I'm having trouble classifying 10AN+AoE50 as a "weak" attack. It may not be the strategy to take down packs of giants or to eliminate thugs, but against -most- chaff, it is extremely brutal.
If you have access to E+S mages, you only need an F1 as the master, as if you have enough slaves to distribute your fatigue, you are only worried about afflictions, not actual death. Thus, a Crystal Matrix allows you to use very cheap mages (if you have access), and you can theoretically clear quite a lot of chaff.
Note, this is probably mostly only of use for a nation who has access to FR troops, that can handle the bombs going off near your own lines.
