Why Is the M4A4 Howl Contraband? The Story of CS2's Most Legendary Skin
The M4A4 | Howl is one of the most recognizable and valuable skins in Counter-Strike history. But unlike most other skins, the Howl has a unique status that makes it stand out from the entire CS2 skin collection.
It is the only Contraband skin in the game, and its history is closely connected to one of the most infamous copyright controversies in the Counter-Strike community.
What Makes the M4A4 Howl So Unique?
CS2 skins have evolved far beyond being simple in-game items. Their value is heavily influenced by the community, rarity, demand, and the stories behind them.
Many Counter-Strike skins are created by community artists and submitted through the Steam Workshop, where players can share their designs. These submissions go through a voting and selection process, and some are eventually chosen to be officially included in the game.
However, despite Valve's strict policies regarding copyright infringement, there have been cases where artwork submitted to the Workshop was not actually original.
The most famous example is the M4A4 | Howl.
The skin was initially approved and released in the game, but shortly afterward, it was discovered that its artwork had been copied from another artist. This led to a copyright dispute and ultimately changed the history and rarity of the skin forever.
The Infamous Tale of the M4A4 Howl
The story of the Howl is well known among long-time Counter-Strike players.
After Valve removed the original design from circulation, the skin's status changed completely. The news surrounding its removal spread throughout the community, and the Howl's rarity and value increased dramatically.
Players who had obtained the skin before the changes suddenly found themselves holding one of the rarest items in the game.
In 2014, two designers, Auzzii and SiC, uploaded a CS:GO skin and a sticker design to the Steam Workshop. The skin design, called "Howling Dawn," received more than 4,000 ratings from the community.
In his submission, Auzzii described the artwork as an illustration of his dog, creatively portrayed as a fiery wolf.
The Howl's original design (2014)
Valve eventually selected the design to become a new M4A4 skin and included it in the Huntsman Collection. Both Auzzii and SiC received recognition and rewards after their artwork was selected.
However, the original artist, a DeviantArt user known as CanisAlbus, later discovered that his artwork had been used without permission.
CanisAlbus took action over the copyright infringement involving his "Howling Dawn" artwork and requested that the stolen design be removed.
Valve received a DMCA notice and subsequently took action against the creators responsible for the submission. As a result, the original M4A4 | Howl, along with several other skins created by SiC, was removed from the game.
Valve then released an updated version of the M4A4 Howl.
The creators responsible for the stolen artwork also received community bans as a consequence of the incident.
Why Is the M4A4 Howl Contraband?
Following the controversy, Valve changed the Howl's rarity to Contraband.
Unlike normal skin rarities such as Covert, Classified, or Restricted, Contraband is not part of the standard rarity system. The Howl became the only skin in Counter-Strike to receive this status.
The original version could no longer be obtained through cases or other normal means.
This combination of rarity, history, and limited supply turned the Howl into one of the most desirable skins among collectors.
The Current Situation of the M4A4 Howl
The M4A4 | Howl is no longer obtainable from any cases.
It was originally part of the Huntsman Case Collection, but after the copyright controversy and its removal from circulation, the skin became increasingly difficult to obtain.
Its extremely limited supply has contributed heavily to its enormous value. As of 2026, a Factory New StatTrak M4A4 | Howl can sell for more than $14,000 in cash value.
However, the Howl's value is not simply about its price.
Its controversial history, unique Contraband status, limited availability, and iconic artwork have made it one of the most recognizable collector skins in Counter-Strike.
For many players, owning a Howl is less about having an expensive M4A4 and more about owning a piece of Counter-Strike history.
Why Is the Howl Still So Popular?
The M4A4 Howl represents something that very few CS2 skins can offer: a story.
Its design became famous because of a copyright controversy, its original version was removed from circulation, and Valve gave it a unique rarity that no other skin has.
Today, the Howl remains one of the most sought-after skins in CS2 and an important part of Counter-Strike's history.
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