Free Step Dodge

NiOh is a whole different ballgame to be honest lol. I think the very beginning is when suspense and difficulty just fits right in when you finally get to the Island.

For starters (imo), you'd probably want to practice on not burning too much stamina in near 0 ki depletion. No stamina leaves you vulnerable for free hits.

So if you are like below 20% stamina, just back away or slight dodge. Similar to DS in a way. If you get to the Island, buy the "Kick skill" for the SWORD. Extremely useful on early part of the game because of the impale with triangle and it eats up stamina on humans.

Other than that, you just need to get used to not burning so much stamina, stances, and try to get 1vs1 fights than two on one unless you know for sure you'd win or already accustomed to the game.

I see. I'll keep that in mind once it releases in Dec. I played the Last Chance demo and had some trouble with the combat. Burning the stamina I was learning to get used to, but the one vs more than two threw me off unless I either one shot kill them with the bow or rifle from afar.