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The Best AK Skins in CS2 (According To The Pros)

Introduction

The AK-47 is an iconic weapon. Not just in real life, but in videogames as well. There’s no game where this is truer than in Counter-Strike. The AK is (along with maybe the Desert Eagle) without a doubt the defining CS weapon. As a consequence, the AK-47 has some of the coolest and most desirable weapon skins in the entire game. In this article, we’ll look at the best AK skins in CS2 according to the pros.

We tallied all skin conditions for this list. As such, we don’t list specific skin conditions, since that would make the list too repetitive.

Our Data

There are thousands of AK tier lists on the internet. This list is different since it’s based on what the pros are using. We use our data on hundreds of professional players in order to come up with this list. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that the AKs in this list are the objective ‘best’ skins. What makes a skin good largely comes down to personal preferences, so don’t take this guide as gospel.

You also shouldn’t take this guide as investment advice. Usage in the pro scene leads to exposure, which can potentially lead to an increased skin price, but the CS2 skin market is highly volatile. Always do your own research before purchasing ingame skins, especially if they’re meant as an investment. For more info on how to purchase CS2 skins, feel free to read our guide.

AK-47 Bloodsport

Pro players usually go for extremely expensive skins as their playskins, but the most popular AK is an exception to that rule. Sure, at $125 for a Field Tested rifle it’s absolutely not a budget skin, but it’s far removed from the eye-watering prices that most popular pro skins go for.

The AK Bloodsport was released in March of 2017 and almost immediately gained a cult following among regular players. It did take a while for it to truly become popular in the pro scene though, which caused the prices to remain quite stable. For years, you’d pay anywhere between $30 and $50 for a Field-Tested Bloodsport. Now that you see one in practically every pro match, the price has skyrocketed. With the fact that this is a covert skin from a case that’s no longer being dropped, the end might not be in sight either.

The Bloodsport is one of those skins that got a buff in CS2. The busy red-white design that reminds a lot of players of Akira has always looked good, but CS2’s new engine really brings out the deep metallic red of this gun.

There’s a pattern, drawing, or text on pretty much every section of the gun, making it a terrible option for players who want a calm and neutral AK skin, but it’s quite obvious that this type of design is a hit with a ton of players.

AK-47 Fire Serpent

The AK-47 Fire Serpent is probably the most divisive skin in the entire game. Released over ten years ago during Operation Bravo, it’s one of the game’s OG skins high tier skins. While many consider it to look underwhelming, basic, or even downright ugly for a covert skin, it’s also loved by many for its understated, classy looks.

The Fire Serpent is basically a regular AK that has been adorned with a painting of Xuihcoatl, the Aztec fire god. This serpent is drawn in that characteristic Aztec style.

Being such an old skin and one of the first truly rare skins it is, along with the AWP Dragon Lore, one of the game’s primary ‘bling bling’ skins. Play with a Fire Serpent, and you’ll likely get a comment or two from a random teammate every week. The reason it’s so iconic is because of its rarity, which also drives up the price significantly. Expect to pay around $1,000 for a Field-Tested version.

Compared to today, there weren’t very many people playing the game when the Fire Serpent released. Most developers would be pretty satisfied with player counts around 20,000 but if you compare that to today’s 900,000 it obviously pales in comparison. As a consequence, relatively little Fire Serpents were unboxed. Add the fact that it’s extremely expensive to attempt a Fire Serpent unboxing today (the Bravo Case costs $50) and you’ve got one of the rarest covert rifles in the game.

Divisive as it is, no one can deny that the Fire Serpent is one of the most iconic skins in the game.

AK-47 Wild Lotus

Released in 2019 during Operation Shattered Web, the AK Wild Lotus is a relatively new top tier skin. This AK is part of an operation, meaning that it only dropped during a limited time window and isn’t available via cases. This makes it very rare and, as a logical consequence, very expensive. A Field-Tested Wild Lotus will easily set you back $6,000.

Rarity is a big factor in deciding how desirable a skin is, but there’s no denying that the Wild Lotus is a pretty skin. The flowery design might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the details are beautifully done. On top of that, the entire gun -from barrel to stock- is adorned by the pattern, which gives the gun a completely new look.

Being rare and costing a lot is pretty much a free ticket into pro inventories, so it’s no surprise to see this skin in the list.

AK-47 Redline (StatTrak)

If you’re looking to mimic a pro inventory and you’re on a budget, the AK Redline is a great choice. It’s over a decade old at this point in time, but it’s considered by many to be a classic CS2 skin. Due to its subtle and classy design, it also never gets old. Trends come and go, but a black/red AK will always look good.

This is a classified rifle, making it a lot less rare than most other AK skins in this article. As a consequence, it’s pretty affordable. A Field-Tested StatTrak AK Redline costs around $65 at this point in time. If you don’t want StatTrak, you can buy a regular one for around $25.

Due to the neutral design, it’s often used for various sticker crafts. The most notorious example of this is the 4x IBuyPower Katowice 14 Holo craft, but that’s obviously a dream skin due to the price of the IBP stickers. For more budget-oriented players, any craft with red holo stickers looks great on this gun.

What’s odd is that, in 2021, Valve released the AK Slate, which is an all-black AK. In theory, that’s even sleeker looking and better for crafting than the Redline. However, for some reason that AK hasn’t caught on in the pro scene. Perhaps the OG vibes around the Redline give it the edge, or perhaps the Slate looks a bit too bland for most pros.

In any case; the Redline is proof that iconic CS2 skins don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

AK-47 Neon Rider

The Vaporwave hype might have passed its peak on the internet some time ago, but it’s still alive and well in CS2. A Fade knife, Vice gloves, and an AK Neon Rider is a sight you often see in inventory showcases online. One of this AK skin’s most notable users over the past year has been donk, who used it at certain tournaments. That obviously did good things for the skin’s popularity.

If you’re into those retro Miami-styled aesthetics then the AK Neon Rider is a great choice. It has the traditional neon pink and blue colors that are associated with the style, and the leather jacket-wearing motorcycle rider on the gun and magazine finish off the retrofuturistic vibe. The top of the gun also has a lovely texture to it with the debossed X pattern.

Despite becoming noticeably more expensive over the past year or so, the Neon Rider is still an affordable AK skin. A Field-Tested one can be bought for ~$50.

AK-47 Vulcan

AK tier lists vary greatly depending on who’s making them. However, there’s one AK skin that almost always gets put on top, and that’s the AK Vulcan. This makes sense: it’s an OG skin, it’s rare, and it has a super clean design.

With a name that’s based on Star Trek, it’s no surprise that this AK has a futuristic design to it. It pulls off this futuristic vibe without becoming busy though, and that’s one of its main advantages. Even if you’re not into the color scheme or the overall theme of the skin, there’s no denying that it’s all extremely well done, with expertly chosen colors and a design that perfectly matches the AK-47.

Having been released in 2014, it’s an old skin. It’s also a covert skin and thus rare. Consequentially, it’s an expensive skin. You might be surprised to see that Field-Tested versions of the Vulcan go for around $280 (which is quite affordable for such an old and iconic AK skin) but there’s a caveat: the Vulcan is really prone to wear.

If you want a pristine Vulcan, you have to get a Factory New one with a good float value. This will cost you well over $1,000. The upside of this is that, if you don’t mind scratches, you can get your hands on one of the most revered AK skins for relatively cheap. The downside is that getting a good-looking Vulcan is an expensive affair.

AK-47 Gold Arabesque

Sometimes, you just want to be a baller. The AK Gold Arabesque is perfect for those scenarios. It’s a golden AK. It has an engraving on the magazine, and an embossed pattern on the grip and stock. What more is there to say?

Golden skins will always attract, and that’s no different for the Gold Arabesque.

Being an operation skin, it’s not going to be cheap. You will need to open your wallet if you want to rock the Scaramanga look. Luckily, it’s not quite as expensive as some other operation AKs. A Factory New Gold Arabesque currently costs around $2,800. That’s obviously insanely expensive, but it’s not as bad as with the Wild Lotus, for example.

Best AK Skins in CS2 – Conclusion

Getting an AK that’s used in pro matches doesn’t have to be very expensive. Iconic skins such as the AK Fire Serpent obviously cost a ton of money, but a surprising amount of pros also opt for more budget-friendly skins.

It needs to be said that pros often tend to use stickered guns. This can drive up the price significantly. An AK Redline by itself might be relatively affordable, but a Redline with 4x Katowice 2014 stickers is in another price range entirely.

Of course, this guide is about the skins themselves, and those are pretty varied. We see everything from bright neon-themed skins to extremely subtle black skins. As such, there should be something here for everyone.

Lars
Reviews, Community, FPS

Former semi-pro gamer turned writer, product reviewer, and community manager.

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