[Soyweiser]

I think the best low level way would be to hire a few Thaumaturgs, and a lot of slingers. Have the Thaumaturgs (D1) spam frighten (D1, thaumaturgy 1). And order the slingers to shoot at large monsters.

Using javelin throwing troops would also work of course, but they have less ammo, and less range. And High Thaumaturgs would be better than normal ones. But these are capital only.

Of course using Thaumaturgs in battle cuts into your research capabilities. Which always hurts. But you can build these at fort, and are not capital only.

I think about 4 Thaumaturgs with 40 slingers would easily kill a large group of Elephants, and they would cost around 750 gold. You really want them to flee, because trampling units who are routed trample over their friends. You could kill their support troops. And if you are afraid to lose your Thaumaturgs, you could always add a few ethereal units.

thejeff: The decay tactic is very evil. They are high maintenance troops, so crippling is great. So I suggest that you use one of the Thaumaturgs mentioned above to also cast decay. (Decay gives age and possibly afflictions, frighten causes them to run of)