A Level 20 Character Has a Challenge Rating of 20 in D&D 5e
As stated in the Dungeon Master‘s Guide and confirmed by lead game designer Jeremy Crawford, a level 20 character in D&D 5e equates to a formidable Challenge Rating (CR) of 20. This situates them as some of the most powerful beings in the multiverse – on par with demon lords, archdevils, empyreans, and ancient dragons.
The Path to Demigodhood: How Levels Translate to CR
Most PCs start their adventuring career around level 1-3, with a CR rating of 1/8 to 1. This already places them above the common masses in terms of martial prowness and magical aptitude. As heroes grow in experience – battling ever more dangerous foes and completing perilous quests – their personal power scales exponentially according to the below general guidelines:
| Character Level | Challenge Rating |
|---|---|
| 1st-4th | CR 1/8 to 1 |
| 5th-10th | CR 2 to 5 |
| 11th-16th | CR 6 to 11 |
| 17th-20th | CR 12 to 20 |
Reaching the pinnacle at level 20 means a character‘s CR now matches or exceeds those of legendary monsters such as the Ancient Red Dragon (CR 24) or the demon lord Orcus (CR 26). This demonstrates how exponentially more powerful a max-level character is compared to their lower level counterparts.
In fact, the gulf in strength between a starting level 1 PC and a level 20 demigod is so vast that some DMs disallow player characters from progressing beyond 10th or 15th level. The threats that can challenge a party of newbie heroes could be completely trivialized by veterans of level 20 power.
By the Numbers: Level 20 Characters vs. Deadly Encounters
To illustrate this immense power discrepancy, let‘s analyze some key stats between a starting level 1 character vs. one who has achieved the maximum 20th level:
| Metric | Level 1 Character | Level 20 Character |
|---|---|---|
| Hit Points | 10 (Fighter) | 203 (Fighter) |
| Spell Save DC | 13 (Cleric) | 19-20 (Cleric) |
| Attack Bonus | +5 (Fighter) | +11 or more (Fighter) |
| DPR (Damage/Round) | 1d8+3 = 6.5 (Fighter) | 4d10+5+10d8 = 74 (Fighter) |
As shown above, a 20th level Fighter or Cleric dwarfs the combat prowess of their level 1 version thirty or forty times over! Now let‘s analyze how they might fare against deadly threats appropriate for their skill level:
| Threat | Level 1 Character | Level 20 Character |
|---|---|---|
| Bandit Captain (CR 2) | Deadly, possible TPK | Easy kill |
| Adult Red Dragon (CR 17) | Impossible | Hard fight |
| Lich (CR 21) + Minions | Impossible TPK | Deadly boss fight |
| Demon Lord Orcus (CR 26) | Impossible TPK | Extremely Deadly |
Whereas a bandit captain or dragon could easily wipe out a fledgling party, they pose little concern to a group of 20th level veterans. In fact, these max-level PCs have access to powerful magic like True Polymorph and Shapechange that allows them to assume dragon form themselves!
However, even level 20 characters must respect enemies of equivalent epic power – such as demon lords and deities. These few supreme entities can go toe-to-toe with a party of veteran adventures. Such god-like clashes form the basis of D&D‘s most legendary campaigns and modules.
Qualitative Analysis: Level 20 Class Features
Beyond the objective numerical advantage, level 20 characters also unlock special class features cementing their god-like status within D&D lore. For example:
Level 20 Barbarian
- Rage beyond death – continues fighting while making death saving throws!
- Primal Champion – Superhuman strength and constitution
Level 20 Bard
- Superior Inspiration – Restores expended uses of Bardic Inspiration on short rest
- Spellcasting – Knows 7th level spells – can reshape reality (Mirage Arcane, Regenerate)
Level 20 Cleric
- Divine Intervention Improvement – Call on deity‘s intervention with 100% success rate
- Spellcasting – Knows 9th level spells – can warp the cosmos (True Resurrection, Storm of Vengeance)
Level 20 Druid
- Archdruid – Unlimited Wild Shape ability
- Spellcasting – Knows 9th level spells – can control nature (Shapechange, Foresight)
And so on for each class. Comprehending the scope of their newfound powers lends more context into why level 20 PCs equate to demigods walking among mortals in any D&D world.
My Take: Level 20 Represents the Pinnacle of Adventure
As both an experienced DM of 10+ years and diehard D&D enthusiast, I believe level 20 showcases the ultimate fantasy fulfillment that attracts millions to tabletop RPGs.
The joy of progression – where beginner characters eventually stand shoulder-to-shoulder with legendary heroes and villains – keeps people engaged through campaigns lasting months or years of real-world time. Striving toward those exalted levels 20 capstones offers a long-term goal beyond temporary treasure and glory.
In fact, I think the promise of godhood explains why planar adventures to challenge heaven / hell occur more commonly around higher levels rather than earlier stages. Once you‘ve exhausted all earthly threats, only the outer planes offer worthy foes for legendary heroes!
However, level 20 also carries drawbacks for DMs – namely balance issues from exponential stat growth. While players relish the tremendous power, constructing fitting encounters can prove complex, tedious, or even impossible! And new players face exclusion from groups with extremely seasoned PCs.
Nevertheless, the sheer wish fulfillment of achieving level 20 still makes it an iconic D&D milestone for me. I love creating special one shot "epic level mini campaigns" that allow players to cut loose with top-tier abilities. It creates lasting memories without disrupting primary story arcs balanced for lower levels.
In any event, level 20 represents the pinnacle – where PCs stand on nearly equal footing with deities and reality itself lies in the palm of their hand. It‘s the ultimate escapist fantasy only tabletop RPGs can fully capture!
