Content:
The New Zones at a Glance
Updated 12 October 2026. WoW Forever launches on 4 November 2026 with a level cap of 60. The beta (17 September to 22 October) stops at level 30, so most of what follows comes from Blizzard’s BlizzCon announcements, not from play.
Blizzard has named four new or reworked regions, over 1,000 new quests across the whole map, a returning Dalaran in the Alterac Mountains and a new battleground. Blizzard has not published level ranges for three of the four zones, and the table marks what is official and what is a community estimate.
| Zone | Levels | Where | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zephras Isle | 1 to 12 (official) | Starting zone of the Skyborne, a plane enchanted by air elementals | Skyborne Heroic Pack or Epic Pack |
| Riverglades | Not published. One report says 30 to 45 | East coast of the Eastern Kingdoms, between Redridge Mountains, Swamp of Sorrows and Badlands | Normal game time |
| Shen’Dralas | Not published. Warcraft Tavern assumes 30 to 50 | Between Desolace and Mulgore | Normal game time |
| Mount Hyjal | Endgame zone, raids at level 60 | Reached from Darkwhisper Gorge | Normal game time |
Only the Skyborne race is behind a purchase. Everything else needs just an active subscription. If you want to skip the early levels or stock up on gold before the raids, WoW Forever boosts and gold at Onlyfarms cover both.
Zephras Isle: Cradle of the Skyborne
Zephras Isle is the level 1 to 12 starting area for the Skyborne, the new playable race. According to the BlizzCon reveal, it is a plane enchanted by air elementals, and the Skyborne descend from a pact between Highborne refugees and those elementals. The zone’s story is a conflict over arcane and darker powers, and its look borrows from the Skywall elemental plane.
Two practical points:
- Access. The Skyborne Heroic Pack and the Skyborne Epic Pack give access to the race and the Zephras Isle starting experience. We did not find a price on any official page, so we do not quote one. The Warcraft Forever Collection is a separate, limited-time bundle.
- Beta. Reports from the beta say Zephras Isle is the only one of the four new zones you can visit there, which makes sense because it covers levels 1 to 12 and the beta cap is 30.
Skyborne characters can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid on both factions, Shaman on the Horde, Mage on the Alliance, and there is no Skyborne Paladin. Our Skyborne race guide covers the race and its classes in more detail.
Riverglades: The Untamed Frontier
Riverglades fills the east coast of the Eastern Kingdoms between Redridge Mountains, the Swamp of Sorrows and the Badlands. Blizzard says it holds over 150 quests. Human survivors who once chased orcs now live there, and the dangers are ogres, gnolls and murlocs. The zone is open to both factions, and a neutral goblin port has been confirmed.
Blizzard has not given Riverglades an official level range. Some guides say 35 to 45, which no Blizzard source backs, and one report says 30 to 45. Treat it as a mid-level zone for the 30s and 40s until launch notes confirm it.
The zone’s dungeon is Krol’dok Stronghold, a contested dungeon that Warcraft Tavern compares to the Scarlet Monastery. Its level range is listed inconsistently: 40 to 45 in one place and 50 to 55 in another on the Warcraft Wiki. Wait for the in-game entry requirement before planning a group.
Shen'Dralas: The Hidden Zone
Shen’Dralas sits between Desolace and Mulgore, in a part of Kalimdor that Classic left empty. Blizzard describes it as murky, with ancient ruins, and says it continues the stories of the Kolkar, Gelkis and Magram centaur clans. It also ties into Eldre’Thalas, the elven city most players know as Dire Maul, and into Prince Tortheldrin. Warcraft Tavern speculates about quest links to Razorfen Downs and Maraudon, which Blizzard has not confirmed.
No level range and no dungeon have been announced for Shen’Dralas. Warcraft Tavern assumes 30 to 50, but that is a guess. Access needs only normal game time.
Mount Hyjal: The Endgame Zone
Mount Hyjal returns as an endgame leveling zone, reached from Darkwhisper Gorge. The forest is recovering after Archimonde’s death, and the story is about wild gods and the dangers that remain. It has several questlines and a few reputations, and it works for solo and group play.
The raids are the reason to be at level 60:
| Raid | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hyjal Summit | 20 players | New |
| Barrow Deeps | 10 players | New |
| Onyxia’s Lair | 40 players | Returning |
All three are listed to open on 9 December 2026, about five weeks after launch. That date comes from the Warcraft Wiki and Mobalytics rather than a Blizzard post, so confirm it in the launch notes. Whether Onyxia’s Lair returns unchanged or reworked has not been confirmed. For the class and race choices that matter before then, see our best classes guide.
Darkspear Islands: The New 15v15 Battleground
Darkspear Islands is a new 15v15 capture-point battleground with a flag, set off the coast of Dustwallow Marsh. It is for characters from level 30 to 60. It is a battleground queue, not a leveling zone and not the troll starting area.
| Item | What Blizzard says |
|---|---|
| Format | 15v15, capture points plus a flag |
| Levels | 30 to 60 |
| Objectives | Hold four capture points; a flag in the middle of the map can be carried to a base your team holds for extra points |
| Win condition | First team to 2,000 points. Holding more points makes your score rise faster |
| Queue | Battlemaster in any major capital or in the Barrens |
| Reputation | Horde: Darkspear Raiders (Merchant Coast). Alliance: Theramore Expeditionary Force (Northwatch, with a portal into the battle) |
| Rewards | Gear and consumables at reputation thresholds, including trinkets, rings, cloaks, weapons and armor. Marks of Honor from reputation quests are turned in for rewards. Exalted starts a short questline for the faction tabard |
Some guides quote a 1,500-point win condition, level brackets (30 to 39, 40 to 49 and so on), exact Mark payouts and map coordinates. Blizzard’s own announcement gives 2,000 points and no brackets, Mark counts or coordinates, so we leave those out until the battleground can be played.
What the format asks of a team
This is general advice for capture-and-hold maps, not tested in Forever yet:
- Take the points nearest your start first and keep one player on each point you hold. A flag has nowhere to be delivered if you hold nothing.
- Do not send everyone to the middle for the flag before you hold at least two points.
- Check both scores before a late push. The team in front defends, and the team behind needs a flag delivery.
- Pick a class with crowd control and mobility for the flag carrier and escort. Our best PvP classes guide ranks them.
Access & Requirements
Three of the four zones need nothing beyond an active subscription. The Skyborne packs are the only paid gate.
| Content | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Riverglades, Shen’Dralas, Mount Hyjal | Active subscription (game time on the account) |
| Zephras Isle | A Skyborne character, which needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Epic Pack or a higher bundle |
| Darkspear Islands | Character level 30 or higher |
| Hyjal Summit, Barrow Deeps, Onyxia’s Lair | Level 60, from 9 December 2026 |
Players are split by ruleset (Normal, PvP and Roleplay) on one realm per ruleset in each region, and Hardcore is planned for winter 2026/2027. For flight paths, boats and zeppelins between the old and new zones, use our travel guide.
Questions About the New Zones
What level is Riverglades?
Blizzard has not published a range. Reports say mid-level, roughly the 30s to 40s, and its dungeon Krol’dok Stronghold is listed between 40 and 55 depending on the source.
When do the new raids open?
Listed for 9 December 2026: Hyjal Summit (20 players), Barrow Deeps (10 players) and Onyxia’s Lair (40 players).
Can I visit the new zones in the beta?
The beta runs from 17 September to 22 October and is capped at level 30. Only Zephras Isle is reported as playable there.
Do I need the Skyborne pack to play Riverglades or Hyjal?
No. The pack only adds the Skyborne race and its Zephras Isle start. The other zones need game time only.
How many points win Darkspear Islands?
2,000, according to Blizzard’s battleground announcement.