The Nova | Mandrel was launched in CS2 on September 3, 2018, as part of the Austin 2025 Nuke Souvenir Package, coinciding with the "FACEIT 2018 – Ways to Watch" update.

The Nova | Mandrel can be acquired by opening one of the 10 containers that feature this skin. These include the Antwerp 2022 Nuke Souvenir Package, Austin 2025 Nuke Souvenir Package, and Berlin 2019 Nuke Souvenir Package. Additionally, the Nova | Mandrel is a part of The 2018 Nuke Collection.

With an impressive popularity rating of 85%, the Nova | Mandrel ranks among the top 15% of the most sought-after items in CS2. This ranking is determined by daily sales volume and the skin's pricing.

The Nova | Mandrel is a popular shotgun skin among the 155 available options. Classified as Consumer Grade, the Mandrel is frequently encountered in the game.

The Nova | Mandrel is an affordable skin, priced between $0.01 and $0.03. Currently, it is widely available for purchase across various markets.

The float value of the Nova | Mandrel varies from 0.00 to 0.50, allowing this skin to be found in all exteriors. Additionally, a Souvenir version of the Mandrel is available for each exterior.

The Nova | Mandrel features a unique "Hydrographic" style with a distinctive Mandrel finish. This skin is created by lowering disassembled weapon parts through a floating hydrographic film in a water tank, allowing the film to bond with the surface, resulting in a striking pattern. Primarily painted in shades of gray, the Mandrel finish's appearance can vary based on its pattern index. Notably, this skin utilizes the legacy model design.