Hinnom (EA, no mods): Ba'al's or Melqarts

[3V4JKZ2]

I'm having slight trouble telling which I should use for Thugging. I have no bless worth revealing (scales build).

Baal's: ..................................Melqarts
500 gp....................................450 gp (-50)
4 resources...............................124 resources (+120)
66 hp.....................................69 hp (+3)
8 protection..............................18 protection (+10)
15 morale.................................15 morale
18 magic resist...........................18 magic resist
2 encumberance............................2/5/8 encumberance (+3/+6)
0 fatigue.................................0 fatigue
22 strength...............................24 strength (+2)
14 attack.................................15 attack (+1)
11 defence................................18 defence (+7)
12 precision..............................12
3/16 move.................................3/15 move (-1)

Blood 2, Holy 1, +3F/E/S (rare crosspaths never get used for thugging anyways)
Fear 0, Fire Resist 75, Natural Gore attack, research is higher than Melqarts

Blood 3, Holy 1, +2F/E/S, Fear 0, Fire Resist 75, natural gore attack.

Which do I use for Thugging? Melqarts have higher stats; but my Astral ones need helms to teleport; and Melqarts have substantially higher melee encumberance and casting emcumberance, which is usually a pretty big issue, right?

Help and opinions appreciated.