Well, here are a few tips that you might find helpful:
Invest in defence and avoid taking damage whenever possible.
Try to identify potions and scrolls as soon as possible.
Once you die check your inventory, was there anything you could've used? Healing pot, Invisible pot, runes, etc. Next time you die you should have nothing in your inventory, I guarantee you would have progressed further if you had not won the game.
Don't fight multiple enemies at the same time, backtrack to a corridor
Wands are OP, use as much as possible
Always use surprise attacks (enemies going through doors, walking around a pillar, using grass, etc)
What do you find OP about wands? Do you upgrade them at all? Which wands stand out for you?
I always save my SOU for my weapon/armor to get them both to around to level 7-10 (depending on luck finding first weapon/armor and the dwarven blacksmith). I find that the staffs are pretty nice early on, but almost always opt to pick a ring option for a chance at a ring of wealth whenever i get the 2 crystal chest options.
What do you find OP about wands?
A few things to consider:
Easy to identify curses with small detrimental effects
They have no strength requirements
No need to identify them (either cursed or otherwise effect is known)
Unlimited range ammo over time
Damage ignores armor
Hits ignore evasion, essentially guarantees a hit
Applies status effects, which can be very useful
Do you upgrade them at all?
Swarm Intelligence means you will fight many enemies at the same time. In this run, I had I spent half (4 upgrades) on my Wand of Fireblast. It often crippled targets while doing area-of-effect damage (AoE) which is great crowd control, on top of making a ton of damage over time (DOT), was easy to renew by kiting enemies through a door or grass which renews fire debuff. So yea :)
Which wands stand out for you?
Corrosion and Fireblast both have great AoE and DOT. Best two in my opinion.
Disintegration is also very powerful since it can pierce terrain and do bonus damage per terrain/enemy pierced!
Lightning has the best immediate damage wand, use it when the initial target is in water to increase damage and arc radius to 2 tiles.
Corruption can debuff crippled, slowed, or chilled making slow-kiting enemies possible, strong with soul-mark and Warlock build.
Blast Wave yoinks enemies off chasms, onto traps, and creates distance. Very fun.
Warding can set up a safety room, or before bosses (including two phases of Tengu, DM-300 pylons, Dwarf King, Yog). great way to check for enemies when playing the 'Into Darkness' challenge.