This game is so addictive. Level 9 is brutal.
I feel like whether or not you can get the barbute or greaves in order to level up your items to the needed power level is a bit too punishing in an RNG way, since they can't be built from components, and the rarity / reroll cost gets expensive so quickly.
I don't understand the self harm items- it seems like something you'd do to trigger block gain or retaliatory damage, but i'm not clear on what kind of damage triggers those effects