CS2 Skins Market Weekly: Pistol Skins Rally as Pumped Items Crash

In this post

This week, the CS2 skin market saw a sharp divergence. Low-tier pistols and niche collectibles moved aggressively higher, while several previously hyped skins collapsed after short-lived price pumps. The result was a classic momentum-driven week, where timing mattered far more than fundamentals.

Below is a breakdown of this week’s biggest gainers and losers, with context on which moves were organic and which were driven by speculative excess.

Top Gainers

Glock-18 | Brass (Minimal Wear) | +37.53%

Brass benefited from a mix of nostalgia and thin supply. Minimal Wear copies are not listed in large volume, and once buying started, sellers quickly adjusted prices upward. This move looks organic, supported by steady pistol demand rather than a single coordinated push.

Five-SeveN | Case Hardened (Factory New) | +33.81%

Factory New Case Hardened pistols always attract attention due to pattern potential and collector interest. FN supply is extremely limited, so even moderate buying pressure can cause sharp percentage gains. This move fits the profile of a low-liquidity breakout rather than a pump.

USP-S | Dark Water (Minimal Wear) | +24.84%

Dark Water continues to benefit from its clean, understated look. MW copies remain affordable compared to FN, making them a popular upgrade choice for players refreshing their loadouts. The growth here appears demand-driven and relatively stable.

FAMAS | Waters of Nephthys (Factory New) | +22.52%

This is a classic FN niche move. Waters of Nephthys has limited Factory New supply and very little daily volume, which makes it sensitive to speculation. While the design is appealing, this kind of growth usually depends on sentiment staying positive.

Charm | Lil’ Boo | +17.40%

Charms remain a volatile category. Lil’ Boo saw renewed interest as traders looked for smaller-ticket items with room to move. The charm market is still thin overall, so percentage gains can look dramatic even when absolute prices remain modest.

Biggest Losers

AK-47 | Aquamarine Revenge (Factory New) | −56.15%

After last week’s explosive rally, Aquamarine Revenge entered a full correction phase. Early buyers took profit, new supply hit the market, and momentum reversed quickly. This is a textbook post-pump unwind rather than a collapse in long-term demand.

MP9 | Setting Sun (Minimal Wear) | −42.33%

Setting Sun was heavily pumped in a short window, and once buying pressure stopped, prices fell back toward pre-pump levels. The sharp drop reflects how fragile gains can be in low-liquidity SMG skins when speculation fades.

MP9 | Goo (Battle-Scarred) | −39.33%

Goo followed a similar pattern. Battle-Scarred versions are easy to accumulate and quick to dump, making them ideal pump targets — and equally fast to crash once sellers rush the exits.

MAG-7 | Heat (Factory New) | −31.31%

MAG-7 skins often struggle to hold speculative gains. FN Heat saw aggressive undercutting as holders attempted to lock in profits, resetting the price floor.

MP9 | Stained Glass (Factory New) | −29.87%

Stained Glass FN suffered from a classic liquidity trap. Prices were pushed too far, too fast, and without enough real buyers underneath, the market retraced sharply once momentum broke.

CS2 News This Week: Premier Season Ending and Map Pool Talk

This week, attention also shifted to competitive updates from Valve. The current Premier season is approaching its end, a period that historically increases player activity as users push for final wins and rankings. End-of-season phases often correlate with short-term demand for loadout upgrades, especially pistols and rifles used heavily in ranked play.

In addition, community discussion intensified around potential map pool changes, with speculation that Anubis may be added or rotated back into Premier. Map pool adjustments tend to influence weapon usage patterns, particularly for rifles and pistols favored on specific layouts. Even unconfirmed changes can shift player focus and indirectly affect skin demand as anticipation builds.

Market Takeaway

This week was a reminder that not all price movement is created equal. Quiet, low-liquidity skins moved steadily higher, while aggressively pumped items gave back gains just as fast.

In the CS2 market: