M4A4 Howl Guide: Price, History, and Contraband Status Explained

If you’ve dabbled in Counter-Strike at all, you’ve most definitely heard of the M4A4 Howl skin. It is best known for being the one and only CS2 skin with the Contraband label and features one of the most breathtaking artworks in the game. That is exactly why the M4A4 Howl is one of the rarest and most coveted skins in the game, and we’ll take a deeper dive in this article. 

Below, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the M4A4 Howl – from its history, how it got its Contraband status, price ranges, rarities, and considerations before buying and selling them.

The History of the M4A4 Howl 

The M4A4 Howl is a Counter-Strike skin with a lot of history. If you want to call yourself a CS2 skins enthusiast, you’ll at least have to know the lore behind this legendary item. 

How the Howl Entered CS

In 2013, Valve introduced the idea of letting Counter-Strike community members design their own skins and submit their original artwork to the Steam Workshop. Skins that are well-received could end up getting added into the game, and the creators would receive a cut for the sales.

Following that announcement, two creators going by Auzzii and sic submitted the M4A4 Howling Dawn skin, which immediately garnered a lot of attention. Eventually, Valve liked the skin, renamed it to the M4A4 Howl, and added it into the game as a part of the Huntsman Collection in May 2014 as one of the two Covert skins. 

The Copyright Dispute

Since its release, the M4A4 Howl quickly became one of the most popular skins in the game – it was a high-tier skin that everyone wanted. However, it turns out that the skin’s design was actually plagiarized from another artist named CanisAlbus. 

CanisAlbus mentioned that someone had stolen one of his artworks to make a custom skin in Counter-Strike. As a result, the artist filed copyright infringements which went straight to Valve. 

Valve handled the situation quickly and professionally, taking the following measures:

• Auzzii and sic, the ones who submitted the stolen design, have been handed Steam Community bans and receive no proceeds from the sales. 
• The M4A4 Howl skin was removed from the Huntsman Collection and could no longer be obtained, and the item’s rarity went from Covert to Contraband. 
• However, there were still players who owned the M4A4 Howl skin before it was removed. For these cases, the Howl skin was replaced by a new design made by the CS:GO team.

The Skin’s Transformation

So, the aftermath of the situation was that the M4A4 Howl could no longer be unboxed, nor could you receive it from an in-game drop. This means the supply ends there – there is no way to obtain the item anymore, making the M4A4 Howl arguably the rarest skin in the entire game.

Since the supply is so low, every high-tier collector wants one of these bad boys in their inventories. 

Why Is the M4A4 Howl a Contraband Skin?

As we mentioned earlier, the M4A4 Howl’s item status was changed from Covert to Contraband. So, what does “Contraband” actually mean? 

In Counter-Strike terms, the Contraband rarity is an ultra-rare weapon skin that is only labeled on skins that have been permanently discontinued from the game. This perfectly fits the M4A4 Howl skin, as it was removed from the game due to the copyright issues we uncovered above. 

After the stolen Howl artwork incident, Valve made all Workshop artists sign a legal agreement before their skins could be added into the game, so they could avoid any future disputes like this. That system has been working wonders, which is exactly why no other skins have made it to the Contraband category – until today, only the M4A4 Howl has this label, making it the most unique skin in the game. 

Valve’s decision of placing an item in the Contraband category carries heavy weight, as it directly affects supply and collectibility. Since Contraband items are no longer obtainable, the supply of the skin is extremely limited, which is why it’s very popular among diehard collectors.

Though the M4A4 Howl typically fetches astronomical prices, the Contraband designation itself does not tell the entire story of its price. Like every other skin, condition, float, stickers, and demand still influence the listed M4A4 Howl prices. 

M4A4 Howl Price: How Much Is It Worth?

It’s hard to give an exact price because the M4A4 Howl prices always change over time, but at the time of writing, a regular M4A4 Howl ranges from $4,000 to $7,000, while a StatTrak M4A4 Howl floats around $7,500 to $14,000. So, the M4A4 Howl is far from being one of the cheapest CS2 skins. 

However, there is no single permanent price, as several factors influence its current market value. 

Exterior Condition

The M4A4 Howl comes in five possible exterior conditions like every other skin:

• Factory New: The best possible wear level for the M4A4 Howl.
• Minimal Wear: A very solid alternative to Factory New if you want to save some money. 
• Field-Tested: Wears start becoming more visible. Some collectors tend to avoid Field-Tested, but it’s not the worst. 
• Well-Worn: This condition is where the demand starts dropping. Many collectors don’t want such a premium skin like the Howl to come in Well-Worn. 
• Battle-Scarred: Most traders do not want a Battle-Scarred Howl, as it ruins the skin’s legendary design. 

With the Howl being such a premium skin, collectors will always yearn for it in either Factory New or Minimal Wear condition, which is why the M4A4 Howl prices in these conditions are extremely high. 

Float Value

Exterior conditions like Factory New and Minimal Wear give you a good idea of an M4A4 Howl’s condition, but float values make it more precise. The lower the float value, the less wear and tear on your skin. Naturally, people are more willing to pay more money for Howls with lower float.

If you’re thinking of picking one up for yourself, make sure to perform CS2 skin inspects on the specific one you’re targeting to see where the scratches are at. 

Stickers and Other Additions

Because the Howl is one of Counter-Strike’s grails, many collectors tend to decorate it with expensive stickers.

Normally, stickers won’t add value to a skin’s price, but if we’re talking about stickers like the Crown (Foil) or Katowice 2014 Holos, then these stickers will certainly drive up a Howl’s price. 

Expensive stickers can definitely impact an M4A4 Howl’s market value, but you’ll have to find the right buyer, which can take some time. 

Why the M4A4 Howl Is So Expensive

So, if you’re wondering why the M4A4 Howl is worth up to tens of thousands of dollars, here are some contributing factors:

1. Contraband status: First of all, the M4A4 Howl is the only skin in the entire game with the Contraband status. This makes the Howl feel like a one-of-a-kind skin.
2. Limited supply: Since we can no longer unbox the Howl, the supply for this item is extremely limited. The very limited supply naturally leads to higher prices. 
3. Historical significance: The Howl goes down in Counter-Strike history as the biggest art scandal in the game. Owning it feels like you’re holding a piece of CS history. 
4. Recognizable artwork: The Howl’s artwork has pretty much become an icon – almost all regular CS2 players recognize it, giving it premium status. 
5. Collector demand: Collectors only want the best of the best, and the Howl is most definitely one of the, making it one of the most demanded skins in the game. 
6. Rare stickered examples: High-tier collectors love putting expensive stickers on the M4A4 Howl skin. So, they’re adding thousands of dollars of value on top of a skin that’s already worth thousands. 

These are the main reasons why the M4A4 Howl is one of the most expensive CS2 skins out there.

Is the M4A4 Howl Rare in CS2? 

Yes, it’s safe to say that the M4A4 Howl is a rare skin in Counter-Strike. As we discussed above, you can no longer get new copies of the M4A4 Howl, creating a very, very limited supply of the item.

The M4A4 Howl was turned into a Contraband item and discontinued only around a month after it was released. So, the entire population of the skin comes from the players who unboxed a Howl in that time span. Not to mention, some of those owners might not want to sell their Howl skins, reducing the market supply even further. 

So the Howl in itself is already rare, but there are also M4A4 Howls decorated with the StatTrak counter and stickers like Katowice 2014 Holos that drive up the prices to a completely different level. We’re talking about a completely different part of the market, where CS2 M4A4 Howl prices with such stickers can go up to six figures. 

How to Buy an M4A4 Howl Safely 

If you’re enticed to secure an M4A4 Howl for yourself, it’s very important that you buy one safely. The skin will easily cost you thousands of dollars, so the last thing you want is to get scammed. Here are some of our best tips to exercise trading safely. 

Check the Exact Item

Before you settle on an M4A4 Howl that you’d like to purchase, it’s important to check the time yourself.

Make sure the exterior and float value is accurate, then, check for additional details like the StatTrak counter and any possible stickers. You can do all of this by inspecting the item in the game so you know exactly what you’re getting. 

Compare Current Listings

It’s important to check Howl listings on multiple marketplace websites so you can get a good feel of its current market value. Don’t immediately buy the first one you see – always compare other listings to see if you can save some money. 

Use a Reputable Marketplace

And of course, you should only use reputable marketplaces when you’re making an expensive purchase like an M4A4 Howl. Make sure the site you’re using to buy (CS2) CS skins has a proven track record and strong reviews. If a site looks shady, it’s almost always best to pass on it. 

How to Sell an M4A4 Howl 

If you have an M4A4 Howl, there’s always an option to sell it for a significant amount of money. But let’s make sure you’re selling the skin at the right price, and that you’ll actually receive the money and not get scammed. 

First, you’ll have to settle on a price. You can always ask around in trading communities or visit trading sites to see other listings of M4A4 Howls. This should give you a good idea of how much your skin is worth. 

You should also take the skin’s float value into account. A Factory New Howl with 0.06 float and another one with 0.01 float makes a world of difference. If your Howl has rare stickers, you can also consider bumping up the price.

The Howl is a rare skin – it’s not like an AWP Asiimov that gets sold every day. You should always be more careful with pricing. 

When looking to sell CS2 (CS) skins, always remember to set realistic prices, otherwise nobody is going to buy M4A4 Howls from you. 

Is the M4A4 Howl a Good Investment?

Whether the M4A4 Howl is a good investment really depends on what you’re looking for. First of all, the M4A4 Howl costs can be astronomically high, so you should think carefully about whether it’ll be worth the money. 

With the Howl being a rare collectible skin, most collectors typically hold it as a long-term item. You don’t see Howls getting sold everyday – these sales are slow and will take time. So, if you want a quick flip, this is not the skin for you. 

However, it’s worth remembering that no new Howls can enter the market – we’re already locked with what we have. So, you don’t have to worry about the supply increasing. 

Also note that market prices can still move in either direction. The entire market of CS2 skins can experience a boom or crash at any time. 

In our opinion, you should only buy the Howl if you also want to use it as a play skin. Howls are difficult to sell and can take time, so you might be holding on to it for a while. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the Howl is a legendary Counter-Strike skin, as it is the only one with a Contraband tag. There is no way to obtain new M4A4 Howls, as the skin is completely discontinued – this scarcity is one of the main reasons why it’s such a rare skin.

If you’re looking to buy or sell an M4A4 Howl, make sure to choose trusted marketplace platforms like Skin.Place. You most definitely don’t want to get scammed, especially when Howls are easily worth thousands of dollars.