User blog comment:Crimson and Darkness/Volume 25 discussion blog/@comment-82.160.23.173-20180626202008/@comment-34061653-20180704151626

I didn't say using strategy is worthless in general but tactics are practically useless against overwhelming power. Baraqiel team was winning the match until Issei used infinity blaster which not only gave them the lead but also retired a couple members from Baraqiel's team. It was a good tactic on Ravel's part but the point is it emphosizes on overwhelming their opponents.

You bring up a good point about Rudiger but really is his team in general any weaker than Tannin's? If both team are nearly equal than good tactics are vital but of one team is much stronger than that power makes tactics useless.

Sona didn't make the top 16 because her team is practically fodder compared to them. If she faced Rias team then what chances would she have? Despite being a better tactician than Rias, her team would get bulldozed by Rias team. As for the people in her generation that are in the top 16, there is more than just 3 people. Rias, Sairaorg, Issei, Dulio, Cao Cao and Vali. They made it because their teams are way stronger than hers. Vali for example didn't use strategy in his game against Rias and just let them fight the opponents they wanted. Issei's team practically curbstomped Sona's team.

You say we didn't see the Mahabali vs Zeno team match but we know enough to know they got bulldozed over because of how powerful Zeno's team was with it's new members.