ForeverDB

Blizzard's raid overview: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair unlock December 9

The Mount Hyjal map from the WoW Forever client

· ForeverDB

Blizzard has announced three level 60 raids for WoW Forever, all opening on December 9: the 10-player Barrow Deeps, the 20-player Hyjal Summit and the 40-player Onyxia's Lair. Onyxia's Lair needs the Drakefire Amulet, earned through a faction-specific attunement questline.

On October 20 Blizzard posted a raid overview for WoW Forever. It names three level 60 raids and the day they open.

On December 9, level 60 players can put their preparation, teamwork, and mastery of their classes to the test in three raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit, and Onyxia’s Lair. Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard News

This is an announcement of content that unlocks on December 9. The raids are not on the beta yet, and the beta level cap is below 60, so none of this can be tested in the game files today. Everything below is from Blizzard's post, apart from the two amulet item IDs, which come from the client's item files.

The three raids

Blizzard's quick facts for each raid:

  • The Barrow Deeps: within Mount Hyjal, with entrances connected through Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold. Level 60, 10 players. Blizzard says 10-player groups face eight bosses in the prison that once held Illidan Stormrage.
  • Hyjal Summit: at the summit of Mount Hyjal near the World Tree Nordrassil. Level 60, 20 players. Blizzard says it features 13 bosses and begins with a battle against an ancient guardian, with multiple paths across the mountain.
  • Onyxia's Lair: in Dustwallow Marsh. Level 60, 40 players. A three-phase fight against Onyxia, with heavy fire attacks; Blizzard says to build fire resistance before entering.

Blizzard also says every raid is currently planned to reset each week:

With all raids currently planned to reset each week, you can settle into a consistent schedule and return with your group for another run. Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard News

Onyxia attunement: the Drakefire Amulet

To enter Onyxia's Lair, every member of the raid needs the Drakefire Amulet. The amulet is in the Forever beta client's item files as Drakefire Amulet. Blizzard says it does not have to be equipped:

Before you enter: Make sure the Drakefire Amulet is in your inventory. It does not need to be equipped to enter Onyxia’s Lair. Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard News

You earn the amulet through a faction-specific attunement questline. Blizzard says to start early, bring friends for the elite quests, and leave time for several trips into high-level dungeons. Both chains end at General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire and hand over the Drakefire Amulet.

Alliance. Blizzard lays out the chain as:

  • Pick up "Dragonkin Menace" from Helendis Riverhorn in the Burning Steppes, then the six quests all named "The True Masters".
  • Follow the chain to Marshal Maxwell at Morgan's Vigil, who sends you into Blackrock Depths for "Marshal Windsor", then "Abandoned Hope".
  • Find "A Crumpled Up Note" off enemies in Blackrock Depths and bring it to Marshal Windsor in his cell.
  • "A Shred of Hope": retrieve Windsor's information from Golem Lord Argelmach and General Angerforge. Then "Jail Break!" to help Windsor escape, and report back to Marshal Maxwell.
  • "Stormwind Rendezvous" to Squire Rower at the city gates, then gather allies for "The Great Masquerade" in Stormwind.
  • Highlord Bolvar Fordragon sends you on "The Dragon's Eye", which leads through Upper Blackrock Spire in "Drakefire Amulet": take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath and receive the Drakefire Amulet.

Horde. Blizzard lays out the chain as:

  • Begin with "Blood and Thunder" from Warlord Goretooth in Kargath, Badlands, then "Warlord's Command" in Lower Blackrock Spire.
  • Report to Eitrigg in Orgrimmar, then Thrall. "For the Horde!": return to Lower Blackrock Spire for the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand.
  • "What the Wind Carries" with Thrall, then seek Rexxar in Desolace for "The Champion of the Horde".
  • "The Testament of Rexxar": deliver his testament to Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands. She gives "Oculus Illusions" to obtain Black Dragonspawn Eyes.
  • Use your Amulet of Draconic Subversion in "Emberstrife" to find the drake in Dustwallow Marsh. Four "The Test of Skulls" quests bring Emberstrife the skulls of Scryer, Somnus, Chronalis and Axtroz.
  • Emberstrife gives the Dull Drakefire Amulet (Dull Drakefire Amulet in the client) in "Ascension...". Return it to Rexxar in Desolace.
  • Rexxar sends you to Upper Blackrock Spire in "Blood of the Black Dragon Champion": take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath, then return to Rexxar for the Drakefire Amulet.

What it means

The three raids all open on the same day, December 9, for players at level 60. Blizzard says the gap after launch gives time to reach the cap and build groups. The attunement is the long part: the Alliance chain runs through Blackrock Depths and Upper Blackrock Spire, and the Horde chain through both wings of Blackrock Spire and four named dragon hunts, so a 40-player Onyxia group needs every member attuned. Starting the chain early is the practical advice.

The boss counts, locations, raid sizes and the quest steps are all from Blizzard's post. They are beta plans and can change before December 9.

Sources

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