Key Highlights:
- World of Warcraft: Forever’s first three raids are scheduled to launch on 9 December 2026.
- Players must reach level 60 and prepare their characters ahead of the December update.
- Blizzard has outlined further raids, dungeons and PvP content for Forever’s future.
World of Warcraft: Forever’s first major endgame update is approaching, with three raids bringing new challenges to Azeroth on 9 December.
World of Warcraft: Forever players have their first major raid milestone to look forward to, as Blizzard has confirmed that three raids will unlock on 9 December 2026.
The update will introduce two new raid experiences, Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit, alongside the return of the iconic Onyxia’s Lair. Each offers a different group size and challenge, giving level 60 players several ways to test their preparation and teamwork.
Blizzard has shared the full details in its official World of Warcraft: Forever raid overview.
With Forever having launched on 4 November, players have a little over a month to progress through the new level 1–60 journey, build their characters and prepare for the first major endgame encounters.
Blizzard has confirmed that all three raids will be designed for level 60 characters, but they won’t all require the same size of group.
| Raid | Location | Group size |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow Deeps | Mount Hyjal | 10 players |
| Hyjal Summit | Mount Hyjal | 20 players |
| Onyxia’s Lair | Dustwallow Marsh | 40 players |
The different group sizes are particularly interesting for players deciding how they want to approach endgame content. Smaller groups can take on Barrow Deeps, while those looking for a larger organised raid can prepare for Hyjal Summit or Onyxia’s Lair.
Barrow Deeps is a new eight-boss raid hidden beneath Kalimdor. Its history is tied to one of Warcraft’s most recognisable characters, Illidan Stormrage, who was imprisoned there for 10,000 years.
With the prison’s passages now open, players will descend into its depths to discover what has happened to those left behind and what dangers the wardens are attempting to contain.
The raid is designed for groups of ten level 60 players. It also offers several possible entrances, connecting the underground location with Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold.
This could make the surrounding world particularly important for players preparing to enter, as reaching the raid isn’t simply a matter of travelling to one obvious entrance.
Also situated on Mount Hyjal, Hyjal Summit offers a larger challenge for groups of twenty players.
The raid features thirteen bosses and begins with an encounter against an ancient guardian. From there, groups will be able to choose between multiple paths across the mountain, exploring locations both above and below ground.
Its position near Nordrassil, the World Tree, also gives the raid a strong connection to Warcraft’s wider history. Mount Hyjal has long been an important location in the series, making its return as a major raid destination particularly significant.
Rather than simply following one linear route, players will need to coordinate their group and decide how to approach the different paths available across the mountain.
The third raid will be a familiar name for long-time World of Warcraft players.
Onyxia’s Lair, located in Dustwallow Marsh, returns as a level 60 raid designed for forty players. The encounter centres on Onyxia, the younger sister of Nefarian and a member of the Black Dragonflight.
Players will need to prepare for her three-phase encounter, which includes powerful fire attacks. Blizzard specifically recommends building up fire resistance before entering.
However, getting into the lair requires more than simply gathering forty players.
Every member of the raid must obtain the Drakefire Amulet through a faction-specific attunement questline. This involves a series of quests across Azeroth, including encounters in Blackrock Spire, and players will need to complete the process before they can enter.
The requirement gives players another reason to start preparing ahead of the December unlock. It also means raid leaders will need to make sure their entire group has completed the necessary steps rather than discovering someone is missing their attunement at the last moment.
All three raids are scheduled to become available on 9 December 2026.
Players will need to reach level 60 before taking part, giving them time to work through Forever’s new levelling content and prepare their characters. If you’re new to the project, you can read more about Blizzard’s plans in our previous coverage of World of Warcraft: Forever Takes Azeroth Back to Where It All Began.
Blizzard has also stated that the raids are currently planned to reset weekly, allowing groups to establish a regular schedule and return for further attempts and rewards.
The three encounters will introduce new tier sets and gear, with a legendary reward also part of the wider raid plans. Blizzard has indicated that more details about rewards will be revealed as development continues.
The December update is only the beginning of Blizzard’s longer-term plans for World of Warcraft: Forever.
The developer has already outlined further raids, dungeons, PvP updates and additional world content as part of its plans for the new version of Azeroth. Hardcore gameplay is also on the roadmap for winter 2026.
That means the first three raids are an important early milestone, rather than the entirety of Forever’s endgame offering.
For now, players have a clear target to work towards. Whether they prefer a smaller ten-player group, the larger encounters at Hyjal Summit or the return of a classic forty-player raid, December’s update should give level 60 adventurers plenty to prepare for.
World of Warcraft: Forever’s first three raids are scheduled to unlock on 9 December 2026.
