[Baalz]

I have to disagree regarding going with good scales. I think it's just like going with an uber bless - makes sense with some nations but you'll get destroyed if you don't have the right units to back it up. Going with good scales can be a very viable strategy if you are playing a nation with strong non-holy units. MA/LA Arcoscephale for instance is a great candidate for strong scales. Pangea is another. If you can build an expansion army at least every other turn who takes few losses an expansion pretender doesn't make that much difference. If you've got a strong dominion you don't need to worry too much about enemy SC pretenders attacking you, and if you've got some good combat mages to back up your stout troops you can most certainly hold off small uber blessed squads with very low level magic. With good scales and strong research mind burn and earth meld very quickly turns into destruction and soul slay if you're well motivated to focus on them.

As with everything it's no silver bullet, but it can certainly be a viable strategy if played right.