This Nine Sols tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Characters Rankings
| Tier | Role | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Parry Focus | 9.5/10 | Stand in enemy faces, deflect everything, attach Talismans, detonate for damage while healing. |
| A | Talisman Build | 8.5/10 | Deflect to attach Talismans rapidly, detonate for burst damage, use Arrow Talismans during ranged phases. |
| B | Aggressive Rush | 7.5/10 | Aggressively attack to stagger enemies before they start combos, use Charged Strike for burst damage. |
| A | Balanced | 8.5/10 | Adapt Talisman choice to each encounter, deflect reliably, use whatever tools the situation demands. |
| C | Exploration Build | 7.0/10 | Speed through exploration areas, collect hidden items, accept harder combat in exchange for thorough map completion. |
Detailed Characters Analysis
Parry Focus (S-Tier)
The intended playstyle — maximize deflect consistency to maintain constant Talisman pressure. Upgrade deflect timing windows through jade investments and equip passive buffs that reward successful parries. This build has the highest damage ceiling since every deflect is also offense.
Best with: Jade Talisman (healing), Deflect timing upgrades, Internal Art charge speed boosts Stat focus: Deflect window, Talisman damage, HP recovery
Talisman Build (A-Tier)
Focus on maximizing Talisman attachment speed and detonation damage. Bomb Talismans for AoE encounters, Arrow Talismans for ranged boss phases. This build prioritizes Talisman upgrades over combat stats, trading per-hit damage for burst detonation damage.
Best with: Bomb Talisman, Arrow Talisman, Talisman damage upgrades, Quick-attach passive Stat focus: Talisman damage, Talisman charge speed, Attack power
Aggressive Rush (B-Tier)
A high-risk build that chains Charged Strikes and aggressive attacks to overwhelm enemies before they can attack. Requires precise knowledge of enemy stagger thresholds. Works against regular enemies but struggles against bosses with super armor who can't be staggered.
Best with: Charged Strike upgrades, Attack speed passives, Damage boost accessories Stat focus: Attack power, Attack speed, Stagger damage
Balanced (A-Tier)
A mix of deflect proficiency and Talisman variety. Switch between Jade (healing), Bomb (AoE), and Arrow (ranged) Talismans based on the encounter. This build sacrifices specialization for flexibility — useful for first-time players navigating unknown encounters.
Best with: All three Talisman types, Moderate upgrades across all stats Stat focus: HP, Deflect window, Balanced attack and Talisman stats
Exploration Build (C-Tier)
Prioritizes movement upgrades (air dash distance, wall jump height, grapple speed) over combat stats. Useful for reaching hidden areas and backtracking efficiently, but makes boss fights significantly harder due to lower combat stats. Only recommended for second playthroughs.
Best with: Movement upgrade passives, Map reveal items, Platforming-focused accessories Stat focus: Movement abilities, then minimum viable combat stats
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charged Strike | All builds — the core damage follow-up after successful deflects | Yi's heavy melee attack that deals 3x normal damage after a short charge animation. |
| Internal Arts | Aggressive Rush build for gap-closing, Balanced build for utility | Special abilities powered by successful deflects. |
| Arrow Talisman | Talisman Build for ranged boss phases | A ranged Talisman that fires at a distance instead of requiring melee attachment. |
| Bomb Talisman | Talisman Build for AoE encounters and grouped enemies | An AoE explosion Talisman that damages all enemies near the detonation target. |
| Jade Talisman | Parry Focus and Balanced builds for sustained boss fight survival | A healing Talisman that restores Yi's HP on detonation instead of dealing bonus damage. |
Weapons Analysis
Charged Strike: Yi's heavy melee attack that deals 3x normal damage after a short charge animation. Can be canceled into deflect if an enemy attacks during the charge. The primary damage tool against staggered enemies — deflect an attack, then immediately Charged Strike during the stagger window.
Internal Arts: Special abilities powered by successful deflects. The gap-closing dash attack is invaluable for reaching ranged enemies, while the AoE ground pound clears surrounding mobs. Internal Arts charge from your Talisman gauge, creating a choice between saving gauge for Talisman detonation or spending it on Arts.
Arrow Talisman: A ranged Talisman that fires at a distance instead of requiring melee attachment. Essential for boss phases where the boss is unreachable (flying, distant platform). Arrow Talisman damage is lower than Bomb Talisman but the range makes it irreplaceable for certain encounters.
Bomb Talisman: An AoE explosion Talisman that damages all enemies near the detonation target. The highest raw damage Talisman, ideal for rooms with multiple enemies where a single detonation can hit 3-4 targets. Less useful against solo bosses where Arrow or Jade provide better utility.
Jade Talisman: A healing Talisman that restores Yi's HP on detonation instead of dealing bonus damage. The healing scales with Talisman power upgrades. This is the survivability Talisman — equipping Jade for boss fights where you expect to take hits provides sustain that extends your attempt length.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Nine Sols centers on deflect parrying and talisman abilities. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.
What's strong right now:
- Parry Focus with Charged Strike is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Tao arts builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
- Aggressive Rush remains essential for learning hard content.
What's underrated:
- Talisman Build is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Arrow Talisman offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Exploration Build builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Role | Best Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Parry Focus | Charged Strike | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Talisman Build | Internal Arts | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Aggressive Rush | Arrow Talisman | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Balanced | Bomb Talisman | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Exploration Build | Jade Talisman | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
For full build guides, see Nine Sols builds. For progression help, check the walkthrough.
