Fresh meat is back around the menu, and you are the main course.

If you've run into the Butcher in Diablo 4, then you didn't survive to inform the tale. He's a familiar face if you have played the earlier Diablo games, even though he's not a primary boss within this one, he is able to show up at virtually any time to provide you with the timely reminder that running is another viable tactic. He moves fast, hits hard, and is not scared of mopping the ground with you, but If you'll still want to discover the Diablo 4 Butcher and then try to take him down, here are a few pointers.

Diablo 4 Butcher: How to find him

The Butcher doesn't come in any set location in Diablo 4. Instead, he's a distinctive boss who turns up randomly as you're exploring the dungeons strewn across Sanctuary. I've only personally encountered him once while I was leveling, though our other Guides Writer, Sean, ran into him twice while farming the short dungeon, Anica's Claim. PC Gamer Global EIC Evan Lahti encountered him in the first four hours of Diablo 4 co-op and couldn't bring him down having a team of three.

It appears as if the Butcher won't come into the open world so your best bet if you wish to run into him—or for him to encounter you, axe first—is to invest as much time as possible inside dungeons. Of course, you'll still need to depend on RNG for him to appear, but you will have more of an opportunity of that happening, instead of someone that spends the majority of their time in the outdoors world.

How to Conquer the Butcher

There's no making your way around the fact that the Butcher is among the toughest threats we've presented in Diablo 4. If you meet him while leveling, it's highly unlikely that you'll survive the encounter if you don't have a particularly tanky class like barbarian or druid. If you play a sorcerer much like me, you'll wish to get yourself from there as quickly as your teleport and/or evade allows.

In my case, I was dead when I realized he was there to ensure that basically removed any real have to learn some of his attacks. If you do wish to be prepared for when, or if, he pays a surprise visit, listed here are the moves you'll have to react to:

Basic attack: The Butcher will swing his cleaver and sickle inside a sweeping melee attack. This is the only attack that does not stun you.

Hook: If you try to create some space between you, the Butcher will endeavor to pull you to his location together with his hook. This also briefly stuns you so you will be unlikely to dodge any follow-up attack.

Roar: This AoE attack may also stun you, so get from the way as quickly as possible.

Headbutt: Another attack and stun combo to prevent. He lifts his left leg before he does it but it is fast so be cautious.

Charge: The Butcher charges you down by trying to get away, inflicting massive damage and stunning you.

If you're determined to stand your ground, your best choice is to attempt to stay behind him, this way, besides the roar, the majority of his attacks should miss. That said, he's a pretty impressive attack speed, so you will need quick reactions to get from the way of some of his quicker attacks. If you have to escape unconditionally, consider his charge and hook, each of which can spell death for you personally if you're not prepared to dodge from the way. If you do have the ability to kill him, you will have the opportunity to get The Butcher's Cleaver's unique weapon, which has the opportunity to fear and slow enemies on hit. Though similar to his spawn rate, this drop is right down to luck.

If the Butcher kills you, he'll despawn, and you'll have to pray to the RNG gods if you would like another opportunity to fight him. Likewise, for too long to kill him, there's also an opportunity he'll disappear—clearly, the Butcher is picky about his opponents.