Diablo 4 secret cow level: How to find, Relic locations, more

Diablo 4’s secret cow level continues the legend of the franchise’s most popular easter egg. Here’s how to find and clear the secret cow level in Diablo 4 called Forlorn Hovel.

In Diablo 4 Season 4 players can farm Uniques in the new Helltides, and in the Artificier’s Pit. But the cow level is still a source of excitement and fun for players, and every fan of Diablo should know everything about this Easter Egg.

So, here’s how to find the cow level easter egg in Diablo 4, including puzzle mechanics and Relic locations.

• What is the cow level in Diablo 4?
• Where to find Diablo 4 cow level hints in-game
• How to get the Three Relics to access the cow level
• How to cleanse the Relics to access the Diablo 4 cow level
• Where is the cow level in Diablo 4
• Cow level rewards in Diablo 4

What is the cow level in Diablo 4?

Forlorn Hovel is the cow level in Diablo 4 and unsurprisingly, it is a dungeon filled with cows. Players can access it by completing a tricky quest that requires them to find and cleanse Relics.

The cow level was a hoax that originated in the first Diablo game, with players claiming that clicking on cows in certain areas would open up a portal to a secret cow level. This was further fueled by edited images showing what this level looked like.

As a result of its popularity, Blizzard ended up adding the cow level to Diablo 2 as endgame content. Players would then hop into the level to battle cows that were known as Hell Bovines along with their leader, The Cow King. There were also references to this level in Diablo 3.

Where to find Diablo 4 secret cow level hints

The hints to access the Diablo 4 cow level can be found in the fountain in Ked Bardu. Interacting with the following items will give players hints to drop items in the water and kill cows:

• The Oxen God of the East statue – 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.
• The Old Tablet – The crumbling stone has a few discernable words: “…spill their blood to be deemed worthy…”.

Here’s the exact location of the fountain in Ked Bardu:

After gathering these hints, you can start looking for the three Relics and cleansing them which is directly related to the number of cows you’ve killed across the Sanctuary.

How to get the Three Relics to access the cow level in Diablo 4

Diablo 4 has a per-player counter for cows which tracks the number of cows you’ve killed in the open world. Killing the 666th cow drops a Relic, and the item you get is based on the region you kill this cow.

Here’s how to get all three Relics:

• Bloody Wooden Shard – Kill the 666th cow in Kehjistan or Hawezar and the loot will include this Relic.
• Intricate Metallic Fragment – Kill the 666th cow in Dry Steppes and the loot will include this Relic.
• Musty Tome – Kill the 666th cow in Fractured Peaks or Scosglen and the loot will include this Relic.

A few things to keep in mind as you collect these Relics:

• You can only get one Relic per character per week.
• The Relics act as global drops meaning other players in the world can pick them. You can use this feature to collect multiple Relics by grinding together. However, the cow level only opens for the player with the key.

How to cleanse the Relics to access the cow level

Cleansing the Relics to access the cow level in Diablo 4 is as simple as going back to the fountain in Ked Bardu and dropping the items in the water. Doing so should allow you to interact with the remaining Oxen God of the West, North, and South statues, which eventually drops the Strange Key.

Although the Strange Key doesn’t provide you with any valuable hints, you can now head to the Forlorn Hovel in Diablo 4 and try out the cow level for yourself.

Where is the cow level in Diablo 4

The cow level in Diablo 4 called Forlorn Hovel is a story dungeon located on the eastern edge of Highland Winds in Scosglen. You can find the exact location in the image below:

Going to the marked location and using the Strange Key will let you enter the Cellar. You’ll lose the key in the process but the dungeon will permanently remain unlocked for you. However, if you’re in a party, other players will have to teleport in.

Cow level rewards in Diablo 4

The cow level in Diablo 4 is filled with cows staring at villagers they’ve killed. Your goal is to defeat all these cows and the final one will drop a Stamina Potion. This consumable item grants an unusual status effect for 5 minutes but doesn’t trigger anything new, and for now, this seems like the end of the quest tied to the cow level.

To sum it all up, you need to follow these steps to find the cow level in Diablo 4:

1. Get the hints from the Ked Bardu fountain.
2. Kill 1998 cows throughout Sanctuary. Every 666th cow you kill will drop a Relic depending on the region you’re in. Strategically plan this process to get all three Relics as quickly as possible.
3. Cleanse the Relics in the fountain to get the key.
4. Use the key to access the cow level and get the Stamina Potion.

And that’s how you can enter the secret cow level in Diablo 4. Looking to try a new build? Here are some tips to build a Season 4 Necromancer, or maybe the Barbarian and Druid suit you best.