User blog comment:B214/Volume 23 discussion blog/@comment-77.188.220.109-20170502203809/@comment-29963364-20170503003438

You guys obviously didn't see my question.

So I'll ask again.

Let's say Issei is somehow thrown back in time and has to save Rias from her engagement to Riser again. Issei' s body stays the way it is currently, but t ake away his Boosted Gear, and he doesn't get any Holy Objects (cross, bible, holy water, etc.). Could Issei beat, or at least fight on par with Riser Phenex?

Also, remember when Issei got one-shot by Mina (Riser's pawn who is the  weakest in his peerage )? Would Issei still be one-shot by her as she is now (in his base, not with his armor active)?

All I'm curious about is whether or not Issei can still put up a fight without the BG. Due to his training to handle the BG, he has  insane stamina/endurance & durability, so he can definitely get back up no matter how many times he's knocked down. And he trains daily with Kiba and Gasper, so he's no slouch when it comes to pure hand-to-hand combat (he matched Sairaorg in a fist-fight).

I'm not, nor will I ever say that Issei is a "weak fighter." He trained hard and earned his victories throughout the series.

But has Issei's base strength, speed and durability improved at all since he first became a Devil? Can he at least contend with enemies he faced at the beginning of the series without his BG?