Best Case Hardened Patterns: Blue Gem, Gold Gem

The Shadow Daggers | Case Hardened is one of the most iconic knives in the history of CS:GO, combining the stealthy tanto knives used by shinobi with the legendary Case Hardened finish. Every person familiar with the Counter-Strike franchise is familiar with Case Hardened finish, mostly due to the infamous #661 Blue Gem AK-47 Case Hardened that was sold for almost $1.5 million. However, the Shadow Daggers is no exception – its Case Hardened version is one of the if not the most desirable finish for this particular knife. Just like with the AK-47 version, you could acquire the Blue Gem version of Shadow Daggers, that is if your pocket is deep enough. The patterns with the most amount of blue color on the playside tend to be the most valuable for pretty much every Case Hardened and Heat Treated finishes. In our guide, we will provide you with a detailed list of all the most valuable Shadow Dagger Case Hardened patterns ranked by desirability. 

Shadow Daggers Case Hardened Tier List

The Shadow Daggers | Case Hardened was released in CS:GO on September 17th, 2015, during the Shadow Boxing update. Although the knife tends to be considered somewhat of a lower-tier knife, due to a number of factors (one of them being the “buttplugs” nickname), the Case Hardened finish drives this knife’s desirability up a notch, especially if you manage to snag the Blue Gem pattern. 

As to Case Hardened finish, these skins are inspired by the real-life process of strengthening metal via application of extreme temperatures, creating the unique blend of gold, purple and blue, an unmistakable color combo known to every gun enthusiast. This design became an instant hit and translated to the Counter-Strike skin market very well, creating a relentless hunt for the patterns with most amount of blue coverage. 

What is a Blue Gem?

The Case Hardened patterns mainly consist of the gold-and-grey base coat with small blue patches here and there. The pattern where blue covers the entire playside of the blade is considered Blue Gem. However, due to Shadow Dagger being two blades, it is not possible to get 100% full blue on both blades. The top tier SD Blue Gems will still have noticeable purple and gold patches. The blue coverage on average should be over 90%, but with Shadow Daggers the number may fall short. Let’s take a closer look at the best possible Shadow Daggers patterns. 

Tier 1 Blue Gem Shadow Daggers

As the name implies, the following patterns feature a color scheme where the blue color is dominant with little to no additional color patches of gold or purple. These patterns command a huge overpay, and the best ones can go upwards of a thousand dollars easily, considering how rare they are to find on the market. The rank 1 Blue Gem is pattern #56, often hailed as the True Blue Gem. 

Pattern index number: 56, 14, 80, 417, 468, 505, 576, 609, 618, 657, 707

Tier 2 Shadow Daggers Case Hardened Patterns

The Tier 2 patterns can be amazing alternatives to more expensive and elusive Blue Gems, with slightly more frequent gold and purple accents near the tips of the blades. These patterns are gorgeous with a sizable overpay compared to regular Case Hardened patterns. 

Pattern index number: 4, 59, 130, 176, 249, 355, 406, 702, 780, 830, 859, 866, 883, 897

Tier 3 Shadow Daggers Case Hardened Patterns

The Tier 3 patterns can’t quite compete with the higher tier patterns in terms of full blue coverage, but still boast sizable blue patches that cover a major part of the blade. Don’t expect a high overpay for these patterns, as they have too many visible gold patches. 

Pattern index number: 3, 10, 55, 64, 88, 156, 180, 188, 241, 269, 283, 319, 346, 347, 351, 357, 365, 366, 367, 379, 401, 441, 445, 488, 497, 550, 553, 564, 584, 601, 602, 640, 654, 706, 771, 819, 881, 887, 891, 961

The Gold Gem Shadow Daggers Case Hardened Patterns

If you don’t follow the hype and have a soft spot for flashy things, then why not get a Gold Gem? These patterns are nowhere near as popular as the Blue Gems, but still have their niche audience. And what’s even more interesting about Gold Gems, is that there’s only one true pattern that truly fits the description.

Pattern index number: 511

Where To Buy The Shadow Daggers Case Hardened Blue Gem?

Finding a decent Case Hardened skin or knife can be a pickle, but with tools available at Skin.Land it’s quite easy – filter the skin or knife by type, price and quality, and inspect each skin either by generating a detailed screenshot, or directly in-game! Head over to Skin.Land to get the knife for your inventory today.