CL1 to 2 is a change of only 24 levels.
CL2 to 3 is 27 levels.
CL 3 to 4 is 51 levels.
CL4 to 5 is 45 levels.
CL5 to 6 is 45 levels.
CL6 to 7 is 135 levels.
CL7 to 8 is 50 levels.
CL8 to 9 is 110.
Notice the massively huge discrepancy? Even 8 to 9 does not match 6 to 7.
Probably something to do with cl7 awarding 4* covers in progression while cl6 doesn’t.
And CL8 gives more than 7 buts it’s not a total roadblock of 135 levels.
CL9 players can drop down to 7. If 7 were appreciably easier, probably more would.
CL7 has a 5* required, CL6 does not. So the big jump is a bit artificial and misleading.
This. The average enemy doesn’t go up that much, it’s just the addition of the 5* essential node that makes it look like a big jump.
I thought the very same thing and I honestly had stayed away from CL7 until I needed a green America 4* cover so I decided to give it a go. The 355 is in fact the 5 star node (which effects placement but not progression). Just to give you a true level without the 5 star node the max level for all 6 modes in CL7 without essentials are 23-23-23-225-225-245. The essentials nodes are 200 (2*)-210(3*)-210(4*). I didn’t have the 5* for this round so I’m not sure how the levels go up with the 5* but it starts at level 185. For comparison sake I’m pretty sure CL6 is 19-19-19-200-200-220, essentials are 170(2*)-190(3*)-190(4*). So if you throw out the 5* node the CL7 should probably read levels 23-245 which is actually only a change of 25 between the highest levels. But I agree it’s somewhat misleading, but only because of the 5* node makes the change in levels seem much more extreme.
It’s a typo in the cl7 description that needs to be corrected. Even the 5* essential node only scales to level 245 enemies. It’s only a jump of 35 levels, not 135. Don’t tell anyone though, I slum in CL 7 and I don’t want more competition. 
The entire effects placement seems a bit glazed over here. CL6 Top 5. CL7 ignoring the 5 star node Top 100.
Yes agreed, without the 5* I had to play pretty optimally just to stay in the top 100 in CL7. Whereas the same effort in CL6 would have gotten me at worst Top 20.
That’s not at all surprising. Anyone who has access to CL 9 can’t go any lower than 7. You are literally competing with the most advanced rosters in the game when you jump to 7. Below that, you’re still in developing territory.
Only for PVP. For PVE, you can do whatever CL you want. At least I am able to but maybe I am just special to D3.
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So dropping from top 5 in CL6 to top 100 in CL7 means you’re missing out on three 3* covers and some HP, but in exchange you’ve got a guaranteed 4* cover through progression. And that’s without the stress of trying to make sure you place in the top 0.5% of your bracket.
And as others have said, the clearance level select is buggy, with the highest level mission only hitting 245 rather than 355: quite manageable for a single cover 5* plus two boosted 3* characters or two unboosted 4*s.
If you’re at the point in the game where you want to collect 4* covers, then you should definitely play CL7.