The Burning Monolith, a unique location on the Path of Exile 2 Atlas, resembles the Realmgate and is often found near the starting area of your mapping journey. Accessing it, however, is a significant challenge.
Unlocking the Burning Monolith requires three Crisis Fragments, each obtained by conquering a Citadel—an exceptionally rare and difficult-to-locate map node on the Atlas.
Using the Burning Monolith in Path of Exile 2
The Burning Monolith serves as the arena for the endgame pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Your first attempt to activate the Monolith's door automatically initiates "The Pinnacle of Flame" quest, branching into three sub-quests: Ezomyte Infiltration (Iron Citadel), Faridun Foray (Copper Citadel), and Vaal Incursion (Stone Citadel). Completing these Citadels rewards you with the three crucial Crisis Fragments. Combine these Fragments at the Monolith's altar to unlock the Arbiter of Ash encounter.
Ensure your character build is optimized before facing the Arbiter of Ash. This pinnacle boss is the game's most formidable, boasting devastating attacks and millions of hit points.
Finding Citadels in Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 features three Citadels: Iron, Copper, and Stone, each guarded by a unique map boss you must defeat to claim its associated Crisis Fragment. The primary difficulty lies in their elusive nature.
Citadels are one-time attempts only.
The Atlas's randomized generation means Citadel locations vary for each player. While no definitive method exists, community observations suggest these strategies:
- Choose a direction on the Atlas and explore systematically until you locate a Citadel. Utilizing Towers provides a broader overview of the surrounding maps.
- Follow the corruption. Scan the Atlas edges for corrupted nodes. Focus on clearing these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat the process. This can be combined with the first strategy.
- Citadels often cluster together. Discovering one increases the likelihood of finding others nearby.
Citadel hunting is a time-intensive endgame activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build and significant boss-fighting experience.
While Crisis Fragments are the ultimate goal of Citadel hunting, they can also be acquired (at a cost) through the trading website or Currency Exchange. Their rarity often justifies this expense, particularly for players prioritizing efficient progression.
