Best skills/spells for early combat:

Midnight Oil - it slows the enemy AND sets them up for fire

Flare - Fire, fire is your best friend against undead

Summon Spider - this poison-immune critter is too useful even if you are arachnophobic like me!

Teleportation - Teleport that darn archer/mage right in the middle of your tanks (or oil/fire barrel)

Blind - Amazing level 1 witchcraft spell (CCs them for 3 turns!)

Minor Heal - Better than the other higher level heals too or cure wounds

Oath of Desecration - 50% increase in damage!

Power Stance / Battering Ram / Crushing Fist - More CC is always good, but remember CCed opponents have 0 defence so you can use power stance to finish them off regardless of the +1 to AP usage

Earth Shield - earliest elemental shield; after that you're set (at level 7), it absorbs ALL damage regardless of its weaknesses until it dispels, think of it as your armor

Last edited by Jackal2200; 11/07/14 11:16 PM.