When Wear Actually Matters in CS2: A Practical Guide to Condition Tiers
The Float Spectrum: What Each Tier Actually Means
| Tier | Float Range | % of Possible Values |
|---|---|---|
| Factory New (FN) | 0.00 - 0.07 | 7% |
| Minimal Wear (MW) | 0.07 - 0.15 | 8% |
| Field-Tested (FT) | 0.15 - 0.38 | 23% |
| Well-Worn (WW) | 0.38 - 0.45 | 7% |
| Battle-Scarred (BS) | 0.45 - 1.00 | 55% |
The Float Cap Trap: Skins That Can't Reach FN
AWP | Gungnir: The $9k Paperweight
The Pattern-Based Cap
When MW Looks Identical to FN: The Hidden Bargains
The Doppler Black Pearl Family
What About StatTrak?
When Float Drastically Changes Appearance: The Exceptions
The Katowice 2014 Sticker Paradox
The Graffiti Anomaly
Battle-Scarred Skins That Look Better Worn
The "Distressed" Pattern Skins
The Kato 2014 BS Flex
Practical Buying Guide: When to Pay for Float
Pay the FN Premium When:
- The skin has light, bright colors that show scratches easily (think white or pastel patterns)
- You're buying a Doppler Phase 1-4 (not Black Pearl) where the pattern is lighter and wear is visible
- The skin has a low float cap (0.00-0.01) and you want the absolute best
- You're planning to resell within 6 months—FN always has better liquidity
Buy MW and Save When:
- The skin is dark (Black Pearl, Gamma Doppler, Night, any dark blue/black pattern)
- The pattern is heavily textured (damascus steel, case hardened without blue gem)
- You're buying a knife where the playside is the only visible part
- The price gap between FN and MW is more than 30%
Buy FT or Lower When:
- You're applying expensive stickers (Kato 2014, Crown Foil, etc.)—the sticker is the value
- The skin has a pattern that looks better worn (rust, battle damage, artificial wear)
- You're chasing a specific float for a 1/1 craft
- The skin is so rare that condition doesn't matter (like the Gungnir)
Skip WW Entirely When:
- WW is the most awkward tier. It's often more expensive than FT but looks significantly worse. Unless you're chasing a specific float number, FT or BS is usually the better buy.
