WoW Forever Raids Release Date: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia Open December 9

WoW Forever's first raid tier opens on December 9, 2026 with three level 60 raids: Barrow Deeps for 10 players with 8 bosses, Hyjal Summit for 20 players with 13 bosses, and Onyxia's Lair for 40 players. All three are planned to reset weekly, Onyxia requires every raider to carry the Drakefire Amulet, and client text suggests most world buffs will have no effect inside raids. That leaves about three weeks to hit 60, gear up and finish your attunement. Here is everything you need.

Barrow Deeps: The 10-Player Raid

Barrow Deeps is the prison that held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years, hidden inside Mount Hyjal. It has 8 bosses for 10 players and several entrances, connected through Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and the new dungeon Blackmaw Hold. With only ten players, it will be the raid most guilds and friend groups clear first.

Hyjal Summit: The 20-Player Raid

Hyjal Summit sits at the top of Mount Hyjal near the World Tree Nordrassil. It has 13 bosses for 20 players. After the opening fight against an ancient guardian, the raid splits into multiple paths across the mountain, through ruins above and below ground, before you reach the final encounters. Expect it to take the longest of the three.

Onyxia's Lair: The 40-Player Classic

Onyxia returns in Dustwallow Marsh as the only 40-player raid of the tier. The fight has three phases, and Blizzard recommends building fire resistance before you go in. Every raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet in their bags. It does not need to be equipped.

How to Get the Onyxia Attunement (Drakefire Amulet)

Each player earns the amulet through a long, faction-specific questline that sends you through Blackrock Depths, Lower and Upper Blackrock Spire. Start early and bring friends for the elite quests.

Alliance, in short:

1. "Dragonkin Menace" from Helendis Riverhorn in the Burning Steppes.

2. The six-quest "The True Masters" chain.

3. Marshal Maxwell at Morgan's Vigil sends you into Blackrock Depths after Marshal Windsor.

4. Find "A Crumpled Up Note" in Blackrock Depths, then recover Windsor's information from Golem Lord Argelmach and General Angerforge ("A Shred of Hope").

5. Break Windsor out ("Jail Break!").

6. "Stormwind Rendezvous" and "The Great Masquerade" in Stormwind.

7. "The Dragon's Eye" from Highlord Bolvar Fordragon.

8. "Drakefire Amulet": take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire.

Horde, in short:

1. "Blood and Thunder" from Warlord Goretooth in Kargath, Badlands.

2. "Warlord's Command" in Lower Blackrock Spire, then Eitrigg and Thrall in Orgrimmar.

3. Return to Blackrock Spire for the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand ("For the Horde!").

4. Find Rexxar in Desolace, then Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands ("Oculus Illusions").

5. Find Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh and complete the four "The Test of Skulls" quests.

6. Take the blood from General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire and return to Rexxar for the amulet.

Both chains need Upper Blackrock Spire, which has its own attunement. Short on time? The Onyxia's Lair attunement and the Upper Blackrock Spire attunement can be done for your character.

World Buffs Will Not Work in Raids

Most world buffs in the WoW Forever client carry a new line: "No effect while in a raid instance." That includes Rallying Cry of the Dragonslayer, Warchief's Blessing, Songflower Serenade, the three Dire Maul buffs and all eight Sayge's fortunes. Spirit of Zandalar is the exception without the line. Nobody can test it until raids open, and Blizzard has not commented, but if the text holds, the Classic routine of collecting buffs before every raid is gone. Consumables and gear will matter more.

How to Prepare Before December 9

1. Reach level 60. Remember that dungeon carries no longer give kill experience; our fastest leveling plan covers the best route.

2. Get pre-raid gear from the endgame dungeons: Blackrock Depths, Scholomance, Stratholme, Upper Blackrock Spire and the new Blackmaw Hold and Shaper's Terrace. See all WoW Forever dungeons by level.

3. Finish the Onyxia attunement and the UBRS key quest.

4. Build fire resistance for Onyxia.

5. Stock consumables and gold. World buffs are out, so flasks, potions and food carry more weight.

6. Spend your Legacy points. The three raids are also Legacy challenges; see our Legacy guide.

Raid Services for the First Lockout

Want loot from the first week? WoW Forever raid clears are open for booking: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit, Onyxia's Lair and the Phase 1 raid bundle with one clear of all three. To be ready in time, pre-raid gear, the Tier 0 set and WoW Forever gold for consumables cover the rest.

FAQ

When do raids release in WoW Forever? December 9, 2026, for level 60 characters.

What raids are in WoW Forever Phase 1? Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair.

How many players are WoW Forever raids? Barrow Deeps is 10 players, Hyjal Summit 20 and Onyxia's Lair 40.

Do you need an attunement for Onyxia in WoW Forever? Yes. Every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet in their bags, from a long faction questline that ends in Upper Blackrock Spire.

Do world buffs work in WoW Forever raids? Client text says most world buffs have no effect inside a raid instance. It will be confirmed once raids open.

How often do WoW Forever raids reset? All three are planned to reset weekly.