When fighting up close you'll want to focus on mastering the dodge timing, which is way more effective than trying to tank hits. Just before enemies swing, you'll notice a slight glow or wind-up animation - that's your cue to dodge sideways or backwards depending on their attack type. Getting the timing right is crucial especially against bigger enemies who can one-shot you if you mess up.

The best approach is staying mobile and watching their body language for tells. If they start to pull back their weapon, get ready to dodge immediately. Recovery frames after their swings give you perfect windows to counter with pipes or planks, and slamming them into nearby walls does massive damage. Interesting thing about the dodge mechanic is you can chain it multiple times but watch your stamina gauge since it depletes pretty quick.

When dealing with single targets, try baiting out their attacks first then punishing during recovery. The animations are really detailed so you can actually see which side they're gonna swing from based on their stance. Getting comfortable with the dodge timing takes practice but once you nail it you'll be able to take down most enemies without taking a scratch, just remember to keep an eye on your weapon durability since they break pretty fast during extended fights.