PotD too hardcore now?

I've just exited (failed) PotD floor 22 due to a mimic two-shotting me. I'm trying to solo up to 50 like I used to before, on SMN, to get 5 more upgrades for a Kinna and more sherds.
Now, before, it was challenging, especially the later floors with the succubi and manticores, but never too hard. Just a bit of care and patience, and it was perfectly possible and enjoyable. Now I'm seeing that I can't even kill a chest mimic on my own, and it's not that my aetherpool is low, it's currently 55/63, way over cap for the current floors. He just obliterates Titan as if he was a cookie, and then two hits on me... wipe. And of course, rgnjesus be praised, no purity or witching.
Also, before the mimic and on the same floor, there was one of these humanoid monsters, with an axe, which I normally don't have trouble with. But this one left me at 15 hp, Titan dead and swift called again while I was running away in circles bio'ing him in hopes titan would catch up. The axe guy eventually died but geez, was he merged with 5 more monsters and turned into a super-elite or what? And then the mimic... And yes, I used pots whenever they were available, steel/strength, sustain, physics.
I know SE tweaked PotD, but I didn't expect it so hard now? I liked to solo PotD, it was nice not having to deal with trolls or complete uncompetent players, and do it my way. But now I'm not too sure anymore :/ I don't like when things are too easy so you can just faceroll it all, but I also don't like it when it becomes frustrating, can't there be a point in between? I mean, floors 101-200 are meant for extra challenge, even 100+, but pre 50 solo? Come on now...

Umm potd was nerfed so its easier than before. What level were you? Should be 30+ by floor 20

If your Aetherpool is 55/63 as you say it is then at Floor 20 you should have 0 problems against mobs, either you pulled too much, didn't use the necessary Pomanders such as Strength/Steel or stepped into a Landmine at that specific time and did not realise it. PotD can be soloed pre-50 with any class/job just takes patience to complete.

Mimics are way higher level than you on the 1st few floors of yoru current set, so encounter one on the 1st 2 floors, and you're as good as dead (can wipe a whole PT too)

The adventurers are also very high in level like the mimics, and can 2 shot you as well. This has always been the case.

When it comes to mimics, it's about luck. You were unlucky, on floor 22 engaging with a mimic is certain death because mimics at that time are around lv 44/46 if I'm not mistaken.

Being on floor 22, you tend to be 34-36 at the start, with the first 2 floors you might be 39/40, so if you were to engage with a mimic at that point, they have 3-6 levels over you. While ya, it def sucks, you can do things to make them less deadly. If you have steel, pop it, if you have witch, use it, if you have rage or lust to spare use them as well. However because the mimic is hitting hard at that point in time you want to use witch to weaken them a bit since from my perspective it does seem to reduce dmg but I might be mistaken.

Overall ya it sucks, but that's what the items for for, to overcome those unlucky ambushes. For the future just be mindful and quickly react with a witch, rage, lust as needed.