With the Arms Deal update on August 14, 2013, skins were introduced to Counter-Strike more than ten years ago. Initially rather inconspicuous, some of these skins have since evolved into some of the most sought-after and legendary weapon skins in the game’s history. Even gamers who don’t play Counter-Strike themselves have probably heard of the AWP | Dragon Lore.
AWP | Dragon Lore
The AWP | Dragon Lore was introduced on July 1, 2014, as part of the Cobblestone Collection and currently (as of March 4, 2026) costs at least €7,900 in Field-Tested condition. The Dragon Lore is closely associated with the iconic Cobblestone map, which is no longer in the active map pool and is still eagerly awaited by many players.
M4A4 | Howl
Another legendary skin is the M4A4 | Howl, which was released on May 1, 2014, as part of the Huntsman Collection. On June 11, 2014 – just over a month after its release – the M4A4 | Howl was removed from the collection due to copyright infringement issues involving the artwork. The design was subsequently modified, and the skin can now only be traded, no longer obtained through cases. Today, its price starts at around €3,500.
Desert Eagle | Blaze
One of the earliest skins introduced into the game that has achieved legendary status is the Desert Eagle | Blaze. It appeared in the original Dust Collection and features a simple yet striking design. Today, it can be purchased from around €790, making it the most expensive Desert Eagle skin.
AK-47 | Hydroponic
Although the AK-47 | Hydroponic was introduced later, on May 26, 2015, as part of Operation Bloodhound, it quickly became a legendary skin as well. On marketplaces, it is rare to find a listing where the skin is not combined with Drug War Veteran stickers, which played a major role in boosting its popularity. The AK-47 | Hydroponic is currently available starting at €1,100.
