If you look closely at the stats, it's hard to understand what exactly increases, but most often, defense is higher than other stats, but attack doesn't stay put, and it won't be the case that defense is 100 and attack is 50... it will be approximately (without artifacts, around level 10): and we already have a higher education, which gives +5 to basic skills. Attack is somewhere from 5 to 9. Defense is somewhere from 8 to 13. Magic is also from 5 to 9... everything seems to grow at the same time, but defense is still higher... so attack with an effect is better than a pumped-up defense, especially since we have the Dragon Form rune, which is just awesome... if you don't like the tactic, it's your choice, I would try to take everything that is needed depending on the situation; if there is no resurrection rune, then there is no point in taking a Battle Mage, but going for a defensive hero is better...

Added 1 minute ago
I remember having a situation where attack, defense, and magic were equal at an average level)) (12-15).