WoW Forever Raids Guide
What Raids Are Coming to WoW Forever?
Raids become one of the main progression paths after reaching level 60 in WoW Forever.
Instead of beginning with a complete repeat of the original Classic raid progression, Blizzard is combining entirely new content with returning encounters.
The first raid wave is scheduled for December 9, 2026. It includes two new raids - Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit - alongside the returning Onyxia's Lair. They are designed for 10, 20, and 40 players respectively, giving Forever three different raid sizes from its first endgame phase.
Players planning to complete several encounters can use WoW Forever All Raids.
When Do WoW Forever Raids Open?
WoW Forever launches on November 4, 2026, while the first raids open on December 9.
That gives players several weeks to reach level 60, develop professions, complete high-level dungeons, and prepare their equipment.
The first raid wave contains:
Barrow Deeps - 10 players;
Hyjal Summit - 20 players;
Onyxia's Lair - 40 players.
This structure provides progression options for guilds and communities of several different sizes.
Barrow Deeps - New 10-Player Raid
Barrow Deeps is a new maximum-level 10-player raid.
The Night Elves use the depths to hold dangerous prisoners, including one particularly infamous captive. The raid will have three entrances located around Azeroth, with one entrance in Mount Hyjal.
Its 10-player format makes Barrow Deeps the smallest of the initial Forever raids from a group-building perspective.
Exact bosses, attunement requirements, and complete loot tables have not yet been revealed.
Hyjal Summit - New 20-Player Raid
Hyjal Summit is WoW Forever's first new 20-player raid.
The encounter is connected directly to the new Mount Hyjal storyline. Following Archimonde's defeat, Hyjal is recovering, but the summit is being drained of power. Players will face the threats behind that situation as part of the new level 60 progression.
The raid requires level 60, while the final boss list, entrance requirements, and attunement remain unconfirmed.
Onyxia's Lair Returns as a 40-Player Raid
Onyxia's Lair returns alongside the two new raids.
It remains a maximum-level 40-player raid centered on Onyxia, and it is scheduled to open on December 9.
Blizzard has not yet confirmed exactly how much the Forever version will differ from the original encounter.
Classic attunement requirements, mechanics, and old loot tables should therefore not automatically be treated as final Forever information.
Why Does Forever Have Three Raid Sizes?
The first endgame phase includes:
10-player raiding;
20-player raiding;
40-player raiding.
Developers have explained that these different sizes are meant to support communities as they grow. A smaller social group can begin with 10-player content before building toward larger raid teams.
The goal is also to prevent one raid size from automatically replacing the others.
Tier Gear Across Different Raids
One important part of the Forever raid structure is the plan to distribute tier progression across different raid sizes.
Developers have discussed allowing players to obtain tier pieces through 10-, 20-, and 40-player raids rather than making only the largest raid relevant.
Players targeting this progression can use WoW Forever Tier Set.
Exact tier pieces and boss sources should be confirmed once the full raid loot tables become available.
A New Legendary Reward
Blizzard has confirmed that the new raid content will include a new legendary reward, but the item has not yet been fully revealed.
Important details remain unknown, including:
the item itself;
eligible classes;
where its quest begins;
required raid steps;
crafting or material requirements.
Once Blizzard reveals the complete legendary questline, it will become another major long-term raid objective.
Preparing Before Raids Open
The gap between launch and the first raid wave gives players time to prepare.
Important goals include:
reaching level 60;
replacing weak equipment;
completing high-level dungeons;
developing useful professions;
preparing consumables;
completing any confirmed access requirements;
finding a reliable raid group.
Players who still need the level cap can start with WoW Forever 1-60 Leveling.
Afterward, Pre-Raid Gear becomes a natural next step.
Where Does Pre-Raid Gear Come From?
Before raids open, level 60 characters can focus on high-level dungeons, quests, professions, reputations, and other maximum-level activities.
The two new dungeons closest to level 60 are:
Blackmaw Hold - levels 55-60;
Shaper's Terrace - levels 58-60.
These naturally fit into the final gearing stage before raids.
Exact best-in-slot lists should wait until beta testing and item tuning provide enough reliable information.
Raid Gear and Chase Items
Blizzard wants raids to remain valuable instead of becoming obsolete immediately after another content update.
In a post-announcement interview, developers discussed plans for powerful chase items across raid boss loot tables, giving players reasons to revisit multiple raids even later in Forever's progression.
Players targeting upgrades can use WoW Forever Raid Gear.
Specific random drops should never be treated as guaranteed from a single raid completion.
Is Molten Core Coming to WoW Forever?
Yes, Molten Core is expected to open later, but it is not part of the initial December raid wave.
Developers have specifically said that they did not want Forever to begin with another immediate Molten Core progression cycle because players have already completed it many times across different versions of WoW. New raids come first, while Molten Core will open at a later stage.
Players preparing for its future return can find WoW Forever Molten Core.
There is currently no confirmed opening date.
What About Molten Core Attunement?
Forever data currently contains quests connected to the traditional Molten Core access chain.
However, the presence of legacy quest data does not prove that the final Forever raid will use every original requirement unchanged.
The same caution applies to Hydraxian Waterlords progression, old raid quests, and Classic loot tables.
Until Blizzard confirms the final version, those systems should be treated as provisional rather than guaranteed.
Future WoW Forever Raids
The December raids are only the first stage.
The current roadmap points toward:
additional raids in spring 2027;
another new raid during summer 2027;
a revamped iconic raid;
new legendary progression;
continued world and PvP updates.
Blizzard has not named every future raid.
Blackwing Lair, Zul'Gurub, Ahn'Qiraj, and Naxxramas should therefore not be presented as confirmed for specific Forever updates until they are officially announced.
Will Classic Raids Release in the Original Order?
Not necessarily.
Forever starts from a familiar historical point, but Blizzard does not intend to reproduce every old content phase exactly as it originally happened.
The developers want room to explore stories that could have taken place in this version of Azeroth and to introduce new raids before returning to some familiar ones.
That is why Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit arrive before Molten Core.
Raids and Legacy Challenges
Raid progression also connects to the Legacy System.
Completing certain raid objectives can contribute to Legacy Challenges, meaning endgame group content can provide progress beyond equipment alone.
Players focusing on those objectives can use Legacy Challenges.
Professions for Raiding
WoW Forever significantly expands professions with hundreds of new recipes.
Useful raid-oriented crafting can include:
consumables;
equipment upgrades;
armor and weapons;
enchants;
Engineering utility;
food.
The exact best profession setup will depend on final class balance, raid encounters, and recipes available during beta and launch.
Which Raid Should You Do First?
There is no reliable universal answer yet.
Barrow Deeps requires only 10 players, making it easier to organize from a roster perspective. Hyjal Summit requires 20, while Onyxia's Lair requires a full 40-player group.
Group size does not necessarily indicate encounter difficulty.
Once raid testing begins, players should consider:
boss mechanics;
gear requirements;
class composition;
loot tables;
tier pieces;
attunement requirements.
The optimal order can then be determined from actual raid data rather than assumptions based only on group size.
What Comes After Your First Raid Clear?
A single completion does not finish raid progression.
Long-term goals can include:
replacing specific gear slots;
collecting tier pieces;
farming rare boss drops;
completing legendary progression;
finishing Legacy Challenges;
preparing for future raids.
This is why Blizzard wants earlier raids to remain relevant even after additional content becomes available.
Players who want broader raid progression can use WoW Forever All Raids.