Do the side quests or at least most of them. You can do the main story and complete them later. They'll give you a notice before moving forward.
Cauldrons are fun but not necessary for main story.
Get shadow carja bow and the harpoint arrows, flames arrows and tearblast arrows. They do so mich damage and make the game easier lol
those tearblasts
I gotta save up for that shadow. might just go grind and get what I need for it