[TheMenacer]

I find it useful to go down the evocation tree once I've gotten the buffs that I want out of enchantment and construction. A dryad with a thistle mace can drop breath of the dragon, which equalizes matters between maenads and armored troops, and if you're willing to go that far down it, I'd trade an entire contingent of archers for three dryads with thistle maces chain-casting storm of thorns.