WoW Forever raids and dungeons add nine new five-player instances for characters from level 13 to 60, followed by three level-60 raids on December 9, 2026. You can start exploring the new dungeons almost as soon as you leave the starting zones, but the raids are endgame activities with group sizes ranging from ten to forty.
There is more to plan than picking a dungeon from a list. Some entrances have quests attached, dungeon boss loot has been reworked, and raiders need to prepare for very different group sizes. Here is how WoW Forever raids and dungeons fit into levelling, gearing and the first month of endgame.
WoW Forever raids and dungeons: All nine new level ranges
Blizzard has confirmed nine new five-player dungeons across Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. Hall of Thanes sits beneath Ironforge, while Ruins of Lordaeron is reached through the ruined capital above the Undercity. These early dungeons are accessible in the first part of the levelling journey, although entering the opposing faction’s territory can take extra travel and preparation.
| Dungeon | Recommended levels | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Thanes | 13–18 | Ironforge, Dun Morogh |
| Ruins of Lordaeron | 15–20 | Tirisfal Glades |
| Excavation Site | 24–29 | Wetlands |
| City of Dalaran | 28–33 | Alterac Mountains |
| The Drowned City | 35–40 | Off Stranglethorn Vale |
| Krol’dok Stronghold | 40–45 | Riverglades |
| Alcaz Prison | 48–53 | Dustwallow Marsh |
| Blackmaw Hold | 55–60 | Azshara |
| Shaper’s Terrace | 58–60 | Un’Goro Crater |
You can run new dungeons throughout the levelling journey instead of waiting until level 60. If you’re starting with the earlier instances, our Hall of Thanes guide and Ruins of Lordaeron walkthrough cover the routes and bosses. The full location guide has details for the entire lineup.
Which WoW Forever raids and dungeons need attunement?
Not every dungeon opens the same way. For City of Dalaran, Alliance players begin the An Alarming Request quest at Southshore with Emissary Jacques. Horde players begin Key to the City and Prison Break-In with Magus Wordeen Voidglare in Tarren Mill. The Dalaran Sewer Key guide covers the two faction routes and where to enter through the sewers.
Other entrances need a little exploration. The Drowned City is off the coast of Stranglethorn Vale and reached from underwater; Shaper’s Terrace uses power crystals found in Un’Goro that players can interact with at consoles inside. Collect dungeon quests before starting a run, particularly if you’re travelling a long way to the entrance. Finishing the dungeon only to discover you missed its quest giver is a frustrating second trip.
Onyxia’s Lair has its own attunement. Every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet in their inventory, not just the group leader. Completing the Dalaran Sewer Key questline will not unlock Onyxia’s Lair.
Loot changes for WoW Forever raids and dungeons
Blizzard has reviewed the original dungeon drops, adjusted weaker rewards and added hundreds of new ones. Unique boss loot is being brought up to rare quality, and dungeon set bonuses are receiving changes too. That is good news for players who know Classic’s old best-in-slot routes by heart: equipment choices are not limited to the same handful of favourites.
The changes are wider than loot colour. Hit and critical strike bonuses are being combined across damage types, while healing equipment also gains some damage value. These tweaks create more options for hybrid characters who spend time both questing and running group content. Exact best-in-slot choices will still depend on your class, the final item stats and the content you want to tackle.
For crafters, WoW Forever raids and dungeons can pay off in another way. Blizzard has confirmed advanced profession Blueprint recipes from specific dungeon bosses. That gives players a reason to revisit a dungeon even after its ordinary gear upgrades are no longer useful. The professions and 600-plus recipes guide covers the broader crafting changes.
WoW Forever raids and dungeons: Three raids on December 9
There are three opening raids, rather than two as earlier previews suggested. All require level 60 and are currently planned to reset weekly, but their party sizes differ substantially.
| Raid | Players | Bosses | Where to enter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow Deeps | 10 | 8 | Mount Hyjal, with routes from Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold |
| Hyjal Summit | 20 | 13 | Near Nordrassil, Mount Hyjal |
| Onyxia’s Lair | 40 | Onyxia | Dustwallow Marsh |
Barrow Deeps takes ten-player groups beneath Hyjal into the former prison of Illidan Stormrage. Hyjal Summit is a twenty-player raid with branching routes and thirteen bosses. Onyxia is the forty-player option, built around a three-phase dragon encounter where fire resistance and positioning are worth preparing ahead of time.
For the first WoW Forever raids and dungeons raid night, start by working out which group you can put together. Ten players can attempt Barrow Deeps without waiting for a forty-person roster, while Onyxia requires more organisation and an attunement check for everybody.
How to prepare for WoW Forever raids and dungeons
Forever launches on November 4, while the three raids arrive December 9. That gives players time to level through the five-player dungeons, work on professions and finish character-specific questlines. The exact UK opening hour for the new raids was not specified in Blizzard’s October 20 raid overview.
For Onyxia’s Lair, follow our Alliance and Horde Onyxia attunement walkthrough. Both factions must eventually defeat General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire to complete their Drakefire Amulet quest. Keep the finished amulet in your bags when you approach the entrance; you do not have to equip it in the neck slot.
If you’re levelling with friends, plan dungeon runs around the level table above and make sure you have the related quests before travelling. The new zones overview can also help with the unfamiliar destinations, and the Forever launch guide has the wider release details.
When are WoW Forever raids and dungeons available?
Yes. The nine five-player dungeons are part of the November 4 launch; the three raids are scheduled for December 9. You can progress through WoW Forever raids and dungeons in stages, starting with the levelling instances and moving to the raids once your character and group are ready.
Related Guides
Official sources: Blizzard’s new dungeons guide, Blizzard’s raid and attunement overview, and Blizzard’s systems and loot deep dive.
