CS2 Trade-Up Guide
CS2 StatTrak and Souvenir Trade-Up Rules (Updated for 2026)
Standard StatTrak trade-ups use 10 StatTrak inputs and return an eligible StatTrak skin. Five StatTrak Covert inputs can return a StatTrak knife from an input collection. Since Valve's May 22, 2026 update, Souvenir items can be selected with normal items, but all Souvenir attributes are removed and the result is one normal item of the next quality from an input collection.
Can you use StatTrak skins in a CS2 trade-up?
Yes. For the standard rarity ladder, select 10 eligible StatTrak items of the same rarity to receive a StatTrak output one rarity higher from the represented collections. Normal and StatTrak outcome pools are distinct, so price the StatTrak result rather than borrowing the normal skin's market value.
Can StatTrak Covert skins trade up to a knife?
Yes. Valve expanded contracts in October 2025: five StatTrak Covert items can be exchanged for one StatTrak knife from a collection represented by the inputs. The parallel regular-quality route can return a regular knife or regular gloves.
Because eligible special-item pools depend on the represented collections, verify the complete set shown by the contract before valuing the roll. Read the knife and glove trade-up guide for the five-input workflow and risk checks.
Can you use Souvenir skins in trade-up contracts?
Yes, under the current rule. Valve's May 22, 2026 update states that Souvenir-quality items can be selected alongside normal-quality items. All Souvenir attributes are removed from selected Souvenir items, and the result is a single normal item one quality higher from a collection of the selected items.
That means the output is not a Souvenir skin. Do not use a Souvenir output price in the EV calculation, and do not assign value to preserving the input stickers or tournament provenance—they do not survive the contract.
What happens when Souvenir and normal inputs are mixed?
Both types contribute their collections to the output pool. The returned item is normal quality. Use the same collection-weight logic described in our trade-up probability guide, then value the eligible normal outputs at their predicted wears.
What is the practical difference between normal, StatTrak, and Souvenir?
| Input route | Required count | Output quality |
|---|---|---|
| Normal, below Covert | 10 | Normal, one rarity higher |
| StatTrak, below Covert | 10 | StatTrak, one rarity higher |
| Normal + Souvenir mix | 10 | Normal, one quality higher; Souvenir attributes removed |
| Regular Covert special route | 5 | Regular knife or gloves from an input collection |
| StatTrak Covert special route | 5 | StatTrak knife from an input collection |
When can a Souvenir input make sense?
Only when its all-in price, normalized float contribution, and collection contribution improve the contract after accepting that its Souvenir identity disappears. A Souvenir item with valuable stickers or collector provenance can command a premium that the contract destroys. Compare it with the cheapest normal-quality substitute that supplies the same collection weight and normalized float contribution.
What should you verify before using special-quality inputs?
- The in-game contract accepts the exact selected quality combination.
- The output preview contains only the collections you modeled.
- Normal and StatTrak prices have not been mixed in the calculation.
- Souvenir attributes and attached provenance are valued at zero after submission.
- The exact input floats, normalized within their own skin ranges, still meet the basket target.
What are the official sources for these rule changes?
Valve documented the Covert expansion in the official October 22, 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update and the Souvenir rule in the official May 22, 2026 update notes. Because item rules can change, recheck Valve's current notes and the in-game contract preview before committing an expensive basket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can normal skins trade up into a StatTrak skin?
Does a Souvenir trade-up return a Souvenir skin?
Do Souvenir stickers survive a trade-up?
Can five StatTrak Covert items return StatTrak gloves?
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