About the M4A4 | Howl
The M4A4 | Howl is the only Contraband skin in CS2, and one of the most famous skins ever made for Counter-Strike. It was released in CS:GO in May 2014 with the Huntsman Weapon Case, then pulled from the case just weeks later, which is why no new copies have been made since.
That short window, the striking wolf artwork, and its unique Contraband rarity make it one of the most wanted collector skins in the game. Most CS2 players will only ever see one in a highlight reel.
The wear tabs at the top of this page show the current M4A4 Howl price for each condition.
Why the Howl Is Contraband
Shortly after release, the original artwork was found to break copyright. In June 2014, Valve removed the skin from the Huntsman Weapon Case, changed the design of the copies already in players' inventories, and gave it the new Contraband rarity. No other skin has been treated this way, so the Howl is still the only one with that rarity.
Because it can no longer drop from any case, the number of Howls in existence is fixed.
Design
The rifle is painted red and black, with a snarling wolf's head in an orange-to-white gradient across the middle of the body. The rest of the weapon is covered in a red flame pattern, and the grip is solid red. The colors on this page break down as mostly red, with grey, orange, and brown.
The design is the same on every copy. There is no pattern to check, so the look of a particular Howl comes down to its wear.
How to Get the M4A4 | Howl
The M4A4 | Howl no longer drops from any case, and you cannot get one from a trade-up contract. The only way to get one in CS2 is to buy or trade for an existing copy.
The offers at the top of this page show every marketplace with a Howl listed. Because so few copies exist, check the wear, float, and any applied stickers carefully before you buy.
The skin originally came from the Huntsman Weapon Case, which still contains the AK-47 | Vulcan and the M4A4 | Desert-Strike as its Covert skins.
Wear Conditions and Float
The Howl has a float range from 0.00 to 0.40, so it exists in four wear conditions: Factory New (FN), Minimal Wear (MW), Field-Tested (FT), and Well-Worn (WW). There is no Battle-Scarred version, and Well-Worn only covers 0.38 to 0.40.
Small marks show even on Factory New copies, and they spread across the body as the float rises. The wolf's head barely wears at all, so the centerpiece of the design stays clear on every copy. Use the 3D inspect tool on this page to see how a given wear looks before you buy.
Switch between conditions using the tabs above. Each one has its own listings and price history.
Variants
The M4A4 | Howl comes in a standard version and a StatTrak™ version, which counts your kills with the weapon. Pricempire lists each version separately, so you can compare them using the toggle above.
What Drives the Price of the M4A4 | Howl
- Fixed supply. No new Howls can be created, so every sale draws from the same small pool of copies.
- Contraband rarity. It is the only Contraband skin in the game, which gives it a collector appeal no other rifle skin has.
- Wear. Factory New copies are the scarcest and sit well above the other conditions.
- StatTrak™. The StatTrak™ version is rarer still and priced separately.
- Applied stickers. Many Howls carry valuable old stickers, which can add a lot to the price that standard price data does not show.
- Low trading volume. Howls change hands rarely, so prices can differ more between marketplaces than on common skins.
Compare the offers above before you buy or sell, and set a price alert if you are waiting for a particular level.
Similar Skins
If you like the Howl, these are the closest alternatives.
- Other top M4A4 skins. The M4A4 | Temukau, M4A4 | Asiimov, and M4A4 | Poseidon are popular top-tier M4A4 skins that are far easier to find.
- Same original case. The AK-47 | Vulcan came from the Huntsman Weapon Case and is still available from it.
- Other collector rifles. The AWP | Dragon Lore and AK-47 | Wild Lotus sit in the same top tier of the market.
- More choice. Browse all M4A4 skins or the wider assault rifle skins category.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an M4A4 Howl?
It depends on the wear and on whether it is StatTrak™. The wear tabs at the top of this page show the current lowest M4A4 Howl price for each condition, and the price history shows how it has moved.
Why is the M4A4 Howl so expensive?
The supply is fixed. It was only in the Huntsman Weapon Case for a few weeks before being removed over a copyright issue, so no new copies can be made, while demand from collectors keeps growing.
What case is the M4A4 Howl in?
None today. It was originally in the Huntsman Weapon Case, but it was removed in June 2014 and can no longer be unboxed.
What does Contraband mean in CS2?
Contraband is a special rarity given only to the M4A4 | Howl after it was removed from its case. It marks the skin as no longer obtainable from drops, cases, or trade-ups.
Is the Howl on the M4A4 or the M4A1-S?
The M4A4. Some players search for an "M4A1 Howl", but the skin only exists on the M4A4.
What is the float range of the M4A4 | Howl?
0.00 to 0.40. It is available from Factory New to Well-Worn, with no Battle-Scarred version.
Does the M4A4 | Howl come in StatTrak™?
Yes. A StatTrak™ M4A4 | Howl exists and is listed separately on this page.
When was the M4A4 | Howl released?
In May 2014, in CS:GO, with the Huntsman Weapon Case. It became Contraband in June 2014 and can still be bought and traded in CS2.
Where can I buy an M4A4 | Howl?
The offers at the top of this page list every marketplace with a Howl for sale, with the lowest price for each wear condition.