You have too much experience not to know how devastating a thrall with this kind of dmg output will be on the battleground. In a base, alone, he’s dead meat, sure. On the field… that’s another story. In the middle of the buzz, one wrong move and you’ll grow wings.

It’s true what you said, that the right choice is going for the player, but he can delay you long enough for his thrall to get you. All it takes is one or two shots and you’re gone. Besides, the player might have others covering his back.
Just wait and see. We both know what will happen.