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Encounter with Rapax Veterans and Berserkers (3 and 2, I believe).

First try, my level 14 Alchemist used Quicksand level 1 (highest safe level for a level 14 caster), which killed one of them. The battle went on for a while, but I got too many character deaths, and after the second time my Bishop died, I was worried I didn't have enough Amulet of Life charges, so I reloaded.

Second try, my Alchemist cast Quicksand level 3. It could have backfired and killed some of my party, but it didn't, and killed all but 1 Veteran and 1 Berserker.

Of course, I forgot that I had a 3rd option: Equip my Bishop's Staff of Doom and use it to cast Death Cloud level 5. I can recharge it in the shop, and my Bishop's Artifact's skill is high enough to not worry about a backfire (I think). (The Staff of Doom was her alternate weapon, so swapping to it doesn't take a turn, though changing back requires uncursing it.)
Hmm, if you reload when the spell backfires, is there any risk involved?