WoW: Forever — the game players call "Classic Plus" — adds three new zones to the Classic map at launch on November 4, 2026: Zephras Isle (a floating 1–12 start for the new Skyborne race), the Riverglades (a 30–45 leveling zone in the Eastern Kingdoms) and Mount Hyjal (a new endgame zone with the Hyjal Summit raid). Dire Maul, Maraudon and Razorfen Downs also get expanded Shen'dralar content. Everything else on the map is the original Azeroth you know.
The new zones at a glance
| Zone | Levels | Where it sits | What it is for |
| Zephras Isle | 1–12 | A floating island in the sky, Skywall-inspired architecture | Starting zone for the Skyborne race (requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher) |
| The Riverglades | 30–45 (mid-30s to mid-40s) | Eastern Kingdoms | 150+ quests, new reputations, a neutral goblin port — fills the old mid-level gap |
| Mount Hyjal | Endgame (60) | Kalimdor, above Winterspring and Felwood | Aftermath of Archimonde's defeat, Darkwhisper Gorge, the Hyjal Summit raid and one of three Barrow Deeps entrances |
| Shen'dralas | Not published | A hidden region between Mulgore and Desolace | Expanded Shen'dralar storyline tied to Eldre'Thalas, Dire Maul and the centaur tribes |
Blizzard's headline numbers for launch: three new zones, 1,000+ new quests, nine new dungeons and two new raids. Level cap stays at 60 permanently, so none of the new zones push you past it — the Riverglades and Mount Hyjal are about filling holes in the original leveling curve and endgame, not raising it.
Forever Reputation Grind (per hour)Reputation hours for the new Riverglades, Mount Hyjal and Shen'dralar factions.from 16 EURGet it doneIs Mount Hyjal really open in Classic Plus?
Yes. In original Classic, Hyjal was a closed-off area you could only reach by wall-hopping. In WoW: Forever it is a proper endgame zone covering the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat, and it holds the entrance to the 20-player Hyjal Summit raid plus one of the three entrances to Barrow Deeps, the 10-player maximum-level raid. Per Blizzard's roadmap, both raids unlock on December 9, 2026, together with the 40-player Onyxia's Lair.
The story is set after Warcraft III: Reforged — Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core. Blizzard has not said which of the other original raids are open at launch, so treat anything beyond Hyjal Summit, Barrow Deeps and Onyxia as unconfirmed.
Where is the Riverglades and what level should I go?
The Riverglades is in the Eastern Kingdoms and is tuned for roughly 30–45 — the stretch where Classic players used to bounce between Stranglethorn, Arathi and Desolace with too few quests. It ships with 150+ quests, new reputations to work on and a neutral goblin port, so both factions can quest there. Blizzard has not published its exact position on the continent map or its neighbouring zones yet.
Can any character start on Zephras Isle?
No. Zephras Isle is the 1–12 starting experience for the Skyborne, the new elven race from that floating island. Skyborne are not neutral: Windshaper Skyborne go Horde, High Order Skyborne go Alliance. Playing the race requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack (€29.99 in the EU shop as of September 12) or a higher edition. Other races start in their original Classic zones.
Do the new dungeons change the map too?
Nine new dungeons are placed inside existing and new territory: Hall of Thanes beneath Ironforge (13–18), Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20), City of Dalaran (20–35), an Excavation site above Whelgar's Excavation in the Wetlands, the Drowned City off Stranglethorn Vale, Blackmaw Hold (a furbolg city), and three 40–60 dungeons: Alcaz Prison, Shaper's Terrace and Krol'dok Stronghold. Every original Classic dungeon returns as well. Boss lists and loot have not been published, so any "drop table" you see before launch is a guess.
What is still unknown about the Forever map
- Realm names, realm types and regions.
- The exact Riverglades borders and its neighbouring zones.
- Whether Molten Core, Blackwing Lair or other original raids are open at launch.
- Level range and reward details for Shen'dralas — Blizzard describes it as a region, not a numbered zone.
After launch, the roadmap adds a new playable area with two raids and two dungeons in Spring 2027, and expanded world content in Summer 2027 — so the map keeps growing in patches, never in expansions.
If you would rather see the new zones with a vetted human pro at your side than read about them, PewPewShop takes Forever pre-orders until November 4: Skyborne Start on Zephras Isle 1–12 from EUR 15, Riverglades leveling 30–45 from EUR 15, and full 1–60 power leveling from EUR 25, with coaching and play-together options for every stretch of the map.