Shopping verdict: Treat MP9 | Old Roots (sp_moro_carving_yellow) as a low-key secondary for sand-themed loadouts—not a flex piece, but a smart filler if you like green against tan. Pull up Inspect and compare a few listings at the same wear tier before you commit; pattern spread matters more here than on flat colorways.

Quick facts

• Drop date: 2021-09-22, same window as the 2021 Dust II Collection and Operation Riptide.
• Designer: SAZ (credited on Valve’s Operation Riptide page for MP9 Old Roots).
• Finish: Spray-paint, Uncommon, wear 0.0–0.5.

Where it comes from

• 2021 Dust II Collection
• Stockholm 2021 Dust II Souvenir Package
• Antwerp 2022 Dust II Souvenir Package
• Rio 2022 Dust II Souvenir Package
• Shanghai 2024 Dust II Souvenir Package
• Austin 2025 Dust II Souvenir Package
• Budapest 2025 Dust II Souvenir Package

Souvenir lines are for Major collectors; normal collection drops are the practical route for everyday play.

Inspect & wear

Official copy describes green-toned vines and flowers sprayed across the body. The flavor line leans into years of sun and rain—“roots finding their way home” energy.

• Lower wear: Vine networks and petals read fuller and cleaner; the green contrast against Dust-style inventories stays crisp without shouting.
• Higher wear (still capped at 0.5): Spray thins, base metal shows through, and the look shifts toward that weathered, faded mood the name and flavor suggest.

There’s no float miracle at Factory New—this is a skin where mid wear can actually match the story. Decide whether you want “fresh vine” or “sun-bleached relic” before you filter listings.

Worth buying?

Yes, if: you want an inexpensive MP9 that breaks up desert tans in your inventory, or you’re filling souvenir sets from the listed Majors.

Skip or wait if: you need a loud MP9 centerpiece—uncommon spray skins rarely carry prestige—and you won’t Inspect; two “Field-Tested” copies can look noticeably different.

Price check: Compare C5GAME and the Steam Market. Match souvenir vs non-souvenir sources, same wear band, and skim several Inspect screenshots so the vine coverage matches your taste.

Editor’s aside

Old Roots is the kind of skin people buy twice—once too clean, once after they realize the flavor text was describing their float all along. Budget five minutes in Inspect; it saves a resale tax.