Knights of Tezoth

In the end, he couldn't snatch victory from milady Stefania, for whom my respect is beyond all praise. Here, of course, skill won out, but it also feels like equipment could have played a role to some small extent.

Equipment did play a role. In all the other duels. In his favor.

Well, in the archery contest it didn't seem to, Ney rolled over him. And in the duel too.

Do we start or wait for Reven?

I asked him, and the rest is whatever.

In the archery contest, Ney rolled over him purely due to precise attack. Her bow doesn't affect accuracy at all. And her base is even lower than Axel's. It was purely skill that played a role, which Axel could have also taken.

In the duel, it wasn't the weapon difference that played a role either, but the pegasus's bulk. And Stef's pet talisman is indeed decent, but it activated less often than the Dark Falcon. Not to mention that... Axel lost only two battles in the tournament. Two. By that logic, the other participants need new equipment even more. And in larger quantities.