For the moment I would use Lyssandra, Seeker (for atk up, tm boost and provoke), Dhukk/Stag Knight (for debuff, switch based on enemy affinity), Foli/Zavia nuke (switch based on enemy affinty).

Once you can acquire a set of Stoneskin gear, Cardinal becomes a strong counter to speed teams.  She is one of about a dozen champs that can pull you through the wall of Arbiters to get to Gold 4.

I'll echo the Cardinal sentiment. If you can get yourself at least four pieces of Stoneskin, that's what I'd build out.

Specifically, with Stoneskin, I'd do:

When you get Skullcrown: Skullcrown Lead, Cardinal, Lanakis, Sinesha. Make sure Lanakis is the second fastest, after Cardinal. 

Until then: Fu-Shan Lead, Cardinal, Dhukk, Foli/Zavia. Make sure Dhukk is second fastest, after Cardinal.

If you don't have Stoneskin, I'd do:

Lyssandra Lead, Dhukk (make sure he has enough crit to land the debuffs), Alure (make sure she has high crit and acc, her goal is to AOE sleep them), Foli/Zavia (based on affinity). ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL for this team, is to ensure that you have everyone properly speed tuned for no cut-in. Alure will AOE sleep them, so Foli/Zavia can be geared with more offense and less speed.

PS - if you can post a higher-resolution image it'd be great. This one is making my eyes bleed :(

I love Krama's team here if you don't have Stoneskin, of Lyss, Dhukk, Alure and Foli/Zavia. I am a big fin of Speed Boost + CC lockout teams, seeing as how you can build your nukers so much slower and not have to worry about speed tuning in place of damage. Also Dhukk is such a solid and tanky unit, he was my big AoE Dec Defense for quite a while.

And I echo that once you have literally ANY 4 pieces of Stoneskin, being fortunate enough to have a Cardinal means you can certainly kick behind with a super go second team.

I don't have Cardinal, but since I pulled Zavia, I love seeing so much Stone-Cardinal teams popping up as defense in arena. 😎

Yeah I don't really understand why people keep building her into defense teams. Every time I see a Cardinal team, I just immediately fight it. Lydia shuts her down so hard.

-  Lyssandra 

-  Old  Hermit  Jorge

-  Stag  Knight

-  Foli/Zavia

Is  what  I  would  use

Thanks  all,  for  the  suggestions!  Much  appreciated.  I  have  some  better  direction,  and  a  fair  bit  of  work  to  do.  Off  to  farm...