You can tank with either Ariel or Zimkitha.
Here’s two that come to mind:
Isarnia | Zimkitha | Ariel | Kage | Leo
or
Kage | Ariel | Zimkitha | Elkanen | Leo
Normally slow/average in corner isn’t great, but Ariel’s mana speed boost can make that less of an issue.
I like your second option with Kage | Ariel | Zimkitha | Elkanen | Leo.
Would you think Sartana would be a better choice there though? Fast sniper on the corner? Leo’s mana control might be annoying, but on defense the cpu is not smart enough to target someone with high mana, and at average speed he might not fire enough to make a difference.
Yeah if you don’t mind having two dark flanks, Sartan wing can work too. I put Leo to have a rainbow team, and with Ariel in the same team he can fire more often than usual.
Ranvir can be there too instead of Leo if you want rainbow + fast wings. Though his snipe is considerably weaker.
What I have noticed during my raids is have the blue-red-green center with an off color wings can be problematic. The opponent would have to make a decision to load up on yellows for the wings, or load up for the center of the lineup. Any defense is beatable though.
Not sure I want Ranvir on a defense, but it might not be the worst. Druid emblems are going to be tough going forward with Zim and Ranvir there. Ideally Leo doesnt get any more monk emblems too, Wilbur is at +12.
To answer the title of the thread, Ranvir and Horghall would be my choices. Horghall because attack down with minions as a talent is always fun to use. And Ranvir because he is a more offensive Wu Kong and he has poison resist that works in all areas of the game.
Kage-Zimkitha-Ariel-Leo-Sartana
Leo or Zimkitha could tank too. You could swap Ariel for Isarnia if you use Leo or Zimkitty at tank.