Angels vs. Demons and Devils.

[Eldritch_Lord]

As a general theme, prior editions of D&D have held that good is individually more powerful while evil is more numerous. Solars are more powerful than pit fiends or balors 1-on-1 but the latter are encountered in greater numbers, small groups of good will triumph over the legions of evil, and so on. As a corollary, while evil is collectively more powerful than good, evil fighting amongst itself is the reason for the status quo. The Blood War prevents fiends from rising up and conquering the Prime because they are too busy fighting each other, so when angels and fiends do encounter each other the fiends' numbers are generally manageable. That's probably why the power balance between good and evil outsiders stands as it does.

 

[Empirate]

Well, I'd rather face a Cornugon (CR 16) than a Planetar (also CR 16) - the latter casts as a 17th level Cleric, the former... is big and tough.
The comparison between Nalfeshnee (CR 14) and Astral Deva (also CR 14) is less clear-cut. The latter has some more tricks, but the former is really not far behind, and is much tougher in melee (what with being Huge and stuff like that).

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

Some what related but slightly off-topic at the same time:

This thread could just as easily apply to Chromatic vs Metallic Dragons.

I really dislike the fact that pound for pound the Metallic dragons are generally more powerful then Chromatics. They live longer, better and stronger breath weapons, are more intelligent, generally have spells... how is the Red or Blue Dragon supposed to compete with a Gold or Silver?

 

[Sekhmet]

This thread could just as easily apply to Chromatic vs Metallic Dragons.

I really dislike the fact that pound for pound the Metallic dragons are generally more powerful then Chromatics. They live longer, better and stronger breath weapons, are more intelligent, generally have spells... how is the Red or Blue Dragon supposed to compete with a Gold or Silver?

Blues get Cleric spells (CL 17) up to level 9 from Air, Evil, and Law domains. CR 24.
Reds get Cleric spells (CL 19) up to level 9 from Fire, Evil, and Chaos. CR 26.

Gold get get Cleric spells (CL 19) up to level 9 from Law, Luck, and Good. CR 27.
Silver get Cleric spells (CL 19) up to level 9 from Air, Good, Law, and Sun. CR 26.

On paper, the metallic only allow better domains. Red and Gold both get 24d10 breath weapons, and the other dragons have equal counterparts as well.
Golds and Reds are pretty well matched, and following the suggested tactics, it would be close either way.

 

[Empirate]

Metallic Dragons have an alternate breath weapon, though.

 

[jefgorbach]

presumably the Outer Planes are cosmically Balanced so an evil solar would represent what the party would face if the GM needs a Cr23 devil/demon (and vice-versa).