User blog comment:Crimson and Darkness/Volume 24 discussion blog/@comment-34061653-20171223170843/@comment-1359322-20171224033527

More like she has no choice but to depend on her heavy hitters.


 * 1) Vali is pretty much the strongest of his team (minus prime Fenrir)
 * 2) Arthur already shown in V19, Kiba or Xenovia still can't match him currently, only Vasco can.

So two of her trump card (minus Gasper) is already sealed. Leaving Gasper to protect her was the only move left for her. If anything, Rias' strategy would've worked if it weren't for a 80% Fenrir appearing since it felt like the Rias Balor combination was meant to deal with a nerfed Fenrir. Vali probably had to reveal his trump card in this match as well which is Fenrir that can now return to 100%

It's kinda like a lose-lose situation for both. Unless of course Rias still have other tricks under her sleeve that she didn't show yet.