I always build 3 mages if there are no or few enemies, to quickly clear the map, then Vasili, 4 Vasili are cheap and, in my opinion, better than 2 Vivs. I don't upgrade the Lizards on the first day, and you don't need many enemies. With the ones you have, you can reduce the stacks of neutrals by luring enemies under direct fire with the 3 mages, and then finish them off with Gnomes, and it's best to start behind Tazar.