Path of Exile 2: Mastering the Elusive Citadels
After conquering the main campaign and Acts 1-3 on Cruel difficulty, Path of Exile 2 players unlock the Endgame and the Atlas of Worlds. Navigating this Atlas reveals various structures, including Realmgates, Lost Towers, Burning Monoliths, and the enigmatic Citadels. This guide focuses on locating and utilizing these challenging endgame objectives.
Citadels are unique map nodes, appearing as Iron, Copper, or Stone varieties. Each houses a significantly powered-up campaign boss:
- Iron Citadel: Count Geonor (Act 1 boss). Appears as a large city with black walls.
- Copper Citadel: Jamanra, the Abomination (Act 2 boss). Resembles a large encampment surrounding the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Doryani (Act 3 boss). Looks like a stone pyramid, similar to Act 3 ziggurats.
Defeating these bosses yields Crisis Fragments, essential keys for accessing the Burning Monolith and its pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash, thus completing the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest.
Accessing a Citadel requires a minimum Tier 15 Waystone. Remember, each Citadel is a one-time challenge; defeat the boss, or the attempt is lost. The rewards, however, including exceptional loot, make the effort worthwhile.
Finding Citadels:
The 0.1.1 update enhances Citadel visibility. A prominent beacon now marks their location, even through the Fog of War.
If beacons remain elusive, try these strategies:
- Strategic Pathing: Travel in a straight line to reveal maximum Fog of War, expanding your Atlas view. Prioritize exploring near Lost Towers; clearing these reveals significant surrounding areas.
- Biome Targeting: Citadel types tend to spawn in specific biomes:
- Iron Citadels: Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels: Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels: Coastal areas of any biome.
- Avoid Clustering: Citadels rarely cluster. After discovering one, explore a significantly different area of the Atlas to find more.
With the 0.1.1 update's improved visibility, Citadels should be readily apparent within a few screens of your explored map. If not, revert to the straight-line pathing strategy; the beacons will guide you.
