The Swords stab ability is really useful in the crypts. Not much help for your first one, but you can also use a shield and spear. Block, strike.. easy as pie.

My first crypt of this run, 2 skeleton archers outside, died 4 times just trying to get into it.
Got 4 cores. Need 5 for smelter.. pfft.

So yeh first 1-2 can be brutal, after that not so much. Seeing alot more ghosts and putrids as well. So be careful out there.