Lore ·
Who Is Onyxia? The Dragon Behind Lady Prestor and Her WoW Forever Raid
Onyxia is the black dragon daughter of Deathwing who disguises herself as Lady Katrana Prestor, a royal councilor in Stormwind, and keeps her lair in Dustwallow Marsh. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), Blizzard says her 40-player raid, Onyxia's Lair, is level 60 content that unlocks on December 9 (as of October 25, 2026).
Quick answer: Onyxia is Nefarian's sister and Deathwing's daughter. While King Varian Wrynn is missing, she advises Stormwind's court as Lady Katrana Prestor, and she broods in a fiery cave in Dustwallow Marsh. Forever's raid needs a Drakefire Amulet earned through a faction questline.
In Stormwind's throne room a gracious noblewoman sits at the king's elbow and says the right things. Far to the south, across the sea, something that is not a noblewoman waits in a cave full of fire.
Key facts
- Parents and siblings: daughter of Deathwing, sister of Nefarian (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia, Blizzard)
- Disguise: Lady Katrana Prestor, a royal councilor in Stormwind (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia, Engadget)
- Lair: Dustwallow Marsh (Blizzard, Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
- Forever raid: Onyxia's Lair, 40 players, level 60, planned weekly reset, three phases (Blizzard)
- Unlock date: December 9 (Blizzard, Warcraft Tavern)
- Entry requirement: a Drakefire Amulet in your inventory, earned through the faction attunement questline (Blizzard)
Who is Onyxia, and who is her family?
Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia both call Onyxia the daughter of Deathwing and the broodmother of the black dragonflight, with Nefarian as her brother. Blizzard's Forever raid overview calls her "the younger sister of Nefarian," while both wikis call Nefarian her older twin brother. Read Who Is Deathwing? for their father.
Who is Lady Katrana Prestor?
Lady Katrana Prestor is Onyxia's human disguise. Warcraft Wiki says she posed as a Stormwind noblewoman and royal councilor, and Wowpedia says she used the role to manipulate the House of Nobles and the king's council. Engadget says Onyxia was charged with keeping the human race distracted so it would not notice the activity at Blackrock Mountain led by Nefarian. Engadget adds that when King Varian Wrynn disappeared, it was Lady Prestor who suggested young Anduin take the throne, and Warcraft Wiki says she became royal councilor to the 10-year-old Anduin. Read The Story of Varian Wrynn and Stormwind History for the throne she advised.
Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia also say her Drakefire Amulet controlled Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. In Forever's Alliance attunement, Blizzard says Bolvar gives the quest "The Dragon's Eye."
Where is Onyxia's Lair?
Blizzard says the lair is deep in Dustwallow Marsh. Wowpedia places her main lair in a fiery cave beneath Dragonmurk, a swamp within Dustwallow Marsh. Warcraft Wiki's Onyxia's Lair page names the Wyrmbog in its lead but also describes a cave below the Dragonmurk, and Lore Forever could not reconcile the two. Warcraft Wiki says the entrance is carved to look like the maw of the broodmother herself.
What does Forever's Onyxia's Lair ask of you?
Blizzard's Forever raid overview says Onyxia's Lair is a 40-player, level 60 raid with a three-phase fight, powerful fire attacks and a recommendation to build fire resistance first. Every raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet, which must be in the inventory but does not need to be equipped. All three Forever raids are currently planned to reset weekly, according to Blizzard.
The Alliance attunement begins with "Dragonkin Menace" from Helendis Riverhorn in the Burning Steppes, runs through the six-quest "The True Masters" chain and Upper Blackrock Spire, where you take the blood of General Drakkisath, and ends with Highlord Bolvar Fordragon's "The Dragon's Eye." The Horde chain begins with "Blood and Thunder" from Warlord Goretooth in Kargath in the Badlands, also passes through Upper Blackrock Spire, and ends with the Drakefire Amulet from Rexxar. Warcraft Tavern reports that Blizzard confirmed the attunement will remain unchanged from Classic; Blizzard's own overview does not say so. For the other two raids, read WoW Forever Raids.
What does Onyxia mean for the Forever story?
Onyxia's story sits in the middle of the first year of World of Warcraft: Varian is gone, Stormwind's court is advised by a dragon, and Nefarian is gathering strength at Blackrock Mountain. The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background as you play, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made. Later in the timeline, outside WoW Forever, Varian returns and Onyxia is unmasked and killed.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not said whether Forever changes the Onyxia story; the raid is not in the beta and unlocks December 9.
- Sources differ on how Onyxia and Nefarian are related: Blizzard calls her his younger sister, while Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia call him her older twin brother.
- Sources disagree on the lair's subzone name: Dragonmurk or Wyrmbog.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Onyxia in World of Warcraft?
Onyxia is a black dragon, the daughter of Deathwing and the sister of Nefarian. She hides in Stormwind as Lady Katrana Prestor and keeps a lair in Dustwallow Marsh.
Who is Lady Katrana Prestor?
Lady Katrana Prestor is the human identity Onyxia uses to advise Stormwind's court. The nobles and the king trust her until she is unmasked later in the timeline.
When does Onyxia's Lair open in WoW Forever?
Blizzard says Onyxia's Lair, a 40-player level 60 raid, unlocks on December 9. It is not part of the beta.
How do you get the Drakefire Amulet?
You earn the Drakefire Amulet through a faction attunement questline that runs through Upper Blackrock Spire, where you take the blood of General Drakkisath. Blizzard says the amulet must be in your inventory, but not equipped, to enter.
Where is Onyxia's Lair?
Onyxia's Lair is deep in Dustwallow Marsh on Kalimdor. Wowpedia places the cave beneath Dragonmurk, a swamp in the marsh, while Warcraft Wiki's lair page names the Wyrmbog.
Is Onyxia related to Nefarian?
Yes. Blizzard calls Onyxia the younger sister of Nefarian, and Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia call Nefarian her older twin brother.
Sources
Reviewed October 25, 2026. Raid facts are as of October 25, 2026 and may change at launch. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.