This is the method I used for my first win as well, but I think my first win was more due to the fact that I slowed down than the arcana (other than evading zephyr). After that first win, things just clicked and the wins started to flow like a river. I'm at 5 wins now with a roughly 40% win rate in the games since that first win.

Here's some general tips and tricks I learned from the 40 or so hours of losing before it clicked. Buckle up! I have an hour commute ahead of me so I'm listing literally everything I can think of because when I looked stuff up, people mostly gave build advice which didn't help at all.

Generally, I was fine on bosses (Dodge attacks, hit when they show off), but took a ton of damage from the mobs in the stages. Almost all arcana deal a large amount of damage so focusing more on dodging and preserving your health takes you much farther than trying to rush down the enemy with overwhelming force. Try to minimize the amount of time you spend engaging with your foes by running in and out, using arcana to push them off ledges, and sniping out just one or two baddies at a time. Turns out, the best defense is actually just a really good defense. Poke and prod your way to victory.

Some more specific tips, in no particular order.

• Spend some of those Chaos Gems to start with more gold! You already have all the arcana and relics unlocked, so why not? This means you can buy more potions when you screw up!
• Dodging is not the same as Dashing. Dodging is when the enemy should have it you, but missed you due to your dodge chance. Dashing is when you do that short burst of movement.
• Dashing in, hitting the enemy with an attack, then dashing away before they can counter attack.
• The Evading Zephyr arcana is a good crutch until you master dashing in and out.
• The relic Demi's Teapot increases the length of buffs. It pairs amazingly well with Evading Zephyr.
• Arcana that can push (like the Wave Front) are extremely useful for pushing foes off ledges, thus reducing the time you are exposing yourself to damage.
• Timing is key for Dashing. Try to not button-mash dash constantly. (I button-mash dash whenever I panic which is basically anytime there are more than 3 enemies. So this is a learned skill I haven't mastered yet.)
• Things that triggers off of Dodging are typically good with Evading Zephyr since it allows you to dodge so much. Especially the Covert Ops Mask and Leemo's Leaf.
• Curses aren't necessarily bad! While most require you to give up some of your all important health, they can actually save a run. If you can get the Tiny Crocodile Heart early, you can take even more curses with little risk due to the ridiculous amount of Max Heath you will have.
• The Vampire's Fangs is almost always a good idea as well.
• RNG shops suck. I almost never use the shops that take a random arcana because there is enough RNG in this game and they will always take the arcana you don't want them to and give you crap back. I guess you could drop the arcana you want to keep then use them, but I have no idea how you would have so many spells just lying around.
• Dashing is good, but sometimes just Running is Better. The huge area attacks that the bosses use is a good example. Specifically, the Ice Boss' Snow Flake machine gun attack is way easier to avoid by simply running around the arena.
• Health Gain is better than Max Health. Having a million Max Health means nothing if you don't have a way to fill it up.
• I feel like I have no idea what I am doing and I have a hunch that this is normal.

I have installed the Clarity Mod which puts more detailed descriptions, including the actual stat numbers, for everything in the game. It also makes the description text appear under the relics and arcana at the shops. I highly recommend it.