Which level 1 creature is better?

Perhaps a Halberdier or Centaur is stronger, but a Gremlin is much more useful. Firstly, you can get a large number of them at the beginning of the game. Secondly, it shoots, which allows you to defeat neutrals much more successfully. It's an archer. In battles at the early stages of the game, there are fewer losses with this unit, which means there will be more of them by the middle of the game. By the end of the game, Centaurs and skeletons fight successfully among the 1st-level creatures. Well, maybe also Halberdiers, although they have low speed. But Gremlins are useful. They destroy towers during a siege and start attacking. It shoots - that's its advantage.

Warning - one more swear word from this user - I will issue a warning. Ta Kotoraya...