You can get some stat boosts in how you do the creature’s talents. The thing is, most of these stats can be gotten in other areas as well. The ones that hard to get anywhere else is the Damage stats. So focus on getting the non-damage stats boosts doing other things.
The Explosive area has the damage stats.
Try and it like so:
Explosive Health 1 -> Explosive Defense 1 -> Explosive Attack 1 -> Explosive Fire Attack 1 -> Troop Health 1 -> Flames of Fury 1 -> Infantry Health -> End there.
Then follow up to Explosive Ammo 1 -> Explosive Attack II -> Troop Damage 1 -> Explosive Defense II -> Firepower -> Explosive Health II -> Infantry Defense II -> Explosive Defense II => Explosive Attack III -> Infantry Health II -> Explosive Attack IV -> Flame of Fury II -> Explosive Defense IV -> Troop Damage II -> End there
Maybe circle back and get: Satchel Slots I -> Infantry Defense I
If you do the above, your troops will be able to take hits better and survive.
The is will take about 93 Talent Points to complete. Another 10 to get Infantry Defense I.