CS:GO Restricted Skins – a Short Analysis
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Among the seven grades of rarity, or eight if we consider Contraband grade that M4A4 | Howl received, we often tend to talk about top-tier skins, ultra-rare CSGO knife skins or at least the pink, Classified grade skins. We often sometimes discuss the cheapest and most common skins from the lower rarity grades. However, rarely we take a closer look at the Restricted skins in CSGO.
In this article, I will take a look at some of the examples of this category of skins, what they represent from both design and price perspectives as well as how to make money on trading the best Restricted CSGO skins.
CSGO Restricted skins – Explained 2019
As mentioned before, CSGO Restricted skins are of a rarity grade right in the middle. This makes them neither easy to get nor exceedingly rare items. Thus, they are quite common but are still quite hard to drop.
If we take a look at the CSGO case drop rates released by Valve when they were required too while entering the Chinese market, we can find what are the exact odds to receive a given skin when opening any crate:
- Mil-Spec (Blue) – 79,92327%
- Restricted (Purple) – 15,98465%
- Classified (Pink) – 3,19693%
- Covert (Red) – 0,63939%
- Special Items/Knives (Gold) – 0,25575%
According to these ods, 15 out of 100 openings of a weapon case have the chance to be a Restricted skin. Statistically, it is quite a lot, considering how slim are the chances to drop Covert skins or Knives and Gloves. In case of StatTrak tech items, the drop chances are calculated by dividing the base drop chance for each grade by ten. Thus the drop chances for StatTrak items are as follows:
- Mil-Spec (Blue) – 7,99233%
- Restricted (Purple) – 1,59847%
- Classified (Pink) – 0,31969%
- Covert (Red) – 0,06394%
- Special Items/Knives (Gold) – 0,02558%
Now, this looks a lot less likely. Also, looking at these numbers tells us exactly why StatTrak items tend to get so expensive. Add to that a curve bell of wear levels distribution, meaning that usually, the rarest are both Factory New and Battle-Scarred items from the polar opposites of float distribution. Suddenly, basing on just a chance and ignoring the special qualities a StatTrak tech gives, the prices for a Factory New StatTrak weapon skin isn’t as absurd as it was at first.
Let’s take a look at some of the examples of best CSGO Restricted skins we can find in-game and in weapon cases as some of the representatives of this group of skins. I decided to focus on five of them.
AWP | Atheris
One of the newest Restricted skins in CSGO added to the game as a part of the Prisma Collection in 2019. Immediately, it becomes one of the favorite skins despite its rather low rarity grade and high availability. From the design perspective, it is very clean and well though Restricted CSGO skin. Its main feature is a green and blue bush viper painted over the black base. Due to how new and common it is, the normal version is quite cheap. You can grab it between $3 and $16. StatTrak costs usually between $10 and $69 depending on the wear level. I like this skin a lot not only because of how good it looks in-game but because we finally have a valid cheap alternative for the high-grade snipers like AWP | Dragon Lore.
Desert Eagle | Light Rail
Based around a neat concept of optical illusion that tries to create the feeling of changing the weapon’s geometry, Light Rail is one of the CSGO Restricted skins for the elephant gun – Desert Eagle. Due to its rarity and how new and common it is, the normal version is very cheap and won’t ever cost you more than $5. StatTrak tech version is a little bit more expensive and can reach up to $10 with the exception of Factory New that can even go up to $20.
MP5-SD | Gauss
This MP5 skin was designed to look like it got assembled from different retrofitted parts and steel plates. This is one of the best CSGO Restricted skins if you thinking about steampunk or post-apocalyptic collection of skins. Luckily it is easily available and dirt cheap. Normal version usually costs less than $1, whereas StatTrak version up to $2. As always, StatTrak Factory New is an anomaly reaching almost $8 at times.
UMP-45 | Moonrise
Moonrise is a very neat concept that works amazing with UMP-45 model. As with any of the Moonrise skins, UMP-45 | Moonrise rocks a randomized city landscape in the foreground. The background is a purple-red night sky with a reddish full moon. Another extremely cheap skin: normal version costs around $0.50, StatTrak-equipped around $1.
Tec-9 | Bamboozle
If you like running and gunning and fresh bamboo texture Tec-9 | Bamboozle is the best skin for you out there. All green and dark brown, with the texture of a fresh bamboo it soothes the eyes. It is a great fit for any collection of green skins. Also, dirt cheap and available for $0.50-$4 depending on quality and version.
Where and how can you obtain CSGO Restricted skins?
All of the mentioned Restricted CSGO skins are available as a part of the Prisma Case which was released in the first quarter of 2019. That means these skins are also available as random drops after the game, although unlikely. Valve doesn’t give away Restricted CSGO skins too easy, at this could hurt the economy and devaluate other weapon skins.
Another way to grab Restricted skins in CSGO is by opening the cases. 15% chance to drop one is quite generous. If you have a spare key and a Prisma Case, why not use it?
Still, it may be better to just buy one from the market considering their low price and high availability. Skinwallet Market is blooming with Restricted skins offers, so you have plenty to choose from with a good price tag.
Are CSGO Restricted skins rare?
Not really. At least not as much as the numbers would make us believe. The biggest source of Restricted CSGO skins is the case opening. Whenever someone tries to get either a Covert skin or a melee weapon he or she will inevitably drop many Restricted skins first. Well, this, or they have divine luck and land three knives in a row which is highly unlikely, on the verge of impossible. Still, they keep their price well with the passing time and are quite nicely done. The answer to the question: what are CSGO restricted skins for any trader, would be the main fleet of product. Easy to buy, easy to sell, holds price quite well and does not spoil over time.
Selling CSGO Restricted skins
If you want to sell some of your Restricted CSGO skins, you can either go for Steam Community Market, use one of the third-party websites or go straight to Skinwallet for instant payout. Steam Community Market is the safest choice, the transactions are instant and there is almost no way of you getting scammed. However, all the money will land in your Steam Wallet, thus you won’t be able to pay it our. Ever. Third-party markets offer to pay out your earned cash, but the prices are lower and there’s a lot of scammers. The transaction also takes quite long to finish. If you have a lot of Restricted skins in CSGO and you want to cash them out ASAP use Skinwallet, the fastest and most secure instant deposit platform.
Summary
We talked a bit about best CSGO Restricted skins, what price range and style are available, how to find new ones and how to sell the old, useless Restricted CSGO skins for cash. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them down in the comments section.
