Returning player getting wrecked in DLC, any help welcome!

It's been a while since I played but thought I'd give the DLC a bash, after being dumped into NG+ I thought I'd just roll with it instead of making a new character. I'm around level 100 and didn't have too much difficulty getting to the DLC, but those hunters are totally wrecking me. I'm not sure if I should just start a totally new character or if levelling up will help me at all.

I know that there a soft cap and hard cap right? So after a while levelling will do little for me. Any help appreciated! The hunters in the first area are hard as balls