User blog comment:B214/Volume 23 discussion blog/@comment-77.188.220.109-20170502203809/@comment-29963364-20170502225011

How about this...

Let's take an opponent Issei faught in the beginning of the series.

Riser Phenex. Let's say Issei is somehow thrown back in time and has to save Rias from her engagement to Riser again. Take away Issei's Boosted Gear, but his body stays the way it is currently, 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?

I get that, because of the events that happened in the series, Issei had to get stronger quickly, and evolving his BG was the only way to do that. But if Issei, after all that time training his body to handle the BG, can't at least fight on-par with a High-Class Devil (average, not Rookies Four level), then how can we not call him "weak"?

And don't use arguements like:

"Cao Cao is an ordinary human who uses his True Longinus to fight."

or

"Tobio Ikuse is uses his Canis Lycaon to fight, and his Abyss-Side Balance Breaker makes him strong."

I agree with those arguements. But Cao Cao and Tobio both have skills outside their SG's.

Cao Cao


 * Master Spearman


 * Immense Speed (he can keep up with Azazel and Vali in their Balance Breakers).


 * Master Tactician (he faught the Gremory & Vali Teams simultaneously).

Tobio Ikuse


 * Master Swordsmen


 * Immense Speed


 * Magic

Cao Cao and Tobio both rely on their SG's to fight, but they have skills and abilities that are supplemented by their SG's. Issei does have his hand-to-hand combat due to his experience fighting strong opponents, but without his BG, he can't do much.