Souls + elden ring games: dodging just avoids damage. For me, its just dodging the 7 moves untill the boss does the right opening for me to punish. Sekiro: deflecting does posture damage to the boss. You are in control of the fight. (Bloodborne: fingers crossed next week)

Also, your first taste of New Game Plus might also change your mind. I know saying ‘wait till new game plus’ is a bad argument, but my first playthrough, it took me days to beat genichiro in the castle. New game plus, you know all the moves, and you end up one shotting+no hitting the boss. Its like YOU’RE the boss now just putting down all the bosses that put you down the first time.