Upon completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3 in Path of Exile 2, players enter the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, players will encounter various unique structures, each with distinct gameplay mechanics and challenges, such as 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 emerge above the Fog of War and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas's starting point, Citadels are set to become more visible from a distance in the 0.1.1 update. If you're struggling to locate any Citadels on your Atlas map, here are some strategies to help you find more 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 hosts a different Boss, repurposed from the PoE 2 campaign but significantly powered up for endgame encounters. Defeating these bosses rewards you with a Crisis Fragment, which serves as a key to unlock the Burning Monolith, the domain of the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. This step is crucial for completing the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock upon entering the Burning Monolith map and inspecting its 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 encircling the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Contains Doryani (Act 3 boss), shaped like a stone pyramid reminiscent of the ziggurats in Act 3.
To access a Citadel, players need to use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel to its map node and activate it. Similar to other Maps, you have one attempt to navigate through and defeat the boss without dying. These areas are highly rewarding, not only for the Crisis Fragments but also for the exceptional loot dropped by the bosses. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be revisited; you must continue exploring the Atlas to find another.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Citadels in Path of Exile 2 become much more visible from afar on the Atlas map. A large beacon of light will now shine above their location, piercing through the Fog of War to guide players more effectively to each Citadel.
If you can't spot any Citadels near your current position on the Atlas map, the most effective strategy to uncover more Citadel locations is to travel in a straight line in one direction. This approach maximizes the area of Fog of War you reveal, thus increasing your overall view of the Atlas map. Along the way, make sure to explore any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will unveil a significant portion of the surrounding Fog of War, potentially revealing nearby Citadels.
Each type of Citadel tends to appear in specific biomes:
- Iron Citadels are commonly found in Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels typically spawn in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels are often located along the coastlines of any biome.
If you're targeting a particular type of Citadel to access the Burning Monolith, navigate towards the appropriate biome on your revealed map areas.
After finding 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, head in a completely different direction from your previous route.
With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to see Citadel beacons within a few screens of your explored areas. If no beacons are visible within the Fog of War after the update, continue using the straight-line strategy in a single direction until you spot a beacon guiding you to a Citadel.
