The Diablo universe is filled with iconic bosses. Each one often has that one legendary line that echoes in players’ heads for years, and none can take the crown from the Butcher in that regard.
After appearing as arguably the most horrifying boss in Diablo and resurfacing in Diablo 3 and Diablo: Immortal, the Butcher is back for more action in Diablo 4. This time around, however, the chopmaster has a minor role in the game. Players eager to take on the boss might have a bit of difficulty finding him, however.
Below, we’ve got everything you need to know about where you can find the Butcher, how to beat it, and what type of loot you can expect to collect if you’re successful in your quest to not become fresh meat.
- Where to find the Butcher in Diablo 4
- The Butcher spawns in Diablo 4
- All loot drops from the Butcher in Diablo 4
- How to beat the Butcher in Diablo 4
Where to find the Butcher in Diablo 4
Unfortunately for those looking to pick a fight with the big boy in Diablo 4, there is no concrete way of finding him or making him spawn. The Butcher is a completely random encounter in Diablo 4, found in any of the game’s myriad dungeons. This means you don’t find the Butcher, but the Butcher finds you—and usually at the worst times.
It appears that the Butcher can spawn in any room in any dungeon in the game at random, and it can appear regardless of your character’s level. We’ve encountered the Butcher below level 20 in the Open Beta, and we’ve also seen this boss spawn throughout regular and Nightmare dungeons. You’ll know he has spawned once you hear his iconic “fresh meat” line, and his boss health bar will pop up soon after. In higher-tier Nightmare dungeons, he can also have a Barrier over his health, which makes him even tankier.
The Butcher spawns in Diablo 4
We’ve encountered the Butcher in several dungeons in Diablo 4. Our first run-in with him was in the Fractured Peaks during the open beta, and he’s popped up in a few dungeons (both Nightmare and Regular) in different regions when we were running them. We’ve spotted him in Aldurwood (Scosglen), Sirocco Caverns (Khejistan), Guulrahn Slums (Dry Steppes), and plenty of other locations.
We’ve also spotted the Butcher as an extremely rare appearance in a cellar. As we went into Savina Hideout in Fractured Peaks, the cellar had no enemies except for the Butcher, who greeted us with his usual horrifying voice line. You won’t see this happen often but don’t panic if this happens to you. Or rather, panic the appropriate amount when you see the Butcher coming at you. The odds of that happening are rare, though it’s a possibility whenever you enter a cellar.
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If you want to find the Butcher, you can continuously grind dungeons to maximize your chances of getting him to spawn, but the odds are stacked against you. We’ve had enough run-ins with him farming Nightmare dungeons to know it’s always a possibility, but we’ve also gone quite a few activities without ever bumping into him. Ultimately, finding the Butcher is a matter of luck and a numbers game (since running more dungeons means a higher likelihood of spawns). A core part of the endgame in Diablo 4 revolves around Nightmare dungeons, so prepare for a few run-ins with him.
All loot drops from the Butcher in Diablo 4
The Butcher in Diablo 4 drops the following loot:
- The Butcher’s Cleaver, a Unique one-handed axe (Barbarian and Druid only)
- The Butcher’s Trophy Cleaver, a Unique mount trophy
- Nightmare Dungeon Sigils
- Rare and Legendary items
- Potentially other Uniques (any enemy can drop them)
The Butcher’s Cleaver can be equipped by Barbarians and Druids since they’re the only classes that can use axes. It comes with a special Lucky Hit power that grants a 100 percent chance to Fear and Slow enemies by 70 percent for four seconds. You usually want to group enemies up, especially if you’re playing Whirlwind Barb, but this weapon’s cool factor alone might warrant giving it a spin. Don’t forget to yell “fresh meat” when you dive into a mob. There’s no evidence it helps your damage, but there’s also no scientific proof it doesn’t help your damage either.
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Don’t expect to get too much higher-quality gear from the Butcher, though. Like many other rare mobs in Diablo 4, the Butcher’s allure is more on the fight itself than on the rewards you’ll get from him. While the mount trophy and the potential for the Butcher’s Cleaver are exciting, odds are you’ll get some general Sacred or Ancestral items from him. But just surviving The Butcher can be a feat in itself.
How to beat the Butcher in Diablo 4
Despite being a random boss, the Butcher is obviously quite strong and can take down a player in a couple of hits. Higher-tier Nightmare dungeons will also put the Butcher far above your level (potentially dozens of levels), so he will be even more formidable—and even more terrifying. Regardless of the difficulty, he will probably be the hardest enemy in any dungeon, so know that if you’ve bested him, odds are you’ll make it through the final boss.
The Butcher will usually fixate on one player, switching targets after killing them. If he wipes your team, he will disappear in a blob of blood and you’ll have to save your revenge for another encounter. You’ll also have to be on the lookout for his hook pull, which will stun you for a couple of seconds—which is more than enough for the boss to pummel you if you can’t break free.
Because of that frantic, relentless moveset, high-mobility classes such as Sorcerer and Rogue have an advantage when it comes to kiting the Butcher. Barbarians and Druids can also use their Unstoppable abilities to escape the Butcher. When we were fighting off the Butcher as a Necromancer, we had to rely on Blood Mist as an escape from his hook, because otherwise we would be completely dead. Necromancers also don’t really have much mobility, so know you’ll have to try your best to kite him if he’s chasing you.
Lastly, the Butcher also has a strong attack that will stun you with the first hit, then he’ll unleash a series of blows while you’re defenseless. Again, Unstoppable and immunity to crowd control are vital in this fight.
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Though you should avoid most attacks from the Butcher (or risk losing a sizeable chunk of your HP), his stun attacks are the most dangerous tools in his arsenal. If you’re not using a melee class, putting some distance between him and you is essential since he mostly uses melee attacks. If you are playing a melee class, though, keep an eye on your health bar and reposition whenever needed. Drop potions when necessary. If you’re really in need, the Curative Elixir (available from the Pinch of Poison side quest in Gea Kul) will give you Unstoppable for one second, which is enough to help you when your cooldowns are spent.
If you’re using a Necromancer, boots with extra move speed will help you not fall behind too much, and if you’re using Bone Spear, you can try to make short work of the Butcher from a distance before he ever touches you. Save your Blood Mist for when you’re stunned and use its immunity to get away from him. Again, the Curative Elixir can be key here, so bind it to your quick bar for fast access.
Don’t think about using the immunity bubble at the end of a Nightmare Dungeon to fight the Butcher, though. He supposedly disappears as soon as you step into the bubble, according to player reports, so you’ll have to face him in regular combat—and you may need all the help you can get, especially on lower levels.
