World of Warcraft unveils Curse of Ula’tek patch and Venomous Abyss raid for August 2026

Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that Patch 12.1, titled “Curse of Ula’tek,” will be released on 11 August 2026. The update adds the new Coiled Isle zone, introduces “Lairs” – instanced world‑boss encounters that scale with group size – and provides a zone‑specific talent tree called the Altar of Corrosion along with other quality‑of‑life features.

Midnight Season 2 launches a week later on 18 August, bringing the eight‑boss Venomous Abyss raid set in the Vaults of Atal’Utek beneath the Coiled Isle. The raid culminates in a battle against the ancient serpent goddess Ula’tek and is accompanied by a refreshed Mythic+ rotation, new PvP rewards, and additional Season 2 content such as new delves and pre‑season mechanics.