Since launch, Diablo 4 has been missing one of the franchise’s most iconic secrets: the hidden Cow Level. Despite multiple seasons and even the Vessel of Hatred expansion, nothing concrete has surfaced so far around the Cow Level.
Now, with the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion launching in April 2026, the theory is back, and even louder than ever.
Players Think It Might Finally Happen
A recent Reddit thread discusses the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion, and many players are wondering if it could be the moment Blizzard pulls the trigger. The reasoning is a growing collection of suspicious items that mirror past Cow Level requirements.
In Diablo 2, players combined Wirt’s Leg and a Tome of Town Portal in the Horadric Cube. For Diablo 3, things worked a little differently. You had to craft the Staff of Herding that opened access to a similar secret, Whimsyshire.
And in Diablo 4, there is nothing concrete yet. However, players have already discovered a few Cow-related items and events:
- A Relic drops after you kill 666 Cows in under 666,666 seconds of killing the first cow
- A Bloody Wooden Shard if you kill a cow from Kehjistan or Hawezar. The Shard is said to have the letter “W” carved on it. This is referencing Wirt’s leg that you needed in D2 for the Cow Level
- A Musty Tome item that also references Diablo 2’s Cow Level
- Some other items that also reference Diablo 2’s Cow Level
- A Key to the Forlorn Hovel obtained by dropping the other items inside the Cow fountain in Ked Bardu
- You can obtain a potion by using the key in a home at the very east of Scosglen
- After that, more steps are unlocked in Vessel of Hatred
None of them leads anywhere meaningful right now, but it might be soon. A lot of community members gathered together to figure out all the current “steps.” If you are intrigued by it, you can take a look at Wowhead, as they did a perfect job in recording everything in detail.
What About the Horadric Cube?
Some players believe that once Lord of Hatred introduces the Horadric Cube system, the current final steps could finally combine into something, possibly crafting a special key, sigil, or compass that will then open the portal to the Cow Level.
Right now, it is pure speculation, of course. All of this might just be funny easter eggs. The dev did mention before that they try to keep Diablo 4 “as grounded as possible.” But it is starting to become a little bit suspicious.
Not Everyone is Convinced
Some players argue that Blizzard has, indeed, simply seeded these items as long-running Easter eggs to keep the myth alive, nothing more.
Others point out that previous Cow Levels were linked closely to Tristram and Diablo himself, and neither of those is in Diablo 4’s current storyline. This led a lot of players to believe that until Diablo really appears, we will most likely not get any secret level.
An Important Part of Diablo
The Cow Level is not just a meme, but a big part of Diablo’s identity. For many players, the secret level in Diablo 2 and the absurdity of Whimsyshire in Diablo 3 are some of the best moments of the franchise.
That is why every Diablo 4 expansion pushes players to wonder if Blizzard finally added it or not. Of course, if they did add it to Lord of Hatred, they would most likely not officially announce it until some players actually find it.
And until then, the hunt continues.
There is currently no data-mined confirmation of a Cow Level in Diablo 4. But if Blizzard ever does add one, Lord of Hatred would be the perfect time, especially since the Horadric Cube returns.
Until April 2026, it remains what it has always been: a rumor and a simple theory, and a lot of “moo” in Reddit comment sections.
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