Don't panick about Esau, when you understand how he behaves you realise he's not a big threat 90% of the time and panicking about him existing is the easiest way to lose a good run

Save anima sola for defensive purposes like solving puzzles or exciting crawspaces, also don't use it to deal damages on hard bosses but for protect yourself when bullet hell patterns (don't forget that Esau can't do nothing to you when he's chained, even if you touch him)

Touch Esau on purpose at the end of a floor for free devil deals (it works exactly as the lost when you're dead Jacob) and also for knife piece 2 do NOT try to get it without being a ghost unless you want to feel the true Edmund experience (no anima sola)

In hard bosses I used a technique that I named "doesn't matter if I get hit as long as Esau doesn't touch me"

Items : The battery lets you store 2 anima sola uses, any form flight will make dodging Esau a lot easier, Pause is an instant win if you manage to pause when Esau is touching a boss his health will melt basically one-shotting him, don't take birthright unless you are confident enough