Path of Exile 2: Unlocking the Secrets of 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 elusive Citadels. This guide focuses on locating and utilizing these crucial endgame objectives.
Citadels, unlike easily spotted Lost Towers or the readily accessible Realmgate and Burning Monolith, require more strategic searching. However, the 0.1.1 update enhances their visibility, making them easier to spot from a distance.
The Purpose of Citadels
Citadels are unique map nodes, appearing as Iron, Copper, or Stone variants. Each houses a significantly empowered campaign boss:
- Iron Citadel: Count Geonor (Act 1 boss). Identified by its large city appearance with black walls.
- Copper Citadel: Jamanra, the Abomination (Act 2 boss). Characterized by a large encampment surrounding the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Doryani (Act 3 boss). Resembles a stone pyramid, echoing the Act 3 ziggurats.
Defeating these bosses yields Crisis Fragments—keys to unlock the Burning Monolith and its pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash, completing the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest. Citadels are one-time encounters; once completed, they cannot be revisited. A minimum Tier 15 Waystone is required to access and activate a Citadel.
Citadels offer exceptional loot, making them worthwhile targets.
Strategies for Finding Citadels
The 0.1.1 update significantly improves Citadel visibility with prominent beacons visible even through the Fog of War.
If Citadels remain hidden, employ these strategies:
- Linear Exploration: Travel in a straight line across the Atlas, maximizing Fog of War removal and map visibility.
- Lost Tower Strategy: Prioritize clearing Lost Towers. Their completion reveals a substantial area, potentially uncovering nearby Citadels.
- Biome Targeting: Citadels tend to spawn in specific biomes:
- Iron Citadels: Grass or Forest biomes
- Copper Citadels: Desert biomes
- Stone Citadels: Coastal areas of any biome
- Strategic Relocation: After finding a Citadel, assume there are none nearby. Multiple Citadels rarely cluster together. Move significantly away before resuming your search.
With the 0.1.1 update's improved visibility, Citadels should be readily apparent within a few screens of your explored map sections. If not, revert to the linear exploration strategy. The beacons will guide you.
