Since Diablo 4 was released in June 2023, players have been trying to find the secret Cow Level, which has long been known as the most famous Easter egg in the series. With the release of Lord of Hatred, the second expansion, the level is now within reach. Even the devs themselves hint at this.
What kind of level is it? Since Diablo 2, there has been the secret Cow Level in the Diablo series, a place that officially does not exist and whose existence is vehemently denied by developers – although players have obviously already entered it.
In Diablo 4, no method has yet been found to open the level, if it is even implemented. The closest approach so far has been through coins, which various players must throw into a fountain.
Why does everyone want to find it? Mainly because of the memes. The Cow Level is simply cult and many players want to find it just because it is a secret of the game that needs to be unraveled.
However, the Cow Level has also served as a good farming source. In Diablo 2, for instance, it was the best spot to farm base items for runewords. In Diablo 3, it was relatively easy to open and more efficient than other farming routes, provided you had the necessary ingredients for the portal.
Already in Vessel of Hatred, there were new breadcrumbs to the Cow Level. Now Lord of Hatred, the second expansion of Diablo 4, is being released, bringing new content for the game. Some of these are apparently important for the secret.
The Warlock as the final piece for a complex puzzle
Presumably the most obvious next step for opening the Cow Level is the Warlock as a new class in Diablo 4. The already mentioned wishing well has various effects.
The more characters throw one of the strange coins in there, the more effects occur. There has already been a mini-level found that way. However, the puzzle has hit a dead end here – even after the Paladin’s release.
With the Warlock, an 8th class is added, and for the first time in the history of Diablo 4, each main attribute (strength, dexterity, intelligence, and willpower) has two heroes that utilize it. This feels “complete.”
Thus, the final step to the Cow Level might already be hidden here, certainly another step towards solving a puzzle, if not the level itself.
The Horadric Cube is a key item for the Cow Level
With Lord of Hatred, the Horadric Cube returns. If you don’t know it: this feature serves as a new crafting opportunity. You put items and materials into it and from various recipes arise different effects, such as:
- Upgrade items in their quality or create Legendaries
- Add or reroll affixes
- Transmute runes etc.
What is, however, more exciting is: the developers have already announced that there will be “secret recipes” for the cube. This feature already existed in Diablo 2 and Diablo 3 (there under the name “Kanai’s Cube”).
In both games, the cube was important for creating secret items or opening levels – for example, a portal to the realm of goblins or to a “place that does not exist”, namely the Cow Level. That the cube will also play a role in Diablo 4 for secrets is almost certain.
Cows in Water: Fishing as the key to the secret level?
The last and probably least conspicuous feature related to the Cow Level is the new fishing feature from Lord of Hatred. Yes, you can fish and catch fish – but also other things, such as:
- a cowbell
- or monsters
As Diablo expert Rob explains in a video on YouTube, it is very possible that the bell will have a special effect when placed in the Horadric Cube. However, the more exciting possibility might be to fish for monsters.
Because in the last livestream before release, on April 23, the developers wore very striking T-shirts: one with an apparently submerged monster and two with a sort of cross between a cow and a blobfish (on YouTube). They said during the stream to pay attention to what else may be lurking in the depths of the sea.
To further heat things up, there was also a cup with a cow-dotted pattern and blood splatters on the desk of one of the developers.
Starting on April 28 at 1:00 AM, you can hunt for the secret yourself (or wait until the collective of gamers with a lot of brains has solved it).
Even without the Cow Level, Lord of Hatred offers strong content, not just in the endgame. The campaign alone, which is already significantly longer than that of Vessel of Hatred, offers some exciting moments: Even after 10 hours straight in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, I didn’t want to stop
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!