Nioh 3: Try item shortcut sets and control template B
Like the first two games in the series, Nioh 3 can feel a little fiddly out of the box but is easily improved through a bit of settings snooping. If you're diving into Nioh 3, adjust a few controls and UI options to see how they compare to the defaults. On page 1 of the controls sub-menu you'll find an option to "configure controls" with different templates.
You start with option A; try option B. It ties martial arts and combo extenders to the left shoulder (guard) button, making them easier to use, while the only trade-off is getting used to activating spirit skills with the D-pad. Page two of the menu settings lets you increase the number of item shortcuts—the D-pad menus in the bottom-left corner where you use elixirs and spells.
You start with two sets (eight slots) but can bump that to three or four sets. A handy technique is putting the elixir in the top slot of every set so you never have to cycle back to healing and can still use nine other items or spells.