If you plan to use the illusory rings, use a variety of weapons that have different movesets to catch people off guard. Santier's Spear is a really good weapon to use too, as it has multiple weapon type movesets within a single weapon. Try to prioritise any weapons you're familiar with though, otherwise it's easy to make mistakes. If you're on NG+4, surely you've accumulated upgrade materials through previous playthroughs? If not, I'd recommend finishing the game off again to gain access to Chloanne's infinite supply of shards, large shards, and chunks. It might seem like a hassle at the moment, but it'll be convenient in the long run, especially if you're planning on experimenting with different weapons.