What’s the difference between Gamma Doppler phases?

[Dr3adn0ught]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the Doppler phases work. I know Phase 1–4 are standard, then there’s Emerald, but what’s the actual visual difference? I’ve seen side-by-side pictures online, but they vary depending on lighting or game settings. I want to pick one that really pops in matches, not just on the market preview screen.

[42Duggg]

Also, do the phases affect the price much or is it mostly cosmetic? Trying to make a smart choice that I’ll enjoy but also holds some value.

[AKTHESAVIOR]

I went down that same rabbit hole not long ago. Each phase does look a bit different — Phase 1 has darker green, Phase 2 is lighter, and Emerald is the rarest (and priciest). But at the end of the day, it’s personal preference. I ended up going with Phase 4 because I liked how the deep green played against darker maps. I grabbed it from https://dmarket.com/csgo-skins/product-card/butterfly-knife-gamma-doppler , where I could actually preview multiple ones with real float values. Made it way easier to choose based on look, not just name.