User blog comment:B214/Question and Answers 6/@comment-207.242.44.6-20190123201408/@comment-10330822-20190125024031

No. That's not how it works. The pieces amplify certain attributes, they don't lower them. For example, a knight's speed is only increased, which means he has lower strength and magic power in comparison to his speed. It's the same thing for Bishop and Rook pieces, they only increase magic power and strength. The Queen piece amplifies all three. So if you fought a Knight as a Rook, assuming you are equally strong without the pieces, you'd have amplified strength while he'd only have amplified speed.

Think of it like this. The Azazel Cup is simulating the effects of the pieces for the non-reincarnated. So, for example, Rossweisse usually has her Rook piece to amplify her strength, but when she plays as a Bishop, the system amplifies her magic power instead of her strength.

The problem in these situations is that the Devils normal abilities aren't taken to account. So if you have one who already is very fast, he only gets faster. It's how Knights improve, because their speed is only increased to much with their piece, they need to increase their own normal speed to get faster. Also, this is how you choose the proper piece for the right person, Kiba and Xenovia for example are excellent options for the Knight Pieces.