[thejeff]

Nature buffs: barkskin and regen.
Mirror Image isn't (too?) useful on glamored thugs.
With a shield, I might not bother with Air Shield. Extra fatigue vs reduction in hits. Mirror Image will pop and you have to be able to survive without it. Mistform is what counts.
Regen, from spell, bless or item keeps the damage from adding up. They don't have a lot of hp, so even the 1hp/hit through mistform can build up too quickly.
Barkskin (& Earth bless) lets the Sidhe Lords thug with their base armor.

Blood magic doesn't help at all.