Guide · October 29, 2026

WoW Forever Raids Open December 9: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal, Onyxia

The three raids of World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) open on December 9, 2026, five weeks after the November 4 launch: Barrow Deeps for 10 players, Hyjal Summit for 20 and Onyxia's Lair for 40, all for level 60 characters, according to Blizzard's raid overview of October 20. No raid is open on launch day.

Quick answer: Plan to reach level 60 before December 9. Blizzard says all three raids are currently planned to reset weekly, and that every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet in their bags to enter Onyxia's Lair.

The three WoW Forever raids opening December 9, 2026 at level 60: Barrow Deeps with 10 players and 8 bosses, Hyjal Summit with 20 players and 13 bosses, and Onyxia's Lair with 40 players, in Mount Hyjal and Dustwallow Marsh. — The three raids and their sizes, from Blizzard's October 20 raid overview.

The road to level 60 still has to be walked, zone by zone. The raid doors, at Mount Hyjal and in the Dustwallow Marsh, stay shut for five weeks, which leaves time to choose who stands at them with you.

Key facts

Opening date: December 9, 2026, for all three raids (Blizzard raid overview, October 20)
Launch: November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST (Blizzard pre-purchase article)
Barrow Deeps: 10 players, 8 bosses, inside Mount Hyjal (Blizzard)
Hyjal Summit: 20 players, 13 bosses, at the summit of Mount Hyjal near Nordrassil (Blizzard)
Onyxia's Lair: 40 players, Dustwallow Marsh, 3 phases (Blizzard)
Level and reset: level 60; weekly reset "currently planned" (Blizzard)
Entry key: Drakefire Amulet for Onyxia's Lair, carried in the bags (Blizzard)

When do the raids open in WoW Forever?

Blizzard's pre-purchase article puts the global launch at 3:00 p.m. PST on November 4, 2026. Blizzard's raid overview, published October 20, says the three raids unlock on December 9, 35 days later. Warcraft Tavern adds that players get time after launch to reach level 60 and prepare their groups. No source I opened gives a start time on December 9. Our roadmap guide lists the dates that follow, and the level 60 timing guide covers the climb.

Which raids open on December 9, and how big are they?

Three doors open, two of them in the shadow of Mount Hyjal. Blizzard's overview lists them as follows.

Barrow Deeps: 10 players, 8 bosses. Blizzard calls it a prison that once held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years, with entrances through Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold. See the Barrow Deeps guide.
Hyjal Summit: 20 players, 13 bosses, near the World Tree Nordrassil. Blizzard says it opens with a battle against an ancient guardian, then groups choose among several routes. See the Hyjal Summit guide.
Onyxia's Lair: 40 players in Dustwallow Marsh. Blizzard says her fire attacks call for fire resistance beforehand. Read Onyxia's story.

What do you need to enter Onyxia's Lair?

A dragon's door has a key, and this one is earned. Blizzard says the Drakefire Amulet comes from a faction-specific questline, must be in your inventory and need not be equipped, and that you should start early, bring friends for the elite quests and allow time for several high-level dungeon runs. The Alliance route begins in the Burning Steppes with Helendis Riverhorn; the Horde route begins in the Badlands with Warlord Goretooth. Both end in Upper Blackrock Spire. Our Onyxia attunement guide follows both.

What do sources disagree on?

Launch versus December 9: Warcraft Tavern's news post on the raids words December 9 as a launch date, but Blizzard gives November 4 for launch and December 9 for the raids.
Onyxia "at launch": Warcraft Tavern reported on September 23 that a Blizzard video said Onyxia's Lair arrives "at launch", while the roadmap says December 9. Blizzard's later overview gives December 9.
Barrow Deeps size: Warcraft Wiki's infobox says 10 players, its introduction 20. Blizzard says 10.
Hyjal Summit's last boss: Warcraft Tavern writes "Nythus the Dreadbound", the Warcraft Wiki "Nythus the Dreambound". Blizzard's overview names none of the Barrow Deeps or Hyjal Summit bosses.

What is not confirmed yet

Loot and tier sets: Gfinity says tier sets drop from Hyjal Summit, but no Blizzard page I opened says so.
The start time on December 9, the weekly reset day, and whether "weekly reset" changes from the current plan.
Attunement for Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit, which Warcraft Tavern lists as to be announced.

If you are still leveling toward December, the free Lore Forever add-on gives you the story of the zones and dungeons you pass, up to level 30, as text and recorded narration, and Willo, a Windows companion app, lets you ask questions out loud, though she can be wrong.

Frequently asked questions

When do raids open in WoW Forever?

Blizzard says December 9, 2026, five weeks after the November 4 launch, for level 60 characters.

How many players do the WoW Forever raids hold?

Barrow Deeps holds 10 players, Hyjal Summit 20 and Onyxia's Lair 40, according to Blizzard's raid overview.

Is Onyxia's Lair available at launch in WoW Forever?

No. Blizzard's October 20 overview says December 9.

Do you need an attunement for Onyxia in WoW Forever?

Yes. Blizzard says every raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet, earned through a faction questline.

Do WoW Forever raids reset weekly?

Blizzard says all three raids are currently planned to reset weekly.

Sources

Reviewed October 29, 2026. As of October 29, 2026, Blizzard has confirmed the December 9 date, sizes and boss counts above. Lore Forever is fan-made and is not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.