Diablo 4 is currently experiencing an influx of new players through Game Pass, some of whom have never played Diablo before. For some, a particular enemy is the biggest surprise – and the biggest curse. The Butcher is considered the deadliest foe in Blizzard’s game, and rightly so.
What is the Butcher all about?
- The Butcher, in English: “Butcher”, is a boss that can randomly appear in any dungeon.
- You have a chance each time for the demon to be waiting in a room, greeting you with the words “Ah, fresh meat!”.
- In the community, the surprise effect of the Butcher has been well received since release, and fans are celebrating: It’s like in a horror movie. Only new players are currently caught off guard by the Butcher.
This is what new players are experiencing: Threads keep appearing on Reddit complaining about a powerful enemy that makes life difficult for players. A horned devil would suddenly appear and slam an axe in their face.
A player desperately asks for help (via Reddit). He fought for 15 minutes, couldn’t kill the Butcher, and then died. The community finds this amusing, stating that it was exactly their experience with the Butcher – but that was almost 30 years ago.
Because the boss originates from the dark Diablo 1, released in 1996. Accordingly, many veterans have fond memories of the enemy who tore them apart back then, just like new players today.
The Butcher can even appear in basements. You should visit them more often, as it can really pay off:
Who is the Butcher now and how do I defeat him?
Actually, there is no “the Butcher”; Butchers are a type of demon that are made up of body parts from other demons. Accordingly, they do not see all living (and dead) beings as creatures, but as individual pieces.
Players first encounter the Butcher in Diablo 1. There, the demon was a boss, in a room full of corpses and blood, with locked doors in a dark dungeon. When players open the door, the Butcher charges at them with the iconic phrase: “Ah, fresh meat!” The Butcher later appeared in:
- Diablo 3 as a boss and pet, as well as his weapon as an item
- Diablo 2 (only mentioned, there is the axe “Butcher’s Pupil”)
- Heroes of the Storm as a playable hero
- Diablo Immortal as a boss
- and now in Diablo 4 as a random foe
The Butcher is not intended to be defeated at low levels. He is too strong for that: his melee attacks are stronger than most in the game, he is faster than you, and with his hook, he can simply pull you back.
However, there is a trick to recognize the Butcher before he can attack you. This way, he at least won’t surprise you, and you can go into battle prepared. A few tips:
- Find a pillar or a door, where you can just “lead the Butcher on a leash”.
- Don’t let him attack you; especially at low levels, you will die. You can only deal with the Butcher with the right build. You can find the best builds in our tier list.
- Share your healing potions; you’ll need them throughout the fight. No panic!
- The Butcher gets a shield again and again. If you can’t break it, it’s best to flee.
In any case, fleeing at low levels is the best option if you don’t have much experience – especially in hardcore mode. The Butcher retreats as soon as you escape or die. After that, the dungeon is free. If you happen to go down… don’t worry about it. The Butcher is one of the toughest bosses in the entire Diablo franchise.
