City of Dalaran is one of the nine new dungeons in WoW: Forever, built for levels 28-33 and entered through the sewers beneath the Kirin Tor capital in Alterac Mountains. It opened for testing in the beta build of October 8, 2026. Alliance players get in almost immediately, while Horde players must finish a short quest chain in Tarren Mill first.
What the City of Dalaran dungeon is
Blizzard first named the dungeon in its BlizzCon "What's Next" panel recap on September 12, 2026, describing it as an investigation into strange magical trouble inside Dalaran. In original Classic, the city sat behind a magical barrier and could not be entered at all. Forever turns its underbelly into a five-player instance.
It is one of nine dungeons new to Forever. For the full list with level ranges and zones, see our new dungeons guide and the WoW: Forever dungeon hub.
Level range and location
On September 15, 2026, community manager Kaivax published the official ranges for all nine new dungeons, and City of Dalaran is listed at 28-33. Some guide sites quote a wider recommended range of 26-35 or 28-35 based on beta play. We use the official numbers; mob levels on the beta can still change before launch.
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Level range | 28-33 | Blizzard blue post, Sept 15, 2026 |
| Zone | Alterac Mountains (Dalaran) | Wowhead beta coverage |
| Entrance | Sewers, needs Dalaran Sewer Key | Wowhead, Oct 6, 2026 |
| Group size | 5 players | Standard dungeon format |
| On beta since | October 8, 2026 build | Blizzard beta development notes |
| Legacy Challenge band | 26-45 dungeons | Blizzard Legacy System article |
The nearest hubs are Southshore for Alliance and Tarren Mill for Horde, both in Hillsbrad Foothills. Blizzard's new boat stop in Hillsbrad on the Wetlands to Darkshore route makes the trip shorter for Alliance players coming from the south. Our zones overview covers the area.
Alliance access
For the Alliance the gate is light. According to Wowhead's beta coverage, Alliance players speak to the Image of Archmage Modera outside Dalaran, receive the key plus the dungeon quest, and can walk in. Method.gg's guide also lists a pickup quest from Southshore. Both routes are short, so expect only a few minutes of travel before your first pull.
Horde attunement chain
Horde players need more steps. Wowhead summarized the chain on October 6, 2026, after level 30 opened on the beta. Everything starts with two quest givers in Tarren Mill, Magus Wordeen Voidglare and Keeper Bel'varil.
| Step | Quest | Giver | Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prison Break In | Magus Wordeen Voidglare | Recover artifacts from traitors |
| 1 | Key to the City | Magus Wordeen Voidglare | Bring back the Grimy Key |
| 1 | Stone Tokens | Keeper Bel'varil | Collect 10 Worn Stone Tokens |
| 2 | Dalaran Patrols | Magus Wordeen Voidglare | Kill 6 Dalaran Summoners and 12 Elemental Slaves |
| 2 | Bracers of Binding | Keeper Bel'varil | Collect 4 Bracers of Earth Binding |
| 3 | Blood in the Streets | Magus Wordeen Voidglare | Report to Image of Archmage Modera outside Dalaran |
| 4 | Heart of Disruption | Image of Archmage Modera | Enter the dungeon and collect the Arcane Mote; grants the Dalaran Sewer Key |
Most of the kill and collection objectives sit in the Alterac Mountains around the city, so the chain fits naturally into a level 28-30 questing session. Bring a group if you can: the Dalaran mobs are elite-dense in places on the beta.
Horde in Dalaran: what happened and what Blizzard said
On October 9, 2026, Wowhead reported that Horde characters who finished Heart of Disruption could carry the Arcane Mote into the city through a follow-up quest, Shrewd Negotiations, handed in to Archmage Celindra. After that, city guards turned neutral.
Horde visitors could buy arrows, food and drink, train Mage spells, swap Hunter pets at the stables and fish coins from the fountain. Most other residents offered no services.
Josh "Aggrend" Greenfield then clarified, as reported by Icy Veins, that Blizzard does not intend Horde to have full access to Dalaran. He added that Horde characters should not earn Kirin Tor reputation, and that this fix was already made but would only reach the beta in a later week. Expect the Horde side of the city to be trimmed before or at launch.
Bosses
Blizzard has not published an official boss list for City of Dalaran. What follows comes from beta coverage. Wowhead confirms Atrexis the Grave Knight as the first boss and Shade of the Archmage as the boss that drops the Arcane Mote. Other names come from guide sites and may change.
| Boss | Status | Notes from beta coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Atrexis the Grave Knight | Confirmed (Wowhead) | First boss in the sewers; disarms the tank, raises skeletons |
| Lyn the Ignored | Confirmed secret boss | Summoned with the Tome of Dalaran |
| Arcane Anomaly | Reported by guide sites | Channeled arcane beam |
| Arcanic Enigma | Reported by Method.gg | Polymorph, summons small adds |
| Unstable Sentinel | Reported by guide sites | Frontal cleave and pulsing area damage |
| Fel Ancient | Reported by guide sites | Roots and damaging pools |
| Mana Devourer | Reported by guide sites | Drains party mana |
| Shade of the Archmage | Confirmed (Wowhead) | Drops the Arcane Mote; can Polymorph the group |
Guide sites disagree on the exact count, listing eight or nine encounters. For mana users, the Mana Devourer and Shade fights reward entering with full bars, so plan drinks between pulls. Mages will want our Mage class page for spell ranks at this level.
Secret boss: Lyn the Ignored
Lyn the Ignored is optional. You loot a Black Tome from a book on Archmage Arugal's table in Shadowfang Keep, convert it into the Tome of Dalaran at the Ambermill Leyline Focus in Silverpine Forest, then use it at a purple rune in a side tunnel past Atrexis. The tome is not consumed and has a 3-minute cooldown. Full steps are in our Lyn the Ignored news piece.
Rewards
Blizzard's deep dive recap of September 13, 2026, says unique dungeon boss items in Forever are blue quality and that every dungeon loot table was reviewed, with hundreds of new drops added. Specific Dalaran items are known only from beta data.
- Gravespike Repeater (crossbow) from Atrexis the Grave Knight, listed by two guide sites.
- Guardian's Dualblade (two-hand axe) from Unstable Sentinel, listed by two guide sites.
- Method.gg also lists a staff, a polearm, cloth and mail chests, a neck and a dagger from Lyn; treat these as beta data.
Killing the final boss also counts toward the Legacy Challenge for clearing every 26-45 dungeon, which is worth one Legacy Point under Blizzard's September 23 Legacy System article.
Frequently asked questions
What level is the City of Dalaran dungeon in WoW: Forever?
Blizzard lists it at levels 28-33 in a blue post from September 15, 2026. Beta tuning can still shift mob levels.
Where is the City of Dalaran entrance?
Under Dalaran in Alterac Mountains, through the sewers. You need the Dalaran Sewer Key from the attunement quests.
Can Horde enter Dalaran in WoW: Forever?
On the beta, Horde could enter after the dungeon chain. Josh Greenfield said full access is not intended and Horde Kirin Tor reputation is being removed.
Is the City of Dalaran dungeon live now?
Only on the beta, since the October 8, 2026 build. It will be part of the game when WoW: Forever launches on November 4, 2026.
Sources
- Blizzard forums: Krol'dok Stronghold (official level ranges)
- Blizzard forums: WoW Forever Beta Development Notes (October 8)
- Blizzard: What's Next Panel Recap
- Blizzard: Deep Dive Panel Recap
- Blizzard: Get to Know the Legacy System
- Wowhead: Horde attunement for City of Dalaran
- Wowhead: Beta week 4 content
- Wowhead: Horde welcome in Dalaran after the dungeon
- Wowhead: Secret boss in City of Dalaran
- Icy Veins: Horde players aren't welcome in Dalaran
- Method.gg: City of Dalaran dungeon guide