Upon completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty of 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 encounter various unique structures that introduce distinct gameplay mechanics or 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 stand tall above the Fog of War and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas start point, Citadels can be harder to spot. However, with the 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance. If you're having trouble locating them, here are some tips to help you find more Citadels in PoE 2.
What Are Citadels For In PoE 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are unique map nodes available in three varieties: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel houses a different Boss, which are powered-up versions of bosses from the PoE 2 campaign. Defeating these bosses rewards players with a Crisis Fragment, essential for unlocking the Burning Monolith, the home of the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Completing this challenge fulfills the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock upon entering 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: Hosts Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), resembling a large encampment encircling the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Hosts 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 further to find another.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Path of Exile 2 Citadels will be 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 one direction. This approach reveals the most Fog of War and expands your view of the overall Atlas map. Along your path, head towards 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 are typically found in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels are often located along the coast of any biome.
If you're targeting a specific Citadel to gain access to the Burning Monolith, consider navigating towards areas on your map that match the appropriate biome type.
Once you've located a Citadel, it's unlikely to find another nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely spawn on the same screen of the Atlas map when fully zoomed out. To find more Citadels after discovering one, take a completely different path from the one you used to reach the previous Citadel.
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 one direction, and you should eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.
