Ranged participants switch from ranged to melee too late, they always eat the first strike and they lose automatically thereafter. Maybe they don't calculate the potential running perks and high athletics values of enemies that are frequent in the arena, but it's just a guess.
It appears in every single arena fight with ranged weapons, no special circumstances are required.
It might be okay on the battlefield, but it's very obvious in the arena.
It appears in every single arena fight with ranged weapons, no special circumstances are required.
It might be okay on the battlefield, but it's very obvious in the arena.

