Two modes at the start
When you begin a save, Nine Sols offers Standard Mode and Story Mode.
- Standard Mode is the default: normal player damage, enemy health and damage. Finishing the game on Standard earns the Fight Through Hardship achievement.
- Story Mode is for players who mainly want the story. It adds sliders you can change any time in the Gameplay options menu.
From Standard you may irreversibly switch to Story Mode through the Gameplay options; doing so only locks you out of the Fight Through Hardship achievement.
Story Mode sliders
| Slider | Range | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Multiplier | 100% – 1000% | 150% | Raises Yi’s dealt damage (up to 10x) |
| Injury Multiplier | 1% – 100% | 25% | Lowers damage Yi takes from attacks |
The Azure Bow is affected twice by the Attack Multiplier, so at 1000% it deals up to 100x bow damage. Continuous damage such as fire is still noticeable because its duration is unchanged. These sliders are continuous, limited only by on-screen precision.
Easing Standard without leaving it
If you want the achievement but a fight feels impossible, lower the effective difficulty through the build instead:
- Recovery Jade — Internal Damage regenerates after 3s (not 5s) at 12 HP/s (not 4), so mistakes hurt less.
- Revival Jade — one free revive at 0 HP with 25% HP back.
- Last Stand Jade — +20% damage (44% on the bow) below 25% HP.
- Medicine Pipe upgrades — heal 60→120 HP, 2→8 charges, via Kuafu and Pipe Vials.
- Transmutes — Unto Life restores 15 HP on a Talisman kill.
Battle Memories
After reaching any ending, Battle Memories unlocks: a boss rematch mode where you refight 8 Sol bosses with all skills, Jades and equipment already unlocked. Those bosses have higher health and damage, and the boost is largest on the early bosses. It is the post-game way to test a finished build.