Best get used to crying, the whole expansion takes a giant dump on melee.
I really haven't experienced that yet. I sped through the Horticultural Center because I knew the one spot I had to enter from. I only had to kill the Hives inside, and maybe one or two outside. The rest seems hand crafted for melee, or at least for my spear build. The Crabs, Handmaidens, and Strongmen all get fucked by my Spear block, and I have this OP shield to deal with the rest of it.
For real though this Shield is ridiculous.1.6k extra health essentially. While I'm at it, check out my Tabis. Ended up being 131 quality infused leather.
This has actually been one of the most fun builds I've played.