CS2 Karambit Fade Guide: Complete Pattern & Value Analysis (2026)
Mission Briefing
- 1Understanding Karambit Fade
- 2The Fade Percentage Spectrum
- 3Corner Quality: Critical Value Factor
- 4How to Verify Fade Percentage
👑 THE HOLY GRAIL
The Most Iconic Knife: The Karambit Fade has been the pinnacle of Counter-Strike knife collecting since 2013. Unlike Dopplers with fixed phases, every Fade is unique with pattern-based percentages from 80% to 100%. A true 100% Fade with flawless corner can command $5,000+ premiums.
#Understanding Karambit Fade
What Makes Fade Special?
The Fade finish creates a gradient effect from purple at the handle to pink in the middle to yellow at the tip. Each Karambit Fade has a unique pattern seed that determines its fade percentage.
Key Characteristics:
- Pattern-Based: Seeds 0-1000 determine color distribution
- No Two Alike: Unlike Dopplers with 4 fixed phases, every Fade % is unique
- CS2 Enhancement: Source 2 lighting makes colors more vibrant and metallic
- Collector Focus: The most scrutinized knife finish in CS2
#The Fade Percentage Spectrum
Fade percentage measures how much yellow appears on the blade. Higher % = more yellow = more valuable.
Fade % Tiers Explained
80% - 85% Fade - The Entry Tier
Color Distribution: 60% Purple, 40% Pink, 0% Yellow
Visual ID: Purple dominates from handle to mid-blade
Price Position: Baseline (cheapest Fade tier)
Typical Price: $1,200-1,400
Best For: Budget buyers who want Fade prestige without premium cost
86% - 89% Fade - The Standard
Color Distribution: 40% Purple, 55% Pink, 5% Yellow hint
Visual ID: Pink dominates, tiny yellow at very tip
Price Position: +10-15% over 80%
Typical Price: $1,400-1,600
Best For: Players wanting solid Fade without collector premiums
90% - 95% Fade - The Fake 90/10
Color Distribution: 20% Purple, 60% Pink, 20% Yellow
Visual ID: Clear yellow tip visible, minimal purple at handle
Price Position: +30-50% over baseline
Typical Price: $1,600-2,000
Warning: Often marketed as "90/10" but isn't true 90/10
96% - 97% Fade - True 90/10 Territory
Color Distribution: 5% Purple, 85% Pink, 10% Yellow
Visual ID: Dominant pink/yellow, purple barely visible
Price Position: +100-150% over baseline
Typical Price: $2,400-3,000
Collector Status: This is what true collectors mean by "90/10"
98% - 100% Fade - The Holy Grail
Color Distribution: 0-2% Purple, 88% Pink, 10-12% Yellow
Visual ID: No purple visible, massive yellow tip
Price Position: +200-300% over baseline
Typical Price: $3,500-5,000+
Rarity: Only ~50 true 100% Fades exist across all floats
The 90/10 Terminology Explained
Old System (2013-2018):
- "90/10" meant 90% Pink, 10% Yellow
- "80/17/3" meant 80% Pink, 17% Purple, 3% Yellow
- Terms were subjective and inconsistent
Modern System (2019+):
- Fade % calculated from pattern index database
- CSFloat and other tools provide exact percentages
- "True 90/10" now refers to 96%+ fade only
#Corner Quality: Critical Value Factor
Corner quality often matters MORE than fade percentage for resale value and collector appeal.
Understanding Karambit Corners
✅ Premium Corners
Flawless: 0 pixels missing (+50-100% premium)
Pixel Corner: 1-2 pixels missing (+30-50%)
Near Flawless: 3-5 pixels (+15-25%)
❌ Poor Corners
Average: 20-30 pixels missing (baseline)
Below Average: 40-60 pixels (-20%)
Poor: 70+ pixels missing (-30-50%)
How to Check:
- Inspect in CS2 client with high graphics settings
- Use CSFloat high-resolution screenshots
- Zoom 300-400% on corner area
- Count missing pixels or use automated corner checker
#How to Verify Fade Percentage
Never trust seller claims. Always verify independently.
Method 1: CSFloat Database (Recommended)
- Copy inspect link from Steam Market or inventory
- Visit csfloat.com and paste link
- View exact fade % (e.g., "94.3%")
- Check pattern index and corner quality
- Compare to historical sales data
Method 2: Pattern Index Reference
| Fade % | Notable Pattern Seeds |
|---|---|
| 100% | 412 |
| 99%+ | 363, 426, 847 |
| 98%+ | 148, 272, 603, 838 |
| 96-97% | 38, 162, 551, 661, 774 |
| 90-95% | 72, 139, 266, 321, 428 |
Pro Tip: Pattern Arbitrage
#Price Guide & Market Values
December 2026 Market Prices (FN, Good Corner)
| Fade % | Base Price | Pixel Corner | Flawless |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80-85% | $1,200-1,400 | $1,500-1,700 | $1,800-2,000 |
| 90-93% | $1,600-1,900 | $1,900-2,200 | $2,300-2,700 |
| 96-97% | $2,400-2,800 | $2,800-3,400 | $3,500-4,500 |
| 98-100% | $3,500-5,000 | $5,000-7,500 | $8,000-12,000 |
#Investment & Trading Strategy
Best Times to Buy
- Operation releases (-10-20% panic selling)
- Steam Sales (-8-15% discount period)
- Post-Major crashes (hype dies down)
Flip Trading Strategy
- Find underpriced high-fade listings
- Verify fade % with CSFloat
- Buy immediately if 15%+ below market
- Relist with accurate description
- Target $300-800 profit per flip
Budget Pick
Collector Pick
#Common Mistakes & Scams
Always verify fade % independently with CSFloat. Many sellers call 90% a "max" to justify higher prices.
A 98% with terrible corner is worth LESS than a 92% with flawless corner. Always check both.
True 90/10 means 96%+ only. Don't pay premium prices for 93-95% Fades marketed as "90/10".
#Summary: Quick Reference
Fade Priority (Value):
- 100% ($5k-12k)
- 98-99% ($3.2k-7k)
- 96-97% ($2.4k-4.5k)
- 90-95% ($1.6k-2.7k)
Corner Priority:
- Flawless > Pixel > Near Flawless > BTA > Average > Poor
Best Value: 93% Fade with pixel corner ($2,100) Best Investment: 96% True 90/10, flawless corner ($4,000)
👑 Find Your Perfect Karambit Fade
Use our pattern database to discover underpriced high-fade Karambits before other buyers.
Explore Fade Database →
Final Advice: The Karambit Fade is an investment. Always verify fade % with CSFloat, prioritize corner quality, and buy during market dips. A well-chosen Karambit Fade appreciates 10-15% annually.
Join our Discord community for real-time alerts on underpriced high-fade Karambits.