when you first play the game you should instantly try to get health flask then all the random starter weapon upgrades and then more health flasks these can make the game tenfold easier to play because your not stuck with no health flasks leaving you to die and the luck of if you'll get a good weapon from a random place. always take the route if your a beginner of clock tower with a shield the alternative is dangerous and you will die nearly every time. shields are a great beginner weapon for there easy versatility and power to negate damage with parries but in fact the most broken build is throwing object and baseball bat so if you see them pick them up if its in an early area as that can decide your whole run and pool stats into survival, also try to get as many mutations as possible as there one of the most broken mechanics in the game you will find blueprints for them all over the place.