Don’t Trade Punches

One other crucial detail: this warship was not entirely the Chitauri army's mothership. The Chitauri army had been completely conquered by Thanos, while the Sakaaran mercenaries had only been subdued recently. So although both forces served under Thanos, they were effectively like the difference between a main force and an auxiliary force. The Sakaaran mercenaries' equipment was also inferior to that of the Chitauri army. And because of this defeat, Ebony Maw had been assigned to this mixed warship.