What troops to bring with me to Freedom Isles

[trentjaspar]

I'm ready to head over to Freedom Isles for the first time, but am trying to figure out what 2 reserve troops to bring with me to Freedom Isles. Actually, it's both a question of what extra troop types to bring, and which 2 troops to bring in high quantity in the reserve spot (for reinforcements and leadership gains).

My current army composition is (numbers approximate):
15 Archmages
51 Royal Snakes
30 Inquisitors
101 Fire Spiders
8 Royal Thorns / 11 Alchemists

I'm using the Fire Spiders because I have Frog Feanora and Jade Belt (50% dmg, +1 init to spiders). They're also my only spell-resurrectable troop (for sacrifice).

My candidates to bring as reserves to Freedom Isles are:
- up to about 600 Royal Snakes, including those I already have hired;
- up to 846 Fire Spiders, ibid;
- up to 143 Archmages, ibid;
- up to 41 Alchemists, ibid;
- up to 70 Inquisitors, ibid.

Other non-run-of-the-mill troops available are:
- 7 Polar Bears
- 3 Knights
- about 125 Beholders

The other troops available for hire in Darion are nothing special:
- humans from Peasants through Priests; haven't gotten to horseman tent
- a handful of undead troops, mostly zombies and ghosts
- All level 1 and level 2 neutrals (thorns, dragonflies, venomous/cave spiders, hyenas, pirates, swamp/regular snakes, wolves, barbarians, berzerkers
- 2000-plus bears, 400-plus ancient bears

Based on a quick scouting mission in Western Isles, I'll have easy access (read: no fighting) to:
- 18 Cannonneers;
- Hordes of Sea Dogs
- about 2000 Devilfish
- 1300 Bowmen
- 1180 Pirates
- 2 Knights
- 3 Royal Thorns
- 700 Robbers
- 370 T. Warriors
- 310 Barbarians
- Bronze Ring

Other than the Jade Belt, other possibly relevant items I have are the Pilgrim Boots (+1 speed of slowest troop), Monk's Belt (+1 Morale to Priests+Inquisitors), Battle Hammer (+3 atk, +3 atk to dwarves), and Poison Dagger (+1 poison dmg).