Guide ·
WoW Forever Raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair on December 9
World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) opens three level 60 raids on December 9, 2026: the 10-player Barrow Deeps, the 20-player Hyjal Summit and the 40-player Onyxia's Lair. Blizzard says all three are currently planned to reset each week, and Onyxia's Lair requires the Drakefire Amulet attunement.
Quick answer: None of the raids are open at launch on November 4; they unlock five weeks later. Barrow Deeps has eight bosses, Hyjal Summit has 13, and Onyxia's Lair is a single three-phase dragon fight. Details as of October 24, 2026.
The road to the endgame is long, and it ends in three very different doors. One leads down into the dark beneath Kalimdor, one climbs a mountain still marked by the end of a war, and one opens onto a dragon's fire in a swamp. Each asks something of the people who walk in.
Key facts
- Unlock date: December 9, 2026 (Blizzard raid overview)
- Barrow Deeps: 10 players, eight bosses, hidden beneath Kalimdor, within Mount Hyjal, with entrances at Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold (Blizzard)
- Hyjal Summit: 20 players, 13 bosses, at the summit of Mount Hyjal near Nordrassil (Blizzard, Warcraft Tavern)
- Onyxia's Lair: 40 players, one boss in three phases, in Dustwallow Marsh (Blizzard)
- Level: all three are level 60 raids (Blizzard)
- Reset: currently planned to reset each week (Blizzard)
- Attunement: the Drakefire Amulet for Onyxia's Lair, kept in your bags (Blizzard)
When do the WoW Forever raids open?
The raids open on December 9, 2026. That is five weeks after the November 4 launch (Icy Veins), and the raids are for level 60 characters, while Gfinity says the beta let players reach only level 30. The roadmap runs further: Gfinity reports two new raids and two dungeons in a spring update and a new raid plus a revamped iconic raid in a summer update, with no exact dates. See the release date guide.
What is the Barrow Deeps raid?
Barrow Deeps is the 10-player entry to the endgame. Blizzard's raid overview describes it as hidden beneath Kalimdor and lists it as "Within Mount Hyjal", with multiple entrances connected through Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold, and says it has eight bosses. Gfinity lists it simply as a Mount Hyjal raid, which fits that description.
Blizzard says it is the prison that held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years, and Warcraft Tavern repeats that. Icy Veins' report from BlizzCon only hinted at an imprisoned demon hunter and called the identity unconfirmed; Blizzard's later overview is the firmer source. For the story of the prisoner, read Illidan Stormrage's story and the night elf history.
What is the Hyjal Summit raid?
Hyjal Summit is the 20-player raid at the peak of Mount Hyjal, near the World Tree Nordrassil, with 13 bosses. Blizzard says it opens with a fight against an ancient guardian and then lets groups choose among several routes across the mountain.
Icy Veins reports that the raid is set after the Third War, once Archimonde has fallen and the night elves have lost their immortality, with a force draining power from the land. Icy Veins adds that Blizzard teased a legendary power during the Hyjal presentation and later confirmed a new legendary, though its link to this raid is unrevealed. The zone is covered in the Mount Hyjal guide and the Nordrassil article.
What is Onyxia's Lair, and what is the Drakefire Amulet?
Onyxia's Lair is the 40-player raid in Dustwallow Marsh. It is one boss, Onyxia, fought in three phases. Blizzard advises building Fire Resistance beforehand. Warcraft Wiki records her as the daughter of Deathwing and the twin of an older brother, Nefarian, and Blizzard's overview, repeated by Warcraft Tavern, calls her Nefarian's younger sister; read Deathwing explained for the family.
Every raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet. It needs to be in your inventory, not equipped. Warcraft Tavern reports that Blizzard confirmed the attunement is unchanged from Classic. Blizzard's overview describes the quest chain:
- Alliance: begins in the Burning Steppes with Helendis Riverhorn and "Dragonkin Menace," continues through six "The True Masters" quests, Blackrock Depths, Stormwind and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, and ends in Upper Blackrock Spire with General Drakkisath's Blood of the Black Dragon Champion.
- Horde: begins in the Badlands with Warlord Goretooth, runs through Lower Blackrock Spire, Orgrimmar (Eitrigg and Thrall) and Rexxar in Desolace, then to Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands and Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh, with four "The Test of Skulls" quests, and ends in Upper Blackrock Spire.
Blizzard recommends starting early, bringing friends for the elite quests, and leaving time for several high-level dungeon runs.
Are WoW Forever raids on a weekly reset?
Blizzard's overview says all three raids are currently planned to reset each week. "Currently planned" matters, because Gfinity's raid summary does not state a reset schedule at all and Blizzard may adjust. Group size also follows the raid: 10, 20 and 40 players. Blizzard's ruleset rules mean groups form within one ruleset, so choose carefully with your guild; see the rulesets guide.
The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background while you work through the attunement, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published boss lists, loot tables or tier sets; Gfinity says tier sets drop in Hyjal Summit, but cites no Blizzard source.
- Whether the weekly reset will stay is stated as "currently planned" only.
- The legendary's identity and link to Hyjal Summit are unrevealed.
- Spring and summer raids have season-level timing only.
Frequently asked questions
When do the WoW Forever raids open?
December 9, 2026. Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair all unlock then, five weeks after the November 4 launch.
How many raids does WoW Forever have at launch?
Three, all level 60: Barrow Deeps for 10 players, Hyjal Summit for 20 players and Onyxia's Lair for 40 players.
Do you need an attunement for Onyxia's Lair in WoW Forever?
Yes. Each raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet, which is earned through a faction-specific questline and does not need to be equipped.
Do WoW Forever raids reset weekly?
Blizzard says all three raids are currently planned to reset each week.
Where is Onyxia's Lair in WoW Forever?
Onyxia's Lair is deep in Dustwallow Marsh, according to Blizzard's raid overview.
Sources
Reviewed October 24, 2026. Raid details can change before December 9. Lore Forever is fan-made and is not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.