7 Essential Tips for Mastering Nine Sols

Nine Sols, the metroidvania Sekiro-inspired action game, has finally made its way to consoles and Game Pass. Developed by Red Candle Games, Nine Sols combines precise parry-focused combat with stunning hand-drawn artwork and a compelling story of vengeance and growth. I recently wrote an article about why you should play Nine Sols, and now here are seven essential tips to help you navigate Yi’s journey and make the most of your time in New Kunlun.

1. Be Patient

Nine Sols is challenging, and patience is the key to mastering combat. Many enemies signal their attacks with a white blinking indicator. Use this cue to wait for the perfect moment to parry. Some enemies will perform an attack that flashes red, and this is your cue to dodge. Eventually, you will be able to parry red attacks. Building up your talismans with parries is essential—unleashing a talisman explosion can deal devastating damage, turning the tide of battle.

Sometimes, defense is your best offense. Instead of striking back immediately, focus on parrying and waiting for the right moment to use a standard melee combo. Then, use a talisman explosion to convert all that internal damage into true damage, often killing an enemy in one hit. Later on, you’ll be able to find a Jade that allows parries to inflict internal damage onto an enemy, and this becomes an essential part of some boss fights. Look for attack patterns, and you’ll find your opportunity. 

2. Return to the Pavilion Between Zones

The Four Seasons Pavilion is more than a home base—it’s the heart of the story. Returning to the pavilion after major boss fights or between zones lets you interact with the supporting cast of characters, uncovering new dialogue and advancing their personal quests.

This is also the perfect time to recycle components for Jin, the game’s currency, and purchase essential upgrades like Jades or Medicine Pipe Upgrades from NPCs and vending machines. Some NPCs may even reward you with useful items or upgrades. Frequent visits will ensure you stay well-equipped and immersed in the story and characters.

3. Don’t Ignore Shuanshuan

Speaking of returning to the pavilion, Shuanshuan plays a crucial role in achieving Nine Sols true ending. You’ll come across items during your journey labeled “This can be gifted to Shuanshuan.” These gifts deepen Yi’s relationship with him, unlocking new dialogue and potential rewards.

Interacting with him regularly ensures you don’t miss key moments tied to the game’s deeper narrative layers. Plus, he can be really funny.

4. Explore Every Corner

As a Metroidvania, Nine Sols encourages thorough exploration. You’ll often encounter areas that seem inaccessible until you acquire the right ability or key item. Revisit previous zones to check for hidden pathways, treasures, or upgrades you might have missed.

Keep an eye out for the Shanhai 9000 vendors scattered across the world. These are little robots with fishbowl heads, and purchasing their map data and bringing it back to the robot at the pavilion will reveal the locations of missed items in that area. Exploration isn’t just for fun—it’s vital for maximizing your upgrades and discovering the game’s secrets.

5. Use the Azure Bow

The Azure Bow is a lifesaver, especially in situations where you’re overwhelmed by enemies or need a moment to regroup during a boss fight. This secondary weapon, unlocked early in the game, can quickly clear groups of weaker enemies and deal significant damage to tougher foes, even interrupting their attacks.

To make the most of the Azure Bow, look out for Dark Steel, the material required to upgrade it. A stronger bow can make all the difference in tight situations, so don’t neglect this weapon.

6. Experiment with Jades

Jades function similarly to charms in Hollow Knight. They are perks that Yi can equip on himself offering bonuses like “Attaching a talisman will temporarily immobilize that enemy” or “Increases the recovery rate of internal damage” and many more. This is where your “build” comes into play. There are many Jades to find out in the world, so try experimenting with them and see what feels best for your play style. If you want to focus just on parrying and talismans, there are Jades that can let you do that. Not great at parrying and want to emphasize light and strong melee attacks? Well, Jades can help you with that too, to an extent. You really should learn to parry though. 

7. Invest in Health Upgrades Early

In the early game, Yi’s health bar is quite small, and even basic enemies can deal significant damage. Spend your Jin on Medicine Pipe Upgrades as soon as possible to increase the number of healing items you can carry.

Later in the game, you’ll unlock an NPC at the pavilion who will task you with finding specific items to permanently increase your health bar. Prioritize these upgrades—they’ll make even the toughest encounters more manageable.

Final Thoughts

Nine Sols is one of my favorite games this year, and I can’t stop singing its praises. It combines great combat, intricate exploration, and a deeply emotional story. By mastering its mechanics, revisiting the pavilion, and making the most of the tools and NPCs at your disposal, you’ll uncover the game’s many secrets, and believe me there are some wild ones. Stay patient, explore thoroughly, and have fun! Good luck out there.