User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 599 - Too Early To Win, Too Late To Know/@comment-24153155-20141002220434/@comment-2048489-20141004002755

Technically, the Sternritter have been able to plan everything for a REALLY long time. Let's face the facts: the Sternritter have been able to watch Soul Society for a ridiculous amount of time. Meanwhile, Soul Society literally just got bombshelled entirely by the Stern Ritters' appearance; they've literally only JUST started to figure out how the Quincies have started to work, ie: suddenly Bankai was taken, and though they got them back quickly they still don't really have much to go. A lot more of the abilities of the Quincies are coming as complete blindsides to the Shinigami, while the Quincies know more about what the other side can do. They don't know EVERYTHING per se, but the Quincies are way better prepared informationally.