Nova | Rising Skull (Factory New)

The Nova | Rising Skull is a distinctive CS2 (CS:GO legacy model) shotgun skin introduced through Valve’s ongoing community-driven skin releases tied to seasonal drops. It belongs to the Winter Offensive Collection, where weapon finishes are designed to stand out with bold graphic motifs and high-contrast styling. The “Rising Skull” finish is known for delivering a striking, emblem-like look that gives the Nova a more dramatic presence on the battlefield.

As a Restricted-rarity skin, the Nova | Rising Skull sits above classified tiers but below higher-availability categories. While exact in-game drop rates are not publicly guaranteed, Restricted skins are generally considered harder to obtain than Mil-Spec and lower tiers, and they are typically acquired via case openings rather than direct purchase. Players often treat Restricted skins as a meaningful upgrade because they balance rarity with visual impact.

This skin is available in multiple wear conditions: Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, and Battle-Scarred (float range 0.0 to 0.5). StatTrak availability is Yes, meaning you can find versions that track weapon kills. Souvenir versions are not available, so this skin is primarily sought after for standard and StatTrak collectors rather than event memorabilia.

Visually, the Rising Skull finish is built around a prominent skull motif with a dynamic, upward theme. The artwork is designed to remain readable across the weapon’s surfaces, and the contrast helps the pattern stand out even during fast gameplay. The skin’s paint index (263) corresponds to this specific finish layout, contributing to the consistent identity of the Rising Skull design across wear levels.

To obtain it, players typically look for the Nova | Rising Skull within its source ecosystem: the Winter Offensive Collection, and more specifically via the Winter Offensive Weapon Case. Since it originates from these limited containers, it’s most commonly acquired through opening cases rather than from broader drop pools.

In the community, the Nova | Rising Skull is often appreciated for its bold, graphic aesthetic and its ability to stand out on a weapon that many players don’t typically main for long-range engagements. Restricted skins like this one tend to attract both casual users seeking a cleaner look and collectors who want thematic designs from event-era collections such as The Winter Offensive.