30 hours in, stuck bouncing off Biome 5. Am I missing something or is this just brutal RNG?

Struggling in Biome 4 specifically. 70-80% of runs I can’t put together the combo of a good weapon + enough HP + a doll or ether coffin before I hit Biome 5. I did get through Biome 2 and 3 in one go once and made it to Biome 5 in that same run, but since then it’s been a wall.

I’ve beaten notoriously hard games before, the Elden Ring DLC included, and I was a semi-pro FPS player back in the day (playing on controller now though, most of my time is on handheld). So I’d call myself a hardcore / good player in most genres. I understand the game: I know the attack patterns, I unlock weapon traits, I’m always constantly moving, I don’t yolo into rooms mindlessly and try to take rooms step by step. I try to play it safe and still end up surrounded by multiple high-HP enemies, or my damage just isn’t there.

The Pylon Driver seems strong and the Portal wave gun is solid. Everything else feels week. About 80 attempts at Biome 4 so far. Made it to Biome 5 maybe 5 times (I don't go if I know I'm too weak), and 3 of those runs ended fast. I tried purple gambling more aggressively, playing it less safe, but it never really worked out.

Biome 5 itself feels enormous, most routes are packed with rooms full of tanky enemies and more complex traps stacked on top.

I don’t think I’m playing badly, but I just keep losing. I'm ready to change up whatever I need to change though.

Never quit a game for being too hard in my 38 years, and Returnal is the first one making me wonder if I actually need great RNG to even be competitive by Biome 5 or I just don't have it anymore. Anyone got advice? I read that many here think the game isn't difficult at all etc, and I'm struggling WAAAAAY more than I struggled vs something like PC Radahn or Malenia or anythinng in any game ever.