NFT rarity explained
Quick answer
Rarity measures how uncommon a token's combination of traits is within its collection. Rarer trait values contribute more to the score; tokens are ranked by score and grouped into tiers.
Rarity is relative to the collection: a trait that is rare in one collection may be common in another. Elevate computes it from the indexed metadata of every token.
Who this is for
Collectors comparing tokens, and creators who want to know how their collection will be scored.
Rarity calculation
For each trait type (Background, Eyes, and so on) the system counts how many tokens carry each value. A value shared by 1% of the collection contributes far more to a token's score than one shared by 40%. Scores are summed per token, tokens are ranked, and each is assigned a tier.
Tiers
| Tier | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Common | Most tokens |
| Uncommon | Above-average score |
| Rare | Top portion of the collection |
| Epic | Very high score |
| Legendary | The rarest tokens |
Tier boundaries are set per collection from the score distribution, so the labels stay meaningful whether a collection has 1,000 or 10,000 tokens.
Viewing rarity
Rarity data is available for a whole collection or for an individual token, along with distribution statistics and the top-ranked tokens, once the collection has been indexed and revealed.
Common mistakes
- Comparing rarity ranks across collections. Ranks only mean something within one collection.
- Reading rarity before reveal. Unrevealed tokens share placeholder metadata, so scores are not computed until the creator reveals.
Frequently asked questions
- When is rarity available for a collection?
- After the collection's metadata is revealed and indexed. Before reveal every token has the same placeholder metadata.
- Does rarity affect price?
- Elevate does not set prices from rarity. Mint price is per phase; secondary prices are set by sellers.
Written and maintained by the Elevate team. Last updated . Corrections: reach the team on the official Discord.
Related
- NFT traits explainedWhat traits are, how they are stored, and how frequencies are shown.
- NFT reveal mechanicsPlaceholder at mint, reveal when ready, freeze permanently if you choose.
- On-chain status and real-time dataPhase status, mint counts and wallet allowances are read from the contract, not a database.
Ready to mint? View verified Bittensor NFT collections.