Which item drops are available without buying any passes?

Question

I have finally decided to pick up Counter-Strike GO a few days ago. I've read up on the item drop system, but am still a bit confused and would love to read a detailed breakdown of which items are available as random drops from the get-go, without buying any of the operations passes.

From what I gather, these items are available from the beginning as drops (on community/VAC secured servers):

• Classic cases
• eSports cases
• Community Skins cases
• Weapon skins (is there a list of which ones are dropped as loose skins? I heard StatTrak weapons never become available without opening cases?)
• Sticker capsules (but loose stickers are never awarded separately?)

The operations passes only add the specific operations cases and missions to the rewards system for more variety, but does not increase the frequency of drops, correct? I know you can only receive 3-6 items per week, chances dropping with increased playtime, and resetting once a week.

Apologies for yet another question about the item system, but I can't really find any concise explanation and haven't gotten any drops yet. I'm also debating on whether or not I should buy the passes, or (for the time being) make due with the items that are available from the start.

Answer 1

For item drops, it boils down to 3 categories:

1. Weapons
   • Individual skins that drop are parts of certain Collections
     • A year ago-ish several of the original weapon collection skins were retired, meaning you cannot receive them as a drop from the item-drop system
     • Collections that you can currently receive item-drops from
       • The Train Collection
       • The Mirage Collection
       • The Safehouse Collection
       • The Italy Collection
       • The Lake Collection
       • The Dust II Collection
       • The Bank Collection
   • Weapons originating from Cases cannot be found as a drop
   • StatTrak weapons cannot be found as a drop
2. Cases & Capsules
   • There are always 3-5 cases in rotation in the item drop system
   • As new cases come in, old cases are phased out.
   • Some cases are for Operation pass-holders
     • For instance, the current operation is called Operation Breakout, with a case called Operation Breakout Case
     • This means that the Operation Breakout Case will drop for only for Operation Breakout pass holders
   • Older Operation drops are available to anyone, but this usually up to Valve's discretion
     • The previous Operation, Operation Phoenix, had it's own case specific for its own passholders, called the Operation Phoenix Case
     • The Operation Phoenix case used to be only for passholders, but can now be received as an item drop by anyone
   • Sticker Capsules can drop
   • Exclusive Sticker Capsules cannot drop. For example, the Katowice 2014 Challengers capsule (had to be bought in-game)
3. Missions
   • This was introduced in Operation Breakout
   • Missions WILL not drop for players without the Operation Breakout Pass
   • Completing a mission will give you a weapon drop from 3 specific collections:
     • The Baggage Collection
     • The Overpass Collection
     • The Cobblestone Collection
     • This means the above 3 colletion weapons CANNOT be found through regular item-drop system