Simple Q&A D&D 4e Thread 3

[darkbard]

What's the point of elite monsters? Couldn't you just add higher level monsters?

There's a big difference in the way the math works between levels as opposed to between roles (minion, standard, elite, solo). Throw too high a level monster at the party, and they will never be able to score a hit against its defenses, for example. Or it may hit them with every attack, rather than half its attacks. Etc.