After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3, players in Path of Exile 2 reach the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, players will encounter various unique structures, each offering distinct gameplay mechanics or challenges. These include the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and the elusive Citadels.
Citadels are among the most sought-after endgame objectives in Path of Exile 2. While Lost Towers rise above the Fog of War and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith spawn 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 unique map nodes that come in three varieties: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel houses a different Boss, which are re-used from the PoE 2 campaign but with significant power-ups to suit their endgame status. Defeating these bosses will reward you with a Crisis Fragment.
These Crisis Fragments serve as keys to the Pinnacle Boss, the Arbiter of Ash, located in the Burning Monolith. Collecting all the necessary fragments allows you to complete the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock after entering the Burning Monolith map for the first time and inspecting 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 circling the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Features Doryani (Act 3 boss), resembling a stone pyramid similar to 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 chance to navigate through the map and defeat the boss without dying. These areas are highly rewarding, not only for the Crisis Fragments but also for the potential to obtain exceptional loot from the bosses. Once completed, you cannot re-run a Citadel, so you'll need to explore the Atlas to find another one.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Path of Exile 2 Citadels will become significantly easier to spot from a distance on the Atlas map. A large beacon of light will appear above their location, visible through the Fog of War, guiding players more efficiently to each Citadel.
If you don't see any Citadels near your current location on the Atlas map, the best strategy to find more is to move in a straight line in a single direction. This approach reveals the most Fog of War and expands your view of the overall Atlas map. Along the way, make sure to path toward any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will reveal a large area of Fog around the tower, potentially uncovering a nearby Citadel.
Each type of Citadel tends to spawn in specific biomes:
- Iron Citadels are commonly found in Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels typically appear in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels are often located along the coast of any biome.
If you're hunting for a specific type of Citadel to gain entrance to the Burning Monolith, consider navigating towards any revealed areas on your map that match the appropriate biome type.
Once you find a Citadel, it's unlikely you'll find another one nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely spawn on the same screen of the Atlas map when fully zoomed out. To find more Citadels after discovering your first, head in a straight line in a completely different direction from your previous path.
With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to see Citadel beacons within a few screens of your revealed map areas. If you still don't see any Citadels within the Fog of War after the update, continue following these tips: move in a straight line in a single direction, and you should eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.
