For months, players have followed the trail leading to a seemingly non-existent Cow Level in Diablo 4. Since the game’s launch in June, dedicated members within the Diablo 4 community have pursued this elusive secret level, reminiscent of the meme-turned-reality in earlier versions of the Diablo series.
The Secret Cow Level saga dates back to decades ago when Blizzard had denied the rumors of its existence in Diablo. It eventually materialized in Diablo 2 as a secret postgame bonus level and maintained its presence in Diablo 3, the Diablo 4 version remains shrouded in mystery. However, thanks to the relentless efforts of dedicated players and communities, specifically the Cow Level Secret Finding Discord, they’re on the cusp of unlocking this level. The chase intensified with the discovery that players could obtain three items that could play a key role in crafting the key to unlocking the truth.
This key, as rumored, could open the Forlorn Hovel – a space from which a portal leading to the Secret Cow Level might spawn.
The meticulous examination by “Not Finding a Cow Level” Discord channel and as detailed by Grampa Joe suggests that players need to slay 666 cows to acquire one of these crucial relics. An intriguing caveat, as disclosed by an insider from the Cow Level Secret Finding Discord, is that players can earn only one relic each week. This means that the hunt for the Cow King would span a few weeks unless players collaborate, especially since these relics can be traded.
In a curious turn of events, Blizzard temporarily suspended the trading of these items, further complicating the quest to find this riddle. Furthermore, despite indications from dataminers and players about the level’s existence, Blizzard has maintained a firm stance of denial, with the game’s director Rod Fergusson stating that the game’s dark, gothic themes don’t accommodate such a secret level.
However, this hasn’t stopped fans from trying. Data mining, a technique where players sift through game code to find hidden clues, has further fueled the excitement. Recent information following the inception of Diablo 4’s second season has spotlighted the importance of three relics: the Musty Tome, Bloody Wooden Shard, and Metallic Fragment. To get these relics, one must hunt cows in specific regions, namely Kehijstan or Hawezar, Dry Steppes, and Scosglen or Fractured Peaks.
These relics, once in possession, lead players to a mysterious Cow Fountain in Ken Bardhu. Here, the items undergo a purification process, resulting in a key for the Forlorn Hovel, situated in Scosglen’s eastern region. However, this is the point where the trail grows cold. The Forlorn Hovel, despite its eerie ambiance with cows and deceased villagers, yields little more than a stamina potion upon slaying the bovine occupants. The potion, offering a mere five-minute buff, leaves players baffled about its actual purpose.
Seasoned players remember that the Cow King in Diablo 2 dropped eight stamina potions. Attempts to replicate this feat by consuming similar quantities of the potions have had zero results. Suggestions include the consumption of the range from consuming the potions during specific sequences in the game to calculating patterns based on cow markings.
Popular streamers are also diving into the hunt, trying various techniques with the help of their viewers. However, what remains a mystery is the actual existence of the Secret Cow Level in Diablo 4. All the clues from datamined information and the adventurous trials of players, but Blizzard hasn’t acknowledged the game’s official patch notes at all.
It’s not impossible for Blizzard to introduce the Secret Cow Level in a future patch. This explains why players can’t find it in Diablo 4 right now – it’s because it doesn’t exist in the game. If this is true, Blizzard could “toggle” the switch to make the discovery of the Secret Cow Level in Diablo 4 possible as early as BlizzCon 2023 on November 3-4 or around the same time Mephisto arrives as the big baddie of the first Diablo 4 expansion at some point in the future.
Ultimately, Diablo fans remain hopeful. Their unwavering dedication to unlocking the Cow Level proves the connection between players and the intricate, enigmatic world of Diablo 4. The quest continues, with fans globally waiting for the day the cows finally, well, come home.
For now, those interested can check out Diablo 4 for free on Battle.net.
