Nine Sols is a hand-drawn 2D action-platformer blending Chinese mythology with sci-fi cyberpunk aesthetics. You play as Yi, a vengeful hero seeking to kill the nine ruling Sols (god-like beings) of New Kunlun. The combat centers entirely on the deflect/parry mechanic — instead of dodging, you deflect enemy attacks to charge Talisman counters for devastating ripostes. With Sekiro-level precision demands wrapped in a Metroidvania structure, Nine Sols is one of the most mechanically demanding 2D action games available.
Combat in Nine Sols rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works — and how they interact — is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. deflect parrying
Deflecting is the core mechanic — pressing the deflect button at the exact moment of enemy contact negates damage and charges your Talisman gauge. Unlike dodge-based games, Nine Sols actively punishes dodging and rewards standing your ground. Each enemy has unique attack rhythms that must be memorized. Some attacks require multiple sequential deflects without gaps. Mistiming a deflect results in full damage taken.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. talisman abilities
Talismans are sticky charges attached to enemies after successful deflects. Once attached, activating the Talisman triggers a powerful counter-explosion. Arrow Talismans deal ranged damage, Bomb Talismans explode for AoE, and Jade Talismans heal Yi on detonation. Talisman choice fundamentally changes your approach to each encounter — healing Talismans for survival, damage Talismans for aggression.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. Tao arts
Internal Arts are special abilities charged by successful deflects that deal massive damage or provide utility. Charged Strike is a heavy downward slash, while other Tao Arts provide gap-closing, aerial combat, and crowd control. Internal Arts have cooldowns and require Talisman gauge to activate, creating a resource management layer during combat.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. platforming
Environmental traversal uses wall-jumping, air-dashing, and grapple points to navigate New Kunlun's verticality. Some platforming sequences require precise timing between hazards (laser grids, falling platforms, spike walls). The Metroidvania structure gates areas behind ability upgrades — new movement abilities open shortcuts and previously inaccessible zones.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. lore terminals
Data terminals scattered throughout New Kunlun reveal the story through text logs and holographic recordings. The narrative is cryptic — piecing together the truth about the Sols, Yi's past, and New Kunlun's purpose requires finding and reading most terminals. Missing terminals leaves significant story gaps.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
Mechanic Synergies
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
deflect parrying + talisman abilities
Deflecting is the core mechanic — pressing the deflect button at the exact moment of enemy contact negates damage and charges your Talisman gauge. When combined with talisman abilities, talismans are sticky charges attached to enemies after successful deflects. This combination is the core of every effective build.
Tao arts + platforming
Internal Arts are special abilities charged by successful deflects that deal massive damage or provide utility. Paired with platforming, environmental traversal uses wall-jumping, air-dashing, and grapple points to navigate new kunlun's verticality. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
lore terminals as a Multiplier
Data terminals scattered throughout New Kunlun reveal the story through text logs and holographic recordings. The narrative is cryptic — piecing together the truth about the Sols, Yi's past, and New Kunlun's purpose requires finding and reading most terminals. Missing terminals leaves significant story gaps. This system amplifies everything else — the better your lore terminals optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Role
Each role approaches combat differently:
Parry Focus (S-Tier)
Combat approach: Stand in enemy faces, deflect everything, attach Talismans, detonate for damage while healing. Key weapons: Charged Strike Primary mechanic: deflect parrying
The intended playstyle — maximize deflect consistency to maintain constant Talisman pressure. Full setup in our builds guide.
Talisman Build (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Deflect to attach Talismans rapidly, detonate for burst damage, use Arrow Talismans during ranged phases. Key weapons: Internal Arts Primary mechanic: talisman abilities
Focus on maximizing Talisman attachment speed and detonation damage. Full setup in our builds guide.
Aggressive Rush (B-Tier)
Combat approach: Aggressively attack to stagger enemies before they start combos, use Charged Strike for burst damage. Key weapons: Arrow Talisman Primary mechanic: Tao arts
A high-risk build that chains Charged Strikes and aggressive attacks to overwhelm enemies before they can attack. Full setup in our builds guide.
Balanced (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Adapt Talisman choice to each encounter, deflect reliably, use whatever tools the situation demands. Key weapons: Bomb Talisman Primary mechanic: platforming
A mix of deflect proficiency and Talisman variety. Full setup in our builds guide.
Exploration Build (C-Tier)
Combat approach: Speed through exploration areas, collect hidden items, accept harder combat in exchange for thorough map completion. Key weapons: Jade Talisman Primary mechanic: lore terminals
Prioritizes movement upgrades (air dash distance, wall jump height, grapple speed) over combat stats. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your weapons to your role's stat priorities
- Exploit deflect parrying for maximum damage windows
- Chain talisman abilities and Tao arts for combo damage
- Use platforming to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Deflect is the core mechanic — master it before progressing past the first zone. Every boss and most enemies are designed around deflect timing. Practicing against basic enemies until deflect is muscle memory saves hours of frustration later.
- Position using deflect parrying to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness — Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression — One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation — Swap gear and weapons for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing — Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring talisman abilities — This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong weapons for the situation — Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths — Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting — Trading hits works in New Kunlun but will get you killed in Grotto.
More Nine Sols Guides
- Nine Sols Nine Sols Overview
- Nine Sols Best Builds
- Nine Sols Tier List
- Nine Sols Walkthrough
- Nine Sols Beginner's Guide
- Nine Sols Tips & Tricks
- Nine Sols Weapons Guide
- Nine Sols Boss Guide
- Nine Sols Maps & Locations
- Nine Sols Crafting Guide
- Nine Sols Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Nine Sols, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
