User blog comment:Fallenbladr/The Elite Guards Plot & Stuff/@comment-7890302-20141112233933/@comment-5398287-20141113000555

Well, in order to be equal to the Royal Guard from the start, these Sternritter would have to have had monstrous spiritual power. Even for humans with special powers, that would be a bit hard to believe, seeing as how Yhwach is really the only Quincy whose power goes above and beyond captain-class because he am der King. It's much more believable to have them go down quickly, allowing Nimaiya to get some time in the spotlight as well, and then repower them so they can be on equal footing by giving them power from other Sternritter. At least, that's my take on it.