Thinking about Elidibus

[Catapult]

Just... wait for us to die lol?

See, I think this is not a plothole anymore by the time we get into Shadowbringers. The Ascians have a problem where unlike in previous eras, they are being hunted by people who have worked out how to actually kill them.
Stepping back for a while would necessitate playing defensively, which gives your opponents the opportunity to attack, and they are presenting as innovative in doing so.

Ergo, Elidibus was running out of options.