by locusshifter
I agree with Brian, however I do think there is one hero that has ALWAYS served us well: Ra. Between the element manipulation and boosting, not to mention that he becomes a powerhouse for mid to late game, I think you could pick him every time and not regret the choice.Edit for the side question:
We, also like Brian, place the full HP on every card and reduce it with damage. I think it's easier to get a quick scan and assess the situation.