Guide · November 6, 2026

Will WoW Forever Have Raids? Yes, 3 Open December 9

Yes, World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) has raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair unlock on December 9, 2026, for level 60 characters, and more are planned for spring and summer 2027. No raid was open when the game launched on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, and as of November 6, 2026, the opening is 33 days away.

Quick answer: Raids are coming, but not yet. Blizzard says the first three open on December 9. Gfinity and Method report two more new raids in spring 2027 and another raid change in summer 2027, with no dates and no names beyond that.

A timeline of WoW Forever raids: launch on November 4, 2026; three level 60 raids on December 9; two new raids in spring 2027; a new raid and a revamped Iconic Raid in summer 2027. — The raid timeline as Blizzard, Gfinity and Method report it, read November 6, 2026.

Key facts

First raids: Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia's Lair (40), all level 60 (Blizzard raid overview, October 20)
Opening date: December 9, 2026, a Wednesday by our own calendar count; Blizzard gives no start time
Spring 2027: two new raids (Gfinity, Method); summer 2027: a new raid and a revamped raid (Gfinity)

Does WoW Forever have raids at launch?

No. Blizzard's raid overview says the three raids unlock on December 9, "giving players time after launch to reach level 60 and prepare their groups." That is 35 days after the November 4 launch. The page still said December 9 when I read it on November 6, and I found no later Blizzard post changing it. For the climb see how long it takes to reach level 60.

Which raids open first?

Blizzard names three. Barrow Deeps is a 10-player raid with eight bosses inside Mount Hyjal. Hyjal Summit is a 20-player raid with 13 bosses near the World Tree Nordrassil. Onyxia's Lair is a 40-player raid in Dustwallow Marsh. Details: raids overview, December 9 guide.

What raids come after December 9?

Less is known. Gfinity (October 14) says the spring update brings "two brand-new level 60 raids and two new dungeons," and that summer brings a new raid and a revamped Iconic Raid. Method says the spring raids are a 10-player and a 20-player one and that the summer revamp is a Classic raid that is not named yet. Warcraft Tavern's roadmap report gives a major update for spring and another for summer, without details.

Icy Veins quotes Lead Classic Designer Tim Jones from an interview with MKAU Gaming: "The 40-man raid is an exception that we're starting with." That is one interview relayed by one outlet. See the 2027 roadmap guide.

Will Molten Core, Blackwing Lair or Ahn'Qiraj be in WoW Forever?

Not confirmed. RankedBoost lists Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj and Ahn'Qiraj Temple as "undated" raids, and no Blizzard page I opened names any of them or gives a date. Warcraft Tavern's recap of the September 17 developer Q&A says Ahn'Qiraj came up as an example of a global event, and that players were told it will not drop as a surprise on release.

What do you need before the first raid?

Be level 60. For Onyxia's Lair, every raider must carry the Drakefire Amulet, earned through a faction questline that Blizzard says to start early, with friends for the elite quests. See the attunement guide and level 60 progression.

What is not confirmed yet

The start time on December 9, and the weekly reset day. Blizzard says all raids are currently planned to reset each week.
Dates and names for the spring and summer raids; Gfinity and Method are reporting, not Blizzard.
Whether Molten Core, Blackwing Lair or Ahn'Qiraj arrive, and when.

How can the Lore Forever add-on and Willo help while you wait for raids?

The free Lore Forever add-on is fan-made and not affiliated with Blizzard; it has no internet access and its narration uses generated voices. While you level it shows the story behind quests and zones. Willo is a separate companion app for Windows 10 or 11 and Apple Silicon Macs (macOS 12 or later), per her page; her FAQ and the Lore Forever FAQ say Windows and Mac, though CurseForge still calls her a Windows app. Ask her out loud about raid prep while you play, free to start with 50 answers a day. She can be wrong, so treat Blizzard's pages as the source of truth.

Frequently asked questions