CR of Empyreal Knight's Mount

[Double-orc]

I'm pretty new to creating NPCs and monsters. I'm not sure how to calculate the CR of a level 20 Paladin's (Empyreal Knight) mount with the Divine Bond (Su) ability. The mount has the celestial template which gives it a +1 to CR. Does the CR come from the mount's hit die? I believe it has 16 when the Paladin is level 20.

Thanks.

[LazarX]

You don't. The mount and the knight are a single CR and the mount is already factored in as part of the Paladin's class feature.

[Double-orc]

Ok I think I may have found the answer to my question... I think the mount would be CR 13 (12+1 for celestial) given the rules on Monster Creation that I am reading right now. Does this sound right?

[Double-orc]

LazarX wrote:

You don't. The mount and the knight are a single CR and the mount is already factored in as part of the Paladin's class feature.

Hmm.. I guess that makes sense. If I was to create this creature separate from the Paladin, however, would 13 (12+1 for celestial) make sense given its 16 hit die?

[LazarX]

Double-orc wrote:

LazarX wrote:

You don't. The mount and the knight are a single CR and the mount is already factored in as part of the Paladin's class feature.

Hmm.. I guess that makes sense. If I was to create this creature separate from the Paladin, however, would 13 (12+1 for celestial) make sense given its 16 hit die?

I'd say the CR would be less than that, because on it's own... the celestial mount simply isn't much more than cannon fodder. It's no real threat.