Review of Arsenal Operation Skins in CS2: Analyzing the Potential of Each Collection
Although the event wasn’t quite fully fleshed out, and some refuse to recognize Arsenal as a full-fledged operation, the developers put effort into the content and released over 100 new items. Let’s get to know the best of them!
Overpass 2024 Collection
In the spring of 2024, the developers made changes to the competitive map pool, removing Overpass and replacing it with Dust 2. In case you didn’t know, these collections are designed for forming souvenir containers so that during a Major, users can obtain a memorable item from a favorite match, or more precisely, a map. Since Overpass was removed recently, it’s safe to assume that these skins won’t appear in souvenir versions at the Shanghai Major. Will this affect the price? Most likely, yes. However, the design is too closely tied to the map and doesn’t stand out as an independent item. Therefore, once souvenir versions appear, no one will be inclined to purchase more expensive items from the Arsenal collection. The price will be quite high, but finding buyers will be extremely difficult.
AWP | Crakow! / AK-47 | B the Monster
Without a doubt, these two items will become the most popular, and they’ll be the main target for collectors. The AWP will be particularly popular among the female community and will become a must-have for pink inventories. Until now, AWP | Pink DDPAT was used in pink inventories, but it pales in comparison to AWP | Crakow!. Considering pink skins are traditionally some of the most expensive, this skin shouldn’t be an exception. Also, with two pink items in the collection, the chance of obtaining the desired one through crafting is lower, increasing its value.
As for the AK-47, being the only Covert item in the collection, it will have a higher chance of being crafted, making it an attractive lure for those seeking big wins through trade-up contracts. The AK itself is very interesting, with a recognizable monster design when entering the B site on Overpass. The golden elements shine brilliantly in the sun, and combined with the detailed artwork, it gives the impression of a premium item.
Galil AR | Metallic Squeezer / MAC-10 | Pipsqueak
The collection also includes high-quality Mil-Spec skins worth your attention. These skins are unlikely to bore you, and you won’t feel the urge to sell them, meaning they can stay in your inventory and bring profit over time.
The MAC-10 features a mouse design, immediately sparking associations with the viral cryptocurrency-earning app Hamster Kombat. While the connection is quite obvious, people love nostalgia, and at some point, this skin will become a topic of interest, creating an opportunity for profit.
Desert Eagle | Tilted
For an Industrial Grade skin, this pistol has an extremely original and interesting design. The depiction of eyes on the back of the gun looks especially cool. We’re sure it will be a hit among budget Deagles for a while, but after a few years, when these skins start getting traded up, it will surely rise in value.
Graphic Design Collection
Objectively, this is the least successful collection, significantly lagging behind the other skins from the update. However, from an investment perspective, players are unlikely to spend their hard-earned coins on opening these cases. This means they’ll be rare, so obtaining a couple of skins from this collection will be a surefire bet.
AUG | Lil’Pig / M4A4 | Polysoup
Decent skins that will inevitably find their audience eventually. The M4A4 has an interesting holographic effect on the raised parts of the design, resembling holographic stickers. The AUG features a similar design approach to AK-47 | B the Monster, with golden shiny elements. It seems that this design trend will dominate CS2 skins in the coming years.
AWP | CMYK / Desert Eagle | Stracade
Once again, a Classified skin looks more appealing than a Covert one, for the second collection in a row. It’s a strange trend, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts the market. We are confident that the AWP will become more scarce since few will want to craft it. The Desert Eagle has a glitter effect and will look great with similar stickers. As for the AWP, there are no distinctive nuances in the design, aside from a circle that looks like a poorly applied sticker.
Sports and Field Collection
A hit collection, featuring many skins for popular weapons, where obtaining pink or red quality skins won’t be disappointing. These items are unlikely to drop in price because all levels of quality, starting from Industrial, will be used in trade-ups.
USP-S | Alpine Camo / AK-47 | Olive Polycam
Skins for some of the most popular weapons have always been in demand, so you’ll definitely be able to sell them anytime if they don’t meet your investment expectations. There’s a good chance we’ll see many more skins in similar color schemes, and these are likely the first representatives of future collections.
UMP-45 | Crimson Foil / Galil AR | Rainbow Spoon
Right now, these are some of the most striking skins in the game, thanks to their unique texture. The UMP seems to be a reimagined version of the famous Crimson collection, with a stylish glossy metallic finish. The Galil AR looks equally stunning, and its pearlescent design will surely become a hit and likely be applied to other weapons.
Glock 18 | AXIA / M4A1-S | Fade
Of course, the operation couldn’t do without a true banger, and this time it’s the M4A1-S Fade. There’s no need to explain the value of this collection and how much it’s worth, but a skin for such a popular weapon will easily cost over $1,000. There are already many exciting gradient patterns out there, with fully yellow magazines or entirely blue stocks being possible.
The Glock 18 looks like a reworked version of Twilight Galaxy combined with Light Rail. The result is a gorgeous pistol with plenty of vibrant details but without overwhelming the overall impression.
Gallery Case
Looking at how operation cases behave over time, we can confidently say that in the long term, this case will bring substantial returns. The only weak spot that raises doubts is the Kukri knife, but the rest of the items seem more than attractive.
M4A4 | Turbine / MAC-10 | Saiba Oni
Both devices are excellently executed, even though their blue rarity means they will likely cost less than a dollar by the end of the operation. It’s worth picking them up and holding onto them until the community takes notice and prices rise. The M4A4 has a great 3D design, while the MAC-10 features popular Japanese demon motifs.
UMP-45 | Neo-Noir / AK-47 | The Outsiders
Another skin in the Neo-Noir collection, which will always be valuable, even if it’s not for the most in-demand weapon. The AK-47 features stunning detail and execution, and the name “Outsiders” will serve as another reminder of Jame’s unexpected victory at the Rio Major.
M4A1-S | Vaporwave / Glock-18 | Gold Toof
It seems the case gets its name only from the M4A1-S, as there are no other references to a gallery theme here. A universal skin that fits almost any set and can be a great complement to AK-47 | Leet Museo. The Glock-18, long-awaited in the Steam Workshop, finally made its way into the game. The author brilliantly realized their vision, which is quite a challenge on the compact pistol frame.
Desert Eagle | Heat Treated
Valve loves giving items unique labels, and this time they’ve reworked the most expensive skin in the game – Case Hardened. The result is decent, but there are doubts it will become as big of a hit. Many variations with fully blue bodies have already appeared, and the initial excitement has cooled. Yes, the price of this skin is unlikely to drop below $10, and it’s a good way to make back some money from the operation, but you probably won’t make millions from it.
