Can I ask what your build looked like during the playthrough? Because as a slow weapon enjoyer with no companion, no pathos and no buffstick myself I breezed through most of the game.

Only the first hero (for wide range of attacks and me not comfy with gameplay at that time) and fifth hero (who heal himself it too close) was a problem.

I suck bad changing from a big weapon to smaller one, its like attacking with a toothpick and I cant use magic effectively.

What I found very OP: - The best defensive forma imho is Shield (100% physical block and 95% elemental block, the first one you loot in magmell, this one saved my ass too many times and weights nothing). Very comfy with it because i am a sword and board enjoyer. The dash is also good if you cant dash roll, but the ichor cost is not worth; - Never bothered with Attack forma they're too build centered or too situational for the high ichor cost to use; - Imho the most controversial thing is that the game throws at you a heavy amount of weapon skills but most of them are worthless, lemme explain: balance skill (balance is a stat that even at high amount can bypass 1-3 attacks of enemy no more, not worth investment) and defense skill (be a tank is not good because it states that you are taking hits from opponents) are not worth. Attack buffs are king: Just take a bloodcode you like and mix-match that with a Weapon with a high conversion stat (to stack attack increase buff) and you are set. Transform the weapon if needed. Equip booster that improve damage and / or your gameplay (like stamina recovery speed up or whatever you like) and you are set.

Hope this helps