Death Rattle (hy_nerodia) sits under the weapon line as a Common finish from the Havoc Collection, applied with hydrographic (water transfer). Visually it’s full-body serpent scale texture; the name pushes “impact” while the pattern reads slow and cold—pair that with the Shield and Serpent line about betrayal and Valeria, and you get mood without neon flash.

Shopping verdict

Worth it if you’re filling out Havoc/Broken Fang-era sets, want a cheap narrative skin on a weapon you actually use, or you enjoy wear-based looks in Minimal Wear → Battle-Scarred. Skip or don’t overpay if you need FN shine, crisp esports RGB, or a flex piece—this is Common tier, collection-sourced, and priced accordingly on C5GAME and Steam Community Market.

Release & where it drops

Listed consistently around 2020-12-03, same window as Operation Broken Fang. It enters through the Havoc Collection pipeline—not a single famous case name—so filter “Death Rattle” / Havoc Collection on C5 or Steam rather than hunting hy_nerodia alone.

Specs that matter when buying

| Item | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Rarity | Common |
| Collection | Havoc |
| Finish type | Hydrographic |
| Wear | 0.08 – 0.50 (no Factory New) |

Hydro dip means the scale sheet wraps the mesh: curves and part breaks stretch the pattern—realistic material, not hand-painted illustration. Wear starts at 0.08, so every listing is MW-ish floor upward. High wear eats edges and raised spots first; contrast between glossy and dull scale zones shifts a lot—always 3D inspect before checkout.

What to check in inspect

1. Scale flow across bends and magazine wells—continuity beats “perfect center icon.”
2. Wear tier: many buyers target low end of range (near 0.08–0.15) for readable scales; BS can look gritty but may muddy the pattern.
3. Price vs purpose: series completion and “daily driver skin” justify singles; don’t treat it like a covert investment.

Expert mutterings

Snake skin is the hook; the Valeria quote is the aftertaste—“I know you don’t believe my reasons… When I expose you, Valeria will take your head.” For a Common, that’s unusually story-forward. I’d rather you spend five extra minutes spinning three listings in inspect than chase a “pattern index” that official copy never promised. Broken Fang nostalgia plus Havoc checklist? Grab one in your preferred wear band and move on. Chasing lowest float on a skin with no FN cap is mostly copium—save that energy for pieces where float actually gates appearance.

<i>I know you don’t believe my reasons… When I expose you, Valeria will take your head. — Shield and Serpent (Part 1)</i>