[Fantomen]

Paralyze is better if you are also casting hellbind since a paralyzed unit is effectively dead if you win and can still be hellbinded.

Soulslay is the other spell to consider, but putting caps on all those mages just for that isn't worth the pearls. Better to reverse communion them with Power of Spheres and light of the northern star.

A matrix on a smith is a good idea, but body ethereal can't be reversed since it isn't a personal buff. You want earthpower, mistform (use an air smith) and invulnerability, that should be enough to protect slaves. Then he can cast a couple thunderstrikes or something. Or he could do resist lightning then wrathful skies.

Buffing up vampire counts in reverse commuion is fun too if you are in friendly dom and have a lot of them, don't forget fire shield and astral shield in that case.