@Mykan Excellent advice.
I checked my battle strategy list. When my elves compete in the Marble tournaments, I always bring in at least 2 Elite Archers and when choosing units for battle, I place light-ranged units in the 3rd and 5th starting positions.
I do the same when my humans compete in the Marble tournaments, except I bring in Master Crossbowmen. I’m finding lately those Dryads work well with the Crossbowmen taking down Mages and Heavy Melee units.
I don’t like those leaf-clad swamp dwellers, the Mist Walkers. Mainly because they have high initiative so they attack first and they love to target light-ranged units. If there are 3-4 squads of Mist Walkers, I bring in 2 squads of Golems II (and/or Orc Strategists) and 1 squad of Elite Archers. Golems are best at fighting Light Ranged and Light Melee Units, and evenly matched fighting Heavy Ranged units. Golems don’t like Orcs so when they’re finished with the Mist Walkers, they, along with the Elite Archers, will help take down an Orc General.
When my humans compete in the Marble tournaments, Mist Walkers always target my Crossbowmen, and they will strike back at whoever attacks them. I usually have all my units finish them off. Any Mist Walker left in the fog an Orc Strategist can take care of. Orc Strategists are great against Light Ranged units, evenly matched against heavy ranged units and they can strike back if attacked. If you don’t have Orc Strategists, Mortars can take care of Mist Walkers from a distance or a Knight if he’s leveled up to Blessed Paladin.
You will need a formidable force to defeat those creatures in the Tournaments, as well as the World Map provinces.
Battles get easier if you Research Promotions, Squad Size Upgrades, & Advanced Scouts.
Upgrade Barracks/Armories to increase training speed & squad size.
Build & upgrade Ancient Wonders that increase health & strength of your troops.
Never, ever go up against enemy units that outnumber you.
TREANTS
Don’t underestimate Treants. They're slow but powerful. I don’t usually take them into battle but now I do. I only brought in 30 Treants and decided to manually battle. Don’t want to lose a fighting forest. They took on 62 Mist Walkers II, 63 Rangers and 30 Orc Deserters. I’m impressed! Get them to work as a team. If they can surround the enemies, especially ranged units, Treants won’t have to chase them all over the battlefield, getting hurt in the process.
RANGED vs RANGED
If you’re battling all ranged units, it’s always best to bring ranged units into the fray
so your troops will not be too badly harmed when they walk away.
Your heavy ranged units in dwarven armor dressed,
will become powerful Granite Golems after you unlock a dwarven quest.
Granite Golems & Drone Riders (fairies riding bees) also work great together when fighting light-ranged units.
ORC STRATEGIST
Who would ever think Orcs were smart but some are,
especially when fighting light melee and light ranged units from afar.
Using his shield, this smart & battle-hardened Orc Strategist
knows how to block and disarm Sneaky Walkers of the Mist.
Keep alert for Rangers dropping out of trees. Tread lightly, do not steal honey from bees, and if you can’t intimidate, just negotiate.