WoW Forever raid sizes: 10, 20 and 40 players, Dec 9 unlock
WoW Forever raid sizes: Barrow Deeps is 10-player, Hyjal Summit 20-player, and some tiers add a 40-player raid. No flex sizing; new raids open December 9.
Editorial record
Responsible editor: Max · medium risk · automated review · AI assistance: draft
WoW: Forever raids are planned in three sizes: 10, 20 and 40 players. Every raid tier gets at least one 10-player raid and one 20-player raid, and some tiers add a 40-player raid. Blizzard’s What’s Next recap, read on 17 September 2026, names the first two, Barrow Deeps (10) and Hyjal Summit (20), and says new raids unlock on December 9. Blizzard’s Tim Jones and Mike Nuthals told Kotaku that flex sizing is not planned, so each raid keeps its size.
| Raid | Players | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow Deeps | 10 | Named, planned as a maximum-level challenge | Blizzard recap |
| Hyjal Summit | 20 | Named | Blizzard recap |
| A 40-player raid | 40 | Planned for some tiers; reported as “Onyx’s Lair” | Interviews |
The recap gives December 9 for new raids in general. It does not say whether both named raids open that day.
Tier pieces across all three sizes
In the direct Sun interview, Blizzard said players can earn tier pieces across all three raid sizes. The same transcript identifies Barrow Deeps as the 10-player raid, Hyjal Summit as the 20-player raid, and a reported “Onyx’s Lair” as the 40-player raid. Blizzard has not published that third name on its own written news page, so treat the wording as interview reporting rather than a final launch label.
Chase items on every boss
The interview says every boss’s loot table will include chase drops: items with a lower drop chance that are “very, very strong.” The comparison given is an item at the power level of the Burning Crusade Dragonspine Trophy, so strong items at level 60 stay relevant for a long time.
Slower item progression
Blizzard said it is trying to slow the rate of item progression so raids do not become obsolete, leaving a reason to return to earlier content. That pairs with the chase-drop model: rare, powerful items keep older raids worth visiting.
These are interview-reported plans, not a written loot table. Drop rates, exact item counts, lockouts, and the final launch roster are not published. The confirmed written facts remain the two Blizzard-named raids and their sizes.
First Mate Band: a dungeon ring that waits for level 60
Wowhead reports a two-piece ring set in the beta that ties an early dungeon drop to a level-60 item. The beta item records list:
First Mate Band: a rare ring, item level 22, requires level 17, dropped by Mr. 
Smite in the 
Deadmines.
Band of the Better Half: an epic ring, item level 70, requires level 60. Wowhead’s 21 September report did not know where it drops.- Partners in Crime, the set bonus for wearing both: +22 Strength and a chance on melee swing to gain 50 Strength for 10 seconds.
These are beta records, not a Blizzard statement, and neither ring is confirmed raid loot. Like the chase drops, the set keeps an early drop useful at level 60.