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.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charged Strike | S | 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 | A | Aggressive Rush build for gap-closing, Balanced build for utility | Special abilities powered by successful deflects. |
| Arrow Talisman | A | Talisman Build for ranged boss phases | A ranged Talisman that fires at a distance instead of requiring melee attachment. |
| Bomb Talisman | B | Talisman Build for AoE encounters and grouped enemies | An AoE explosion Talisman that damages all enemies near the detonation target. |
| Jade Talisman | B | 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. |
S-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | All builds — the core damage follow-up after successful deflects |
| Key Mechanic | deflect parrying |
| Recommended Role | Parry Focus |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Charged Strike: Pairs naturally with Parry Focus thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Aggressive Rush build for gap-closing, Balanced build for utility |
| Key Mechanic | talisman abilities |
| Recommended Role | Talisman Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Internal Arts: Pairs naturally with Talisman Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Talisman Build for ranged boss phases |
| Key Mechanic | Tao arts |
| Recommended Role | Aggressive Rush |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Arrow Talisman: Pairs naturally with Aggressive Rush thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Talisman Build for AoE encounters and grouped enemies |
| Key Mechanic | platforming |
| Recommended Role | Balanced |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bomb Talisman: Pairs naturally with Balanced thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Parry Focus and Balanced builds for sustained boss fight survival |
| Key Mechanic | lore terminals |
| Recommended Role | Exploration Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Jade Talisman: Pairs naturally with Exploration Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear New Kunlun
- Internal Arts → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Arrow Talisman → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Charged Strike → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat 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 Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
