WoW Forever Dungeons Guide

WoW Forever adds nine new five-player dungeons to the original Classic lineup, covering levels 13–60. Blizzard confirmed their names, level ranges, and locations on October 20, 2026. They supplement familiar instances such as Deadmines, Scarlet Monastery, and Blackrock Depths rather than replacing them. Each can serve a different purpose: dungeon quests and XP while leveling, boss loot, or account-wide Dungeon Legacy Challenges.

Choose the dungeon that matches your level and objective. For your first run, collect nearby quests and plan the entrance route. For a specific piece of gear, confirm its boss or quest source before repeating clears. For a Spelunker Legacy Point, work through an entire dungeon checklist instead of farming the same boss. A clear, a quest reward, and a Legacy credit are different outcomes.

Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. The Forever beta closed on October 23; the full level 1–60 release is scheduled for November 4, 2026. The first four new dungeons were available in beta testing, while the five level-35+ dungeons were not publicly testable at their intended levels. The ranges below come from Blizzard’s October 20 dungeon preview, not from speculative level brackets. Final entry requirements, bosses, quest rewards, and loot availability should still be checked in the live client.

Jump to: All nine dungeons | Which one to run | Early dungeon details | Level 35–60 | Loot and rewards | Legacy points | FAQ.

All 9 New WoW Forever Dungeons: Levels and Locations

Blizzard’s October 20 dungeon overview lists the recommended level ranges and locations for all nine instances. These are official planning bands, not proof that every character within the range automatically meets any required quest, key, or entrance condition. The game’s own access and quest requirements take priority after launch.

About level ranges: Blizzard’s October 20 list settles earlier conflicting community estimates, including Krol’dok at 40–45 and Excavation Site at 24–29. The range is guidance for planning your route, not a promise that every dungeon has no key, quest-chain or other access requirement.

The complete list, official ranges, access notes, and first look at the five higher-level dungeons are in Blizzard’s October 20 dungeon preview. The earlier beta announcement covers the first instances opened for testing; it is not the current source for final route planning.

Which WoW Forever Dungeon Should You Run First?

You do not need all nine new dungeons on your first character’s leveling route. Prioritize a first clear with several relevant quests, a dungeon you can reach without a long detour, or the boss you actually need. Before a late-level run, verify the party can reach and enter it: advertised level bands do not replace key or attunement steps.

The useful decision is quest-and-XP first clear, repeat boss clear, or an account-wide Legacy checklist. For an arranged group after launch, LepreStore’s Dungeon Runs can cover a selected dungeon and number of clears. Quests and guaranteed drops are not part of the standard clear order; use the separate gear or Legacy route when that is the real goal.

The Four Early Dungeons: Quests, Bosses and Known Loot

The first four dungeons have the most detailed beta-tested quests, encounters, and item records. The examples here are useful for pre-launch route planning, but boss abilities, loot pools, quest credit and access may change in the release client. The later five have official settings and level ranges but do not yet have equivalent publicly tested boss-by-boss guides.

Hall of Thanes (Levels 13–18)

Where: beneath Ironforge’s High Seat, in the newly accessible Old Ironforge halls. The story pits the party against unrest among ancestral dwarven spirits and a Dark Iron incursion. It is the most natural early new dungeon for an Alliance group already questing through Dun Morogh or Loch Modan.

Before entering: pick up Important Heirlooms and The Restless Dead near the entrance, and follow the Dun Morogh chain leading toward Old Ironforge Incursion. Additional tasks, including An Ancient Grudge and The Treaty of Understanding, begin inside. These beta quests are Alliance-oriented; Horde access should not be confused with equal access to the same quest rewards.

Four beta bosses: Faldrim Anvilmar, Magmatus, Plunder and Durgen Dirgehammer. Clear a safe area before pulling patrols, control dangerous trash where possible, and leave room around Plunder for knockbacks. The final encounter can punish sloppy positioning with fear and linked enemies.

Reward examples: Durgen’s Crescent Axe from Durgen Dirgehammer; Ironforge Greathammer and Deepblaze are choices tied to the Old Ironforge Incursion quest. Boss drops and quest rewards are separate sources. See the Hall of Thanes dungeon guide for the full beta walkthrough.

Ruins of Lordaeron (Levels 15–20)

Where: the ruined capital above Undercity in Tirisfal Glades. This Forsaken and Scourge storyline is more sprawling than a straight hallway: groups can reach encounters in different orders, which makes it easy to leave before completing a side objective.

Before entering: Horde players should check Brill, the Undercity Apothecarium and the Sepulcher for tasks such as The Wrath of Rath’mael, Light’s Justice and A Frightened Request. Alliance players have their own subset, including Abominable Creatures and Remember That I Love You. Not every faction shares every turn-in or quest reward.

Six beta bosses: Witherfang, The Baron, Viktor the Vile, The Abandoned, Bjork and Rath’mael. Be careful with tightly packed ghouls and boss patrols. The Baron’s heavy burst and threat disruption can end a run when a tank pulls underprepared; some beta reports also describe inconsistent encounter spawns, so recheck if a boss is missing.

Reward examples: Slain Baron’s Signet is a quest reward associated with eligible Lordaeron objectives, while the loot table includes weapons such as Scepter of the Abandoned and Coldspire Staff. See Ruins of Lordaeron quests and loot for faction-specific sources.

Excavation Site: Wetlands (Levels 24–29)

Where: the elevated excavation above Whelgar’s Excavation in the Wetlands. The new road and excavation camp lead toward a Titan-linked mystery, with marshland enemies and environmental hazards making careless pulls costly.

Before entering: players already questing in Wetlands can bundle nearby chains rather than crossing the continent for a single boss. Alliance travel generally starts from the Menethil Harbor or Loch Modan side; Horde players should plan a longer trip through the northern Eastern Kingdoms. The beta quest pool includes objectives obtained outside the instance and follow-ups discovered within it.

Named beta encounters include: Saltspine, Shadetooth and Relic Guardian. Parties with access to relevant dispels or crowd control can be better prepared for unpredictable trash pulls and hazards. These are named examples from early testing, not a certified complete launch encounter count.

Reward example: Ring of Power Regulation is listed as a Relic Guardian drop in the current Forever item database. The precise full loot table and quest-route requirements still warrant a launch check. For entrance and encounter information, see the Excavation Site overview.

City of Dalaran (Levels 28–33)

Where: Dalaran in the Alterac Mountains. This is one of the unusual new Forever dungeons because reaching the city and unlocking its sewer entrance are part of the story rather than a trivial flight to a portal.

Attunement and access: Blizzard’s October 20 instructions distinguish both factions. Alliance players begin with An Alarming Request from Emissary Jacques in Southshore; Horde players begin Key to the City and Prison Break-In with Magus Wordeen Voidglare in Tarren Mill. The stories lead through the Kirin Tor and into Dalaran’s sewers. Beta groups reported that a member could open a keyed gate for the party, but confirm the release-client rule before assuming nobody else needs attunement.

Reward examples: current database entries include Violet Sorcerer’s Robes, Drape of Shifting Energy and Guardian’s Dualblade. They are beta-listed items, not guaranteed drops. A Blueprint: Spinning Wheel also appears in published beta loot information, but its actual drop availability is disputed by testers; do not plan a paid item farm around that blueprint until it is confirmed in-game.

City of Dalaran opened in the final beta testing phase. The dungeon overview remains useful for previously observed encounters; Blizzard’s official access notes take precedence for faction-specific starting quests and the recommended 28–33 range.

Five More New Dungeons for Levels 35–60

Blizzard published a more detailed look at the five level-35–60 dungeons on October 20, including entrance approaches, enemy themes, and unique environmental features. Their recommended level ranges are official, but they were beyond the public Level-30 beta cap. Use the confirmed routes below to plan; exact encounter strategies, loot tables, and repeat-farm efficiency still need launch testing.

The Drowned City (Levels 35–40)

Where and how to enter: off the Stranglethorn Vale coast, west of Grom’gol. Blizzard says players must dive beneath the water to find the entrance. The instance explores ancient troll streets that have risen from the sea, with trolls and naga and a wrecked pirate ship nearby. The open-air environment shifts from mist and rain into a storm as the group approaches its final confrontation. Plan a coastal approach and the underwater entry instead of assuming an ordinary roadside portal; bosses and drops remain unverified for release.

Krol’dok Stronghold (Levels 40–45)

Official range: 40–45. Krol’dok Stronghold is an ogre fortress in Riverglades, connected to kidnappings and attacks on travelers. Blizzard describes workshops, camps, guarded interior passages, and a mystery tied to chanting after dark. It is a practical candidate while questing in the new mid-level zone, but the official preview does not establish every boss, shortcut, quest reward or loot drop. Older 40–55 service estimates should not override Blizzard’s published 40–45 planning band.

Alcaz Prison (Levels 48–53)

Where: Alcaz Island, Dustwallow Marsh, for the official 48–53 range. Blizzard’s new preview identifies the Defias Brotherhood and naga as opposing groups inside the prison and links the setting to rumors surrounding King Varian Wrynn. Arrange the journey to the island before assembling your clear. The story and enemy factions are confirmed; a precise boss roster, guaranteed quest chain and BiS gear route are not.

Blackmaw Hold (Levels 55–60)

Where: beyond a previously sealed gate in Azshara, with an official 55–60 range. Blackmaw Hold is a sprawling furbolg city with winding passages, several possible routes, and corruption spreading through its groves and tunnels. Blizzard hints that its deepest reaches may connect to something farther below Azeroth; that is story context, not confirmation of a second accessible dungeon or item farm. Treat Blackmaw as a promising late-level group destination until its gear and encounters are documented in the release client.

Shaper’s Terrace (Levels 58–60)

Where: the northern hills above Un’Goro Crater, officially recommended for 58–60. Shaper’s Terrace is a Titan facility built around dinosaurs, ancient devices and crystals. Blizzard specifically advises adventurers to bring power crystals gathered across Un’Goro and use them at consoles inside. That is an actionable preparation detail for your first visit. Its precise pre-raid item value and full boss strategy still require Level-60 play.

WoW Forever Dungeon Rewards: Loot, Quests and What Is Confirmed

Dungeon rewards come from different systems: boss drops, one-time dungeon quests, and account-wide Legacy objectives. They are not interchangeable, and no single run automatically awards them all. Named examples below are from beta observations and item records for the four early instances. The October 20 official preview did not publish complete loot tables for the five higher-level dungeons.

A useful gear choice depends on the item’s required level, your equipped gear, the actual quest or boss source, and the time needed for another run. At level 60, Blackmaw Hold and Shaper’s Terrace are natural late-game candidates, but their presence on the dungeon list does not prove any specific item is pre-raid BiS. For a complete gear set rather than a fixed number of dungeon clears, compare the separate Pre-Raid Gear option and agree on a verified item list after launch.

Dungeon XP and Quests After the October 8 Beta Changes

WoW Forever is designed to make questing and dungeon leveling both useful rather than making unlimited dungeon cleave the only efficient path. In the October beta, Blizzard raised XP from dungeon creature kills by approximately 20% over the immediately previous beta value and fixed a group-level calculation. This is a historical tuning change, not a flat 20% character-XP bonus or a guaranteed launch XP-per-hour advantage.

Previously, the dungeon kill-XP penalty in a mixed-level group was incorrectly based on its highest-level member. Blizzard returned that calculation to each character’s own level relative to the creature, while retaining a restriction against vastly overleveled groups gaining XP. Travel, run duration, wipes, dungeon quests and future launch tuning still determine whether a dungeon loop beats outdoor questing for your group.

For faction routes, rested experience and zone choices, use the WoW Forever Leveling Guide 1–60. Blizzard documented the 20% dungeon kill-XP adjustment and mixed-level fix in its October beta development notes.

Dungeon Legacy Challenges: Novice, Experienced and Master Spelunker

WoW Forever’s launch Legacy system includes three distinct dungeon challenges: Novice Spelunker, Experienced Spelunker and Master Spelunker. Each completed challenge grants one account-wide Legacy Point, up to three dungeon points in total. The published criteria cover six, ten and seventeen dungeon objectives respectively, including Classic instances. This is a checklist, not a reward for one clear or for defeating every boss in one favorite dungeon.

The full checklist matters: Novice also requires Wailing Caverns, Shadowfang Keep and The Deadmines. Experienced adds Blackfathom Deeps, Gnomeregan, Razorfen Kraul and all four Scarlet Monastery wings. Master includes major Classic destinations such as Blackrock Depths, Dire Maul, Stratholme and Blackrock Spire alongside the three new instances. Check the live Spelunker criteria for every missing credit before scheduling a tour.

The three dungeon points contribute to the broader 65-challenge Legacy system, but this page focuses on which dungeons you need and how to plan their runs. For the wider rewards, perk-spending limits and other challenge categories, use our Legacy System Guide.

Dungeon Preparation Checklist Before Your First Run

1. Check your level and entrance. Blizzard’s ranges help choose a dungeon, but they do not waive its attunement, key, faction-travel or quest prerequisites. In particular, plan Dalaran’s opening chain.
2. Collect dungeon quests before leaving the city. Some start with faction NPCs, others inside the instance or after earlier objectives. The dungeon quest reference can help avoid missing first-clear XP and rewards.
3. Form a complete group and agree on the route. Confirm tanking, healing, crowd control and whether the goal is a full clear or specific Legacy criteria.
4. Plan travel. Azeroth has no flying mounts and Blizzard has not added automatic summoning stones; an instance inside an opposing capital or on an island requires extra coordination.
5. Agree on loot rules. If farming a specific item, know whether your party uses normal rolls or an agreed priority, and remember the item still has to drop.
6. Check quest completion and achievement credit. Final-boss Legacy credit and a quest turn-in are different checks; inspect both before leaving the instance.

WoW Forever Dungeons FAQ

How Many New Dungeons Are in WoW Forever?

Nine. Blizzard confirmed all nine new five-player dungeons, recommended levels and locations on October 20, 2026. They are additions to the familiar Classic dungeon complexes; individual wings of an existing complex do not count as separate new Forever dungeons.

What Is the First New WoW Forever Dungeon?

Hall of Thanes (13–18) beneath Ironforge is the earliest new dungeon in Blizzard’s recommended range. Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20) follows above Undercity. Both are accessible to opposite-faction groups only after a more difficult trip through hostile territory.

Can Horde Enter Hall of Thanes and Alliance Enter Ruins of Lordaeron?

Both dungeons are in opposing-faction capital territory. Blizzard specifically warns that Horde groups must travel into Alliance territory for Hall of Thanes, while Alliance groups must venture into Horde territory for Ruins of Lordaeron. Do not assume both factions have the same quest-givers, travel shortcuts or rewards.

Do You Need to Unlock the City of Dalaran Dungeon?

Plan for its faction-specific attunement chain. Alliance players can start An Alarming Request in Southshore, while Horde players begin with Key to the City and Prison Break-In in Tarren Mill. Blizzard confirms a sewer-entry storyline; confirm the final group key rule in the release client.

Do Dungeons Give Good XP in WoW Forever?

Yes, especially on first clears with several quests. Blizzard raised dungeon kill XP by about 20% relative to the previous beta setting and fixed mixed-level group calculations. That does not prove dungeon spam beats efficient questing at launch; party composition, travel, uptime, and available quests determine the real result.

Are All Nine Dungeon Bosses and Loot Tables Known?

No. Early beta records cover named bosses and rewards for Hall of Thanes, Ruins of Lordaeron, Excavation Site and City of Dalaran. Blizzard’s October 20 preview adds reliable themes and entry information for the five later dungeons, but not fully tested Level-60 loot tables or boss strategies.

Does a Dungeon Boost Guarantee a Specific Drop?

No. The standard Dungeon Runs order covers the selected number of clears. Optional Loot Priority affects eligible rolls if an item drops, but never guarantees that drop. Dungeon quests and a complete gear set are separate objectives.

Can You Earn Legacy Points Just by Repeating One Dungeon?

No. You must complete the missing criteria across six, ten or seventeen objectives for Novice, Experienced or Master Spelunker. Each named group awards one account-wide point once; repeating a completed group on an alt does not grant another point.