Raids & bosses
WoW Classic Raid Lockouts & Resets
A raid lockout determines how often you can clear an instance and get loot. Understanding resets is key to planning your raid week. This guide covers how raid and dungeon lockouts work in Vanilla.
Contents
What a raid lockout is
When you enter a raid and kill the first boss (or simply enter), a saved instance ID is created. While the lock is active you're bound to that copy of the raid: killed bosses stay dead, and you can't enter a fresh instance through another group. The lock resets on schedule — then all bosses respawn.
Raid reset schedule
Different raids reset at different intervals:
| Raid | Reset period |
|---|---|
| Molten Core | 7 days |
| Blackwing Lair | 7 days |
| Naxxramas | 7 days |
| Temple of Ahn'Qiraj (AQ40) | 7 days |
| Onyxia | 5 days |
| Zul'Gurub | 3 days |
| Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj (AQ20) | 3 days |
Onyxia, ZG and AQ20 reset more often — so you can farm them several times a week.
◆How to check your lockout
- Hover over the raid portal — the saved status pops up.
- The group/raid interface shows saved instances and killed bosses.
- Organizer addons display a timer until the reset.
◆Dungeon lockouts (5-mans)
Normal dungeons have no weekly lock, but there is a cap on entries: no more than 5 instances per hour per account. If you're farming dungeons back-to-back (e.g. Stratholme for reputation), take a break so you don't hit the limit.
Practical tips
- Plan your raid week: weekly raids first (MC/BWL), then frequent ones (Ony/ZG).
- Don't enter a raid by accident — reaching bosses can create a lock.
- Farm instances (ZG, AQ20) are handy to clear between big raids for loot and reputation.
- Changing difficulty/group doesn't reset the lock — it's tied to the ID until reset.
◆Planning progression
Knowing resets, build a schedule: pre-raid gear from dungeons → attunements → first raid → weekly runs. The full endgame plan is in the "what to do at 60" guide.
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FAQ
?How often does Molten Core reset?
Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, Naxxramas and AQ40 reset every 7 days. Onyxia every 5 days, Zul'Gurub and AQ20 every 3 days.
?Can I clear one raid twice a week?
Weekly raids (MC, BWL, Naxx) — no, until the reset. But Onyxia, Zul'Gurub and AQ20 with short resets can be farmed several times a week.
?What is the 5-instances-per-hour limit?
It's a cap on entering normal dungeons: no more than five instances per hour per account. When farming 5-mans intensively, take breaks to avoid the limit.
?Is the lockout reset when I change groups?
No. The saved instance ID stays with you until the scheduled reset, regardless of a group change or relog.
Related
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