Image: Blizzard EntertainmentWoW Forever’s first raids open on Wednesday 9 December, five weeks after launch. Three raids unlock at once, each built for a different group size:
| Raid | Group size |
|---|---|
| Barrow Deeps | 10 players |
| Hyjal Summit | 20 players |
| Onyxia’s Lair | 40 players |
At least one roundup lists only Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit for December 9, so treat Onyxia’s Lair’s date as likely rather than certain until Blizzard’s own patch notes confirm it.
Why five weeks matters
Five weeks is enough to reach 60 comfortably, but not much more. If you want to be raiding on day one of the unlock, you’ll want to:
- Pick professions early. Raids reward groups who bring their own consumables.
- Run dungeons for gear rather than only questing in the last ten levels.
- Find a guild before launch. A 10-player group is far easier to organise than 40, which makes Barrow Deeps the realistic first target for most players.
What comes after
Blizzard’s roadmap points to a major content update in spring 2027 and another in summer 2027. Reports say these include more raids and dungeons, but we’ll wait for Blizzard’s details before listing them here.