MY PERSONAL OPINION
I would strongly recommend getting a rainbow 3* 3.50 and a rainbow 4* 3.60 team first. For some relevant links ( linky, linky )
==3* 3.50 Heroes==
For 3* 3.50 heroes, I like Balthazar, Belith, Valen, Hawkmoon from your photos.
What happened to your starter Bane? I have three Banes for use in alliance war.
if you got rid of Bane you can always level another yellow 3* 3.50 hero until you get Bane again.
Leveling 3* 3.50 heroes costs only 1*/ 2* ascension items and less Hero XP than a 4* 3.60 or 5* 2.60.
==4* 3.60 Heroes==
As the above links show, 4* 3.60 heroes are the strongest heroes in the game with 1*/ 2* farmable ascension items. So no regrets from spending 3* ascension items on the wrong hero. They also cost 24% of the Hero XP of a 5* 4.80.
Guardian Jackal and Wilbur are incredible, but Wu Kong is literally worth building a team around ( see Note ).
I still auto play normal Atlantis with my Wu Kong Cascade squad.
For 4* 3.60 heroes, I like Wu Kong, Rigard, Melendor, Grimm, Kelile
Ramming Pulverizer is nice, and Grimm is the most versatile of the Ramming Pulverizer trio ( see notes ).
Rigard used to be the only 3* / 4* healer with cleanse. His very strong 42% immediate heal combined with cleanse is great.
Melendor has a very strong 42% heal and removes enemy buffs. Since he is a different color than Rigard, if you use them together, they charge at different rates. Very important for autoplay but handy for any battle.
Kelile also works at 4* 3.60 for War. So she rounds out a decent Wu Kong team. For more info see links below involving Wu Kong.
For next rainbow 4* 3.60 heroes I like, Guardian Jackal, Tiburtus, Caedmon, Sonya, Wilbur
Guardian Jackal has second highest attack stat of a yellow in the game, including 5* HotM. Even dead, Jackal’s match/ board/ physical damage helps your team. He is the only yellow hero with yellow Elemental defense debuff, which stacks with Ramming Pulverizer ( rainbow defense debuff ) and broke the game so they had to redo attack and defense curve.
Wilbur is just nice. Here is a good topic about Wilbur and Boldtusk:
Tiburtus is useful in war, and versus yellow Bosses/ Titans, at 4* 3.60 due to Ramming Pulverizer.
Caedmon and Sonya also work at 4* 3.60 for War. We fought a reflect red titan with a special skill reflect all damage, so Sonya was handy and Caedmon would work, if not as well. Caedmon is nice since he is the only green 4* fast mana speed hero from legendary training.
For next rainbow 4* 3.60 heroes I like, Gretel, ?, ?, Valeria, Boldtusk.
Boldtusk is great for titans and farming ( see above discussion link for Wilbur and Boldtusk ) that used to be as powerful as a 5* hero, but was nerfed multiple times until he became an actual 4* Hero.
Gretel is one of three 4* heroes that control enemy special skills. She is very much the mirror of purple 4* Merlin.
Valeria doesn’t have as much use versus regular titans since her steal healing is her big draw. But she is very fast mana speed and her Damage Over Time bypasses defense stat and protection from blue ( I don’t think any hero currently has protection from blue ). Her steal healing makes her very useful in war versus Boldtusk, and other healers.
==Notes==
Would probably make an exception for Jackal/ Falcon ( elemental defense debuff is insane ), Merlin ( best of the special skill controls ), Hansel ( fast mana special skill control/ protection ), Gretel ( Merlin is weak versus Purple Titan/ Bosses, Gretel is strong and has splash damage but only average mana speed unlike Merlin and Hansel. If Hansel with yellow, Gretel would only be cool because I like splash damage ). I have Peters at 4* 3.60 but Hansel is also green, higher attack stat, better special skill control and bonus protection from special skill. If Hansel and Peters were both yellow, Hansel would be the winner hands down.
With 4* 4.70 Melendor, Grimm, Scarlett, Wu Kong and Rigard it is possible to complete all of season 1, autoplay all of current season 2 map, and autoplay Halloween special event to at least advanced stage 10 ( 3* ascension item ).
4* 4.70 heroes take 50% of the 3* ascension items and 47% of the XP of a 5* 4.80 hero.
4* 4.70 heroes have better stats than 5* 3.70 heroes.4* 3.60 heroes take 0% of the 3* ascension items and 24% of the XP of a 5* 4.80 hero.
4* 3.60 heroes are the strongest heroes in the game that use only farmable ascension materials, so you never regret using a 3*/4* ascension item on them.Legendary training averages a 5* hero every 40 days. Or 9.125 per year.
Legendary training averages a 4* hero every 10 days. Or 36.5 per year.If you give in to calendar offers:
full ascension items for 4* heroes cost $12 USD [ $2 x ( 1+ 1+ 4 ) ]
full ascension items for 5* heroes cost $100 USD [ $2 x ( 1+ 1+ 4 ), $2 x 4, $10 x ( 1+ 1+ 6 ) ]