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Is Cow Level Good for Rune Farming? The Definitive Guide

Yes, the Secret Cow Level in Diablo 2: Resurrected is a good place for rune farming, especially for certain runes. While not the absolute best for the highest runes, its consistent monster density, relatively easy clear speed, and access to a wide range of rune drops makes it a worthwhile farming location for players of all levels.

Understanding the Cow Level Advantage

The Cow Level’s strength in rune farming stems from several key factors:

High Monster Density: The level is teeming with Hell Bovines, making it one of the densest areas in the game. More monsters mean more opportunities for runes to drop.
Relative Ease of Clearing: While the Cows in Hell difficulty are level 81, they don’t possess particularly dangerous abilities or immunities, making them relatively easy to dispatch with most builds. This allows for fast clear speeds.
Wide Range of Rune Drops: While Normal Cow Level can only drop up to Dol Rune, Nightmare and Hell Cow levels can drop a much wider range of runes. Hell Cows can drop up to Zod rune, making it theoretically possible to find even the rarest runes.
Good for Runeword Bases: The Cow Level is also excellent for finding socketable Runeword Bases. Often times the best Runeword Bases are dropped from Cows, and players who are looking for Runeword Bases and Runes will find Cow Level to be perfect.
No Need for Magic Find (MF): While MF helps find Unique and Set items, it has minimal impact on rune drops. This means you can focus on optimizing your build for clear speed rather than MF.

Cow Level vs. Other Rune Farming Locations

While the Cow Level is good for rune farming, it’s important to consider how it stacks up against other popular locations:

Chaos Sanctuary: The Chaos Sanctuary, particularly with the Seal popping strategy, can offer competitive rune drops, particularly for the highest runes. The Chaos Sanctuary can also drop higher runes.
Worldstone Keep/Throne of Destruction: These areas are decent for rune finding, but tend to be less consistent than Cows or Chaos due to lower monster density in certain areas.
Travincal: The Council members in Travincal have a higher chance to drop specific items and runes, but the area can be dangerous and slower to clear than Cows for many builds.
Lower Kurast (LK) Super Chests: These super chests have a fixed drop pattern and can be exploited for high runes, particularly in single-player mode with map seeds. Farming Lower Kurast is tedious, but the area’s ability to generate high runes is undisputed.

Ultimately, the “best” rune farming location depends on your character’s build, clear speed, and personal preference. The Cow Level offers a consistent and enjoyable experience for many players.

Optimizing Your Cow Level Rune Farming

To maximize your rune farming efficiency in the Cow Level:

Prioritize Clear Speed: Build your character and gear setup around quickly dispatching hordes of Cows. Area-of-effect damage is key.
Use the Right Gear: Don’t over-invest in Magic Find. Focus on +skills, faster cast rate, and resistances.
Consider Player Count: Increasing the player count (either through /players command in single-player or by playing in a multiplayer game) increases the monster density and the chance of runes dropping.
Don’t Ignore Other Drops: While focusing on runes, remember that Cows also drop valuable charms, jewels, gems, and Runeword Bases, which can be traded for runes.
Reroll Maps: If your Cow Level map layout is poor (e.g., lots of dead ends), consider remaking the game to get a more efficient layout.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Highest Rune Normal Cows Can Drop?

The highest rune that can drop in the Normal Cow Level is the Dol Rune.

2. Is the Cow Level Worth Farming?

Yes! The Secret Cow Level is a great farming spot for Runeword Bases, Charms, Runes, Jewels, and Gems.

3. Is Chaos or Cows Better for High Runes?

For the absolute highest runes like Ber and Jah, Chaos Sanctuary might have a slight edge due to the unique monsters. However, Cows can be on par or even better depending on how fast you can clear each area.

4. How Many Cow Runs Does It Take to Get a Ber Rune?

On average, you might find a high rune approximately once every 350 Cow Runs at 1 player setting. The chance of a Ber Rune dropping from Hell Cows is roughly 1:730,000.

5. What is the Best Rune Farming Weapon?

There is no single “best” weapon for rune farming. Focus on gear that maximizes your clear speed and damage output for your chosen build. However, in Elden Ring, the Sacred Relic Sword is really good for Rune Farming.

6. When Should I Do Cow Level?

To access the Secret Cow Level, you must have killed Baal in the same difficulty. It’s recommended to be at least level 75+ before tackling Hell Cows.

7. How Many Times Can You Run Cow Level?

You can run the Cow Level as many times as you want, as long as you don’t receive quest credit for killing the Cow King.

8. How Do You Get to the Secret Cow Level?

Go to the Rogue Encampment in Act I, place one Tome of Town Portal and Wirt’s Leg into the Horadric Cube, and hit the Transmute button. A Red Portal will open to the Secret Cow Level.

9. Can You Enter the Cow Level Without Killing Baal?

No, you must kill Baal in each difficulty to access the corresponding Cow Level.

10. Can You Open the Cow Level Multiple Times?

Yes! Diablo 2: Resurrected fixed the issue of not being able to re-open the portal, so you can create new portals as many times as you like.

11. What is the Fastest Rune Farm?

While this article focuses on Diablo 2, in Elden Ring, the entrance to Mohgwyn’s Palace is considered one of the fastest rune farming locations.

12. What is the Best Rune Farming Gear in Elden Ring?

In Elden Ring, using items like the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot or the Golden Scarab can significantly increase the number of runes you acquire.

13. Why is Ber Rune So Expensive?

The Ber Rune is highly sought after due to its use in many popular runewords and its desirable properties like crushing blow and damage reduction.

14. Is Lower Kurast Worth Farming?

Yes! Lower Kurast (LK) Super Chests are an excellent source of high runes, charms, and crafting materials.

15. Can You Still Make Cow Level After Killing the Cow King?

Yes! Killing the Cow King in Diablo 2: Resurrected does not prevent you from opening new portals to the Secret Cow Level.

Conclusion: Moo-ve Over and Get Farming!

The Cow Level remains a fantastic option for rune farming in Diablo 2: Resurrected. Its consistent monster density, relative ease of clearing, and potential for a wide range of rune drops make it a valuable farming location for players of all levels. So, grab your best weapon, prepare for a stampede of bovines, and get ready to find some runes! While you’re at it, consider how the mechanics of Diablo 2 can influence learning principles. You can learn more about the intersection of gaming and education at sites like GamesLearningSociety.org.

Is cow level good for rune farming?