Mistakes when playing as Humans.

Zubr, demons – they are the best shooters; they focus on attack and knowledge, and the damage of the ballista depends precisely on these factors. Nightmares with messengers are not a good example; instead, provide an example with titans, devils, or lava golems.
Furthermore, if Vitya uses fire arrows that ignore defense, it cuts off the path to retribution, and this cannot be allowed in the late game.

To which I reasonably replied, don't drag it out.

Everything depends on the game conditions. In a tournament, you definitely need to play quickly, but some people like to develop their strategy. Besides, there are maps where there are no astral gates, and you have to break through everyone.