Players keep asking how to reach covert skins without spending a fortune. The short answer is that you cannot go straight from mil spec to covert in one click. Trade ups move one tier at a time. Mil spec goes to restricted, then restricted goes to classified, then classified goes to covert. You can still start smart at the mil spec level and build a ladder that keeps costs low and odds reasonable.
Below you will find seven cheap mil spec picks from active collections with current price checkpoints and why they are useful as step one inputs. Prices shift daily so I am citing sources you can check as you publish.
Before looking at our list, try out our Mil-Spec case on Daddyskins for instant Mil-Spec skins. ⚡
How trade ups work in simple terms
You submit ten items of the same rarity, the game returns one item of the next rarity from one of the collections represented in your inputs. The odds follow how many inputs you used from each collection. This is why fillers matter and why people stack one collection to control the outcome pool.
Top 7 Cheapest Mil-Spec skins to upgrade
MP5 SD Focus
Common filler from the Ascent era, easy to source and very cheap in worn conditions.
Typical price today starts around 14 cents on comparison sites, with Minimal Wear often a few dimes and Factory New about a dollar.

MAG 7 MAGnitude
Good filler from the Genesis line, widely listed and usually one of the lowest mil spec prices.
Price lane runs about 11 cents to under two dollars depending on exterior, with many listings well under a dollar.

P2000 Royal Baroque
Reliable mil spec from the Ascent pool, used often as a stable filler when you need pistol slots.
Cheapest offers cluster near fifty to sixty cents, Factory New sits a few dollars on the Steam market.

P90 Reef Grief
SMG filler that stays liquid and cheap across most exteriors.
Floor price commonly around forty eight cents on price trackers, with Field Tested values visible on Steam listings.

Desert Eagle Mint Fan
A crowd favorite for pistol fillers since it is easy to find in bulk.
Cheapest tracked price sits near fifty to sixty cents, Factory New on Steam often around four to five dollars.

MP9 Cobalt Paisley
Fits SMG slots and is widely available.
Typical range runs about thirty nine cents to three dollars across exteriors, Steam lists Factory New around five dollars.

SSG 08 Blush Pour
Sniper filler that remains affordable and plentiful.
Trackers show about forty one cents to three dollars, with site pages listing Field Tested near the fifty to sixty cent zone.

Building a path from mil spec to covert
Here is a simple ladder that avoids confusion.
- Start with ten mil spec from a targeted collection. Your goal is to roll a restricted from the same collection so your future odds remain clean. Keep floats in mind since floats carry upward into the next tier.
 - Repeat step one until you have ten restricted from the same collection, then trade them up to classified.
 - Repeat again until you have ten classified from the same collection, then trade into a covert from that collection.
 
Important reality check. Going from mil spec to covert through only trade ups requires many items and many rolls. Profit is not guaranteed. Tools like TradeUpSpy and TradeUpLab show current templates, filler suggestions, and expected value so you can decide if a ladder is worth it before you spend.
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