World of Warcraft: Forever raids arrive December 9 with three classic locations

Blizzard Entertainment says World of Warcraft: Forever will open three raids on December 9 for level 60 players: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair. The studio also laid out raid sizes, boss counts, entry rules and the faction-specific attunement chain required for Onyxia’s Lair.

Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair are meant to test what Blizzard called “preparation, teamwork, and mastery of their classes.” The raids also send players back to some of Azeroth’s most familiar places, with each one built around a different structure and a different group size.

Barrow Deeps opens beneath Kalimdor

Barrow Deeps is a maximum-level raid for 10 players hidden beneath Kalimdor. Blizzard says the prison once held Illidan Stormrage for 10,000 years, and that its dark passages have now been opened. Players will descend into the prison to learn what became of those left behind and how the wardens plan to contain the danger below.

The raid has entrances connected to Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold, giving raiders several ways in. Inside, 10-player groups will face eight bosses as they move through the prison’s depths.

Blizzard’s overview places Barrow Deeps in a part of Azeroth that already carries a lot of history, but the new raid focuses on what happened after the prison was sealed. The studio’s description centers on the fallout inside the facility rather than the old legend around it.

Hyjal Summit sends raid groups to the peak

Hyjal Summit sits at the peak of Mount Hyjal near the World Tree Nordrassil. Blizzard says the raid features 13 bosses and starts with a battle against an ancient guardian. From there, raid groups can take multiple paths across the mountain, moving through ruins above and below ground as they confront the forces threatening Hyjal and open the way to the final encounters.

The studio says players can “choose your route, coordinate with your raid, and uncover what waits across one of Warcraft’s most iconic locations.” The structure suggests more than one route through the mountain, with the raid alternating between surface ruins and underground spaces.

Blizzard did not list a fixed player count for Hyjal Summit in the overview, but it did frame the raid as one that supports either 10 or 20 players when discussing the December 9 rollout. That gives groups some flexibility depending on how they want to tackle the mountain.

Onyxia’s Lair returns in Dustwallow Marsh

Onyxia’s Lair is the biggest raid in the set, located deep in Dustwallow Marsh. Blizzard says it is a level 60 raid for 40 players. Onyxia, a dragon of the Black Dragonflight and the younger sister of Nefarian, guards her brood there while working to manipulate Azeroth’s mortal races.

The fight uses three phases and fire attacks that can punish an unprepared raid. Blizzard advises players to build fire resistance before entering and to be ready to reposition as the battle shifts. Before anyone can go in, each raid member must carry the Drakefire Amulet.

Blizzard’s warning is direct: “Make sure the Drakefire Amulet is in your inventory. It does not need to be equipped to enter Onyxia’s Lair.”

Alliance players start in the Burning Steppes

Blizzard included a step-by-step attunement guide for both factions and recommended that players start early, bring friends for elite quests and leave time for several trips into high-level dungeons. The Alliance chain begins in the Burning Steppes with “Dragonkin Menace” from Helendis Riverhorn.

Helendis then sends players through six quests named “The True Masters” to investigate the Black Dragonflight’s influence on the Blackrock orc clan. The chain continues to Marshal Maxwell at Morgan’s Vigil, who sends players into Blackrock Depths in “Marshal Windsor” to recover Marshal Windsor or proof of his demise.

Windsor then sends players back to Marshal Maxwell in “Abandoned Hope.” After that, players can find A Crumpled Up Note from enemies in Blackrock Depths, which starts the quest of the same name. They must bring the note to Marshal Windsor in his cell in Blackrock Depths.

In “A Shred of Hope,” players retrieve Windsor’s lost information from Golem Lord Argelmach and General Angerforge in Blackrock Depths. They then help Windsor escape in “Jail Break!” before returning to Marshal Maxwell at Morgan’s Vigil.

Marshal Maxwell then sends players to Stormwind in “Stormwind Rendezvous” to speak with Squire Rowe at the city gates. Blizzard says players should speak with him to beckon Marshal Windsor. The chain continues with “The Great Masquerade,” where players gather allies in Stormwind, and then “The Dragon’s Eye,” which comes from Highlord Bolvar Fordragon.

The final Alliance stretch sends players through Upper Blackrock Spire in “Drakefire Amulet.” There, they must take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath to receive the Drakefire Amulet.

The Horde route runs through Blackrock and into Dustwallow Marsh

The Horde chain begins in the Badlands with “Blood and Thunder” from Warlord Goretooth in Kargath. That leads directly to “Warlord’s Command,” which takes players through Lower Blackrock Spire.

Goretooth then sends players to report to Eitrigg in Orgrimmar and seek council with Thrall. In “For the Horde!” they return to Lower Blackrock Spire to claim the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand for Thrall.

After “What the Wind Carries,” players seek Rexxar wandering the roads of Desolace for “The Champion of the Horde.” Rexxar then sends them to Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands during “The Testament of Rexxar.” Myranda gives players “Oculus Illusions,” which requires them to obtain Black Dragonspawn Eyes.

Players then use their Amulet of Draconic Subversion in “Emberstrife” to seek out the ancient drake in Dustwallow Marsh. Emberstrife tests them in four quests that each begin with “The Test of Skulls,” and Blizzard says the targets are Scryer, Somnus, Chronalis and Axtroz.

Emberstrife then gives players the Dull Drakefire Amulet in “Ascension…” They bring it back to Rexxar in Desolace, who sends them to Upper Blackrock Spire in “Blood of the Black Dragon Champion.” After taking the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath, players return to Rexxar to receive the Drakefire Amulet.

Weekly resets and launch timing

Blizzard says all three raids are currently planned to reset each week, giving raid teams a regular schedule after launch. The December 9 rollout also leaves time after release for players to reach level 60 and get groups together.

The studio says players can choose the raid that fits their group size, whether that means exploring Mount Hyjal with 10 or 20 players or facing Onyxia with a full 40-player raid. With the sizes, routes and attunement steps now spelled out, Blizzard has given players a clear picture of how the first Forever raids will work once they open.