D&D 5E CR ratings are obsolete.

[Inchoroi]

I cared about CR and stuff when I first started DMing; when 5e came out, I cared for...about three weeks.

Then, I went, "You know, I'm going to put stuff where it makes sense. If my players stumble onto something they can't handle, I hope they have the brain to run away."

 

[MichaelSomething]

Why bother making a CR system if most people arn't expected to use it?

Sent from my VS990 using EN World mobile app

 

[Sacrosanct]

Why bother making a CR system if most people arn't expected to use it?

Sent from my VS990 using EN World mobile app

Most people are expected to use it. First, for players not experienced with 5e, then as people get more experienced and have a better feel, then as a guideline to give a rough idea. Outside of that, the CR is supposed to be used all of the time for AL adventures by everyone. That's why AL adventures have a block at the beginning of each one that says how to adjust encounters based on CR vs party level/composition.