Go to 100% Completion Hub
All Dark Steels in Nine Sols
| ✓ | Item | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Dark Steel 1
 Location: Power Reservoir
Dark Steel
|
In the Central Transport Hub, just right of the very tall room. You need to enter from Tiandao Research Center.
|
|
|
Dark Steel 2
Location: Warehouse
Dark Steel
|
Find it in the Boundless Repository part of the Warehouse, but you need to activate all 5 hack points in the nearby challenge.
|
|
|
Dark Steel 3
Location: Peach Blossom Village
Dark Steel
|
Return back to the Peach Blossom Village after picking up the key in Abandoned Mines and defeat Red Tiger Elite: Lieguan. This side boss can be found before the drop to Apeman Facility.
|
|
|
Dark Steel 4
Location: Grotto of Scriptures
Dark Steel
|
Find a chest at the very bottom of the Grotto of Scriptures Entry room, next to the path to Agrarian Hall.
|
|
|
Dark Steel 5
Location: Empyrean District
Dark Steel
|
Defeat the Great Miner: Tianshou in Empyrean District Passages.
|
|
|
Dark Steel 6
Location: Tiandao Research Center
Dark Steel
|
In Tiandao Research Center top room, left from the Root Node. Requires an air parry to reach.
|
How to use Dark Steel & Azure Bow
Dark Steel is the key resource for strengthening the Azure Bow's arrows. Each arrow type can be upgraded twice: first to S level and then to X level, significantly increasing its damage output. Every upgrade requires one Dark Steel with Jin cost.
The Azure Bow functions as a high-impact burst option in combat. Every shot consumes Azure Sand, a limited resource that refills when resting and can be expanded through upgrades. Because ammunition is restricted, the bow rewards deliberate timing—using it to punish openings, stagger enemies, or deal heavy damage during safe windows.
Different arrow types serve different combat roles. The Cloud Piercer Arrow fires a piercing beam that deals strong direct damage and can stagger targets, making it reliable in most encounters. The Thunder Buster Arrow delivers explosive area damage over time, excelling against clustered enemies or large bosses. Upgrading these arrows with Dark Steel not only increases their damage by a significant percentage of their base value, but also enhances their utility, such as widening beam size or expanding explosion radius.
With only a limited amount of Dark Steel available, choosing which arrow to prioritize shapes your ranged playstyle. Whether you prefer consistent piercing pressure or explosive burst damage, investing wisely ensures the Azure Bow remains a powerful complement to melee combat.
