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.
Nine Sols features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Kunlun | Hub (all game) | Upgrade stations, save points, NPC lore, fast travel nodes | Talisman Build |
| 2 | Apeman Facility | Early game (Sol 1-2) | First Sol defeat, basic Talisman upgrades, deflect training encounters | Talisman Build |
| 3 | Greenhouse | Early-mid game (Sol 3-4) | Poison resistance upgrades, new movement abilities, mid-tier Talisman upgrades | Parry Focus |
| 4 | Factory | Mid game (Sol 5-6) | Mechanical enemy drops, advanced Internal Arts, factory-themed upgrades | Parry Focus |
| 5 | Grotto | Late game (Sol 7-8) | Critical lore reveals, endgame Talisman upgrades, highest-difficulty regular enemies | Parry Focus |
New Kunlun — Starting Area
The hub area connecting all major zones. New Kunlun's central area contains save benches, upgrade stations, and NPC interactions. The area expands as you defeat Sols and unlock new zones. Fast travel points within New Kunlun reduce backtracking.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Hub (all game) |
| Key Rewards | Upgrade stations, save points, NPC lore, fast travel nodes |
| Recommended Role | Talisman Build |
| Key Weapons | Internal Arts |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of deflect parrying — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Apeman Facility.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Apeman Facility — Early Game
The first major zone with laboratory enemies (mutated primates, automated defenses). The facility teaches core deflect timing against predictable enemies before ramping up difficulty. The zone's Sol boss introduces multi-phase deflect patterns.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early game (Sol 1-2) |
| Key Rewards | First Sol defeat, basic Talisman upgrades, deflect training encounters |
| Recommended Role | Talisman Build |
| Key Weapons | Internal Arts |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering talisman abilities — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Internal Arts if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Greenhouse.
Greenhouse — Mid Game
A bio-lab zone overgrown with mutant plant life. Enemies here use poison and grab attacks that require specific deflect timing. The platforming sections feature vine grapple points and falling petal hazards. The Greenhouse Sol boss uses the most complex attack chains of the early bosses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early-mid game (Sol 3-4) |
| Key Rewards | Poison resistance upgrades, new movement abilities, mid-tier Talisman upgrades |
| Recommended Role | Parry Focus |
| Key Weapons | Internal Arts |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Charged Strike becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master Tao arts for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Factory — Late Game
An industrial zone with mechanical enemies (robots, turrets, conveyor hazards). Enemies here attack in patterns timed to factory machinery, requiring awareness of environmental timing alongside enemy deflection. The Factory Sol boss combines mechanical patterns with melee attacks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game (Sol 5-6) |
| Key Rewards | Mechanical enemy drops, advanced Internal Arts, factory-themed upgrades |
| Recommended Role | Parry Focus |
| Key Weapons | Charged Strike |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Charged Strike should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- lore terminals mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Grotto.
Grotto — Endgame
A mystical underground zone where the lore deepens significantly. Enemies are ethereal and use delayed attacks designed to bait early deflects. The Grotto contains the most cryptic story revelations through extensive terminal networks. One of the game's hardest zones combat-wise.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game (Sol 7-8) |
| Key Rewards | Critical lore reveals, endgame Talisman upgrades, highest-difficulty regular enemies |
| Recommended Role | Parry Focus |
| Key Weapons | Charged Strike |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Exploration Build for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — New Kunlun → Apeman Facility → Greenhouse → Factory → Grotto. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons — Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
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 Combat Guide
- Nine Sols Boss Guide
- Nine Sols Crafting Guide
- Nine Sols Classes & Characters
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