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Worst to buy · updated every 15 min

Worst CS2 Skins to Buy Right Now — Falling and Hard to Sell

Prices sliding, and thin enough trading that leaving means cutting the price. A falling market you can walk out of is a bad entry; a falling market you cannot is something else, and this list separates the two.

248Items ranked
166Rated avoid
1,200Candidate pool
0Not rateable

Showing 48 of 248 ranked items, re-sorted within the 1,200-item candidate pool.

#ItemVerdict7d30dLiquiditySell inPrice
201ESL One Cologne 2015 Dust II Souvenir PackageESL One Cologne 2015 Dust II PackageWeak entry31hard to exit▼ -9.3%▲ +15.1%Rarely Traded~4 months$71
202DreamHack 2014 Legends (Holo-Foil)DreamHack 2014 Legends (Holo-Foil)Weak entry31hard to exit▲ +2.5%▼ -2.3%Rarely Traded~2 months$275
203DreamHack 2014 Overpass Souvenir PackageDreamHack 2014 Overpass PackageWeak entry31medium confidencehard to exit▲ +21.1%▲ +23.8%Rarely Traded~2 months$999
204London 2018 Overpass Souvenir PackageLondon 2018 Overpass PackageWeak entry32hard to exit▲ +1.4%▼ -0.2%Rarely Traded~3 months$37
205Atlanta 2017 Challengers (Holo-Foil)Atlanta 2017 Challengers (Holo-Foil)Weak entry32medium confidencehard to exit▲ +1.9%▼ -0.7%Rarely Traded~6 months$77
206DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Cobblestone Souvenir PackageDreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Cobblestone PackageWeak entry32hard to exit▼ -2.4%▲ +5.9%Rarely Traded~10 months$811
207Autograph Capsule | Flipsid3 Tactics | Cluj-Napoca 2015Autograph Capsule | Flipsid3 Tactics | Cluj-Napoca 2015Weak entry32hard to exit▲ +1.6%▲ +13.2%Rarely Traded~2 months$23
208MLG Columbus 2016 Inferno Souvenir PackageMLG Columbus 2016 Inferno PackageWeak entry32hard to exit▲ +5.0%▲ +7.9%Rarely Traded~1 month$135
209Boston 2018 Minor Challengers Autograph CapsuleBoston 2018 Minor Challengers Autograph CapsuleWeak entry32medium confidence96% of the week was yesterday · hard to exit▲ +2.0%▲ +55.0%Rarely Traded~1 month$629
210Boston 2018 Minor Challengers (Holo-Foil)Boston 2018 Minor Challengers (Holo-Foil)Weak entry32medium confidence240% of the week was yesterday · hard to exit0%▲ +59.2%Rarely Traded~6 months$206
211Autograph Capsule | Titan | Cluj-Napoca 2015Autograph Capsule | Titan | Cluj-Napoca 2015Weak entry33hard to exit▼ -1.9%▲ +5.3%Rarely Traded~2 months$24
212Autograph Capsule | Flipsid3 Tactics | Cologne 2015Autograph Capsule | Flipsid3 Tactics | Cologne 2015Weak entry33hard to exit▲ +10.3%▼ -12.8%Rarely Traded~2 months$24
213Autograph Capsule | Gambit Gaming | MLG Columbus 2016Autograph Capsule | Gambit Gaming | MLG Columbus 2016Weak entry33medium confidencehard to exit▲ +1.3%▲ +0.7%Rarely Traded~5 months$11
214ESL One Katowice 2015 Cache Souvenir PackageESL One Katowice 2015 Cache PackageWeak entry33medium confidencehard to exit▼ -0.4%▲ +3.6%Rarely Traded~12 months$120
215Rio 2022 Nuke Souvenir PackageRio 2022 Nuke PackageWeak entry33hard to exit▼ -1.2%▲ +4.8%Rarely Traded~2 months$11
216ESL One Cologne 2015 Challengers (Foil)ESL One Cologne 2015 ChallengersWeak entry33hard to exit▼ -9.1%▲ +29.5%Rarely Traded~6 months$44
217StatTrak™ Initiators Music Kit BoxInitiators Music Kit BoxSTWeak entry34hard to exit▲ +5.9%▼ -5.0%Rarely Traded~2 weeks$6.87
218Autograph Capsule | SK Gaming | Atlanta 2017Autograph Capsule | SK Gaming | Atlanta 2017Weak entry34medium confidencehard to exit▲ +1.0%▲ +2.3%Rarely Traded~2 months$12
219Autograph Capsule | Vexed Gaming | Cluj-Napoca 2015Autograph Capsule | Vexed Gaming | Cluj-Napoca 2015Weak entry34hard to exit▲ +5.5%▼ -4.4%Rarely Traded~1 month$20
220Autograph Capsule | Legends (Foil) | Cluj-Napoca 2015Autograph Capsule | Legends | Cluj-Napoca 2015Weak entry34hard to exit▲ +2.1%▲ +0.8%Rarely Traded~10 months$30
221StatTrak™ Deluge Music Kit BoxDeluge Music Kit BoxSTWeak entry35hard to exit▲ +4.4%▼ -2.2%Rarely Traded~1 month$6.62
222StatTrak™ NIGHTMODE Music Kit BoxNIGHTMODE Music Kit BoxSTWeak entry36hard to exit▲ +2.2%▲ +1.6%Rarely Traded~2 weeks$6.44
223Autograph Capsule | Team EnVyUs | Cologne 2016Autograph Capsule | Team EnVyUs | Cologne 2016Weak entry36medium confidencehard to exit▲ +2.2%▲ +1.8%Rarely Traded~1 month$28
224ESL One Cologne 2014 Cache Souvenir PackageESL One Cologne 2014 Cache PackageWeak entry36medium confidencehard to exit▲ +11.4%▼ -11.8%Rarely TradedNo flow$3,438
225Antwerp 2022 Ancient Souvenir PackageAntwerp 2022 Ancient PackageWeak entry36hard to exit▼ -1.8%▲ +20.8%Rarely Traded~4 weeks$5.99
226Boston 2018 Minor Challengers with Flash Gaming (Holo-Foil)Boston 2018 Minor Challengers with Flash Gaming (Holo-Foil)Weak entry37hard to exit▲ +3.7%▲ +0.2%Rarely Traded~1 month$35
227Boston 2018 Legends Autograph CapsuleBoston 2018 Legends Autograph CapsuleWeak entry37hard to exit▼ -4.5%▲ +12.6%Rarely Traded~2 months$110
228London 2018 Legends (Holo-Foil)London 2018 Legends (Holo-Foil)Weak entry37hard to exit▼ -3.5%▲ +11.2%Rarely Tradeda year+$20
229Autograph Capsule | Fnatic | Cluj-Napoca 2015Autograph Capsule | Fnatic | Cluj-Napoca 2015Weak entry37hard to exit▲ +0.6%▲ +5.1%Rarely Tradeda year+$6.82
230MLG Columbus 2016 Legends (Holo-Foil)MLG Columbus 2016 Legends (Holo-Foil)Weak entry37hard to exit▲ +3.0%▲ +1.5%Rarely Traded~2 months$34
231Cologne 2016 Train Souvenir PackageCologne 2016 Train PackageWeak entry37hard to exit▲ +1.7%▲ +3.6%Rarely Traded~3 months$44
232MLG Columbus 2016 Overpass Souvenir PackageMLG Columbus 2016 Overpass PackageWeak entry37medium confidencehard to exit▲ +2.1%▲ +2.9%Rarely TradedNo flow$212
233MLG Columbus 2016 Cobblestone Souvenir PackageMLG Columbus 2016 Cobblestone PackageWeak entry37hard to exit▼ -0.2%▲ +6.6%Rarely Tradeda year+$859
234Autograph Capsule | Natus Vincere | Cologne 2015Autograph Capsule | Natus Vincere | Cologne 2015Weak entry37hard to exit▼ -8.1%▲ +30.7%Rarely Traded~6 months$8.69
235DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Challengers (Foil)DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 ChallengersWeak entry37hard to exit▲ +15.8%▼ -5.2%Rarely Traded~6 months$61
236Autograph Capsule | Fnatic | MLG Columbus 2016Autograph Capsule | Fnatic | MLG Columbus 2016Weak entry37hard to exit▲ +5.7%▲ +10.1%Rarely Tradeda year+$10
237MLG Columbus 2016 Cache Souvenir PackageMLG Columbus 2016 Cache PackageWeak entry37hard to exit▲ +4.0%▲ +12.8%Rarely Traded~3 months$84
238Atlanta 2017 Train Souvenir PackageAtlanta 2017 Train PackageWeak entry38hard to exit▲ +2.0%▲ +3.6%Rarely Traded~7 months$52
239Boston 2018 Cache Souvenir PackageBoston 2018 Cache PackageWeak entry38medium confidencehard to exit▲ +1.9%▲ +4.2%Rarely Traded~2 months$75
240DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Legends (Foil)DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 LegendsWeak entry39hard to exit▲ +5.8%▼ -1.4%Rarely Tradeda year+$25
241Krakow 2017 Train Souvenir PackageKrakow 2017 Train PackageWeak entry39hard to exit▲ +39.9%▲ +35.6%Rarely Traded~1 month$53
242Autograph Capsule | Gambit Gaming | Cologne 2016Autograph Capsule | Gambit Gaming | Cologne 2016Weak entry39hard to exit▲ +40.5%▲ +44.0%Rarely Traded~4 months$41
243Atlanta 2017 Dust II Souvenir PackageAtlanta 2017 Dust II PackageWeak entry39hard to exit▲ +25.3%▲ +81.3%Rarely Traded~2 months$85
244Autograph Capsule | North | Atlanta 2017Autograph Capsule | North | Atlanta 2017Weak entry39hard to exit▲ +67.5%▲ +24.1%Rarely Traded~6 months$16
245Collectible Pins Capsule Series 3Collectible Pins Capsule Series 3Neutral55▲ +1.9%▼ -0.8%Slow Mover~6 days$6.48
246Half-Life: Alyx Collectible Pins CapsuleHalf-Life: Alyx Collectible Pins CapsuleNeutral55thin market▲ +1.9%▲ +12.5%Slow Mover~2 weeks$7.11
247Krakow 2017 Challengers Autograph CapsuleKrakow 2017 Challengers Autograph CapsuleNeutral61thin market▲ +8.9%▲ +5.3%Slow Mover~1 month$18
248Sticker Capsule 2Sticker Capsule 2Neutral63▲ +1.6%▲ +4.6%Moderate Demand~1 month$11

How these ratings are reached

Momentum sets the rating

The 7-day change in the SteamAnalyst reference price at 60%, plus the 30-day change at 40%. Signed, so a week that contradicts its month damps itself instead of both being reported as good news. Above 8% blended is the top band; below -8% is the bottom one.

Liquidity can only pull it down

Measured from units actually traded over 30 days, not from price or popularity. Thin trading caps how well an item can rate however hard it is climbing, because you cannot realise a gain you cannot exit. Nothing about being easy to sell ever raises a rating — that would make this a volume ranking wearing a buy label.

Falling and illiquid is worse than either

On the way down the rule inverts. A falling price in a deep market is a bad entry you can still walk away from; a falling price with nobody trading is a trap, and it rates below the thing you can leave. The two sides are not mirror images and are not calculated as if they were.

What we leave out

Items with fewer than 20 recorded prices in the window, feeds that have not updated in 7 days, items without the 10 trading days needed to rate liquidity, and anything under $5 where a one-cent tick is a percentage point. Each is us declining to guess, not a judgement on the item.

Band boundaries are currently reasoned rather than fitted to the live distribution — they are an informed judgement about how this market moves, not a measurement of it. See the liquidity board for the trade-flow half on its own, or price trends for the price half.

Measurements, not advice. Nothing here predicts the future, and no indicator anticipates a game update, a tournament or a Steam sale. Never spend more than you can afford to lose.

Frequently asked questions

How do you decide which CS2 skins are best to buy?

Two readings, and neither is allowed to speak alone. The first is momentum: how the SteamAnalyst reference price has moved over the last 7 days, weighted against the last 30 so a one-week jump has to be confirmed by the month before it counts. The second is liquidity: whether the item actually trades, measured from real units changing hands over 30 days. Momentum sets the rating and liquidity can only pull it down — because a skin climbing 20% a week is worth nothing to you if there is no way to sell it again.

Why can an item rising fast still rate badly?

Because you have to be able to get back out. A rising price in a market where almost nothing trades is a number on a screen, not money — you would be buying into something with no buyers behind it. Thin trading caps how well an item can rate no matter how hard it is climbing, and an item that rarely trades at all cannot rate above "Weak entry".

What makes an item one of the worst to buy?

A falling price plus a market you cannot leave. Those two are worse together than either is alone: a falling price in a deep market is just a bad entry, since you can still sell. A falling price with nobody trading is a trap. So on the "worst to buy" list, thin trading pushes an item further down rather than merely capping it — the reverse of how it works on the buy side.

What is momentum and how is it calculated?

The 7-day price change weighted at 60%, plus the 30-day change at 40%. Signed, so the two argue with each other: a week up 10% inside a month down 10% blends to about +2% and lands in Neutral, which is the honest reading of a bounce inside a decline. An item needs roughly 8% blended momentum for the top band and 3% for the second.

Why does a big one-day jump not put an item at the top?

Because a week carried by its last day is a spike, not a trend — and it is the thing a momentum ranking gets wrong most often, sorting yesterday's jump to the top on the morning it is least likely to continue. When more than 50% of the week's move happened in the final day, the item cannot claim the top band and the row says so.

Where do the price changes come from?

The SteamAnalyst reference price — the same aggregate price shown in the price column here and on every skin page. That is deliberate: the percentage this page ranks on is the percentage the price beside it actually moved, and clicking through to the skin shows the same number. Three surfaces, one measurement.

Why is my skin missing from this list?

One of four reasons, and each is us declining to guess rather than a judgement on the item. We hold fewer than 20 recorded prices for it in the window; its price or trade data has not updated in over 7 days; we have not recorded the 10 trading days needed to rate its liquidity at all; or it is under $5, where a one-cent tick is a whole percentage point and the ranking would be measuring rounding rather than the market.

Is this financial advice?

No. It is a measurement of two things — where a price has been, and how readily the item trades — presented so you can see both and disagree with the conclusion. Neither predicts the future. Game updates, tournament demand and Steam sales all move this market in ways no indicator anticipates. Never spend more than you can afford to lose.