[Zenzei]

I advice against equipping wind lords as thugs because they have low hp and they don't have any magic power to mitigate this(unlike vanjarl for example), which means they more or less go down from one real hit. So your gem investment becomes wasted far too easily. A super cheap boost like giving them a few frostbrands is acceptable though.

I've not played Arco myself but I believe Oreiads can create gargoyles, requires E3A1, quite easily. So do that and cast Gift of Reason on them. Voila, now you got some seriously tough thug chassis just add in the equipment.