Neutral creatures

Since I mainly play as Necropolis, I like Dark Elementals. They have retaliation and return to their original position after an attack. This is great for protecting archers.

Yeah, but it doesn't help protect archers from enemy archers. I think it's easier to send Earth Elementals to the enemy archers than to protect your own. They will also distract some of the enemy infantry and may even turn some of them to stone.