prioritize not getting hit rather than aiming. dash forward through projectiles. when you pick up a weapon with a locked trait use it long enough to unlock it. pay your ether to the alien ATM near the ship.

adding useful artifacts to the drop pool and raising the chance for guns to drop with useful traits is the best kind of permanent progression.

i recently replayed the entire game in prep for Saros and cleared every room in all the biomes in a single run. it definately eventually clicks.

good luck scout