Sometimes I will push blood. There is another tactic I dearly love. A Pandemoniac Assassin using the Hellbind Heart spell. Bind/Bind/attack. Vry often the bind will work and the commander is now yours. Right after the assassin message is a combat message where the new convert attacks everyone in the province. If he is the Last commander you get to watch what WAS his army rout from him.
Im more of a role player than a strategy-to-win. And I mostly play solo rather than multiplayer. So I like using Lord of the Hunt (consider this: a godly assassin who throws maenads). I also like Manticore if Im going for scales. He is handy for quick deliveries of equip, gems, harpies. And he works well with my hopscotch way of conquering provinces when I play Pangaea. Carrion Dragon has alot going for it also even if you arent playing Carrion theme. +10 fear, good hit points, and the alternate form has alot going for it. Even better with Carrion theme since if you magic it correctly you can prduce carrion commanders without having to purchase a Pandemoniac