Lower level summons?

[Huzurdaddi]

The Panther said:
Earth - Mechanical men are vastly superior to clockwork horrors as well as pretty much any other earth summons. You can't always wait for this, as your neighbors often times interrupt grand plans!

Actually the living statues can be almost as good and perhaps better *if* you don't expect constant wrathful skies.

The Panther said:
Nature - pretty much everybody I know uses the ivy crown for monthly ritual vine ogres, one of the best bargain summoned troop in the game.

In my mind they are the best price/performers in the game even including devils.

The Panther said:
Air - I usually save up the 45 gems for draconians. The leaders can summon more, which is very nice.

Hmm never really thought much about these. But if the head draconian can summon allies then the spell becomes much more attractive!

The Panther said:
Blood - Devils, devils, and more devils. Is there a better low-level summoned troop for the gem cost than a devil? I don't really know of one.

I would have to say Vine Ogres are a better buy taking cost into effect, unless ...

The Panther said:
Don't foget soul contracts also, if your neighbors leave you alone.

Well soul contacts totally change the economics of summoning devils. It takes what, 8.5 turns to break even on a soul contract ( assuming hammer )? More if you have a construction site ( which is much more common than a blood site ). You also needen't burn caster turns summoning the things anymore. They are the best buy in the game (yes, devils bought via contract are better than Vine Ogres, IMO ).