The M4A4 is the higher-capacity CT-side rifle in CS2 — 30 bullets in the magazine, faster rate of fire than the M4A1-S, no silencer. Its skin market is smaller than the AK-47's (fewer buyers vote CT), but at the top end it houses one of the game's most legendary finishes: the Howl, a contraband-classified skin that Valve removed from drops in 2014 and can no longer be crafted or obtained new.
The core M4A4 collection includes: Howl (contraband, $8,000–25,000+), Asiimov ($60–350), The Emperor ($120–600), Neo-Noir ($40–200), Poseidon ($1,500–5,000), Bullet Rain ($20–150), Desolate Space ($15–80), Cyber Security ($30–150) and Buzz Kill. Entry-tier options like Faded Zebra, Zirka and Modern Hunter trade under $5.
Prices refresh daily at 04:00 UTC from four sources. Click any variant to see full price history and cross-market listings.
All variants — live prices
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best M4A4 skin in CS2?
Under $50: M4A4 Desolate Space or Neo-Noir in Field-Tested. Under $200: Asiimov, The Emperor or Bullet Rain. Flagship: M4A4 Howl (contraband status guarantees long-term scarcity). For pattern hunters: M4A4 Poseidon in Factory New with clean sticker slots.
Why is the M4A4 Howl so expensive?
The M4A4 Howl is the only "Contraband" tier skin in CS2 — Valve removed it from the drop pool in 2014 after an artist filed a DMCA claim over the original Howl design. Existing Howls in the wild are permanently frozen supply — no new drops, no crafts, no trade-ups. As demand for the finish grew and supply drained through wear-out, the price has climbed from $200 in 2015 to over $8,000 today in Field-Tested.
M4A4 or M4A1-S — which has better skins?
The M4A4 catalogue is deeper at the flagship tier because of Howl and Poseidon. The M4A1-S catalogue has stronger mid-tier finishes (Hyper Beast, Cyrex, Printstream, Welcome to the Jungle). If you love the CT-side and want a statement skin, M4A4 Howl is the ceiling. If you want a versatile everyday-carry, an M4A1-S Hyper Beast or Printstream Field-Tested is the best-value option under $200.
Are M4A4 skins a good investment?
M4A4 flagship skins (Howl, Poseidon, Emperor Factory New) have historically appreciated well. Howl is the strongest performer in the CS2 skin market since 2019. Mid- and low-tier M4A4 skins track the general market and don't reliably appreciate.