[PvK]

I use Thugs as a common part of my main armies. In fact, one of my favorite aspects of Dominions (especially in single-player, where evilly deadly magic and SC's are less common), is to use mainly national human troops and commanders and develop the best human warrior commanders as thugs fighting amidst the mortal armies.

That said, my other suggestions for thugs as requested:

EA C'Tis with an all-path pretender
- The two armored commanders with a few trinkets on - they don't look great but mine have got into the Hall of Fame even with few or no items in multi-player.
- Banes and Bane Lords.
- Sleepers.
- All paths is great for combining a bunch of cheap hammer-forged trinkets to make a fairly cheap multi-ability thug out of an experienced commander. Human opponents might decide to target them though to get the items just because they will look tempting.

EA Ermor with an earth pretender
- Commanders with trinkets from national mages.
- Banes and Bane Lords.
- Forging Hammer, Marble Armor, and Boots of Stone are a few good thuggish uses of the Earth magic.

MA Ermor with a death pretender
- Banes and Bane Lords.

Vanheim with a water&earth pretender
- Vans with or without blessings and trinkets.