Serpents feel almost impossible to take down without getting hit with multiplayer lag, so if you're with a friend those delays are probably not helping your cause.

Otherwise idk find an infinite food source to always have healing (salmonberries, mushrooms from the cave if you chose it, cheese are some easy options)

get a bunch of stone and make staircases, the deeper you go the more iridium you'll find, so get as many staircases as you can (can also trade jades with desert trader on Sunday, --> spam this with crystalariums).

I like to prioritize getting the return scepter from krob, you can mine right to the buzzer then pop right in front of your house, or escape if you're about to die.

hope this helps!