Quick answer: Level 60 characters can access Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair beginning 9 December 2026. Entry to Onyxia’s Lair additionally calls for the Drakefire Amulet.
- Raid unlock date: 9 December 2026
- Level requirement: 60 for all three raids
- Lockouts: The current schedule calls for a weekly reset across all raids
World of Warcraft: Forever launched on 4 November, so raiding is the next step for anyone pushing a character to the level cap. On 9 December, three raids open at once. Each is built for a different group size, which means a 10-person guild and a 40-person guild both have somewhere to go on day one.
WoW Forever raids opening on 9 December
| Raid | Location | Level and size | Bosses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow Deeps | Inside Mount Hyjal | 60, 10 players | 8 |
| Hyjal Summit | Summit of Mount Hyjal | 60, 20 players | 13 |
| Onyxia’s Lair | Dustwallow Marsh | 60, 40 players | Onyxia, three phases |
Every raid resets weekly under the current plan. Onyxia’s Lair is the only one of the three with an attunement requirement.
Barrow Deeps (10 players)
Barrow Deeps sits inside Mount Hyjal. You can reach it through entrances connected to Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold. It is the prison beneath Kalimdor that held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years, and it is now open to players. Expect eight bosses for a group of 10.
Hyjal Summit (20 players)
Hyjal Summit is at the top of Mount Hyjal, close to the World Tree Nordrassil. It has 13 bosses for a group of 20. The raid opens with a fight against an ancient guardian. After that, your group picks between several paths across the mountain, through ruins above and below ground, on the way to the final encounters.
Onyxia’s Lair (40 players)
Onyxia’s Lair is in Dustwallow Marsh and needs a full 40-player raid. Onyxia belongs to the Black Dragonflight and is the younger sister of Nefarian. The fight has three phases and leans heavily on fire attacks. Build up fire resistance before you go in, and be ready to move when the fight demands it.
Onyxia’s Lair attunement: the Drakefire Amulet
To enter Onyxia’s Lair, each raider must carry the Drakefire Amulet in their bags; they do not have to equip it. Earn the amulet through a quest chain tied to your faction, featuring elite quests and multiple visits to high-level dungeons. Both faction chains conclude with a fight against General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire.
| Faction | First quest | Starts in | Ends in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | “Dragonkin Menace” (Helendis Riverhorn) | Burning Steppes | Upper Blackrock Spire |
| Horde | “Blood and Thunder” (Warlord Goretooth, Kargath) | Badlands | Upper Blackrock Spire |
The Alliance route passes through Blackrock Depths and Marshal Windsor, then “The Great Masquerade” in Stormwind, before ending with the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion taken from General Drakkisath. The Horde route goes through Lower Blackrock Spire and Warchief Rend Blackhand, then Rexxar in Desolace and Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh with his four “Test of Skulls” quests. Start early and bring friends, because the elite quests are not built for solo play. You know you are attuned when the Drakefire Amulet is sitting in your bags.
How to prepare for WoW Forever raids before 9 December
WoW Forever 2026-2027 roadmap
Blizzard’s official roadmap runs in four seasonal steps, from launch through summer 2027. Content and timing are subject to change.
| Window | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | Beta (17 September to 22 October, up to level 30); name reservation and character creation on 27 October; launch on 4 November |
| Winter | Raids unlock on 9 December; World of Warcraft: Forever Hardcore launch |
| Spring 2027 | Two raids for 10 and 20 players, two dungeons, new quests and a playable area, a new legendary questline, and a PvP season refresh |
| Summer 2027 | An iconic raid revamp, another raid, more world content, two dungeons, a refreshed PvP season, and updates for professions and Legacy |
The autumn milestones have already happened, and the game is live. The 9 December raid unlock is the next milestone. The spring and summer 2027 updates have no confirmed dates yet beyond their seasonal windows.
WoW Forever raids FAQ
Is Molten Core in WoW Forever at launch?
No. Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair make up the opening raids, with the story occurring earlier than Molten Core.
