After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3, players of Path of Exile 2 gain access to the Endgame and the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, you'll encounter various unique structures, each offering distinct gameplay mechanics and challenges. These include the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and the elusive Citadels.
Citadels stand out as one of the most sought-after endgame objectives in Path of Exile 2. While Lost Towers loom over the Fog of War, and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas start point, Citadels can be harder to spot. With the 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance, but if you're struggling to find them on your Atlas map, here are some tips to help you locate more Citadels in PoE 2.
What Are Citadels For In PoE 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are special map nodes available in three types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel is home to a unique Boss, reimagined from the PoE 2 campaign with enhanced powers suitable for endgame challenges. Defeating these bosses rewards you with a Crisis Fragment, which acts as a key to the Burning Monolith, the lair of the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Completing this encounter fulfills the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock upon entering the Burning Monolith map and examining the locked door.
- Iron Citadel: Home to Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), appearing as a large city with black walls.
- Copper Citadel: Hosts Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), resembling a large encampment around the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Where you face Doryani (Act 3 boss), designed like a stone pyramid reminiscent of the ziggurats in Act 3.
To access a Citadel, players must use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel to its map node and activate it. Like other Maps, you have only one attempt to navigate through the Citadel and defeat its boss without dying. These areas are worth exploring not only for the Crisis Fragments but also for the exceptional loot these bosses drop. Once completed, you can't re-enter the same Citadel; your next step is to explore the Atlas further to find another one.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Path of Exile 2 Citadels become more noticeable on the Atlas map due to a new beacon of light that pierces through the Fog of War, guiding players more effectively to their locations.
If you don't see any Citadels near your current location on the Atlas map, the most effective strategy to uncover more is to move in a straight line in one direction. This approach reveals the most Fog of War and expands your view of the Atlas. Along your journey, consider heading towards any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will reveal a large area of Fog around the tower, potentially exposing nearby Citadels.
Each type of Citadel tends to spawn in specific biomes, so if you're targeting a particular Citadel to access the Burning Monolith, steer your path towards areas on your map that match the appropriate biome:
- Iron Citadels typically appear in Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels are commonly found in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels often spawn along the coast of any biome.
Once you've found a Citadel, it's unlikely you'll find another close by, as multiple Citadels rarely spawn within the same zoomed-out screen on the Atlas map. To discover more Citadels after your initial find, head in a completely different direction from your previous route.
With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to spot Citadel beacons within a few screens of your explored areas. If you still don't see any Citadels in the fog, continue moving in a straight line in a single direction, and you'll eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next challenge.
