Even cautious investors are becoming interested in NFTs due to their rapid rise in the digital asset space. The demand for high-quality NFT tools is also increasing as collectors and traders search for valuable non-fungible assets.
Rarity remains a fundamental driver of value in the NFT market. To make informed and profitable decisions, tracking rarity trends is essential. Sniping NFTs—acquiring them below market value because the seller underestimates their rarity—is a common strategy. Rarity tools, also known as rarity sniper tools, can assist in identifying these opportunities. This guide explains NFT rarity and examines some of the best tools available today.
What Is NFT Rarity?
New NFTs are released frequently, but not all are created equal. Why do some NFTs sell for millions while others trade for very little? The answer often lies in rarity.
The uniqueness of an NFT's traits establishes its scarcity and, consequently, its value. Highly rare NFTs are prized by collectors, which drives up their market price. As a result, both collectors and investors are keen to know: is the NFT I own—or plan to buy—truly rare?
How Is NFT Rarity Calculated?
Several methods exist for determining the rarity of an NFT. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding them is key to accurate evaluation.
Average Trait Rarity
This method calculates the average rarity of all an NFT's traits. For example, if an NFT has two traits—one with a 50% occurrence rate and another with a 10% occurrence rate—its average trait rarity would be 30%.
The drawback of this approach is that it can dilute the impact of a single, extremely rare trait by averaging it with more common ones.
Statistical Rarity
Statistical rarity is determined by multiplying the probabilities of all individual traits together. For an NFT with two traits occurring at 10% and 50%, its statistical rarity would be 5% (0.10 * 0.50 = 0.05).
This method can overvalue NFTs with many common traits and undervalue those with one exceptionally rare attribute.
Trait Rarity Ranking
This straightforward method ranks NFTs based solely on their rarest trait. While simple to understand, it ignores the combined effect of all other traits, potentially providing an incomplete picture of an asset's overall rarity.
The Rarity Score Method
The Rarity Score method is widely considered superior. It emphasizes single unique qualities while also accounting for the overall combination of traits. This balanced approach provides a more holistic and accurate measure of an NFT's rarity. Most modern rarity tools use a variation of this method to generate a Rarity Score automatically.
Best NFT Rarity Tools for Investors
Manually calculating the rarity of every NFT you're interested in is impractical. Fortunately, several reliable tools can automate this process and aid your investment research.
It is important to remember that these tools should inform your decisions, not replace due diligence. Always conduct thorough research on any NFT project or marketplace before investing.
HowRare.is
HowRare.is is a dedicated platform for analyzing the rarity of Solana-based NFTs. Its database includes over 250 Solana NFT collections, with detailed information on floor price, traits, number of holders, and availability.
You can browse NFTs within a collection sorted by their rarity rank, view their individual rarity score, and examine their specific traits. A dedicated section also displays the most recent sales. While it offers a snapshot of upcoming Solana NFT collections, it does not verify these projects.
NFT Stats
NFT Stats is a user-friendly website offering high-level analysis of popular NFT collections. It ranks NFTs based on a combination of popularity, rarity, and sales volume.
The platform provides valuable insights into top-performing collections across different timeframes, including the past 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days, helping you spot market trends.
Rarity Sniffer
True to its name, Rarity Sniffer focuses on ranking newly released NFT projects by their rarity shortly after they mint. The free version tracks the latest NFT drops and provides early "sniffs" of upcoming projects.
It also maintains a Discord community where users can access deeper analysis and potentially discover undervalued, rare NFTs before they gain widespread attention.
OpenSea
As the world's largest NFT marketplace, OpenSea is a essential platform for any collector. While its primary function is to facilitate buying and selling, it also offers basic rarity features.
You can sort and filter NFTs within a collection by their individual traits to get a sense of their scarcity. OpenSea also provides real-time rankings based on trading volume, floor price, and other market metrics, which is excellent for tracking a collection's popularity. However, it does not provide an overall rarity rank or score for individual NFTs.
NFTSniff
NFTSniff offers the core functionality of a standard rarity tracker with a notable emphasis on speed and a clean interface. While it may not have as many advanced features as some competitors, its performance is robust, making it a solid contender for quick rarity checks. The platform is expected to expand its feature set over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important factor in an NFT's value?
While many factors contribute to value, including utility and artist reputation, rarity is often the primary driver. Scarcity creates demand, which directly influences price.
Can I rely solely on a rarity score to invest?
No. A high rarity score is a positive indicator, but it should not be your only criteria. Always research the project's community, roadmap, developer team, and overall market conditions before making an investment.
Are free NFT rarity tools accurate?
Most popular free tools use reliable methodologies and provide accurate data for the metrics they track. However, different tools may use slightly different formulas, so it's wise to cross-reference information when possible.
What blockchain do most rarity tools support?
Ethereum-based NFTs are supported by virtually all tools. Support for other blockchains like Solana, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain varies by platform, so check the tool's website for specifics.
How often is rarity data updated?
This depends on the tool. Marketplaces like OpenSea update in real-time. Dedicated rarity tools like HowRare.is and Rarity Sniffer update their rankings frequently, often shortly after a project's mint is complete or as new sales occur.
Is a rare trait always valuable?
Not necessarily. The value of a trait depends on its desirability within the community. A trait that is rare but not considered aesthetically pleasing or culturally significant may not command a high price.