Try this control scheme:

L1 - Block
R1 - Dodge
L2 - Heavy Attacck
R2 - Light Attack
Triangle/Y - Special Attack
Circle/B - Legion Arm

The binds for Legion Arm, Special Attack, and Heavy attack can be swapped around depending on your playstyle. Put your favorite one on L2.

This allows you to always have dodge and block at your fingertips, while keeping your thumbs on both thumbsticks 90% of the time, for movement and looking around. Defence is more important than offence most of the time, so R2 is fine for your main attack. Don't attack mindlessly, analyse which enemy attacks leave good openings.

The puppet dodges when you release the button, not when you press it, keep that in mind, release the button quickly.

You cannot dodge if you are in another animation.

For this reason, only press the button once per attack, mashing will lock you into movements you don't want to be in.

Hope this helps.