[Psitticine]

Sometimes it works wonderfully, sometimes it falls totally flat. It all depends on if the targetted commander can handle hordes single-handly or not. Mages tend to rack up large kill numbers with their magic, but as I think most would agree, mages are a heck of a lot more vulnerable without some cannon fodder between them and the enemy to prevent being overrun. That makes them more susceptible to this spell, IMO. That's mitigated somewhat by high MR, of course, but not overwhelmingly.

Oh, and another thought during the pre-post read through <g>. Mages tend not to be scripted to handle things as if they were solo. Those that are obviously do much better against this spell, but most (again, IMO) are scripted in such a way as to actually be handicapped when all alone. One sees that a lot during assassinations.

Powerful melee commanders, OTOH, are much less vulnerable. They got where they are by doing exactly what the spell requires: wading into hordes of enemies and mowing them down like wheat.

Oh, and powerful priests can often laugh this one off. Banishment is a great counter for hordes of weaker undead.