MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!

[Baalz]

Also, if you're being rushed by Ermor it is a good idea to switch to Celetial Masters rather than Alechmists. Assuming you B-lined to construction, pass out a a couple void eyes and communion up. Just 4 slaves and your masters are H4 with a huge banishment area and +3 penetration - which will lay some serious smackage down on all those undead horsies that will be following. Sure, shadow vestials have a decent MR and S blessings are common, but they also have a mediocre offense so take awhile to chew through your troops...while you CMs are chewing through them. Solar Rays is also easy pickings and a real vestial popper, which conveniently enough you can pop out with herald lances if that's what's convenient. Just 2-3 scouts running around with herald lances set to cast 5X then retreat is going to make taking territory with vestials incredibly expensive. For the big battles use S1 guys as slaves, then have your celestial master communion masters drop power of the spheres so your slave point defense can drop a bunch of solar rays while the big cannons fire off giant banishments.