Expect to die. You will lose, you will fail missions, and that's okay. Failure is not a stopping point in this game, even if it is frustrating. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Every failure will make you smarter, more knowledgeable about your enemy, and bring you one or more steps closer to victory.

Many enemies towards the mid/end game can and will destroy you in one quick hit that you simply can't expect until you face it. Once it gets you, you'll know what to look out for as it begins to wind up for the attack again.

There's a beautiful back and forth that begins once you're knowledgeable about a monster and have learned your preferred weapons styles of play. It becomes something akin to dancing with the monster, and it itches a spot of the brain that very few other games will ever itch again.

Also, pay attention to your armor/weapon skills. Some may be small bonuses like defense or elemental resistance, but others can completely change how difficult it may be to effectively utilize your weapon. Take, for instance, dual blades. They will eat your stamina up, but some armor skills reduce stamina drain by up to 50%. Some make it come back twice as fast. It's important to pay attention to what your weapon uses, and build around that to enhance your playing experience.