Death spawns in with 600,000 health times by your level so the crimson shroud (evolved laurel) and the infinite corridor (evolved clock lancet) are the only real way to beat it. The character I don’t think matters that much some have better benefits than others but it’s pretty much personal preference. As for power ups I’d choose the 4 that evolve your other weapons and then if you don’t have it to evolve anything the armour I think stacks with the crimson shroud to reduce damage even more, the other good one is the duplicator just to add more attacks to your other weapons

That does work but I think you need to beat death on the first level to get that one

Do it on the library where you only have to move left and right to get all the items it makes it much easier to do the first time