Raid sizes. Blizzard, October 20, 2026.

RaidPlayersBossesWhere
Barrow Deeps108Mount Hyjal; also Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold
Hyjal Summit2013Summit near Nordrassil
Onyxia's Lair40Three-phase fightDustwallow Marsh

When do WoW Forever raids open?

WoW Forever's first raids open on December 9. Blizzard's October 20, 2026 post names Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit, and Onyxia's Lair, all level 60, and prints no clock beside that date. The post's metadata is 19:00 UTC (12:00 p.m. PDT). What's Next, published September 12, 2026, puts that unlock after the November 4, 2026 launch.14

The October 20 post prints no year on December 9. What's Next gives the launch clock as 3:00 p.m. PST on November 4, 2026. Wowhead writes December 9th, 2026, which is 35 days later. The October 23 weekly, at 17:01 UTC, names the same three raids. Both published November 4 clocks are on the Forever overview. Name reservation runs through November 3.1435

How many players does each WoW Forever raid take?

Barrow Deeps is 10 players and 8 bosses. Hyjal Summit is 20 players and 13 bosses. Onyxia's Lair is 40 players, and Blizzard describes a three-phase fight rather than a boss count. All three are level 60. The October 20, 2026 post says all raids are currently planned to reset each week.1

Barrow Deeps held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years. Hyjal Summit starts with an ancient guardian near Nordrassil. Blackmaw Hold, a level 55–60 Azshara dungeon, mentions a deeper path that may lead below Azeroth and does not call that path the raid. Records are in the raid index.12

How do you enter Onyxia's Lair in WoW Forever?

Onyxia's Lair in WoW Forever requires each raid member to carry a Drakefire Amulet. Blizzard's October 20, 2026 post says the amulet has to be in the inventory and does not need to be equipped. Alliance and Horde each have a quest chain. The post does not name a class requirement.1

Make sure the Drakefire Amulet is in your inventory. It does not need to be equipped to enter Onyxia's Lair.

Build fire resistance before the fight. The post gives no number. Onyxia is Nefarian's younger sister. The post describes no attunement for Barrow Deeps or Hyjal Summit.1

Alliance starts at Helendis Riverhorn in the Burning Steppes with "Dragonkin Menace," enters Stormwind, the Human capital, for "The Great Masquerade," and takes General Drakkisath's blood in Upper Blackrock Spire.1

Horde starts at Warlord Goretooth in Kargath with "Blood and Thunder," reports to Eitrigg in Orgrimmar, the Orc capital, and then to Thrall. Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh assigns Scryer, Somnus, Chronalis, and Axtroz. Rexxar in Desolace hands over the amulet after the Upper Blackrock Spire step.1

What are the new WoW Forever dungeon levels?

The nine new WoW Forever dungeons are five-player instances from level 13 through level 60. Blizzard's October 20, 2026 dungeon post, published at 17:00 UTC, prints a level range for each one. Hall of Thanes starts at 13–18. Shaper's Terrace ends at 58–60. The post does not add an unlock date.2

DungeonLevelsWhere
Hall of Thanes13–18Beneath Ironforge, Dun Morogh
Ruins of Lordaeron15–20Above the Undercity, Tirisfal Glades
Excavation Site24–29Above Whelgar's Excavation, Wetlands
City of Dalaran28–33Alterac Mountains
The Drowned City35–40Off Stranglethorn Vale
Krol'dok Stronghold40–45Riverglades

Kalimdor, same post.

DungeonLevelsWhere
Alcaz Prison48–53Alcaz Island, Dustwallow Marsh
Blackmaw Hold55–60Azshara
Shaper's Terrace58–60Northern Un'Goro Crater

Alliance players reach Hall of Thanes from Ironforge, the Dwarf capital. Horde groups cross Alliance territory for Hall of Thanes. Horde players reach the Ruins of Lordaeron from the Undercity, the Undead city, and Alliance groups enter Horde territory.2

Trolls and naga roam the Drowned City, entered underwater west of Grom'gol. Alliance starts City of Dalaran attunement with "An Alarming Request" from Emissary Jacques in Southshore. Horde starts with "Key to the City" and "Prison Break-In" from Magus Wordeen Voidglare in Tarren Mill. Dungeon records are on the dungeon index.2

Do Wowhead's WoW Forever dungeon levels match Blizzard?

Wowhead's roadmap, updated October 23, 2026, does not match three ranges in Blizzard's October 20 table. Wowhead prints Ruins of Lordaeron at 16–22, Excavation Site at 26–32, and City of Dalaran at 28–34. Blizzard prints 15–20, 24–29, and 28–33. The other six ranges on that Wowhead list match the Blizzard table.32

Wowhead also titles the Dustwallow dungeon "Alcaz Island Prison." Blizzard's table says "Alcaz Prison."32

Are the nine WoW Forever dungeons open on November 4?

Blizzard's October 20, 2026 dungeon post does not say the nine dungeons open on November 4. The dungeon post gives no later date. Wowhead's October 23 roadmap places those nine dungeons on November 4, 2026, and places the three raids on December 9. That November 4 line is Wowhead's schedule, not a quoted Blizzard date.23

What's Next and the October 23 weekly name the nine dungeons and do not date them. The dated unlock after launch in What's Next is "New raids unlock on December 9."45

Sources & notes

Footnotes

  1. Blizzard raid overview, published 2026-10-20T19:00:00Z. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  2. Blizzard dungeon post, published 2026-10-20T17:00:00Z. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  3. Wowhead Forever roadmap, updated October 23, 2026. A guide compilation, not a Blizzard post. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Blizzard What's Next recap, published 2026-09-12T22:00:00Z. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. Blizzard WoW Weekly, published 2026-10-23T17:01:00Z. ↩ ↩2