Nine new dungeons at launch — raids unlock December 9

Launch includes nine new dungeons: Hall of Thanes beneath Ironforge (13–18, royal burial chambers, disturbed tombs, ghosts; Horde can find a way in), Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20, lingering Scourge and a necromancer preparing another attack; Alliance can find a way in), Wetlands Excavation Site above Whelgar’s (24–29, lights, mist, rogue Titan constructs), City of Dalaran (28–33 dungeon, barrier down, constructs and demonic activity, plus a wider city to explore), The Drowned City off Stranglethorn (35–40, a lost troll kingdom risen after thousands of years; I'lalai, rival explorers, ancient horrors, and the serpent king Min'loth), Krol’dok Stronghold (40–55 outdoor ogre dungeon in Riverglades: kidnappings, raids, nighttime chanting), Alcaz Island Prison (48–53, Defias and naga, rumors of Varian Wrynn’s captivity), Blackmaw Hold (55–60 furbolg city behind Azshara’s gate; tunnels toward Barrow Deeps), and Shaper’s Terrace in Un’Goro (58–60 Titan facility with machinery, power crystals, and wildlife).

Raids do not open on day one. On December 9, 2026 Blizzard unlocks Barrow Deeps (10-player), Hyjal Summit (20-player), and Onyxia’s Lair as a 40-player encounter. Barrow Deeps has three world entrances and is described as a Night Elf prison for especially dangerous captives. Blackmaw Hold’s tunnels lead toward that raid.

A 15 vs 15 battleground, Darkspear Islands, mixes Arathi Basin-style flag captures with Eye of the Storm-like layout off the coast of Kalimdor.

Spoken panel notes: Dalaran has a roundabout way in because a ragtag group helping the Kirin Tor would look bad. Lordaeron still holds family heirlooms; Alliance sneaks. Hall of Thanes suspects Dark Irons; Horde sneaks. A pirate ship crashed into The Drowned City. Krol’dok twilight chanting may be cultists. Shaper’s Terrace is compared to Sholazar and spoken as “a whole lot like Jurassic Park.” What's Next, 19:33 What's Next, 23:30 What's Next, 25:43

Barrow Deeps: “Rumor has it, an infamous demon hunter was once kept here.” Hyjal Summit: someone is draining power from the land around the summit; legendary power is named as a reward. Darkspear Islands: Horde with the Darkspear trolls; Alliance reports to the Theramore Expeditionary Force. What's Next, 27:23 What's Next, 28:20 What's Next, 29:24

WillE states Hall of Thanes is the Ironforge door players have glitched or that Cataclysm later opened, and that both factions can complete it, with Horde using an alternative entrance. He describes City of Dalaran as a mid-level dungeon and also “a bit more of an open-world zone.” WillE, 2:41 WillE, 2:52

Xaryu’s show-floor dungeon run is labeled Drown City / Sunken Hollow. Trash includes fears and a shark pack. A first-boss emote is “It’s time for a little blood.” Loot called out: Giant Club of the Boar; Twilight Armor of the Eagle; Maze of Healing, read as 53 healing and 14 intellect — Xaryu says those stats look like a typo. The demo client had no dungeon map. Xaryu, 6:37 Xaryu, 16:36 Xaryu, 15:23

Ace’s recap of the raid slide: new raids shown so far are 10-player or 20-player; Onyxia stays 40. WillE notes the roadmap still lists Onyxia as 40 and asks whether 10 and 20 are hard caps or flexible — unanswered in these videos. Ace, 1:54 WillE, 5:28

WillE describes Darkspear Islands as 15v15 in an Eye of the Storm format with capture-the-flag and holding points. WillE, 8:19

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