D&D 5E (2014) Your CR limit for an average 1st level party?

[Mull Ponders]

I tend to look at it a bit differently. An Orc with a great axe is 1/2 CR, but can down a party member with a single shot. A Carrion Crawler is CR 2, has a ton more HP, but is going to paralyze a party member and drag it back to it's lair to be eaten later, allowing a rescue. I look at possible outcomes more than CR ratings.

 

[Zardnaar]

CR 2 or 3 is pushing it. Accuracy isnt great and a crut can outright kill a OC with a ok to decent roll vs max damage or close to it.

Depends on monster as well.

 

[Koloth]

Be very careful with any critter that do AOE things like spells, breath weapons or similar. A 4 v 1 can become a 2 v 1, or worse, very fast once AOEs start going off.

 

[Zardnaar]

Be very careful with any critter that do AOE things like spells, breath weapons or similar. A 4 v 1 can become a 2 v 1, or worse, very fast once AOEs start going off.

Hell hounds 7d6 breath weapon iirc.