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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AuraSeer" data-source="post: 529700" data-attributes="member: 1331">The beholder is one of those monsters that depends heavily on circumstance.  IMO, the listed CR of 13 assumes at least that the monster gets to choose the terrain. If it gets an ambush, the surprise round will involve a lot of saving throws and probably a downed PC or two. But if it ever gets caught in melee range, or if spellcasters manage to avoid its antimagic, it's liable to drop in two rounds or less.Its low Fortitude save leaves it vulnerable to save-or-lose spells like Disintegrate or Polymorph Other. Its low Reflex save, together with its relatively low hit point total, will get it toasted by a single Maximized Fireball. Its ranged touch AC is only 9.A party that can cast its own Antimagic Field will totally shut down a beholder. Its eye rays become useless, and advancing to melee would be suicide; all it can do is hide or flee, and hope that its max of 40' per round is enough to outdistance the archers.If the battle happens in an area where the beholder can use effective tactics-- staying up out of melee range, and choosing which PCs are caught in its antimagic-- then CR 13 is probably about right. But out in the open, or if it's spotted from a distance, it's significantly less challenging.</blockquote>