How does the VALORANT CS2 knife easter egg change colors: Explained
VALORANT and Counter-Strike 2 are two different successful FPS games that millions of players enjoy all around the world. However, Riot Games added a small surprise to VALORANT that connects it to Valve’s legendary game. VALORANT’s Black.Market knife includes a rare effect that reflects a specific CS2 design that many players are in love with. Here is everything you need to know about the VALORANT CS2 knife easter egg and how it works!
What is the VALORANT CS2 knife easter egg?
The VALORANT CS2 knife Easter egg is found in the Black.Market bundle, released in April 2023. The melee option in this bundle is a butterfly knife. On rare occasions, the knife changes its color at the start of a round. We already published a piece when it first went viral, but nowadays, the trend has returned with more people encountering the easter egg while playing VALORANT.
In CS2, the Fade knife shines with a mix of yellow, purple, and pink. The Sapphire knife has a deep blue glow that stands out in-game. Both are highly valued inside the Counter-Strike community. In VALORANT, players cannot buy these colors as variants. Instead, the knife shifts into them randomly, with no way to control when it happens.
How to change knife colors in VALORANT
Players cannot manually change the colors of the Black.Market Butterfly Knife. The game applies the effect automatically at the start of a round. Most rounds will show the normal skin, while a few will reveal the Fade or Sapphire effect. This means no menu option or setting can force the change.
The mechanic works like a hidden trigger. Once activated, the knife glows with either the mix of warm shades from the Fade or the dark blue from the Sapphire. The chance is very low, so many players may go dozens of matches before seeing it.
The Black.Market bundle itself costs 7,100 Valorant Points (VP), while the melee can be bought alone for 3,550 VP. The collection does not stay in the shop permanently, so players who missed it need to wait for a future rotation. Once purchased, the knife always has the chance to display the Easter egg colors. The only way to see it is to equip the knife and play until the random effect appears.
Is the easter egg a rare CS2 knife?
Knives in Counter-Strike are some of the rarest cosmetic items. Players can only get them through case openings or trades, and their value comes from both rarity and demand. The Fade and Sapphire knives in particular are well known for their striking designs and status in the CS2 community.
The VALORANT Easter egg does not work in the same way. It is not a separate variant that players can buy, trade, or collect. Instead, it is an effect built into the Black.Market Butterfly Knife. Anyone who owns the knife has a chance to see it, but the effect appears randomly. This makes it rare in terms of appearance but not in ownership.
In Counter-Strike, rarity is linked to market value and trading. In VALORANT, rarity is linked to the skin line’s release date, availability, etc.
Similar VALORANT and CS2 knives
Both games feature knife skins that fans often compare. Counter-Strike set the trend with its famous knives, while VALORANT introduced its own designs inspired by them. These similarities are easy to spot, especially in the animation style and blade shape.
Here is a simple comparison:
| VALORANT Knife | CS2 Knife | Similarity |
|---|---|---|
| Black.Market Butterfly Knife | Butterfly Knife Fade / Sapphire | Random Easter egg colors resemble CS2 finishes |
| Recon Butterfly Knife | Classic Butterfly Knife | Same flipping animation and slim blade shape |
| Prime 2.0 Karambit | Karambit | Curved blade with spinning equip motion |
| Xenohunter Knife | Huntsman Knife | Rugged, heavy design with tactical look |
The VALORANT CS2 knife Easter egg is a rare detail that connects two of the biggest FPS games. For VALORANT fans, it is a hidden reward inside the Black.Market bundle. For Counter-Strike fans, it is recognition of iconic knives that shaped FPS culture.
You can find more VALORANT guides below:
Featured Image Credit: u/XedrixTTV on r/VALORANT
Onur Demirkol here, Content Writer for THESPIKEGG. You will see his name on a bunch of different articles here, whether they are breaking news or evergreen guides and content.
His journey in the industry has been marked by influential roles at esteemed platforms such as Flank Esports and 5Mid, where he served as editor-in-chief. Onur made significant contributions to their success in written content and social media, including a notable impact on an issue of the Turkish Esports Federation magazine. Currently, he serves as the Lead Editor for Gamelevate, taking pride in managing a global team of 12 talented writers. Additionally, Onur regularly contributes to Softonic, gHacks, Dataconomy, and Techbriefly. He has written thousands of articles, and that number continues to go up.