Am I over looking something as to why I can't use combat spells to e.g. force missle to try to defeat them?

Is that the one from 2nd part of Valeros story? If it is, then it's because check to defeat is Strength, not Combat.

The muscle are frustrating once you get to Heroic.   The 16 for a check is really hard for Valeros (or most characters) to beat without blessings and the discard every turn puts you up against a hard timer.  I've been stuck on Heroic Barroom Brawl for days trying to find the right team to pull it off.

A lot of blessings and scouting is the key. Exspecially at legendary difficulty! And some healing to get those blessings back... so that the stongest character always meet the muscle mans! With 3-4 blessing ready to support the try and a couple of more closing the location. Lem can Also help in here with his recycle power. And spells that give die in all checks!

The muscle are frustrating once you get to Heroic. The 16 for a check is really hard for Valeros (or most characters) to beat without blessings and the discard every turn puts you up against a hard timer. I've been stuck on Heroic Barroom Brawl for days trying to find the right team to pull it off.

Less is more. Valeros and Lem makes a cakewalk of it.

Thanks that makes sense!