What's your favorite summoning spell?

[zlefin]

wraith lords.
immortal reusable thug; but they can also take down chaff armies with ease. and they can even sit there summoning ghosts.

[ArkhanTheBlack]

I make a big difference between commander summons (including non commanders which get all equipment slots with GOR) and monster summons.
I think there are a lot of good commander summons on different research levels, my favourites being the sea kings court, Wraith Lord, Bane Lord and the arch devils. I have an exceptional dislike for Tartarian Gate. Regardless what you get, 10 death gems are just absurdly cheap! You don't even get a bane lord for that.
There are also some very powerfull race specific summons, especially from Agartha or the Ulm Vampire Counts. There are probably more, but I didn't play all races yet.

I personally think most monster summons are highly overpriced or I didn't find the right way to play them yet. The only good ones are Tarasque (first) and Abomination (second). However, both are overshadowed by the ridicilous cheap Tartarians. Leviathan also isn't that bad if you're playing a sea nation.

I also like the Pangaea Carrion summons...

[thejeff]

There's also a big difference between thug/SC summons and mage summons. Though some fall into both categories.

Any mage you can summon that gets you paths you don't have or higher levels in paths you do have is invaluable. In other games where you've already got those paths, they may not even be worth summoning. Or you can summon them for use as thugs, but not care as much

[sector24]

Belphegor is my favorite summon (Bind Demon Lord). But for non-unique summons, I'm a Wraith Lord kind of guy.

[Ironhawk]

Yeah I like the Harbinger too. Cheap, effective, and looks cool too.

[MaxWilson]

Wraith Lord. I'm a sucker for immortality, and with Soul Vortex they're thuggable even when naked. Add a Shadow Brand, a Luck Shield, and Winged Boots and you're golden.

-Max

[Wrana]

For thug commanders I will also vote for Wraith Lord. Though I also like Air Queens. Spectral Mage is excellent to provide access to any paths. Faerie Queen is invaluable as it provides healing.
As for troops I liked Pale Riders until they were moved to higher research level. Another good troop are Claymen I think. Iron Dragon at higher levels.
And - currently - Buried in the Ice!! Even troopers are almost thugs, while shamans have good path access & may be turned into very good thugs indeed. Not ethereal, though.. But this mass of good troops is worthy just the same..