AWP Desert Hydra: Price, Rarity & Trade-Up Guide

In CS2, obtaining a rare and desirable skin equals winning a lottery. Moreover, while such cosmetic items share a premium value, they are also synonymous with prestige and exclusivity. One of them is AWP | Desert Hydra, which shares everything and even more. In combination with a mythical creature-inspired design and extreme scarcity, this sniper rifle is one of the most coveted on the market. But how costly is it? Is it worth buying? Follow our material to know the answers, the visual and price differences for all wear conditions.

What Makes the AWP | Desert Hydra Special in CS2?

Valve released AWP | Desert Hydra on September 21, 2021, as part of the Budapest 2025 Mirage Souvenir Package, alongside the “Operation Riptide” update. The design, featuring a mythical creature alongside light tones and gold (orange) lines, instantly became popular in the community.

The reason lies in the high-contrast look, made possible by the desert-inspired design on the main body and the art of the hydra. While they are accented with gold and teal highlights, the rest of the sniper rifle is painted white, including the scope, barrel, and stock. As a result, it’s eye-catching in every match and on every map.

The thematic design and scarcity make this AWP one of the most exciting sniper rifle designs.

AWP | Desert Hydra Rarity Explained

Desert Hydra shares a Covert rarity. It’s also available in two versions: a standard and the Souvenir skin. While players can currently only get the standard version through trading, the Souvenir version can be obtained through Souvenir package opening.

For example, it’s available in the following packages:

• Stockholm 2021 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Rio 2022 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Antwerp 2022 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Paris 2023 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Copenhagen 2024 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Shanghai 2024 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Budapest 2025 Mirage Souvenir Package
• Austin 2025 Mirage Souvenir Package

At the same time, the drop odds in Souvenir packages differ from those in weapon cases. While in weapon containers, Covert skins have 0.64% chance of being obtained; the Souvenir Covert skins’ odds are approximately 0.0256%. In other words, players need to open around 3906 packages to get at least one Covert skin.

Based on the odds, Desert Hydra is one of the rarest skins in the CS2. In fact, only around 15,000 users own it, while cheaper skins are available to over a million players.

Why Desert Hydra Is Still Considered Rare?

As we mentioned before, the drop odds of getting AWP | Desert Hydra are quite tough. You should be especially lucky to obtain such a cosmetic item without spending thousands of dollars. No less important is the fact that standard versions of the skin could be dropped only during the operation. The last such event was in 2021 (Operation Riptide).

Such a rare opportunity to obtain a cosmetic item initially increases its price. Moreover, without a new operation in CS2, Desert Hydra is likely to become even more expensive due to the low number of offers on the market.

Float Values and Wear Behavior of AWP | Desert Hydra

As with other CS2 (CS:GO) skins, the float value and wear quality are crucial details of cosmetic items. They define the final look of the skin, making it more or less scratched and faded. For example, Desert Hydra is available in the float range of 0.00-0.60, from the best to the worst condition.

Considering the float value, AWP | Desert Hydra in Factory New quality has a near-perfect look with almost no fading, even at the highest float values for this wear level. It’s the best possible condition players can obtain from a Souvenir package or the market.

AWP | Desert Hydra in Minimal Wear quality demonstrates almost the same visual as the previous wear level. Available in the float range of 0.07-0.15, it’s the second-best option to obtain. The only detail that fades in color is a foldable bipod. At the same time, the price difference between FN and MW wear levels could be $1,000 for the standard version and $700 for the Souvenir version.

AWP | Desert Hydra in Field-Tested condition is the best option for players with a limited budget. Of course, depending on the float value (0.15-0.38), it can share more fading on different parts of the sniper rifle, such as the muzzle brake, receiver, and scope.

The skin in Well-Worn condition, with a float range of 0.38-0.45, includes fading on the rubber recoil pad and barrel. Overall, the colors are less bright and rich.

Lastly, AWP | Desert Hydra in Battle-Scarred condition has the worst possible finish quality. Available with a float range of 0.45-0.60, it can contain more or less noticeable scratches and color fading on the sniper rifle body. At the same time, in the highest float value (0.60), Desert Hydra takes on a completely new look. The parts, such as the barrel and scope, finish their transition from light to dark tones, while some orange lines remain, creating a new look for the skin.

Overall, a float value is essential for the skin’s visual appearance. A change in a single number can directly affect the final price and market demand.

AWP | Desert Hydra Price and Market Trends

Continuing the topic of the value, let’s explore the AWP | Desert Hydra price. As we mentioned, it depends on the float value and wear level. For example, the AWP | Desert Hydra Factory New price is the highest among the options.

The cost of the AWP | Desert Hydra MW is the second on the market. The reason lies in the low number of wear signs. In other words, the more scratches and color fadings on the skin, the cheaper it is. At the same time, the price for variants with the highest possible float value could be higher even than AWP | Desert Hydra FT. As we mentioned previously, the AWP | Desert Hydra BS with the float of 0.60 takes a new look with more dark tones. Also, it could be especially rare compared to other float values.

The value of the skin is no less important. The reason lies in the fact that it directly affects the number of potential buyers and players who can afford it.

Current AWP | Desert Hydra Price Ranges

Here, we provide lists with current CS2 Desert Hydra price ranges for different versions of the skin and its wear levels:

• Standard skin:
  • Factory New: $3,008.53
  • Minimal Wear: $2,069.41
  • Field-Tested: $1,589.10
  • Well-Worn: $1,433.89
  • Battle-Scarred: $1,394.87
• The StatTrak skin:
  • Factory New: $2,698.99
  • Minimal Wear: $1,900.73
  • Field-Tested: $1,500.55
  • Well-Worn: $1,335.69
  • Battle-Scarred: $1,272.85

Understanding the actual price of a skin can help players manage their budget and future spending. It especially matters in situations with a limited budget.

What Drives Desert Hydra Price Changes?

Different factors drive the Desert Hydra price. The most common among them are game updates and rumors, player demand, and the skin’s popularity. Of course, the item’s rarity also affects its price. Desert Hydra shares a Covert rarity. To get the Souvenir version, players need to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars due to the extremely low odds. In fact, the chance of getting it from a Souvenir package is even lower than the chance of getting a knife or gloves from a weapon case.

Back to game updates and rumors, these changes are especially noticeable during the announcement of CS2 release with a newer game engine and the Trade-Up Update, which allows users to get a knife or gloves by using five Covert skins.

Such changes are crucial for traders and long-term collectors, as they can significantly affect prices, either increasing or decreasing them. At the same time, without a high player demand, even such rare skins can barely change in value over the years.

How AWP | Desert Hydra Trade-Ups Work?

For AWP | Desert Hydra, Trade-Up Contracts are available only for the standard version (non-Souvenir). In continuation of the topic, players need to use 10 Classified skins from the 2021 Mirage Collection. It includes Desert Eagle | Fennec Fox and MP5-SD | Oxide Oasis.

It’s crucial to use skins from the same collection you want to obtain the skin from to increase your chances of getting the exact Covert skin you need. No less important are the float value and the wear condition of the Classified skins, as they affect the final result.

At the same time, considering the price of the mentioned skins, it might be more expensive in comparison to directly purchasing Desert Hydra CS2 on the market. The other option is to use one or a few Classified skins from the 2021 Mirage Collection, along with finishes from other collections that don’t offer Covert items (e.g., The Bank Collection). While the general odds decrease, the result might be Desert Hydra AWP.

Of course, the last variant, combining skins from different collections, might make sense. The reason lies in the cost of such a trade-up contract, which could exceed $4,000 to obtain an AWP | Desert Hydra FN. Still, we recommend using trade-up calculators to see the real odds of getting the coveted skin.

Is AWP | Desert Hydra Worth Buying in CS2?

In CS2, AWP | Desert Hydra is more than just a skin. Owning such a cosmetic item in the inventory equals prestige and status. Moreover, making a headshot from Desert Hydra during a round is noticeable by both teammates and opponents. Of course, we should also include the option to make your combination with gloves even more unique.

Still, we shouldn’t ignore the investment potential of the Desert Hydra. Introduced in 2021, it had an average price of less than $2,000 in 2022, while in 2026, its minimum price started at $2,950. At the same time, the Souvenir version has stayed in the same price range since its release, with peaks and valleys.

Buying such a legendary skin might make sense for players who want to add it to their loadout, or long-term investors who are ready to wait for the price to increase. With such a low chance of obtaining the skin, including its Covert rarity, there is a high chance it becomes even more valuable than it is now.

Who Should Buy the AWP | Desert Hydra?

AWP | Desert Hydra could be a nice variant for high-budget collectors. Additionally, this cosmetic item offers an investment potential, which shares an option for investors and long-term traders. Of course, in comparison to some other CS2 (CS:GO) skins, especially with a long history, such an item is less expensive, along with fewer price changes over the last few years. At the same time, it’s still extremely rare and shares a community demand. In other words, the price can grow, especially if we see it in tournaments.

No less important to mention is the high cost of obtaining Desert Hydra. Regardless of which skin version you choose, it will cost a fortune in both scenarios. As a result, only a low number of players could be lucky enough to add this skin to their collection.

Wrapping Up!

As you can see, AWP | Desert Hydra shares not just a high value, but a status. It’s a cosmetic item available only to a small number of players. As a bonus, it also has an investment potential, especially in the standard version. Do you want to try your luck and obtain one from a Souvenir package? If you are ready to purchase such an item directly, then visit ShadowPay for safe, verified listings and the best deals when buying the AWP Desert Hydra.