The Nova | Mandrel made its debut in CS2 on September 3, 2018. Its release coincided with the Budapest 2025 Nuke Souvenir Package, alongside the update titled "FACEIT 2018 – Ways to Watch."
Origin
Players can acquire the Nova | Mandrel by opening one of the 11 available containers that include this skin. These containers encompass the London 2018 Nuke Souvenir Package, Katowice 2019 Nuke Souvenir Package, and Berlin 2019 Nuke Souvenir Package. Additionally, this skin is part of the 2018 Nuke Collection.
Popularity
Holding a popularity rate of 84%, the Nova | Mandrel ranks within the top 16% of the most sought-after items in CS2.
Rarity
As one of 161 other Shotgun skins, the Nova | Mandrel falls under the Consumer Grade rarity, making it a relatively common skin in the game.
Availability
Priced between $0.05 and $6.00, the Nova | Mandrel is an economical skin option.
Versions
The float value for the Nova | Mandrel ranges from 0.00 to 0.50, allowing the skin to be available in every exterior. For each exterior variation, a Souvenir version of the Mandrel is also available.
Finish Style
This particular Nova features a "Hydrographic" paint style, characterized by the Mandrel finish. Parts of the weapon are submerged in a floating hydrographic film within a water tank. This film adheres to the prepped weapon parts, overlaying them with a unique pattern. Essentially, the skin predominantly showcases shades of gray. The pattern index influences the appearance of the Mandrel finish. This skin employs the old legacy model.
Community Sentiment
The Nova | Mandrel has garnered more than 1 votes, resulting in an average community rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Currently, it is owned by professional CS2 players flusha, guardian, and s1mple.