Doppler and Gamma Doppler: understanding phases before you buy
A Doppler knife has a single name on the market, but it comes in several colour versions that players call phases. The price changes enormously from one phase to the next. This guide explains what the phases are, what they are worth today on the sites we track, and how to avoid mistakes when buying.
One label, several different skins
In the game, each phase is a separate paint. On the market, however, they share the same name: "★ Karambit | Doppler (Factory New)" can mean a common version or a very rare one.
What it means for you: on a comparison site or a marketplace, the price shown for "the Doppler" is that of the cheapest copy, so usually a common phase. It tells you nothing about the price of the phase you actually want. That is why FragPrice has a separate page for each phase.
The Doppler phases
| Phase | Look | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Dark background, purple and black | Among the cheapest |
| Phase 2 | Pink and purple | Usually the most expensive of the four regular phases |
| Phase 3 | Blue-green tones | Among the cheapest |
| Phase 4 | Mostly blue | A little above Phases 1 and 3 |
| Ruby | Red across the whole blade | Rare phase, called a "gem" |
| Sapphire | Blue across the whole blade | Rare phase, called a "gem" |
| Black Pearl | Deep black with blue reflections | Rare phase, called a "gem" |
The three "gems" are worth several times the price of a regular phase. The order between them is not fixed: it changes with the knife and with the moment. For today's price, look at the table below rather than relying on a rule.
Gamma Doppler
The same idea with greener and bluer shades. It also has four regular phases, plus the rare Emerald, entirely green. The four regular phases are usually closer in price to each other than those of the Doppler.
The pattern also matters inside a phase
Two copies of the same phase are not always identical: the pattern number (the seed) decides how the colours are spread over the blade. For a gem, a very clean copy sells for more than a spotted one. Our pattern guide covers this level of detail.
Checking the phase before you pay
- Read the listing: most marketplaces state the phase and let you filter on it.
- Look at the photo of the actual copy, not the generic catalogue image: only the former shows what you are buying.
- Open the inspect link to see the skin in game, with its pattern.
- Compare with the right price: a gem offered at the price of a regular phase should worry you. It is either a mistake or a scam.
Going further
Each phase has its own page on FragPrice, with its price on every site, fees included, and its history: open the catalog and choose a knife. To find where to resell a rare phase for the best net amount, use the sell calculator.
Current prices, phase by phase
Lowest total price (card payment, fees included) of each phase in Factory New, taken across every site we track. Click a price to open that phase's page.
| Phase | Karambit | M9 Bayonet | Butterfly Knife |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | $1,146.52 | $792.33 | $2,038.84 |
| Phase 2 | $1,581.66 | $1,074.56 | $3,805.62 |
| Phase 3 | $1,107.40 | $794.34 | $1,904.97 |
| Phase 4 | $1,150.76 | $903.87 | $2,513.08 |
| Ruby | $6,696.33 | $6,551.49 | $9,594.88 |
| Sapphire | $4,077.82 | $3,622.97 | $5,779.42 |
| Black Pearl | $7,664.53 | $6,322.50 | $10,978.55 |
In this snapshot, for a Factory New Karambit, the most expensive phase (Black Pearl) costs 6.9 times the cheapest (Phase 3). The order between the rare phases changes from one knife to another and over time: rely on the table, not on a rule of thumb.