Is the secret cow level in Diablo 4 real or not?

The scramble to find Wirt’s Leg

Diablo fans have become accustomed to seeking out the magical land of the glorious bovine beasts since it was discovered in Diablo 2. The secret level made a return in Diablo 3, sparking the discussion: Does it exist in Diablo 4? Finding and accessing the special area in previous games rewarded players with lots of loot. Therefore, the desire to find out if it does indeed exist certainly makes sense.

So is the secret cow level in Diablo 4 real or not?

Short answer: Probably.

While no secret cow level has been found in Diablo 4, some signs point toward its existence. Before Diablo 4‘s release, executive producer Rod Fergusson stated there would be “no cow level” in the game due to its more serious tone. But fans recently noticed four Oxen God Statues located around a fountain in the city of Ked Bardu, and think Fergusson may have been trying to mislead them.

In Ked Bardu, the fountain with the four statues has a rather intriguing message when interacting with it:

“The crumbling stone has a few discernable words: …spill their blood to be deemed worthy…”

Furthermore, one of the four statues named Oxen God of the East is also interactable. When you do so, you get another message:

“The Oxen Gods stand as guardians to this sacred fountain. It is said that one who presents a worthy offering cleansed in these waters may gain their blessing.”

While this can certainly be just flavor text or an easter egg referencing previous cow levels, it could also be a clue to finding the secret cow level. Solving the riddle of the Oxen God of the East may unlock the next clue, or even another statue.

Data mining adds fuel to the fire

A special discord server called the D4 – Not Finding A Cow Level has been working around the clock to try and find the truth about the secret cow level. Data mining has further pushed the claim this level probably does exist. First, several secret items seem to exist in the game files. A Bloody Wooden Shard, a Musty Tome, and an Intricate Metallic Fragment are all labeled as Quest Items but no one has seen them in game. There’s also an item called Strange Key that has a very obvious C-shape at the top. You know, “C” for “Cow Level”.

Further data mining seems to suggest that once you cleanse the relics above at the fountain, you get the key. It’s believed the key is then taken to the Forlorn Hovel and used to open a cellar that will lead to the secret cow level.

Unfortunately, none of the mentioned items have been found yet in-game. It’s possible they simply haven’t been enabled, and will do so in a future patch. It’s also possible that we just haven’t sompleted the necessary special hidden tasks to get them to drop.

In the meantime, believers of the Secret Cow Level have posted an infographic on the Diablo 4 reddit.

You could find the cow level! Please check out this infographic!
byu/FsA_Redeemed indiablo4

If you’re interested in joining the search, check your quest items tab for any of the above relics. You might hold the key to confirming if the secret cow level in Diablo 4 is real or not!