Ultimate Blue Gem Guide: Best Patterns For All CS2 Skins
The Arms Deal update, released all the way back in 2013, introduced the Case Hardened skins in Counter-Strike for the first time. Over the years, the popularity of this finish has skyrocketed. Although there are multiple reasons for this, it’s majorly because of the finish having many variations, some of which are extremely rare. The Case Hardened finish takes its inspiration from a process derived in the early nineteenth century to harden metal used for manufacturing guns to make them more durable, also known as bluing.
The Case Hardened finish in CS2 is derived from a pre-designed sheet of mottled colors. The base of the sheet is gray, on top of which are hues of striking blue with specks of purple at the edges, which are then surrounded by splashes of a dull gold color. A distinct pattern is created from this sheet in a cookie-cutter style and transferred onto the weapon skin. There are a thousand different variations of these patterns which are called seeds, each seed being assigned a numerical value between 0 and 999. Blue is the most popular color for this finish, with seed patterns carrying the highest amount of Blue being the most desired. Such patterns are commonly referred to as ‘Blue Gems’ among the Counter-Strike community.
Blue Gems are extremely rare variants of the Case Hardened finish and often tend to be the most expensive skin variant for a particular weapon as well. It’s for this reason that whenever a new Blue Gem skin is unboxed, the news tends to create shockwaves within the Counter-Strike skin community. Blogs, influencers, and YouTube personalities cover the event and give their estimates on its value. If you are interested in knowing more about these immensely popular skins, you’ve come to the right place. We bring you this article to serve as the ultimate guide to Blue Gems in CS2, where we will cover each weapon that comes in the Case Hardened finish and their top Blue Gem seed patterns.
The Best Blue Gem Seed Patterns For CS2 Guns
Guns with the Case Hardened finish don’t typically match the appeal of knives in CS2 since they can be found in larger quantities, unlike knives which are always a rare drop from cases. However, Blue Gem variants of even these can get quite pricey and have a high demand. Since there are only a handful of guns with the Case Hardened finish released so far, we will start off with these before moving on to the more popular knives.
MAC-10
The MAC-10 is a mid-tier SMG exclusive to the T-side in CS2. With its high rate of fire and low price, it’s usually the go-to weapon during eco rounds. For the MAC-10, there are three different parts on which the Case Hardened pattern has to be transferred, with each transfer being random. As a result, there is no seed that can truly be called a Blue Gem, as is the case with all the other guns and knives. Seeds with the highest amounts of blue apparent on the surface have been slotted in the Tier 1 category of MAC-10 Blue Gem patterns, with seeds #667, #114, and #406 being considered the top three.
Five-SeveN
The Five-SeveN is one of the best pistols in CS2, exclusive to the CT side. It has a decent rate of fire, with high armor penetration and a large magazine size. Owing to its popularity, there have been numerous skins released for the gun over the past years, including the Case Hardened finish. The pattern is only present on the slide, whereas the rest of the gun retains its default dark gray color. There are a number of Blue Gem patterns for the Five-SeveN, with seeds #278 and #690 being the best.
AK-47
The AK-47 is perhaps one of the most iconic guns in CS2, alongside the AWP and Deagle. It is a rifle exclusive to the T-side which can devastate opposing players with its close range sprays or take them out with a single shot to the head when in the right hands. It’s so good, in fact, that CT-sided players almost always replace their M4’s with an AK-47 dropped by a dead terrorist, when given the chance. The Case Hardened finish for the AK-47 was one of the first skins to be released and stands as one of the most expensive skins for the rifle. Seed #661 is the top Blue Gem pattern, and being one of the rarest can cost tens of thousands of dollars. You can also take an in-depth look at all the other Blue Gem patterns for the AK-47 if you’re looking for a cheaper option.
The Best Blue Gem Seed Patterns For CS2 Knives
Blue Gem knife prices range from a few thousand dollars for less popular knives and go upwards of a million for something like the Karambit. Owing to their rarity, the top Blue Gem variants for knives are akin to prized treasures for their owners, and often the biggest monetary investment you can make in the game. So let’s move on to each Case Hardened knife in CS2, where we take a look at their top Blue Gem seed patterns.
Navaja Knife
The Navaja is one of the more recent additions to the game and is generally considered to be at the lowest rung of the knife hierarchy in CS2, although there are some who still prefer it owing to its affordability when it comes to good finishes. This might be good news if you are trying to get one of its top Blue Gem patterns, which can be found in seeds #398, #407, and #838. There are also various other Blue Gem variants of the Navaja Knife that closely resemble these but with minor blemishes, which can be had for lesser overpay as well.
Shadow Daggers
The Shadow Daggers have been the bane of many crude jokes throughout their existence in the game, and have only seen a slight redemption owing to the camera-shake bug getting fixed. Although the community does consider some seeds such as #56 and #505 to be the top two Blue Gem patterns, the method in which patterns are transferred on the Shadow Daggers is unique where only one dagger will have the Blue Gem pattern visible. The pattern on the other dagger will be completely random since it is held upside down in-game. There are a few other seeds available for Shadow Daggers Blue Gem patterns as well if you are looking to buy one for yourself.
Falchion Knife
The Falchion is another low-tier knife that has seen a slight rise in popularity in recent years and is one of the only low-tier knives in CS2 to have a rare inspect animation. The knife is another affordable option to purchase as a Blue Gem, with seed patterns #494, #838, and #638 being the three top options. There are many other Falchion Knife Blue Gem patterns available as well which you can take a look at.
Bowie Knife
The Bowie comes with the biggest blade in comparison to all other knives in the game, but in this case, bigger does not mean better. Overall, the design is somewhat bland, with the blade being more of a handicap, especially in the context of Case Hardened finishes. Its large size means the blue pattern is not able to fully cover it in any of its thousand different variations, with only two Tier 1 seed patterns coming closest to being called Blue Gems, those being seeds #182 and #398. You can also take a look at all the Tier 2 Bowie Knife Blue Gem seed patterns, which may have a lesser blue coverage but can be a lot more affordable.
Gut Knife
The Gut is our last low-tier knife on the list. Its rounded blade with a hook, drab wooden handle, and simplistic equip animation have kept it as a cheap option for those wanting to upgrade from the default knives. However, despite its low popularity, the top Blue Gem seed patterns #567 and #962 may still end up costing a few thousand dollars. However, you can also take a look at all the other Gut Knife Blue Gem seed patterns which can be purchased for a lot less.
Classic Knife
The Classic Knife is a mid-tier offering released on the occasion of Counter-Strike’s 20th anniversary, being a replica of the default knife in the game’s 1.6 version. Although the overall look is somewhat dated in comparison to other knives in the game, the Classic Knife’s demand is influenced in large part by the sentimental value associated with it, along with the fact that higher float values have no impact on wear levels. There are quite a few different Classic Knife Blue Gem seed patterns, with the top three being seeds #403, #58, and #681.
Flip Knife
Although the Flip Knife is primarily considered to be a mid-tier knife, some of its higher-end finishes such as the Gamma Doppler Emerald and Doppler Ruby look absolutely stunning. This applies to the Blue Gem Case Hardened pattern as well, of which seeds #670 and #321 are the top two options. You can also take a look at all the other Blue Gem patterns for the Flip knife which are also quite impressive with much less overpay.
Huntsman Knife
The Huntsman is a great option for those looking for a mid-level knife that provides the best bang for your buck. What it lacks in inspect animations is somewhat made up for by its overall design. But like the Bowie Knife, the Huntsman’s larger blade results in even the top Blue Gem finish not being able to cover the entire blade. However, this doesn’t take away much from its value, as its price for the top seed pattern #618 is estimated to be anywhere between 15-20k USD. Seed #652 is another pattern closely resembling it, and other Huntsman Knife Blue Gem seed patterns may be listed for a lot less.
Survival Knife
The Survival Knife was one of the latest to be added to CS2 and comes across as a refreshed version of the Gut Knife with a sharper-looking hook at the tip, and a straighter blade with serrations fitted to a black plastic handle. The top Blue Gem seed patterns for the Survival Knife are #403 and #456. You might also want to check out the other Blue Gem patterns for the Survival Knife, since there may be more affordable listings for these online.
Paracord Knife
The Paracord Knife is a decent mid-tier offering for those looking for a unique knife. The blade gives off a futuristic vibe with its clean lines and hollowed-out spaces within, whereas the handle has been wrapped in black paracord. If you are looking for Tier 1 Blue Gem patterns for the Paracord, there are a few different Paracord Knife Blue Gems available, all of which look brilliant in their own right, with the top two patterns being #403 and #316.
Ursus Knife
The Ursus is a clean-looking knife designed to a minimalist aesthetic. It has a straight blade with faceting towards the tip and a beige-colored handle that looks to have been covered in a textured rubber grip. It is a solid mid-tier knife that comes with a nice-looking rare animation as well. The Ursus Knife’s top Blue Gem seed is #494, valued at around 4k USD. It’s cheaper in comparison to those of most other knives in CS2. Other Blue Gem patterns for the Ursus Knife are also potentially good investments with substantially less overpay if you can find them listed on any of the third-party marketplaces.
Nomad Knife
The Nomad Knife is one of the newer knives in CS2 and already has a number of different finishes that look great on it. One of the best ones to get for this knife would be the Case Hardened finish in any of its Nomad Knife Blue Gem pattern seeds, with #456, #577, and #169 being the top three.
Stiletto Knife
The Stiletto has quickly taken a place at the higher end of the knife hierarchy owing to its widespread adoption by players in the professional scene. It derives inspiration from a knife of the same name in the real world which is often featured in popular gangster-themed films revolving around the Italian Mafia scene. There are only three Tier 1 Blue Gem seed patterns for the Stiletto, and starting from the best seed, these are #182, #713, and #494. If you are looking for even more affordable options for other seed patterns that also have decent levels of blue coverage on the blade, you can take a look at all the Stiletto Knife Blue Gem patterns.
Kukri Knife
The Kukri Knife has quickly risen to popularity after its release. Unsurprisingly, the Tier 1 Blue Gem patterns of the Kukri Knife are pretty costly due to their insane rarity and popularity among collectors. The number one seed pattern is #494, followed by patterns #770 and #575. Feel free to check out our complete list of all Kukri Knife Blue Gem patterns if you’re interested in the remaining Blue Gem patterns.
Bayonet
The Bayonet was one of the earliest knives to be introduced in the game and has remained a top-level knife throughout, with each finish that is available for knives having been released for it. The knife has a slim, long blade and a handle that is very similar to that of its larger counterpart, the M9 Bayonet, with which it shares many attributes. There are a number of Blue Gem seed patterns for the Bayonet that you can keep an eye out for, with patterns #555 and #592 being the top two seeds.
Skeleton Knife
The Skeleton Knife has quickly managed to climb up the ranks to become one of the most popular knives in CS2, with its top finishes already costing upwards of 1k USD. But the best and the most expensive ones are easily its top two Blue Gem patterns, coming with seeds #403 and #456, which can also be counted among the best-looking Blue Gems in CS2. Getting your hands on one of these might be a difficult proposition, but you can instead check out the many other Blue Gem variants for the Skeleton Knife which you may be able to find listed somewhere.
M9 Bayonet
The M9 Bayonet has been considered one of the top three knives in the game alongside the Karambit and the Butterfly Knife, and these knives together have been the most popular among pro players as well, leading to their massive popularity. Its design takes inspiration from mainstream Hollywood media, where it is often shown as the melee weapon of choice for Special Forces operators. However, due to the large size of the M9’s blade, only two variations of the Case Hardened patterns are considered Tier 1 Blue Gems - these are patterns #601 and #417. However, owing to their rarity, you may find it hard to find those patterns listed on any market. You can take a look at all other Blue Gem seed patterns for the M9 Bayonet instead.
Butterfly Knife
The Butterfly is a knife that needs no introduction in CS2. It enjoys a legendary status among the community and even its worst finishes are more expensive than the top finishes of most other knives, often hovering near the 1k USD mark. Although its Blue Gems are not the best looking in comparison to some other knives, the top seeds such as #182 and #652 can easily be valued at around 20k USD. If you have the means to invest and are looking for more information on the top seeds, you can check out all Butterfly Knife Blue Gem seeds patterns and get a better understanding of how to obtain them.
Talon Knife
As the weapon cases from which the Karambit can drop started drying up, leading to an unprecedented increase in its prices, the Talon Knife came to the rescue as a refreshed version of the Karambit. In comparison, the Talon has a slightly larger blade and a different handle, but shares many aspects of what made its predecessor so popular. There is a considerable collection of Blue Gem seed patterns for the Talon Knife that are worth checking out for anyone wanting to invest in the Talon Knife. The top two Blue Gem patterns are seeds #55 and #923, with the former having an estimated value upwards of 50k USD.
Karambit
And finally, we come to the king of all Case Hardened skins and also the last knife on this list – the Karambit. If you ever manage to get your hands on a Tier 1 Blue Gem pattern for the Karambit, you are either one of the luckiest people on the planet, or extremely rich, or perhaps both, since even unboxing one may end up costing a fortune. The number one Blue Gem seed pattern is #387, which has an unprecedented asking price of 1.5 million US dollars. You can find out more about all the other Karambit Blue Gem seed patterns if you are looking to invest in one, most of which still look insane but may not cost as much.
Conclusion
Blue Gem patterns for Case Hardened skins in CS2 are the pinnacle of rarity and exclusivity, and no other finish comes close to matching their status. The top seed patterns for any knife are the most sought-after items in the game, with YouTube personalities, influencers, collectors, and regular players alike all vying for the opportunity to strike the ultimate blue. Yet despite everyone’s best efforts, only a few people will ever have the luck and means of owning one, since it may take millions of unboxings in some instances to come across a Blue Gem. Blue Gems also tend to be one of the safest investments with a potential for high returns, and this is clearly evident from the historical trend going back a decade.
We hope that this comprehensive guide will serve to be your go-to resource for every weapon’s best Blue Gem patterns in Counter-Strike 2. However, if you can’t afford to have one, there is always an option of going for the less expensive Tier 2 seeds. They may not be on the same level as the Tier 1 Blue Gems, but you’ll have a great-looking knife or gun for a lot less money spent.
