If your loadout skews clean and restrained, Black Tie on the XM1014 is one of those skins that sells itself in the first spin: high-contrast chrome light and shadow along the pump silhouette. From a distance it reads formal; up close in inspect you get the hand-painted transitions between metal tones—not a busy graphic, mostly material and lighting.

Shopping verdict

Worth a look if you want a distinctive XM1014 without neon or graffiti noise, or if you are filling out a Chroma 3 set. Skip or go budget if you only care about meta shotguns—this is mood and collection, not performance. Mythical from an older case means price is usually about taste and float, not hype spikes.

Release & source

Live since 27 April 2016 with the Chroma 3 Case and Chroma 3 Collection. When buying, search Chroma 3 on Steam Market or C5GAME so you do not grab the wrong listing.

• Case: Chroma 3 Case
• Collection: Chroma 3 Collection
• Rarity: Mythical
• Wear cap: 0.00–0.75 (Factory New through Battle-Scarred)

Wear: what to inspect

Wear ceiling 0.75—every tier exists. Minimal Wear and Field-Tested often keep the black-white structure readable; as float climbs, scuffs break up the highlights and the “pressed suit” chrome turns into a worn-in formal look—same identity, softer shine.

In inspect, compare barrel, pump body, and stock: where the black-white border sits and where highlights land changes with float—more gray wash and scratch density at the top end. Collectors: lower wear for that crisp event-night metal. Daily play: mid wear can look more natural and sometimes costs less.

Before you pay: check first-person and full inspect, then lock a float band on Steam or C5GAME.

Designer note

Workshop creator Nextgenz leaned on finish and reflection rather than a big story paint—formal, minimal. Worth rotating in inspect to see highlight bands and shadow edges per part.

Expert muttering

Black Tie is the rare XM1014 that feels intentional in a suit-themed or monochrome inventory—it does not shout, but people notice in post-round inspect. Do not overpay for “almost FN” unless you live in the menu; 0.15–0.25 FT can still dress the gun if the pump face is clean. Chroma 3 drops are old news for unbox gambling; buying the skin outright is usually the sane path.

<i>“We have Ikari and Kuchinero in our hands. Do you want to leave them a way out, or should I put them down now?” — Mercenaries and Python, Part 1</i>