How to Beat the Butcher in Diablo IV

The Butcher is one of several returning enemies in Diablo IV and provides a unique challenge for players exploring the world of Sanctuary. While you cannot purposefully spawn The Butcher, you can run into this fearsome demon at random in dungeons. Defeating The Butcher will grant you a unique title that can be displayed through your player profile. But if unprepared, I think you’ll find this specific boss in Diablo IV hard to beat.

While not the best piece of advice, I think if you are low level and are not playing a Rogue, Sorcerer, or Necromancer, it is best to run from The Butcher. This boss will absolutely shred through your health, and unless if you are capable of kiting the boss around the environment you will find yourself at a loss. And if you lose, The Butcher will disappear from the dungeon. Again, this boss appears at random, so if you see The Butcher you will either want to run or capitalize on its appearance.

If you are a Rogue, Sorcerer, or Necromancer, kiting is the way to do it. Necromancers can thankfully use their minions to tank The Butcher in Diablo IV, but will still find this boss relatively hard to beat as it will shred through the HP of your summoned skeletons. Stunning The Butcher is also an option with Druids through the Pulverize build, but you will take a lot of damage in turn.

Keep in mind that The Butcher will drop health orbs at 75%, 50%, and 25% health like all bosses in the game. So if you can kite it out or even trade with the boss until these health points, you stand a chance. Vulnerability and CC effects like freezing will be your best bet for this fight. CC for creating breathing room, and Vulnerability for increased damage.

I advise you to not fight The Butcher below level 10, though it is possible, and to handle the boss with a group. While The Butcher will primarily focus on one target, you can actually cause the boss to switch targets based on damage done and proximity. Rogues and Sorcerers have a range advantage, and the Druid to some extent depending on builds, but Barbarians will find them hard pressed in a solo situation. Sometimes running is the best option, so don’t feel bad if you end up dying or teleporting out of the dungeon through a Scroll of Escape or just leaving in general.

Diablo IV is available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.