Skills in the game

It's unlikely that 2 Rust Dragons will only guard the Hive, so you should come back later, perhaps with Angels. I was just saying that shooting isn't the best tactic in a confined space, for example, when taking the Hive while defending a Castle; archers get taken out quickly.
Valeska is about convenience, not strength. If the situation gets tougher than average, with archer and flying unit blocks, Valeska doesn't look so good anymore.