WoW Forever Raids

Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair open on 9 December 2026

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Quick answer

WoW Forever's first three raids unlock on 9 December 2026 for level 60 players: Barrow Deeps (10 players, 8 bosses), Hyjal Summit (20 players, 13 bosses) and Onyxia's Lair (40 players, one three-phase boss). Onyxia needs the Drakefire Amulet attunement, and all three are planned to reset weekly.

Updated 5 November 2026 · Based on Blizzard's official raid overview. Boss guides will follow once the raids open.

The three raids

The Barrow Deeps

10-player

Bosses: 8 bosses
Level: 60
Where: Beneath Mount Hyjal, with entrances from Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold

The prison that held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years has been opened. Raiders descend to find out what became of those left behind, and how the wardens plan to keep the danger below contained. With three ways in, it's the easiest raid to reach from northern Kalimdor.

The smallest raid: a good first step for a guild or a group of friends.

Hyjal Summit

20-player

Bosses: 13 bosses
Level: 60
Where: The summit of Mount Hyjal, near the World Tree Nordrassil

Opens with a fight against an ancient guardian. After that your raid picks its own route across the mountain, through ruins above and below ground, before the paths come together for the final encounters.

13 bosses and a choice of routes: expect a long raid night, or split it across the week.

Onyxia's Lair

40-player

Bosses: 1 boss, 3 phases
Level: 60
Where: Dustwallow Marsh

Onyxia, the Black Dragonflight's broodmother and Nefarian's younger sister, in a three-phase fight built around heavy fire damage. Blizzard's advice: build fire resistance before you go in, and be ready to reposition as the fight changes.

Every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet in their bags to enter (it doesn't need to be equipped).

What we don't know yet

Plenty of sites are already publishing "raid guides". Here's what nobody can honestly tell you yet:

The full boss names and kill order. Fan wikis list a few names pulled from the game files, but not all 8 (Barrow Deeps) or 13 (Hyjal Summit), and Blizzard hasn't confirmed them.
Boss abilities and strategies. The raids haven't been publicly tested, so nobody outside Blizzard has fought these bosses yet.
Loot tables. New items reportedly keep their stats hidden until someone first loots them.
Attunement for Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit. Blizzard has only described one for Onyxia's Lair.
The exact unlock time on 9 December, and which day of the week raids reset.

We'll add boss-by-boss guides as soon as there's real information, not guesswork.

Onyxia's Lair attunement: the Drakefire Amulet

Every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet in their bags to enter. The quest chain depends on your faction, includes elite quests, and sends you into Blackrock Depths and both halves of Blackrock Spire several times. Start early and bring friends.

Alliance Starts in the Burning Steppes

In the Burning Steppes, pick up Dragonkin Menace from Helendis Riverhorn.
Work through the six quests named The True Masters, which look into the Black Dragonflight's hold over the Blackrock orcs.
The chain ends with Marshal Maxwell at Morgan's Vigil (Burning Steppes), who sends you into Blackrock Depths for Marshal Windsor. Windsor sends you back to Maxwell in Abandoned Hope.
In Blackrock Depths, loot A Crumpled Up Note from the dungeon's enemies. It starts A Crumpled Up Note: take it to Windsor in his cell.
A Shred of Hope: recover Windsor's lost notes from Golem Lord Argelmach and General Angerforge (Blackrock Depths).
Jail Break!: escort Windsor out of Blackrock Depths, then report to Marshal Maxwell.
Stormwind Rendezvous: meet Squire Rowe at the Stormwind city gates to call for Windsor.
The Great Masquerade in Stormwind. Bring friends. If Windsor isn't there, speak to Squire Rowe again.
Highlord Bolvar Fordragon sends you on The Dragon's Eye to find someone who can help.
Drakefire Amulet: take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire to earn the amulet.

Horde Starts in Kargath, Badlands

In Kargath (Badlands), pick up Blood and Thunder from Warlord Goretooth.
Warlord's Command takes you through Lower Blackrock Spire.
Report to Eitrigg in Orgrimmar, then speak with Thrall.
For the Horde!: back into Lower Blackrock Spire for the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand.
What the Wind Carries, then find Rexxar on the roads of Desolace for The Champion of the Horde.
The Testament of Rexxar: deliver it to Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands.
Oculus Illusions: collect Black Dragonspawn Eyes for Myranda.
Emberstrife: use the Amulet of Draconic Subversion to find the drake Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh.
Four quests starting with The Test of Skulls: bring Emberstrife the skulls of Scryer, Somnus, Chronalis and Axtroz.
Ascension... gives you the Dull Drakefire Amulet. Take it to Rexxar in Desolace.
Blood of the Black Dragon Champion: take it from General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire, then return to Rexxar for the Drakefire Amulet.

How to prepare before 9 December

Reach level 60. Every raid is level 60. Leave yourself time: the Onyxia attunement alone sends you through Blackrock Depths and both halves of Blackrock Spire.
Start the Onyxia attunement now. It's long, faction-specific and has elite quests. Group up with friends or guildmates so you can share dungeon runs.
Gear up in level 60 dungeons. Raid bosses hit hard. Dungeon gear (and any blues you can trade for) makes the first nights much smoother.
Collect fire resistance for Onyxia. Blizzard specifically warns about her fire damage. Tanks and melee benefit most, but every raider should carry some.
Stock up on consumables. Healing and mana potions, food buffs, bandages, and your class's reagents (resurrection reagents, Soul Shards and so on). Bring enough for a full evening.
Save gold for repairs. First nights mean wipes, and wipes mean repair bills.
Set up your raid macros. Mouseover heals, focus interrupts, target marking and ready checks save seconds on every pull.
Install a boss-timer addon. Deadly Boss Mods or BigWigs, once they support WoW Forever, warn you before big abilities. Check that the version you install says it works with Forever.

Browse 19 ready-to-copy raid macros →

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Suggested group setups

A starting point based on how raids of these sizes usually work. Adjust once the bosses are known: some fights want an extra healer, others an extra tank.

Raid	Players	Rough split
Barrow Deeps	10	2 tanks · 2-3 healers · 5-6 damage
Hyjal Summit	20	2-3 tanks · 4-5 healers · 12-14 damage
Onyxia's Lair	40	2-3 tanks · 9-11 healers · 26-29 damage

Raid FAQ

When do raids open in WoW Forever?

On 9 December 2026, five weeks after launch. Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair all unlock that day for level 60 players.

How many players are WoW Forever raids?

Barrow Deeps is a 10-player raid, Hyjal Summit is 20 players and Onyxia's Lair is 40 players.

How many bosses are in Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit?

Barrow Deeps has 8 bosses and Hyjal Summit has 13. Onyxia's Lair is a single three-phase boss fight.

Do I need an attunement for Onyxia's Lair?

Yes. Every raid member needs the Drakefire Amulet in their bags, earned through a faction-specific quest chain that runs through Blackrock Depths and Lower and Upper Blackrock Spire.

Where are the WoW Forever raids?

Barrow Deeps lies beneath Mount Hyjal (with entrances from Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold), Hyjal Summit is at the top of Mount Hyjal near Nordrassil, and Onyxia's Lair is in Dustwallow Marsh.

Do WoW Forever raids reset weekly?

Yes. Blizzard says all raids are currently planned to reset each week.

How do I prepare for Onyxia?

Finish the Drakefire Amulet attunement, then build fire resistance. Blizzard warns that her fire attacks punish unprepared raids, and the fight has three phases that make you move.