In the Counter-Strike community, there's nothing that shows a player's status better than a flashy cosmetic. There are a few different types of cosmetics in Counter-Strike 2, like stickers, weapon skins, account customizations, and Agents, most of which can be acquired via the same methods.
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The best skins in CS2 tend to be expensive to purchase outright, but that doesn't mean there aren't other ways to get CS2 skins. Though the Operations game mode in CS:GO was a good source for skins, it has yet to be added to CS2. But until then, these are the best ways to unlock new skins in CS2, as well as how to equip cosmetics in the new UI.
How To Unlock Skins In CS2
The Weekly Care Package
Counter-Strike 2 has a feature that guarantees all players at least one new skin each week, as long as they play the game enough. Every player has an XP Rank associated with their account. Once every week (resetting Tuesday night in the U.S.) players who gain an XP Rank will be rewarded with a Weekly Care Package.
This Weekly Care Package will reveal four items, of which players can choose two. Three of the items revealed in a Weekly Care Package can be anything from stickers to sprays to weapon skins, but one of the four items will always be a Case. Cases can only be opened with a matching Key, which must be purchased from the Steam Marketplace. To afford the best skins in CS2, and to open cases earned this way, players will have to use their own money in the Steam Marketplace. As of release, there is no other way for players to unlock free Counter-Strike 2 skins.
The Steam Marketplace
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive let players get new cosmetics by completing a variety of in-game modes, many of which were not included in the base release of CS2. The only other way for players to acquire new skins in CS2 aside from using the Weekly Care Package is to engage in the Steam Community Market and trading.
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Here, players can find cosmetics for just about everything in the game, though it does require players to have funds in the Steam Wallet. It's possible to amass enough credit on one's Steam Account for CS2 community items just by selling Steam Trading Cards and by re-selling CS2 skins that won't be used.
How To Equip Skins in CS2
To equip skins Counter-Strike 2 players have acquired, head to the "INVENTORY" tab at the top of the screen. In the new CS2 layout, players will see either the Counter-Terrorist or Terrorist loadout. To swap the side currently being customized, just click on the opposing team's slightly faded model.
How To Change Weapon Skin in CS2
To change weapon skins in CS2, click on a slot in the appropriate column in the loadout menu in the center of the screen. Then, scroll to find the weapon skin and equip it in a slot. For example, to equip a new AWP skin, click on the bottom cell of the "RIFLES" column and scroll to find your skin of choice listed as a separate entry from the standard version.
Customizing Other CS2 Cosmetics
To equip an Agent skin, a grenade skin, a knife skin, a Soundtrack, an Account Badge, or Spray, look for the column next to the CT or T model, separated from the weapons loadout menu. Click each icon to see equippable items in the inventory – most of these player cosmetics are not restricted by side and can be equipped freely, except for Agents.
