Ironflesh synergies well with armor, as the effect, you take more hits before you die, becomes stronger.
Armor makes you a bit slower, so consider using a long weapon, as you cannot play the range game with opponents that are faster.
In short, all of this will result in a playstyle
Also, practical experience is invaluable, as you will get a feel for how many hits you normally can take, and wether or not you can or should sacrifice performance to take more hits.