[LDiCesare]

If I want a kraken, I need to start underwater. For a troll king, I don't. Troll kings are more varied than grendelkins, come earlier, generate gems, come with a retinue. After testing, I see no reason to waste gems on grendelkins. I've had more success with a bane lord than with a grendelkin. Grendelkins seem to be made for a niche that I have no use for. After losing my second kitted grendelkin, I'm going for a sea troll. I know that he can reduce the same oppo to pulp with his retinue, i.e. for less gems overall.
Now if I don't want to fight underwater, would I pick a grendelkin? Maybe. But given the paths I chose in my game, I'd already have tartarians in that game if I hadn't tried to go with this beast. So now, should I want a land SC, I'll still research tarts as it's much more efficient and powerful, and not actually longer to research. It'll also free water gems for boots of speed, frost brands, water breathing trinkets and cold resistance items.