AK-47 | Cartel (Field-Tested)

The AK-47 | Cartel (Field-Tested) is a Classified rifle skin finished in dark, polished metal engraved with skulls, roses, and serpents in a gothic Day-of-the-Dead cartel style. Field-Tested is the most common and best-value way to own it — a touch of honest wear on a dark base that shrugs most of it off.

Design

The finish coats the receiver and body in dark, polished metal etched with skulls, roses, and serpents, giving a gothic Day-of-the-Dead cartel style in dark tones accented with red, while leaving the natural wood stock and handguard untouched. It's a community piece designed by Anders, tagged with the fitting in-game line: "One little squeeze turns every morning into the Day of the Dead."

AK-47 | Cartel (Field-Tested) Float and Wear

At Field-Tested the finish picks up light scratching along the edges and on the magazine, but the dark polished metal hides wear well enough that most copies still look clean at a glance. The engraved skulls, roses, and serpents stay clearly readable, and the wood furniture shows only mild fading. This is the grade most players land on for the Cartel — a sweet spot between looks and price.

AK-47 | Cartel Rarity

The rarity here is Classified, the pink tier — one step below Covert and second from the top of the standard weapon grades. Pulling one from a case is a genuinely uncommon result.

AK-47 | Cartel Case and Collection

Part of The Chroma Collection, Cartel drops from the Chroma Case released in January 2015. The Classified tier as a whole hits at roughly 3.2% per case, and since all copies originate there, most change hands on the market instead of being unboxed.

AK-47 | Cartel Patterns

There's no random pattern variation on Cartel; the engraved skulls, roses, and serpents are placed identically on each copy, leaving no paint seed or "blue gem" to look for. Wear and float are all that distinguish one from the next.

StatTrak & Souvenir

A StatTrak™ version of the Cartel does exist, adding a confirmed-kill counter; it's a scarcer and more expensive drop than the plain skin, and the counter is permanent, carrying across trades and sales. A Souvenir edition, however, was never made — Souvenirs come solely from Major-tournament souvenir packages, and the Cartel was never a Major drop.

AK-47 | Cartel Price

Field-Tested is the value sweet spot of the range — cheaper than Minimal Wear and Factory New while keeping nearly the same look, which is a big part of why it's the most popular grade. It's an affordable mid-tier finish within the AK-47 lineup that won't break the bank. It's available to buy on Skin.Land with instant delivery and no hidden fees.

FAQ

Does the Field-Tested Cartel look worn?

Only a little. The dark polished metal masks scratches well, so a Field-Tested copy reads as clean to most eyes, with light edge wear on close inspection. The engraved skulls, roses, and serpents stay sharp, and the wood furniture shows just mild fading — the signature look holds up fine.

Is Field-Tested the best value Cartel?

For most buyers, yes. It costs noticeably less than Minimal Wear and Factory New but looks almost as good thanks to the wear-hiding dark base, and it's the most common grade on the market. Well-Worn and Battle-Scarred are cheaper still if you want the lowest entry price and don't mind heavier scuffing.

Which gloves go with the AK-47 | Cartel?

Its dark metal with red accents and natural wood suits a moody, high-contrast loadout, so black or red gloves work best — a red pair picks up the accent tones, while dark brown or black wraps echo the wood and the gothic feel. Warm-toned knife finishes round the set out nicely.