Everything over 10,800 is deadly for three level 11 characters, below that is hard, down to 7,200.

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Lower level PCs can still be a threat to higher CR foes throughout the game, especially if they arent played to take advantage of their own strengths.

Other CR 13 monsters Ive looked at (Storm Giant, Narzugon, Adele Arachnomancer and Wastrilith) all deal more damage than an adult white dragon with their regular attacks, and have either more hit points, damage resistance or a bunch of spells.

Any of those are more suited to straight up slugging matches than the white dragon.

Oh, and a lone CR 13 monster is a deadly threat to three level 10 characters (and below), and only a hard encounter for three level 11 characters.

Going a level or two up in what you can beat isnt that crazy, in my opinion.

It should be an effortless TPK for level 8 ones if CR means anything.

An adult White dragon is worth 10,000XP, which is deadly for three L11 characters, thats true.

However, 5es scaling is nowhere near as stiff as 3.xs was.

While 3.5 says CR13 vs Level 8 is overwhelming, its only just, and so might be winnable with good tactics and luck.

An example of scaling: A in 3.5 a Mature Adult White Dragon (CR13) compared to a Juvenile White Dragon (CR6) has about 2.5 times the and 7AC, an extra 6 to hit with attacks that do over 2.5 times more damage, a breath weapon save of DC25 vs DC28 for damage thats 75 greater, it also has a fear, spell resistance, DR vs non-magic weapons (not worth much, but its there), and more magical effects and spells.

In 5e an Adult (CR13) vs a young (CR6) has 3 to hit for 5-10 more damage, 4 save DC for20 more breath damage, about 55 more HP and 1 AC.

MM doesnt have a CR8 white to compare, so I went with the 3.5e ones that matched those in the 5e book.

The scaling is so much flatter in 5e that any knowledge of CR and encounter balancing one has from 3.xPF or 4e is most likely to be wrong (aside from 5e having some very odd CR ratings and not taking swinginess into account).

The White dragon clocks in under that, but over the Hard threshold of 7,200.

So it is only a hard encounter for three level 11 characters, according to the CR system.

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