Reaching the Secret Cow Level normally means working through one of the game's more elaborate hidden quest chains, defeating the Cow King and then farming enough Prime Ribs to continue toward the Bovine Sanctum and Moophisto. That is perfectly reasonable if your definition of reasonable includes secret relics, suspicious altars and livestock with boss mechanics.
Fortunately, there is a considerably faster route.
Players can obtain five Prime Ribs directly from a quest involving the Butcher in Old Tristram, allowing them to reach the Bovine Sanctum without first farming the Cow King inside the Secret Cow Level.
Start With the Wounded Townsman in Old Tristram
The shortcut begins in Old Tristram, so you still need access to Season 15's recreated version of the original Diablo town. We previously covered the route there while explaining how Old Tristram eventually leads into Uber Tristram and the Hellfire Torch.
Once inside Old Tristram, head toward the Cathedral in the northern part of town. Outside you can find the Wounded Townsman, another wonderfully unpleasant callback to the original Diablo.
Speak to him and pick up the quest to hunt down the Butcher.
The Butcher can be found inside The Labyrinth, Diablo IV's anniversary capstone dungeon in Scosglen. Kill him while completing the quest and the reward includes five Prime Ribs.
Five.
Exactly the number we need.
You Can Skip Farming the Cow King for Your First Five Ribs
Until now, the obvious source for Prime Ribs was the Cow King. He drops them inside Diablo IV's Secret Cow Level, alongside some of the stranger rewards Blizzard has attached to Season 15's enormous bovine conspiracy.
We have already looked at how players are assembling the hidden Bovine cosmetic set, with different pieces scattered across cow-related activities. The Cow King is also responsible for one of Diablo IV's finest joke items, the wonderfully ridiculous Cow King's Crown.
The problem is getting to him.
Diablo IV's Cow Level quest remains unusually complicated, and we have repeatedly covered players becoming soft-locked by the Hadopelagic Key portion of the hidden chain. For anyone stuck there, or simply more interested in Moophisto than solving the entire cow archaeology project first, the Butcher route is far more useful.
Take the Prime Ribs to the Altar of the Heifer
Once you have the five Prime Ribs, travel to Skovos and use the Tyrael's Encampment waypoint. Head east into Celestia until you find the Altar of the Heifer.
Interact with the altar while carrying all five Prime Ribs and you can enter the Bovine Sanctum.
Importantly, this first interaction does not consume the ribs.
Once inside, activate the Bovine Sanctum waypoint immediately. The area includes Bovine versions of a Blacksmith, Jeweler and Occultist, because apparently even supernatural cattle understand that every proper Diablo endgame hub needs crafting services.
North of the waypoint is another Altar of the Heifer. This is where the five Prime Ribs are actually consumed to summon Moophisto, the Divine Bovine.
The Cow Level Is Still Worth Visiting
This shortcut does not make the Secret Cow Level obsolete.
The Cow King still has unique rewards, Prime Ribs remain useful for additional Moophisto summons, and Season 15's broader cow mystery includes cosmetics, secrets and enough historical references to keep Diablo archaeologists occupied for considerably longer than any sensible game about killing demons should manage.
But if your immediate goal is simply reaching the Bovine Sanctum, the Butcher quest provides a much cleaner route.
Go to Old Tristram.
Talk to the Wounded Townsman.
Kill the Butcher.
Take your five Prime Ribs to Skovos.
For once, Diablo IV's secret cow content has become simpler.
We should probably enjoy that while it lasts.
