Sylvan vs. Necropolis

Here's my question. On small maps where the main heroes clash around weeks 2 or 3, can Elves effectively counter Necromancers, and other races for that matter? After all, the Elves' strength lies in their army, which means quickly building up their castle and minimizing losses. But when playing on Veteran difficulty on small maps (like Outlands), the Elves won't have a decent army, nor will they be able to properly develop their castle due to limited resources. Even if everything goes perfectly, and they encounter non-critical neutrals and manage to build the largest possible army by the second week, Necromancers, with their skeletons and Titans, and Mages, with their magic, simply don't give Stronghold Elves a chance. This is just my opinion, but practice shows that this is the case. Of course, Stronghold Elves are strong in the late game, but even Ossir can't withstand rushers, let alone the others. In this regard, perhaps someone knows effective tactics against rushers, especially Necromancers. Because, for example, Kaspar or Vlad might arrive in the early to mid-second week with their skeletons, a tent, and the Raise Dead spell, and that's it – game over. And archers won't help if their hero is taken down by Chaos magic before their turn. So, what should be done?