M4A4 Howl in CS2: Price, History & Why It’s the Only Contraband Skin

Hear that loud, chilling howl? That’s the legendary M4A4 | Howl, a one-of-a-kind “Contraband” skin, searching for a friend. Today, we will introduce you to the only skin in CS2 that differs from all others. We will talk about its uniqueness, history, and, of course, how to obtain it in 2025.

So, let’s get down to business!

What Makes the M4A4 Howl So Special?

Not many people know the true story of the skin’s creation and why M4A4 | Howl is so rare. Today, we will talk about this. But first, let’s find out what makes this skin unique.

First of all, it is, of course, the design. Just look at how beautiful this skin looks; the combination of colors is simply striking. No wonder people say you can eternally look at three things: fire, water, and the M4A4 | Howl. Just kidding. However, it is a real flame from which it is impossible to tear your eyes away.

From within that flame, the image of a predatory mammal takes shape. Because it’s engulfed in fire, it’s not immediately clear whether you’re looking at a big, angry dog or a fierce wolf. But the longer you gaze at the image and consider the name “Howl,” the more you realize it’s definitely a wolf.

Among all M4A4 skins available in CS2, the Howl stands out not just for its rarity but for the depth of its backstory and striking design.

Honestly, the skin’s visuals are incredible. No matter what angle you view it from, the color palette works its magic, and you can’t help but be truly captivated. But it’s not just the look of the skin that makes it so special.

What truly makes this skin special is its status: the only skin in CS2 with the rarity Contraband. There is nothing else like it, and there will not be. What kind of rarity is this? Let’s consider it in more detail below.

Why is M4A4 Howl Contraband?

As we already mentioned, much time has passed since the release of the M4A4 | Howl, and many current players do not know the history of this skin and why it became Contraband.

The story began in the distant 2014 when two authors, Auzzii and Sic, uploaded a new skin to the Steam Workshop and named it “Howling Dawn.” Many users liked the skin because it was something new and fresh.

After a short period, Valve noticed this work’s great popularity and added the skin to the game. However, the skin was not in the game for long because the real author of this drawing saw the news about this skin and filed a lawsuit, where she spoke about her copyright and that no one asked permission to use her design.

Following this major scandal, Valve immediately deleted the original version of the skin and made their own, the slightly changed one you know today. The authors Auzzii and sic were permanently banned by the company, without the right to appeal, because they deceived not only the company but also many users.

Because of this situation, Valve removed the skin from its original case and gave it the special Contraband status, meaning you can only get this skin by trading directly with other players. This whole story made the skin not only famous but also very rare. The M4A4 | Howl’s price also skyrocketed.

Perhaps you have a question: how much does M4A4 | Howl cost? We will discuss this below.

M4A4 Howl Price Breakdown

The price of the CS2 M4A4 | Howl depends greatly on factors like the weapon’s condition (Factory New or Well-Worn), the presence of a StatTrak counter, and other elements that affect its overall value. Let’s understand the pricing together if you want to find out more details about the M4A4 | Howl’s price, this exceptionally unique rifle.

Current Market Trends and Factors Affecting Price

Let’s look together at the factors that influence the price of the M4A4 Howl, starting with the most important factor: wear level.

Wear level is an indicator of how damaged a skin is from its ideal version. By default, all skins in CS2 appear ideal, without scratches or abrasions. Every skin you receive from a case has an added wear factor that ranges between 0.00 and 1.00.

Expressed in percentages, a skin can have anywhere from 0% wear (perfect condition) to 100% wear (the most damaged version). For instance, a skin with a wear value of 0.15 is generally seen by the community as having 15% damage.

However, to avoid memorizing all of this, Valve created a special gradation by wear level and named them according to their appearance. Thus, Factory New, Minimal Wear, etc., appeared.

For a clear understanding, here is detailed information about these wear levels:

• FN (Factory New) – 0.00 – 0.07
• MW (Minimal Wear) – 0.07 – 0.15
• FT (Field-Tested) – 0.15 – 0.38
• Well-Worn (WW) – 0.38 – 0.45
• Battle-Scarred (BS) – 0.45 – 1.00

The M4A4 | Howl is available in conditions ranging from FN to WW. Numerically, the skin is available from 0.00 to 0.40, which means that even in the worst condition, the skin will only be 40% damaged.

Also, the StatTrak counter greatly influences how much the M4A4 | Howl costs. For those who don’t quite understand what it is, let’s explain a bit. The StatTrak counter is a special small screen on the skin that shows how many kills you have made with that weapon. This counter visually resembles a 2000s electronic alarm clock. It is usually located in a visible place but does not interfere with the main design.

Whenever you get skin from a case, it’s checked for a StatTrak counter, with a 10% chance of any unboxed skin having one. Back when the M4A4 | Howl was still obtainable, very few people managed to get a StatTrak version. This scarcity makes these skins significantly rarer, leading to much higher exclusivity and price.

How Much Does M4A4 Howl Cost?

Once you understand which factors influence skin and what exactly changes with the presence or absence of some of them, we can talk about the price and consider it in detail.

If you want to buy a regular M4A4 | Howl without a StatTrak counter, then the information below is for you.

Price of M4A4 Howl without StatTrak counter:

• Factory New (FN): $7,000 – $9,000
• Minimal Wear (MW): $5,000 – $6,000
• Field-Tested (FT): $4,500 – $5,000
• Well-Worn (WW): $4,000 – $4,700

However, if you want to buy a truly unique and rarer find, the StatTrak version of the M4A4 | Howl, expect prices to be a bit steeper:

• Factory New (FN): $14,000 – $70,000
• Minimal Wear (MW): $11,000 – $12,000
• Field-Tested (FT): $8,000 – $11,000
• Well-Worn (WW): $7,100 – $8,000

Where and How to Buy M4A4 Howl?

Since Valve completely withdrew this skin from sale, you can no longer obtain it from cases. You have only two options left: exchange with another player or purchase it via a third-party website. It’s practically impossible to find someone who owns an M4A4 | Howl, and even if you do, that person probably won’t want to exchange it with you. Plus, you risk getting scammed, as the trade can be quite unsafe.

The second, more reliable, and safer option is to buy the M4A4 | Howl on one of the websites that deal with skin trading, and ShadowPay is the best option. This website stands out for its protection and strong security, as well as its huge selection and pleasant prices.

Most of the skins on the site belong to players who lower the prices of their skins to sell them faster. For you, this is a great opportunity to get really good skin, and it is often cheaper. Some players offer expensive knives or rare AWP skins at discounts of up to 40% because they need to sell quickly.

Wrapping Up!

M4A4 | Howl is one of the most famous skins in CS2, and its rarity is a unique case that will never be repeated. The skin will always have the unique rarity Contraband, and its price will grow! So, if you liked the story about this skin and want even more interesting and useful facts about the world of CS2, stay with us and read our blog!