D&D 5E At what level does play become "high level"?

[Enrico Poli1]

I actually consider lvls 7-13 to be the "sweet spot" with the most fun. They are strong heroes now. At lvl 13, they're already super-heroes with incredible powers.
But from Lvl 13, the game breaks and becomes virtually unplayable. I have experoenced this in every edition of the game (AD&D2e, 3.5, 5e). There are many causes: for example, in 5e, we have the Simulacrum spell. In 3.5, you could follow no more the math implied in combats. In AD&D2e, problema started even earlier with Stoneskin.
For this reason, I consider "High Level" (the broken lvls) 14+; "High Level" (the fun lvls) 9-13

 

[Shiroiken]

In 5E, levels 5, 11, and 17 are the significant increases in power. Level 5 is clearly the mid-tier where almost all campaigns are going to be primarily based. I'd say at 11th level is when you get into high level territory (i.e. Name Level), because the characters can do a ton of amazing things that can mess up a DM's plans. Level 17 starts to put the players into the ultra-high level stuff, but I could see some considering it "high level" instead.

 

[Gadget]

Like others have said, 5th level has traditionally been a benchmark level where things like fireball & multiple attacks come into play, though it is not usually considered 'high level.' 9th level (or name level as it was in AD&D) has traditionally been another benchmark, though not quite as much in recent editions, imho. When discussing things theoretically on message boards, it is usually around 16-20th level. I guess it depends on context mostly. Kinda like what people mean by 'a lot of money.' It can mean different things depending on whether you're talking about a meal, a house, or the national debt.

 

[Haffrung]

9th. Fifth level spells are game-changers. And since few campaigns make it to 10th level, I'd guess only a fraction of D&D sessions involve PCs level 9 or higher.

Low: 1-4
Med: 5-8
High: 9+

 

[robus]

Ha I voted 16th level and thought I’d be smack in the middle, boy was I wrong! I guess when most campaigns don't make it to 15, 16 is legendary.

 

[Sacrosanct]

In 5e? The mid teens. Level 10-11 still feels a bit mid level to me. Largely because of the faster leveling of 5e compared to my favored edition of 1e. Which, by contrast, high level is name level at level 9

 

[Mercurius]

11th, although I'd say it is a transition, from roughly 9th to 11th. By the time you get to 11th, you're in "high level play."

And of course there's the tiers:

1st tier (1-4): "Local Heroes"
2nd tier (5-10): "Heroes of the Realm"
3rd tier (11-16): "Masters of the Realm"
4th tier (17-20): "Masters of the World"

 

[Maxperson]

To me 13th level is high level. I go by spells. 1st-3rd level spells = low level. 4th-6th level spells = mid level. 7th-9th level spells = high level.

Oh, and chicken tenders with fries and ketchup.

 

[Zardnaar]

Sweet spot is around 3-7 imho.

Level 8+ is around where combos come online and you hit 20 prime score.

 

[Zardnaar]

Ha I voted 16th level and thought I’d be smack in the middle, boy was I wrong! I guess when most campaigns don't make it to 15, 16 is legendary.

Most games don't make it past level 7 apparently.