Another approach is to block them. One technique I use with some success is phantom royal griffons and then stick 'em in their face. The hard part is getting enough iniitia high enough to obtain the first move. Also there is no guarantee they won't still cast. Also another approach I've begun to learn is that certain critters such as arch-mages seem to be mostly resistant to their damage. While a stack of inquistor can suffer 30+ losses from their attack; a stack of arch-mages will only suffer 2 losses (which is easily recoverable by paladin or resurrection spell).
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While I'm not playing a no loss game I've not suffer any losses in my mage impossible game since level 11 or so (level 27 now). On the other hand I've avoided Reha and Uzala so far having mostly cleared orc stacks in verona and rusty (though there were quite a few gobliln shaman stacks in those places). I'd like to find the spell shakle before I go to those areas. After all as a mage I should take advantage of it
I also have the armor that is 20% astral resistant (crown not found yet).