The raid
Hyjal Summit is a 20-player raid at the peak of Mount Hyjal, near the World Tree Nordrassil. Blizzard called the place one of the most important locations in Warcraft during the panel - the battle for the mountain ended here, Archimonde fell here, the night elves lost their immortality here.
The setting is ancient elven ruins. The development team let their pride in this one show on stage.
13 bosses, several routes
Blizzard's raid overview of 20 October gives the structure: 13 bosses - more than any other Forever raid. It opens with a battle against an ancient guardian. After that the group chooses between several routes across the mountain, through ruins above and below ground, opening the way to the final encounters. Who the guardian is and who waits at the end, the overview does not say.
The hook
The raid connects straight to the zone: something is draining the power from the land around the summit, and Blizzard speaks of the forces threatening Hyjal. Blizzard has not named an antagonist so far.
Why 20 players
20 is a deliberate middle size. Classic knows 40-player raids and 5-player dungeons; with 10 (Barrow Deeps) and 20 (Hyjal Summit) there are now two tiers that guilds can fill far more easily than a 40-strong roster. That matches the stated pillar of protecting the social experience without demanding the impossible.
Date and lockout
Hyjal Summit unlocks on December 9, 2026, alongside the Barrow Deeps (10 players) and Onyxia's Lair (40 players). According to Blizzard, all raids are currently planned to reset weekly. The overview names no attunement for Hyjal Summit.
Still open
Boss names, mechanics and loot are unknown. Both new raids sit on the same mountain; one of the three entrances into the Barrow Deeps runs through Mount Hyjal. Whether the two raids connect in their story, Blizzard has left open.