Zefer

This is pretty unorganized but I think it has some valuable advice in it

I would say, personally, just wait a couple more days and participate in Territory control and team death match. You should use cover in this game as most people rely on the lock-on system. For example if you go behind a pillar it's likely someone shooting at you will overheat their weapons and miss as your mechs center isn't visible (this is where they generally have to aim to get a lock). Use beam spitters, I can't really say exactly why they're good but trust me the only thing you have to worry about is how fast they heat up.

If someone with a sword hits you, wait right after they hit then use the shift key to boost in the opposite direction . It's likely that they will follow you so shoot them while boosting (due to the delay of the sword and the fact they'll probably swing again you'll have a good lead). You might run out of EN and not kill them during your boost, if this happens don't boost just walk backwards, regain some EN, and let your guns cool down a bit or switch weapons. Then boost through them and turn around quickly to attack them (this may not work against semi-experienced or if you have been boosting towards them for too long and they realize you're probably gonna boost through them).

You may want to go into practice mode and boost in circles around the dummy's trying to shoot and keep a lock on them. It will help a bit with aiming. The energy shield available in the store is better against small arms fire (rifles, SMGs) the default one is good against (cannons, and I think rockets). Using your specials such as blast helix or spinal tap grant you invincibility during the animation (also if you plan on using skills a lot theres a way to look at their damage by using the tabs at the bottom right corner).

Also ALWAYS use shift when boosting, theres less of a delay. Now then, say your boosting right but now you have to make a tun. Let go of shift then quickly boost again using shift in the direction you want to go. By landing you don't go through an animation that makes your mech stop/slow down for about a second. It also isn't really something people expect so it may throw people off once or twice.