Counter-Strike 2 features dozens of different cases, but there are even more collections! But what exactly are they, and why are skins divided this way? The CS.MONEY Blog explores this topic.
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What is a skin collection in Counter-Strike 2?
Let’s start with the basics. A collection is a set of skins released at the same time and tied together by a common theme. The Anubis Collection takes us to Ancient Egypt, while the Norse Collection immerses us in Scandinavian mythology.
From a practical standpoint, collections matter primarily for trade-ups. If you trade in ten Galil AR Eco skins, you will always receive M4A1-S Hyper Beast—no other red-tier skin from a different collection will appear. You can read more about trade-ups in our detailed guide.
How is a collection different from a skin series?
It’s important not to confuse collections with skin series. A collection consists of skins released together, though they may look completely different from each other. A series refers to skins that share a similar design but were released in different collections.
How is a collection different from a CS2 case?
In many ways, cases and collections are similar. If you open a Falchion Case, all the skins inside will be from the Falchion Collection, and you won’t find these skins in any other case. It may seem like cases and collections are the same, but there’s a key difference.
A collection isn’t always tied to a case. For example, in Armory, you can get skins from three different collections, none of which are tied to cases. Souvenir containers from Majors also contain unique collections.
So, to put it simply in mathematical terms:
Collection > Case
Types of collections in CS2
There are several dozen collections in Counter-Strike, categorized by how skins from them can be obtained.
Collections from Cases
The largest category. Counter-Strike has a vast number of cases, each with its own collection. Listing all CS cases would take up too much space, so we have a separate article for that.
Some cases still drop, while others are no longer supported. But if you have a case and a key, you can still open a skin from its respective collection. However, buying a skin directly on CS.MONEY is often cheaper than gambling on a case.
Collections from Weekly Drops
Each week, CS2 players receive a weekly drop from Valve. This can include cases, graffiti, or standalone skins. The following collections contain skins that can appear in weekly drops:
- The Bank Collection
- The Italy Collection
- The Lake Collection
- The Safehouse Collection
- The Train Collection
- The Dust 2 Collection
- The 2018 Inferno Collection
- The 2018 Nuke Collection
These skins can also sometimes be found in esports containers (although some of them are in the very rare ones), but the easiest way to get them is through weekly drops or by buying them from other players.
Collections from Esports Containers
Esports containers do not require keys. Previously, players could receive them by watching Major tournament streams, but now they require a Viewer Pass.
The complete list of collections matches the Valve tournament map pool over the past decade. Notably, four of these collections also appear in weekly drops:
Esports Collections from the Shanghai Major:
- The 2018 Inferno Collection (+ weekly drop)
- The 2018 Nuke Collection (+ weekly drop)
- The 2021 Vertigo Collection
- The Ancient Collection
- The 2021 Mirage Collection
- The Anubis Collection
- The 2021 Dust 2 Collecion
Older Major Esports Collections:
- The Train Collection (+ weekly drop)
- The Dust 2 Collection (+ weekly drop)
- The Mirage Collection
- The Nuke Collection
- The Cache Collection
- The Cobblestone Collection
- The Overpass Collection
- The Inferno Collection
With Valve announcing the return of Train to the Austin Major map pool, we may see a 2025 Train Collection. It’s also possible that Inferno and Nuke will get updates before the tournament.
Inactive Collections
These collections contain skins that are no longer available through drops or cases and can only be purchased on trading platforms. They fall into two groups:
- Operation Collections (exclusive to past operations)
- Old Drops from over a decade ago, when Valve first introduced skins and awarded them after a certain number of hours played.
CS2 Collections featured in Operations:
- Alpha Collection (Operation Bravo)
- Baggage Collection (Operation Breakout)
- Gods & Monsters Collection (Operation Bloodhound, Operation Wildfire, Operation Hydra)
- The Rising Sun Collection (Operation Bloodhound, Operation Wildfire, Operation Hydra)
- Chop Shop Collection (Operation Bloodhound, Operation Wildfire, Operation Hydra)
- The Canals Collection (Operation Shattered Web)
- The Norse Collection (Operation Shattered Web)
- The St. Marc Collection (Operation Shattered Web)
- The Havoc Collection (Operation Broken Fang)
- The Control Collection (Operation Broken Fang)
These collections are now considered rare, and their skins can be extremely expensive, sometimes reaching five-digit prices in USD.
Collections from the Armory
CS2 introduced the Armory, an in-game store where players can exchange stars for loot. Stars are earned by purchasing an Armory Pass, and rewards include skins from the following collections:
- 2024 Overpass Collection
- Graphic Collection
- Sport & Field Collection
More collections will likely be added in the future, and Valve will provide updates in advance.
Other Unique Collections
Finally, there are three special collections that don’t fit into the previous categories. Each contains only one skin:
- The X-Ray Collection – Contains P250 X-Ray. This collection was introduced due to French gambling laws, and we’ve written a separate article about its history.
- Blacksite Collection – Includes MP5-SD Lab Rats. This skin was introduced alongside the Danger Zone mode, but after its release, Valve barely mentioned Danger Zone again.
- Limited Edition Item – Currently includes Desert Eagle Heat Treated. We assume that future limited Arsenal skins will also belong to this collection.
CS2’s collections are a vast topic—over ten years of skins have introduced countless variations and distribution methods. But if you just want to grab a cool skin, head over to CS.MONEY—great deals are waiting for you!
