Trade Up Contract

Trade Up Contracts are a powerful tool in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) that allows players to upgrade their inventory by combining low-tier skins to create higher-tier ones. With the right strategy, Trade Up Contracts can be profitable and rewarding. This in-depth guide will provide everything you need to know to maximize your results, including understanding float values, managing probabilities, and advanced techniques to increase your chances of success.

What is a Trade Up Contract?

A Trade Up Contract is a feature in CS2 that lets you combine 10 skins of the same rarity into one skin of the next higher rarity. It’s essentially a gamble, as the result is randomly selected from the collections of the skins you use. With proper planning, however, you can skew the odds in your favor and even turn a profit.

How Does a Trade Up Contract Work?

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Gather Your Skins:
    • Collect 10 skins of the same rarity. These can come from different cases or collections but must belong to the same category (e.g., Normal, StatTrak™, or Souvenir).
  2. Initiate the Contract:
    • Open the Trade Up Contract option in your inventory.
    • Select the 10 skins you wish to trade.
  3. Submit the Contract:
    • Confirm your selections and submit the contract.
    • The skins will be consumed, and you’ll receive a new skin of the next rarity level.
  4. Receive Your Reward:
    • The resulting skin is randomly selected based on the collections of the skins you input. Its float value is determined by the average float of the input skins.

Why Use Trade Up Contracts?

  • Clean Up Inventory: Turn surplus or low-value skins into something better.
  • Chase Rare Skins: With planning, you can aim for specific high-value skins from collections.
  • StatTrak™ Upgrades: Trade Up Contracts also work for StatTrak™ skins, allowing you to enhance this special variant.

The Science Behind Trade Up Contracts

Probability of Outcomes

The result of a Trade Up Contract is influenced by the collections of the input skins. The probability of receiving a skin from a particular collection is proportional to the number of skins from that collection. For example:

  • 5 skins from Collection A + 5 skins from Collection B = 50% chance for each collection.
  • 7 skins from Collection A + 3 skins from Collection B = 70%/30% split.

Float Value Calculation

The float value (wear level) of the resulting skin is determined by the following formula:

Output Float = (Max Float – Min Float) x Average Float + Min Float

Where:

  • Max Float: Maximum float value of the resulting skin.
  • Min Float: Minimum float value of the resulting skin.
  • Average Float: Average float value of the 10 input skins.
float value
float example

For example, if the average float of your input skins is 0.20 and the target skin has a float range of 0.10 to 0.70:

Output Float = (0.70 – 0.10) x 0.20 + 0.10 = 0.22

This means the resulting skin will have a float value of 0.22, falling within the Minimal Wear condition.

Maximizing Your Trade Up Contracts

Research Profitable Collections

Some collections are more profitable than others. Focus on those with high-demand skins. Examples include:

  • Cobblestone Collection: Features the rare Dragon Lore AWP.
  • Mirage 2021 Collection: Includes the coveted Desert Hydra AWP.

Minimize Costs

Calculate the total cost of your input skins and compare it to the potential value of the resulting skin. Use tools like Buff.163 or Skinport to find affordable input skins.

Optimize Float Values

Use skins with low float values to ensure the output skin has a desirable condition. Check the float ranges of target skins to avoid surprises.

Stick to One Collection (When Possible)

Avoid mixing collections unless you’re okay with a less predictable outcome. This ensures better control over the potential results.

Example Trade Up Scenario

Goal: Obtain a Desert Hydra (AWP) from the Mirage 2021 Collection

  1. Input Skins:
    • 10 Minimal Wear skins from the Mirage 2021 Collection.
    • Average float value: 0.07 (to achieve Factory New output).
    • Cost per skin: ~$5.
  2. Process:
    • Total cost: $50.
    • Submit the contract and receive one skin from the collection.
  3. Potential Outcomes:
    • Desert Hydra (Factory New): Worth $200+.
    • Other Skins: These may vary in value but could still result in profit depending on the market.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
  1. Ignoring Float Values: Always calculate the average float of your input skins to ensure the desired condition for your output.
  2. Mixing Collections Randomly Stick to one or two collections to control probabilities and avoid unwanted results.
  3. Overpaying for Inputs: Check the market prices of input skins to avoid spending more than the potential value of your target skin.
  4. Overlooking Float Ranges: Ensure the target skin’s float range aligns with your input floats to avoid surprises.
Advanced Strategies
StatTrak™ Trade Ups

StatTrak™ skins can also be traded up, but the input costs are higher. These trades are riskier but can yield significant profits if the output skin is valuable.

Target Rare Collections

Due to their limited availability, older or discontinued collections often yield more profitable results.

Simulate Trade Ups

Use online Trade Up Simulators to calculate probabilities and potential outcomes before committing to a trade. This helps minimize risk.

Tools for Success
  1. CSFloat: Analyze float values, calculate averages, and simulate Trade Up Contracts.
  2. Marketplaces: Platforms like Skinport provide affordable input skins.
The Ultimate Guide to Trade Up Contracts in CS2

Trade Up Contracts are a fun and strategic way to upgrade your CS2 inventory. With proper planning, understanding of float values, and careful selection of input skins, you can turn low-value items into rare and valuable skins. Whether you’re looking to clean up your inventory or chase your dream skin, this guide provides