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Well, the sad part is, strategies and skills are useful during skirmishes, not during "showdown" type head-to-head combat. Let's first leave Archer aside and use Caster as an example. If you are talking about tricks, strategy, and tactics, Caster is the most prepared servant of all. She selected a strong home base, siphoned massive amount of mana, summoned a servant bodyguard, and tried to bind Sabre. She pretty much had it all figured out. Why did she always lose in all the routes?
It all comes down to that she has weak status/constitution and Noble Phantasms. Sabre got Gae-Bolged in the chest and lived until the end of the war, Caster had a near-miss with Caladabolg and that almost killed her. The difference is obvious.
Now let's look at Archer. In terms of skills and strategy, he is definitely top-notch. However, when it comes to "all-or-nothing-no-way-out" scenarios like the Ryudo Temple battle in Fate, Archer will fair much, much worse than Sabre. Think about it, let's say Archer uses a traced Excalibur, the attack will be weaker, he has less mana compare to Sabre (also minus the mana burst ability), and all around weaker constitution. He would have been gone by the first Enuma Elish.
Will Archer win a grail war with a typical Magus as a master? In my opinion, no way. Even if he lives to see the final battle, he would lose, because the other servant standing will likely to have more raw power (world-destroying weapons take no skill to wield you know). Interestingly, the only ideal partner for Archer should be Kiritsugu. Both of them work independently and will systematically slay opposing masters instead of confronting servants. I guess this would be the strategic element that Benawi is talking about.
It all comes down to that she has weak status/constitution and Noble Phantasms. Sabre got Gae-Bolged in the chest and lived until the end of the war, Caster had a near-miss with Caladabolg and that almost killed her. The difference is obvious.
Now let's look at Archer. In terms of skills and strategy, he is definitely top-notch. However, when it comes to "all-or-nothing-no-way-out" scenarios like the Ryudo Temple battle in Fate, Archer will fair much, much worse than Sabre. Think about it, let's say Archer uses a traced Excalibur, the attack will be weaker, he has less mana compare to Sabre (also minus the mana burst ability), and all around weaker constitution. He would have been gone by the first Enuma Elish.
Will Archer win a grail war with a typical Magus as a master? In my opinion, no way. Even if he lives to see the final battle, he would lose, because the other servant standing will likely to have more raw power (world-destroying weapons take no skill to wield you know). Interestingly, the only ideal partner for Archer should be Kiritsugu. Both of them work independently and will systematically slay opposing masters instead of confronting servants. I guess this would be the strategic element that Benawi is talking about.