What am I doing wrong?

[krpeters]

Just to be clear, I was talking about a fully kitted thug. For the Gargoyle: Vine Shield, Pendant of Luck, Amulet of Antimagic, Boots of Behemoth, Sword of Swiftness, Robe of Shadows, and that horned helm. That's why I like the robe of shadows so much -- combine that with the pendant of luck and the vine shield, and you're wrapping up troops left and right for minimal damage.

A horror helm would probably protect the thug better... but I'm trying to wipe out AI hordes, not just send them screaming into the hills. Although with the gargoyles I could fly them in and cut off their retreat and exterminate them that way.

Any modest quantity of bane lords against 300+ troops just dies after inflicting minimal damage. A single kitted gargoyle will stampede them plentifully -- unless an astral mage fries him first.

Do the other MR item effects stack? Maybe the rainbow armor and doubleshielding with the lead & vine shield is the way to go.