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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Deflect is the core mechanic — master it before progressing past the first zone
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.
2. Talismans deal massive damage when attached and detonated — a full Talisman chain (deflect > attach > detonate) deals more damage than 5-6 regular attacks
Talismans deal massive damage when attached and detonated — a full Talisman chain (deflect > attach > detonate) deals more damage than 5-6 regular attacks. Always prioritize getting Talismans attached.
3. Internal Arts charge from successful deflects, creating a reward loop: deflect > charge gauge > use powerful abilities > repeat
Internal Arts charge from successful deflects, creating a reward loop: deflect > charge gauge > use powerful abilities > repeat. Never waste fully charged Internal Arts — use them on the next safe opening.
4. Save at jade benches frequently — they're your only save system
Save at jade benches frequently — they're your only save system. Running past a bench without saving means replaying from the last one on death. Benches also refill health and Talisman charges.
5. Lore terminals explain the cryptic story — New Kunlun's purpose, the Sols' true nature, and Yi's history are revealed through terminals scattered in hidden alcoves
Lore terminals explain the cryptic story — New Kunlun's purpose, the Sols' true nature, and Yi's history are revealed through terminals scattered in hidden alcoves. Read everything for the full narrative experience.
6. Some attacks have red indicators meaning they cannot be deflected — these must be dodged
Some attacks have red indicators meaning they cannot be deflected — these must be dodged. Learn which enemy attacks are deflectable (white flash) versus undeflectable (red flash) to avoid damage.
7. Boss fights have multi-phase patterns that change at HP thresholds
Boss fights have multi-phase patterns that change at HP thresholds. The first time you see a new phase, focus on surviving and learning the pattern rather than dealing damage. Knowledge is the real progression.
8. Upgrade deflect window passives first — the wider your deflect timing, the more forgiving every encounter becomes
Upgrade deflect window passives first — the wider your deflect timing, the more forgiving every encounter becomes. Raw damage upgrades matter less than consistent deflection.
9. Backtrack with new movement abilities to reach previously inaccessible areas — the Metroidvania structure hides powerful upgrades behind movement gates
Backtrack with new movement abilities to reach previously inaccessible areas — the Metroidvania structure hides powerful upgrades behind movement gates. New air dash > revisit old zones > find hidden upgrades.
10. The game has an accessibility assist mode that expands deflect windows for players struggling with timing
The game has an accessibility assist mode that expands deflect windows for players struggling with timing. Using it doesn't lock any content — it's a valid way to experience the story.
Advanced Strategies
Role Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For 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.
- Core gear: Jade Talisman (healing), Deflect timing upgrades, Internal Art charge speed boosts
- Stat priority: Deflect window, Talisman damage, HP recovery
For 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.
- Core gear: Bomb Talisman, Arrow Talisman, Talisman damage upgrades, Quick-attach passive
- Stat priority: Talisman damage, Talisman charge speed, Attack power
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Nine Sols's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
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. Combined with talisman abilities, talismans are sticky charges attached to enemies after successful deflects.
Tao arts + platforming: Internal Arts are special abilities charged by successful deflects that deal massive damage or provide utility. When paired with platforming, environmental traversal uses wall-jumping, air-dashing, and grapple points to navigate new kunlun's verticality.
lore terminals scaling: 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.
Weapons Efficiency
| Weapon | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Location Efficiency
New Kunlun (Hub (all game)): 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.
Apeman Facility (Early game (Sol 1-2)): 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.
Greenhouse (Early-mid game (Sol 3-4)): 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.
Factory (Mid game (Sol 5-6)): 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.
Grotto (Late game (Sol 7-8)): 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.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Trying to dodge instead of deflect — Nine Sols is built around deflection, not evasion. Dodge invincibility frames are very short and dodging doesn't charge Talismans. Stand your ground and deflect.
- Deflecting too early on delayed attacks — many enemies wind up attacks with long delays designed to bait early deflects. Wait for the white flash indicator, not the animation start.
- Ignoring Talisman variety — using only one Talisman type for every encounter is suboptimal. Jade Talisman for bosses (healing), Bomb Talisman for mobs (AoE), Arrow Talisman for ranged phases. Switch based on the situation.
- Rushing past lore terminals — the story is intentionally cryptic without terminal context. Players who skip terminals often find the plot incomprehensible and miss the game's most compelling narrative elements.
- Not upgrading deflect window passives first — spending jade on damage before deflect timing means you die more often and deal less total damage (since Talisman damage requires deflects to charge).
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Parry Focus | S-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Talisman Build | Most forgiving for learning |
| Weapons | Charged Strike | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | New Kunlun | Upgrade stations, save points, NPC lore, fast travel nodes |
| Priority mechanic | deflect parrying | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- 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.
- Talismans deal massive damage when attached and detonated — a full Talisman chain (deflect > attach > detonate) deals more damage than 5-6 regular attacks. Always prioritize getting Talismans attached.
- Internal Arts charge from successful deflects, creating a reward loop: deflect > charge gauge > use powerful abilities > repeat. Never waste fully charged Internal Arts — use them on the next safe opening.
- Start with Talisman Build, switch to Parry Focus when ready
- Invest in Charged Strike above everything else
- Clear areas in order: New Kunlun → Apeman Facility → Greenhouse → Factory → Grotto
- deflect parrying + talisman abilities together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
