The Butcher

So, you’ve heard whispers about 'The Butcher'—maybe in a dimly lit tavern of a gaming forum or while scrolling through Reddit at 2 a.m. Let’s cut through the noise (pun intended) and serve up a juicy, well-marbled guide to mastering *The Butcher* in Diablo II: Resurrected. Whether you’re a fresh-faced rogue or a seasoned demon-slayer, this walkthrough will sharpen your edge.

First off—why is The Butcher infamous? He’s not just some random meathead with a cleaver. Nope. He’s the first major boss many players encounter in Diablo II, lurking beneath Tristram in the Cathedral Level 1. And back in the day? He was notorious for one-hit KO-ing new characters. Legend has it, Blizzard added him *specifically* because early testers found the game too easy. Talk about a wake-up call.

Let’s break down the stats:

Yeah, those numbers look tame now—but remember, he hits fast and hard, especially on higher difficulties. His Crushing Blow ability can drain a chunk of your life bar in seconds. New players often rush in like they’re in a WWE match. Bad idea.

Here’s the pro tip: kiting is king. Use ranged characters like the Amazon with her Magic Arrow or the Necromancer with Bone Spear. Position yourself near the doorway, lure him out, then backpedal while attacking. He’ll chase, but you control the pace. Even melee builds (looking at you, Barbarians) should consider using Whirlwind from a distance to avoid getting cornered.

And gear? Even at low levels, aim for:

- +1 to Weapon Skills - Faster Cast Rate (for spellcasters) - Increased Attack Speed - Resistances (especially if you're farming him repeatedly)

Fun fact: In vanilla Diablo II, The Butcher could sometimes get stuck in walls due to pathfinding bugs. Players exploited this to farm him endlessly. Blizzard patched that in Resurrected—but hey, nostalgia’s tasty.

Why fight him at all? Besides bragging rights, he drops mid-tier magic items perfect for early progression. On Nightmare and Hell? He can drop rare gear and even early runes. Farming him once or twice helps level up mercenaries, too.

In short: respect the cleaver. Don’t charge in like a headless chicken. Play smart, use terrain, and turn The Butcher into *your* prime cut.