After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3 in Path of Exile 2, players unlock the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, players will encounter various unique structures, each presenting distinct gameplay mechanics or challenges, such as the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and the elusive Citadels.
Citadels stand out as one of the most challenging endgame objectives. While Lost Towers emerge above 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. However, if you struggle to locate them on your Atlas map, these tips will help you find more Citadels in Path of Exile 2.
What Are Citadels For In PoE 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are unique 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 the endgame. Defeating these bosses will yield a Crisis Fragment, essential for unlocking the Burning Monolith, home to the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. This is key to completing the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock after your initial entry into the Burning Monolith map and examining the locked door.
- Iron Citadel: Hosts Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), appearing as a large city with black walls.
- Copper Citadel: Home to 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 need to use a Tier 15 or higher Waystone to travel to its map node and activate it. Similar to other maps, you have only one attempt to navigate through the map and defeat the boss without dying. The rewards are worth the challenge, as these areas offer not only Crisis Fragments but also the chance to obtain exceptional loot from the bosses. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be rerun; you must search the Atlas for another.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Citadels in Path of Exile 2 become much easier to spot from a distance on the Atlas map. A large beacon of light will now mark their location, visible even through the Fog of War, making it simpler to navigate towards them.
If you don't see any Citadels near your current location on the Atlas map, the best strategy is to move in as straight a line as possible in a single direction. This approach maximizes the area of Fog of War you reveal, thus increasing your overall visibility of the Atlas map. Along your path, make sure to visit any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will uncover a large area of the Fog around the tower, potentially revealing a nearby Citadel.
Each Citadel type tends to spawn in specific biomes:
- Iron Citadels are commonly found in Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels often appear in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels typically spawn along the coast of any biome.
If you're seeking a particular type of Citadel to access the Burning Monolith, direct your path towards any revealed areas on your map that match the appropriate biome.
Once you've located a Citadel, it's unlikely to find another nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely appear on the same screen of the Atlas map when fully zoomed out. To discover more Citadels after finding your first, take a completely different path from the one you used previously.
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 following the same strategy: move in a straight line in a single direction, and you'll eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.
