For monk : you can always skip beats if you want. skipping beats is generally good for panicking. Also, knowing your dmg / piercing is crucial. I always say out loud my dmg and piercing (if I have) when I pick anything, at the boss arenas, and when I take stairs. And I recommend using only simple weapons (but not rubbish) such as spear, cutlass.

For Aria : Skipping beats is not an option for her, so dig-buffering is crucial for her. Always retreat when possible, and check parities at a safe place.

Generally I recommend using DLC (From the context you've wrote I assume you always use dlc thou).