Talk about your favorite buffs for combat SCs and thugs here.
My favorites right now are probably Summon Earthpower for the +4 reinvigoration and Invulnerability for the 25 protection with no added encumbrance. It seems that for a non-undead combat pretender, having at least E2 or E3 is very handy just for these two spells because otherwise, you have to pile on heavy armor and reinvigoration to offset the weight.
Luck and Body Ethereal are also nice from items of from casting. Mistform, Astral Shield, Fire Shield and Soul Vortex are also nice additions in no particular order. Twist Fate is a little lower down on the priorities and often gets dropped.