Best non-pretender SC's?

[Norfleet]

Etimmu the Wraith Lord: One of the best heroes in the game. His base defense is only 16, though, so even with experience, unless he had a defense-increasing heroic attribute, it wouldn't have given him 35 defense with no items.

But still, if you get him relatively early in the game, which is not uncommon, you can slap a Wraith Sword and perhaps some Jade Armor on him, and he's a complete terror, able to plow through indies with ease. He's also immortal! Mine has Heroic Quickness. Muhahahaha.