World of Warcraft: Forever launches on November 4, but for many players the real start date is December 9. That is when the first raids open: The Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and a returning Onyxia’s Lair. Five weeks between launch and raids sounds generous until you add up everything a raider needs to do in that time.
Here is what we know about the first raid tier, and how I would plan the weeks before it so you are not the one scrambling for consumables the night before.
The Three Raids Opening on December 9
Forever’s first raid tier mixes new content with one familiar lair. All three are located in places players will recognize, but the raid sizes are very different from the original game.
- The Barrow Deeps is a new 10-player raid in Mount Hyjal, Forever’s level 60 endgame zone. It has eight bosses.
- Hyjal Summit is a new 20-player raid, also in Mount Hyjal.
- Onyxia’s Lair returns as a 40-player raid in Dustwallow Marsh. Blizzard has not confirmed whether the encounter has been reworked.
The smaller raid sizes are a big deal. A 10-player raid is something a group of friends can organize without a full guild structure, while 20 and 40 players still reward bigger communities. Blizzard has also said the roadmap includes more 10 and 20-player raids in 2027, so this mix of sizes is clearly the plan going forward.
Why Five Weeks Goes Faster Than You Think
Forever keeps the slower pace of Classic. A normal solo enemy takes around 10 to 15 seconds to kill, and there are over a thousand new quests spread across old and new zones. Reaching 60 is only the first step. After that, you still need gear from the nine new dungeons, professions for consumables, and gold for repairs and training.
For players with full-time jobs, five weeks is roughly 15 to 25 evenings. That is enough to get one character ready if you plan, and not enough if you spend the first week deciding which class to play.
Gear From the New Dungeons
Your pre-raid gear will come mostly from the new dungeons, and they have been rebuilt with itemization in mind. Blizzard re-examined every dungeon drop, unique dungeon boss items are now blue quality, and set bonuses have been improved. Hit and critical strike chance have also been unified across spells, melee and ranged attacks, which makes it easier for hybrid specs to find upgrades.
The other reason to run dungeons early is professions. Advanced Blueprint recipes drop from dungeon bosses, and some of them unlock better crafting and campsite objects such as the Alchemy Lab. If your guild needs an alchemist with good recipes on December 9, that alchemist has to be running dungeons in November.
Consumables and Campfires
Raiding in a Classic-style game always comes down to preparation, and Forever adds a new layer to it. Food buffs have received a major update, and campfires let players add profession objects that grant one-hour buffs. Cooks can learn upgraded Campfires that hold five or ten objects, which is exactly the kind of thing a raid group will want at the entrance before the first pull.
My advice is to designate one or two players as the camp crew. They bring the upgraded Campfire, someone brings a Sharpening Wheel or an Incense Candle, and the whole raid starts with buffs instead of a scramble.
A Simple Raid Prep Checklist
Before December 9, I would aim for the following on a raid character:
- Level 60 by the start of December, with at least a week left for dungeons.
- Most of the blue boss items from the dungeons that suit your role.
- One crafting profession the raid will need, such as Alchemy or Cooking.
- Enough gold for repairs, consumables and any last training.
- A ruleset and faction agreed with your group. Groups cannot form across rulesets, and Horde and Alliance still cannot raid together.
If Your Group Is Not Ready on Time
Not every group will have ten geared players ready on December 9. Some will be missing a healer, some will still be leveling, and some just want to see the new raids and collect the first loot before committing to a weekly schedule. A WoW Forever raid carry is one way to get through The Barrow Deeps or Hyjal Summit early and gear up a character while the rest of your group catches up.
Either way, the first raid tier of Forever is the most interesting change to Classic raiding in years. Smaller raid sizes, new bosses in Mount Hyjal and a campfire outside the entrance. Plan your five weeks well, and you will be there for the first pull.
