomly distributes blue, gold and purple across the model. Seeds with a near-fully-blue playside (and clean blue backside) are the legendary “blue gems” — the same skin can range from a few dollars to five figures purely on pattern.

AK-47 | Case Hardened

from $175.99

The most chased blue gem hunt in the game. Top-tier playside blue + blue magazine commands enormous premiums.

Tier 1 blue gemseeds 661, 670, 955, 179

~90%+ blue playside, blue top — the grail tier

Tier 2seeds 151, 321, 592

Heavily blue playside, mixed backside

Scrapbookseeds most seeds

Mostly gold/purple — base value

Five-SeveN | Case Hardened

from $10.55

Affordable entry into blue-gem collecting; certain seeds run a full blue slide.

Blue gemseeds 278, 690, 868

Full blue slide + body

High blueseeds 182, 364

Strong blue coverage

★ Karambit | Case Hardened

from $607.99

Knife blue gems are the apex — a blue-playside Karambit is a six-figure trophy.

Blue gemseeds 387, 442, 853

Near-full blue blade playside

High blueseeds 233, 555

Blue-dominant blade

Fade — Coverage %

Fade finishes blend a fixed colour ramp across the model; the paint seed shifts how much of the vivid end is visible. Higher “fade percentage” (toward 100%) is rarer and more valuable, with full-fade and “full pink/purple” seeds at the top.

★ Karambit | Fade

from $1,770

A 100% fade Karambit with full colour on both sides is a benchmark collector knife.

100% Fadeseeds varies — verified via fade calculator

Full pink/yellow coverage, both sides

The pistol fade benchmark; full-fade examples and “full purple” seeds carry a premium.

100% Fade

Maximum colour spread

Full purple

Purple-dominant variant

AWP | Fade

from $1,040

Fade percentage governs how far the colour runs up the rifle body.

High fade %

More colour coverage = higher value

★ Nomad Knife | Fade

from $288.47

Modern knife fade with strong demand for high-percentage examples.

100% Fade

Full coverage

★ Butterfly Knife | Fade

from $1,380

One of the most desirable fade knives; full fades trade at a heavy premium.

100% Fade

Full coverage both sides

Marble Fade — Fire & Ice

Marble Fade splatters red, yellow and blue across the blade. The coveted “Fire & Ice” arrangement places red and blue together with minimal yellow at the tip; “max Fire & Ice” on the playside is the top tier, with tiered grades below it.

★ Karambit | Marble Fade

from $1,020

Fire & Ice Karambits are among the most recognisable pattern trophies in CS2.

Max Fire & Iceseeds 412, 16, 146

Red + blue tip, no yellow, playside

Fire & Ice

Red/blue tip with minor yellow

Tricolorseeds most seeds

Standard splatter — base value

★ Bayonet | Marble Fade

from $342.48

Long blade shows the pattern clearly; Fire & Ice tips are prized.

Fire & Ice

Red + blue tip

Tricolorseeds most seeds

Standard

★ M9 Bayonet | Marble Fade

from $742.62

The most popular knife model for Fire & Ice hunting.

Max Fire & Ice

Top-graded tip placement

Fire & Ice

Clean red/blue tip

★ Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade

from $1,336

Fire & Ice butterflies combine two of the most demanded traits in one knife.

Fire & Ice

Red/blue tip

★ Flip Knife | Marble Fade

from $260.66

Accessible Fire & Ice entry point relative to the premium models.

Fire & Ice

Red/blue tip

Doppler — Phases

Doppler and Gamma Doppler finishes ship in distinct phases decided at drop: Phase 1–4, plus the rare Ruby (red), Sapphire (blue) and Black Pearl. Phase 2 and Phase 4 are often favoured, while Ruby/Sapphire/Black Pearl command large premiums over standard phases.