Blizzard has revealed the new WoW Forever dungeons, arriving on November 4, 2026. The update introduces nine brand-new instances designed for five-player groups, covering levels 13 through 60.
These dungeons are spread across the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, offering new challenges throughout the leveling journey. Original Classic dungeons are also returning with reworked gear and rewards.
The new WoW Forever dungeons feature unique storylines, new items, and specific entry requirements. Some require players to complete unlocking quests, while others involve exploring familiar areas of Azeroth.
All nine will be available at launch. WoW Forever is included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time.
What Are the New Dungeons in WoW Forever?

The nine dungeons are designed to offer new experiences at different stages of character progression. Six are located in the Eastern Kingdoms, while the remaining three are found in Kalimdor.
Complete Dungeon List: Levels and Locations
The table below includes Blizzard’s announced level ranges, including the updated 40–45 range for Krol’dok Stronghold.
| Dungeon | Level Range | Location | Continent |
| Hall of Thanes | 13–18 | Ironforge | Eastern Kingdoms |
| Ruins of Lordaeron | 15–20 | Tirisfal Glades | Eastern Kingdoms |
| Excavation Site: Wetlands | 24–29 | Wetlands | Eastern Kingdoms |
| City of Dalaran | 28–33 | Alterac Mountains | Eastern Kingdoms |
| The Drowned City | 35–40 | Stranglethorn Vale Coast | Eastern Kingdoms |
| Krol’dok Stronghold | 40–45 | Riverglades | Eastern Kingdoms |
| Alcaz Prison | 48–53 | Dustwallow Marsh | Kalimdor |
| Blackmaw Hold | 55–60 | Azshara | Kalimdor |
| Shaper’s Terrace | 58–60 | Un’Goro Crater | Kalimdor |
These ranges indicate the recommended levels for each instance. However, selecting the right dungeon also depends on your group’s preparation and composition.
What’s Different From the Original WoW Classic?
The biggest difference is the variety of instances available while leveling.
Hall of Thanes provides an early dungeon option for Alliance players, serving a role similar to Ragefire Chasm for the Horde. Meanwhile, The Drowned City and Krol’dok Stronghold expand the available content between levels 35 and 45.
At higher levels, Blackmaw Hold and Shaper’s Terrace introduce additional challenges as players approach level 60.
Eastern Kingdoms Dungeons: Six New Instances
The Eastern Kingdoms feature six of the nine new instances. Players will explore capital cities, ancient ruins, excavation sites, and territories controlled by ogres.
Hall of Thanes, Ruins of Lordaeron, and Excavation Site
Hall of Thanes (13–18) is located beneath the throne room in Ironforge. The dungeon takes players into the resting place of ancient Dwarven kings, where Dark Iron invaders have disturbed the spirits.
Because the entrance is inside Ironforge, Alliance players have easier access. Horde groups must cross enemy territory to reach the instance.
Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20) takes place in the ruins above Undercity, in Tirisfal Glades. Its atmosphere takes advantage of the new lighting system, featuring dark areas that demand extra attention during combat.
Meanwhile, Excavation Site: Wetlands (24–29) introduces a mystery near Whelgar’s Excavation in the Wetlands. Strange lights, heavy fog, and malfunctioning Titanic constructs are among the threats awaiting players.
City of Dalaran, The Drowned City, and Krol’dok Stronghold
City of Dalaran (28–33) takes players to the Alterac Mountains. The city faces problems involving unstable magic and out-of-control constructs. Unlike other instances, it requires a questline to unlock access.
The Drowned City (35–40) is located off the coast of Stranglethorn Vale, west of Grom’gol. Players must dive underwater to find its entrance.
The dungeon features ancient ruins and changing weather conditions throughout the exploration.
Finally, Krol’dok Stronghold (40–45) is located in Riverglades. This massive outdoor ogre fortress is associated with kidnappings, attacks on nearby communities, and mysterious activities.
Kalimdor Dungeons: The Road to Level 60

While the Eastern Kingdoms feature most of the early-level content, the Kalimdor dungeons are designed for more advanced characters.
The three instances cover levels 48 through 60, featuring an isolated prison, a hidden furbolg city, and an ancient Titanic facility.
Alcaz Prison
Located on Alcaz Island in Dustwallow Marsh, Alcaz Prison (48–53) takes players into a mysterious prison.
The area already has a place in Warcraft lore, but it is now receiving its own dungeon. Blizzard has yet to reveal every boss and encounter planned for launch.
Blackmaw Hold and Shaper’s Terrace
Blackmaw Hold (55–60) introduces a massive furbolg city hidden behind the mysterious gates in northern Azshara. The dungeon provides another exploration option for characters approaching the level cap.
Meanwhile, Shaper’s Terrace (58–60) is located in the hills of Un’Goro Crater. This Titanic facility is filled with ancient machinery and dangerous wildlife.
One of its distinctive mechanics involves interacting with energy crystals. Players can bring crystals collected in Un’Goro and use them at consoles found inside the dungeon.
Requirements to Enter WoW Forever Dungeons
To access the WoW Forever dungeons, players must consider their subscription status, character level, party composition, and any additional unlocking requirements.
Subscription, Level, and Party Size
The general requirements include:
- Active subscription or game time: WoW Forever is included with standard World of Warcraft access, without requiring a separate edition purchase.
- Recommended level: Each dungeon has a suggested level range. Fighting enemies above your character’s level can make encounters significantly harder.
- Five-player party: The new instances are designed for groups of five players.
- Unlocking quests: Certain dungeons, including City of Dalaran, require additional steps before players can enter.
How to Unlock City of Dalaran
City of Dalaran features a faction-specific questline.
Alliance: Players can begin the An Alarming Request quest through Emissary Jacques in Southshore.
Horde: The process begins with Key to the City and Prison Break-In, offered by the mage Wordeen Voidglare in Tarren Mill.
These quests are part of the requirements for accessing the city. Simply reaching the recommended level is not enough to enter the instance.
How to Find a Group and Reach the Entrance
WoW Forever includes a Looking for Group tool to help players organize parties. However, it does not automatically teleport characters into dungeons.
Here’s how the process works:
- Open the Looking for Group tool and select your desired dungeon.
- Choose a playstyle, such as learning, casual, competitive, or carry.
- Assemble your party and coordinate player roles.
- Travel to the dungeon entrance or use a Warlock’s Ritual of Summoning to bring the group together.
This makes understanding WoW Forever dungeon locations especially important. Players from opposing factions may also face more dangerous journeys when crossing enemy-controlled territories.
WoW Forever Dungeon Rewards: Gear, Transmog, and XP

The new WoW Forever dungeons also introduce changes to rewards. According to Blizzard, hundreds of new items have been added to the dungeon loot pool, alongside updates to existing equipment.
The goal is to provide more meaningful choices throughout progression while preserving the classic dungeon experience.
New Gear, Appearances, and Profession Recipes
The main reward changes include:
- Gear and stats: New bonuses introduce choices related to character classes, roles, environments, or specific enemy types.
- Shared transmog appearances: When an uncommon or rare bind-on-pickup item drops, its appearance may be unlocked for every eligible player, even if only one receives the equipment.
- Profession recipes: Certain bosses may drop advanced recipes and schematics associated with the profession system.
Shared appearance unlocks do not apply to every piece of gear. Item quality, binding restrictions, and player eligibility still determine which appearances can be collected.
How Does Dungeon XP Work?
Dungeon-related quests continue to provide experience and rewards. Completing their questlines can therefore play an important role in character progression.
However, defeating enemies inside dungeons also grants XP.
During the beta, Blizzard increased experience gained from dungeon enemies by approximately 20%. The adjustment was intended to improve leveling for players who prefer group content.
As a result, repeating dungeons remains a viable leveling option. Its efficiency depends on character levels, party composition, and available quests.
WoW Forever Release Date and Upcoming Dungeons
WoW Forever launches on November 4, 2026, at 3 p.m. PST (6 p.m. EST), according to Blizzard’s announced global release schedule.
The game will be available on Windows and macOS through Battle.net.
Players who purchased the Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection also received early beta access, allowing them to test four of the new dungeons.
Raids and Post-Launch Roadmap
Blizzard’s announced content roadmap includes additional activities in the months following release.
| Content | Expected Release |
| 9 new dungeons | November 4, 2026 |
| Hyjal Summit, Barrow Deeps, and Onyxia’s Lair raids | December 9, 2026 |
| 2 additional dungeons | Spring 2027 (Northern Hemisphere) |
| 2 more dungeons | Summer 2027 (Northern Hemisphere) |
The 2027 updates are part of Blizzard’s announced plans and remain subject to change.
With nine new instances at launch and four more planned for 2027, WoW Forever expands the options available to players who enjoy exploring Azeroth in groups.
For those preparing to tackle the new WoW Forever dungeons, a stable connection is also part of the experience. ExitLag offers tools designed to optimize connectivity in online games. Explore ExitLag for PC before assembling your party and starting your journey.
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