Upgrade or alternative upgrade?

question from the audience: how do you build a Dragon Cave on Veteran difficulty? (if the Ruby Mine is captured by Archmages/Druids or something similar)
do you sacrifice Tanams?

Elementary, my dear Watson. No, I never sacrifice Tanams; I only build them on week 3. That's when I have to capture the crystal mine. I have enough starting resources to build dragons. I eliminate Druids and Mages exclusively with Mountain Guards and bears, plus the Energy Rune (I only play as Inga). I often have to sacrifice them early on to clear out neutrals.