One of the most attractive aspects of the CS2 shooter is its weapon skins, knives, gloves, stickers and other items, on the basis of which the cost of the inventory is formed. Gradually forming his collection and acquiring rare skins, the player may not even guess how valuable they can be on the market. In this article, we will consider the main factors affecting the price of skins, and also tell you how to check the current cost of your inventory in order to make the most profitable decisions when buying, selling, or exchanging skins.
Why Does a CS2 Player Need to Know the Value of Inventory?
Tracking inventory costs requires constant player involvement, but the rewards are worth it. Let’s look at the main reasons why many players track their inventory costs:
- Informed decisions on buying and selling skins.
By understanding the market value of skins, a player can make more profitable deals and avoid unprofitable transactions.
- Profit tracking.
If a player’s goal is to invest in valuable skins and benefit from this when the value increases, then constant monitoring of the value of the inventory is a must. It allows the player to notice changes in prices and make profitable deals promptly.
- Ease of management.
Accurate assessment of skins simplifies the process of managing them for the player. He can easily decide which skins are better to sell immediately, and which ones, on the contrary, to leave for the future.
Factors That Determine The Value of Inventory in CS2
If you want to collect valuable inventory and understand what affects the value of skins, here are the main factors that affect the value of inventory.
Float Values of Skins
Each skin in CS2 has its own float value. This characteristic determines the degree of its wear, that is, its visual appearance. The lower the float value (closer to zero), the better the visual condition and, usually, the higher the price. There are five categories of wear:
- Factory New
- Minimal Wear
- Field-Tested
- Well-Worn
- Battle-Scarred
Of course, the more skins from the Factory New or Minimal Wear category, the higher the value of the inventory.
Skin Rarity
Skins in CS2 are divided by rarity, which is reflected by the color gradation: white to red and gold. At the same time, the popularity of a particular weapon also affects the price tag. For example, a skin for an AK-47 or AWP is usually more expensive than for a less popular weapon. But in general, the higher the rarity of the skin, for example, Covert or Classified, the higher its market price.
How to Find Out the Value of Inventory?
Many third-party sites offer tools that automatically read Steam inventory data and give you information about your CS2 (CS:GO) inventory value. To do this, you need to have your inventory public. You can do this in the Steam privacy settings. These calculators are a quick and easy way to find out the value of your inventory, since all you need to do is enter your Steam user ID.
A more labor-intensive process of inventory valuation is a manual analysis of skins on Steam. Of course, this method may be relevant if you have up to 10 skins, but this method is definitely not suitable for players with hundreds and thousands of skins.
Risks And Precautions When Managing Skins
Like any other market, CS2 skin prices are subject to volatility. Events such as game updates, new case releases, statements, or speeches about players and streamers can unexpectedly affect the value of skins. Therefore, if you have a large number of skins, it is important not to overestimate the value of individual items and not to invest more than you are willing to lose.
The best time to make a buy or sell trade is often during major tournaments, updates, or holidays when there are more new or returning players entering the game. Increased activity causes demand to increase, and therefore prices to rise. If you notice that the price of a particular skin is on the rise, you may want to consider selling it before the price drops to the average level. Similarly, to buy rare skins, it is more profitable to wait for a calm period when the excitement subsides.
Conclusion
CS2 inventory value is the aggregate price of all your skins, based on their wear, rarity, and additional features. Knowing the approximate value helps players manage their skins more effectively and make informed decisions about buying and selling. If you care about long-term profit, be sure to regularly check your inventory, price history, and market trends. This way, you can always stay up to date with the real value of your collection and get the most out of your favorite shooter.