Best way to play Verso as a noob?

Hey guys, Verso just joined my party and I don't quite know how to best utilize him. I'm currently using the sword that gives you C as the lowest rank but I lose perfection and rank pretty quickly since the game is getting quite a bit harder. I just free roamed with Esquie and wow, I got my ass kicked and avoiding damage is getting tough. So I don't know the best way to play Verso right now.

Should I use him as a support character at first? I haven't even made it to S rank yet in a battle (just arrived at the Battlefield and now with Gradient Counters in the mix I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Thanks y'all, LOVE this game and I haven't wanted to get better and practice in a non-soulslike a long time. But Expedition 33 just hits right for me.