The deflect is the whole game
Nine Sols is a parry-first metroidvania built on the same timing model as Sekiro. Your default answer to any attack is the deflect, not the dodge.
A precise deflect cancels the hit completely, staggers many small enemies, and grants one Qi charge. An imprecise deflect (too early) still blocks half the damage and gives you one Qi charge, but the other half lands as Internal Damage and does not stagger.
You cannot deflect Crimson Attacks — those flash red and black. Dodge them with the Immortal Dash, or use a Tai-Chi Kick once unlocked (it counters the green-aura versions).
Your health and healing
Yi begins at 120 HP. Drinking healing brews from Shennong raises the maximum by 15 HP per brew, up to 240 HP.
The Medicine Pipe is your main heal: 60 HP base, upgradable to 120 HP (+7.5 per upgrade from Kuafu using Herb Catalysts), with 2 charges base growing to 8 (Pipe Vials from the 3D Printer and the world). Resting at a Root Node or a Pipe Refill Station also refills it.
The Talisman and Qi loop
Parrying fills your Qi. Spend it with the Talisman: a dash that attaches a tag dealing 32 Internal Damage, then a detonation that converts all of an enemy’s Internal Damage into Direct Damage. Internal Damage is the currency you build up and cash in — most bosses fall to stacking Internal Damage through talismans, then detonating.
Unlocked spell styles change only the detonation: Qi Blast (up to 3 Qi, default), Water Flow (auto-detonates, 2 Qi), and Full Control (hold to spend up to 5 Qi).
The Jade System
After you reactivate Abacus Ruyi at the Four Seasons Pavilion (with the Mystic Nymph), you equip Jades at any Root Node. Your Computing Power starts at 2 and reaches 10 by collecting Computing Units. The game has 28 Jades plus the Computing Unit; each costs 1–3 CPU, so your budget is the real limit on a build. See the Jade CPU guide and the best Jades tier list before you spend.
Abilities you unlock on the way
Yi does not start with his full kit. Key moves are earned at Anomalous Root Nodes:
- Tai-Chi Kick — Central Transport Hub
- Charged Strike — Greenhouse (64 base damage, a finishing blow)
- Air Dash — Factory (Underground)
- Unbounded Counter — Factory (Machine Room); a ~0.5s charged parry dealing 60 Internal Damage that can also block Crimson Attacks
- Cloud Leap (double jump) — Four Seasons Pavilion, after the fifth Sol