Forever’s raids head to Hyjal and Barrow Deeps · nine new dungeons join the journey

Forever’s announcement made a fresh start sound inviting. Now there are destinations to put beside that idea: Blizzard’s panel recap names Hyjal Summit, Barrow Deeps and nine new dungeons. These are not encounters we have tested, but a guild can begin thinking about the kind of adventure it wants to share. Official panel recap.

Two raids, two group sizes

Barrow Deeps is planned for ten maximum-level players; Hyjal Summit for twenty. New tier sets and a legendary reward are also teased, with further details to follow. Blizzard’s raid overview.

Group size has real consequences outside the instance. Ten players might be an existing circle of friends; twenty takes more coordination. What interests us is whether both formats give their communities a satisfying reason to return. Names and headcounts alone do not establish whether one raid is a required stepping stone to the other.

Nor does the name Hyjal make these The Burning Crusade’s encounters. Opening an old guide is not the same as having a Forever strategy. Actual gameplay information must establish what this version of the familiar location asks of a group.

Nine dungeons behind familiar scenery

Updated September 15: Kaivax corrected a level range shown incorrectly in BlizzCon materials: Krol’dok Stronghold is for levels 40–45. Blizzard also supplied the names and ranges for all nine new dungeons.

• The Hall of Thanes · levels 13–18
• Ruins of Lordaeron · levels 15–20
• Excavation Site: Wetlands · levels 24–29
• City of Dalaran · levels 28–33
• The Drowned City · levels 35–40
• Krol’dok Stronghold · levels 40–45
• Alcaz Prison · levels 48–53
• Blackmaw Hold · levels 55–60
• Shaper’s Terrace · levels 58–60

Blizzard’s September 15 clarification.

For us, the appeal starts with the locations. Many WoW players remember an island, sealed door or ruin that once made them wonder what could have been built beyond it. Opening that space can make an old journey feel new without replacing the world around it.

A good dungeon still needs more than a recognizable name. Readable routes, worthwhile teamwork and a reason to return will matter long after the entrance loses its novelty. We are not treating those qualities as proven. The ranges help plan a journey, but they do not establish hard entry restrictions or an optimal leveling route. Boss strategies and any access quests still need separate verification.

The raid opening is scheduled for December

Blizzard’s roadmap puts the new raid opening on December 9, 2026. The recap supplies no opening time, so it does not establish a specific regional reset or a simultaneous worldwide unlock. Official roadmap.

It is a useful provisional calendar entry, not yet a sound basis for booking time off around an exact hour. Likewise, the legendary tease is not confirmation of a weapon type, drop chance or quest chain.

What we need before writing guides

Encounter guides need encounter evidence: bosses, access requirements, each role’s responsibilities and loot rules. We also want to understand how the dungeons fit together before raiding begins. Certainty built around a list of names would be less useful than clearly marked unanswered questions.

Our Forever announcement article covers the broader premise. The everyday side of the game gets its own discussion in our Camping, Legacy and player-choice article.