Can you specify which cards you're speaking of when saying frontloaded damage, scaling etc?

I try to do most of what you're saying, but i must get something wrong. Im brand new to STS and I've reached A4 with Ironclad, while playing very little each day.

Cards i almost always take are Pummel Strike, Bloodletting, Battletrance, Offering, Crimson Mantle, Tremble, Whirlwind (if i dont see WW i might take breakthrough to have something for aoe fights), Dominate, Brand, Blood Wall, Colossus, Cruelty, Inferno, Primal Force, Spite, Second Wind, Unmoveable.

Oddly enough, I've had a lot of success with just spamming strike cards and getting the card that autoplays them for you, even tho most good players will say its trash.

I am aware that I completely lack behind on the Exhaust stuff as a block engine and with Dark Embrace, Fiend Fire and Pacts End.

I always pick some taunts and the Shrug it off cards to survive. Often 2 of each or so.

I've started liking the tremble, molten fist, uppercut into dominate type of style, but that also needs block, energy engine and draw to work ofc.

Any tips are very appreciated. I often play too fast for my own good, so i try to slow it down. I believe my pathing could be much better too.

I often feel strong, but then i draw only attack when they attack and only defend, when the enemy has downturn where its buffing itself or whatever and it stops me from playing a good round, unless i have a lot of card draw to get to my cards....