You may have heard the rumors of a secret cow level in Minecraft Dungeons. They are true. In an homage to the long-running cow rumor and Easter egg in the Diablo series, it looks like Minecraft Dungeons has its own take on the Mooshroom-filled secret cow level.
You’ll need to find nine hidden runes to unlock this hidden level, and once you do, you’ll gain access to the craziest secret area in the game.
Minecraft Dungeons Runes Guide
This Minecraft Dungeons Runes guide lists the steps to follow to find the nine runes in each of the Minecraft Dungeon story missions that are required to unlock secret cow level.
Minecraft Dungeons rune locations
To access the camp fort where the secret level map is located, you must have completed Minecraft Dungeons at least once. Runes hidden in story missions are only used to open the door at the back of the fort and can be found on any difficulty level.
I recommend playing each story mission at the lowest difficulty level available for that mission on default difficulty. After finding the runic door for each mission, head through the door and along the path to find another button. Push it to make the rune appear, then click on the rune itself to pick it up.
Once you have the rune, there is no commitment to complete the level, so open the menu (Escape key or Start button) and select the “Return to Camp” option. You can then proceed to the next level. Just make sure you’ve picked up the rune first, otherwise you’ll have to find the hidden door. Below are the nine rune slots:
creeper wood
Go through the level until you have to save several villagers. Head southwest of this large area to find a stone formation. Inside the cobblestone mound just above is a button. Press the button to unlock the rune door.
soggy swamp
After destroying the Cauldron at the end of the level, head to the exit. There’s a stone column to the right with a button hidden in the mushrooms at its base. Push it to open the rune entrance in the stone wall behind.
pumpkin pastures
Find the long wall about halfway through the level and go through it to see some abandoned wooden boxes. The button is hidden behind them and pushing it will unlock the door at the end of the walkway.
cactus canyon
Just to the left of the door where the blue key is, there’s a button hidden in the shrubbery near the water. It’s in the area where the Arch-Illager summons enemies to attack you. Once the enemies are defeated, click on the button in the shrubs and enter the chamber where the blue key is located to find a door to the rune.
Redstone mines
As you save the villagers for the second time, look up the area. There is a button very well hidden, hidden by a deposit of redstone and the angle of the wall. Click on it to open the rune door.
Burning Forge
Upon entering the second area of the level, you will see the remains of a Redstone Golem. Head as far left as possible and activate the switch on the back wall to reveal a door.
desert temple
When you save the Golden Key, look behind the palm tree in a nearby room. There is a switch hidden by its leaves. Shoot it to open the rune door.
Highblock Rooms
After the first wave of enemies summoned by the Arch-Illager, you’ll come across a marketplace outside. You’ll know you’re in the right area if it’s raining. Head to the right as you enter and hug the wall around the top of this area. You will eventually come across a switch. Turn it to reveal the door that leads to the rune.
Obsidian Pinnacle
Halfway through the level, you will come across an interior area. Do not leave this area after cleaning it. Instead, head to the library and look at the bookshelf towards the back of the room. There will be a book you can pull out to reveal an ark. Inside is the rune, along with some chests with loot inside.
How to Unlock the Secret Cow Level in Minecraft Dungeons
The secret cow level is very well hidden. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’ll probably miss fully unlocking this secret level. The first step is to find the fort hidden in the camp. You may have noticed a raised drawbridge to the southeast of the main camp area. You will need to find an alternate route to get to the other side in order to lower the drawbridge.
You’ll have to complete the campaign on default difficulty to unlock the path to the secret cow level. Once you complete the campaign, walk southeast from where you spawn in the camp. Go past the house and continue. You should see springs, so use them to get to the other side.
The path from this point eventually leads to an incomplete nether portal (an obsidian block is missing) but watch out for the trees to the southwest. Behind the leaves there is a small path which is very easy to miss. We put an arrow in the image above to show where this path is. Go down the path and you will come across a drawbridge. Activate the switch to unlock a shortcut to the camp. From there, head inside the fort.
This fort is where you can keep track of all unlocked runes. If this is your first time visiting the fort, the button on the back will highlight the triangle rune. As you collect runes, more letters will be highlighted on the back wall when the button is pressed. There is also an image of a dog on the back wall which, when clicked, can show clues as to where you can find the runes. Once you have all nine runes, come back here and press the button.
Minecraft Dungeons Cow Level Explained
After pressing the button at the back of the fort lobby, as long as you have all nine runes, the door will open. Inside is a map for the level and two chests. The card unlocks the “???” level.
Here you will find a large number of Mooshrooms. They are hostile and slowly move towards you. There are a bunch of diversions leading to chests, and of course more Mooshrooms! These Mooshrooms are pretty good to grind for experience if you have the right build, so check out our guide to the best Minecraft Dungeons builds for some of the best builds.
The level ends with an encounter against the “Mooshroom Monstrocity”. It’s largely the same as the Fiery Forge boss, except instead of lava and fire, the golem uses Mooshrooms. This boss is pretty easy to defeat if you can slow him down with a wind horn, although it can take a long time. You’ll have to deal with the constantly spawning Mooshrooms while dodging the Monstrocity’s mushroom snaps and bolts. Luckily, there are raised ledges you can use for cover.
Minecraft Dungeons Guide Series
Thanks for reading our Minecraft Dungeons Runes guide. There are plenty of other guides for the game in the section below, so check them out.