After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3, players in Path of Exile 2 unlock the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, you'll encounter a variety of unique structures that introduce special 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 loom 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 upcoming 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance, but if you're struggling to locate them on your Atlas map, 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 types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel is home to a distinct Boss, which is an enhanced version of a boss from the PoE 2 campaign. Defeating these bosses will reward you with a Crisis Fragment, which acts as a key to unlock the Burning Monolith, where the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash, resides. This is crucial for completing the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock upon entering the Burning Monolith map and inspecting the locked door.
- Iron Citadel: Hosts Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), appearing as a large city with black walls.
- Copper Citadel: Features Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), resembling a large encampment around the map node.
- Stone Citadel: Home to Doryani (Act 3 boss), shaped like a stone pyramid similar to the ziggurats in Act 3.
To engage with a Citadel, players need to use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel to its map node and activate it. Just like other Maps, you have only one attempt 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 exceptional loot that the bosses drop. Once completed, you cannot re-run a Citadel; your next step is to explore the Atlas to find another one.
How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2
With the 0.1.1 update, Path of Exile 2 Citadels will be much easier to spot from a distance on the Atlas map. A large beacon of light will now appear above their location, visible even 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 discover more is to move in a straight line in one direction. This approach maximizes the area of Fog of War you reveal and broadens your view of the Atlas map. Along your route, make sure to head towards any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will unveil a significant portion of the surrounding Fog, potentially revealing a nearby Citadel.
Each type of Citadel tends to spawn in specific biomes, which can help you target your search:
- Iron Citadels are commonly found in Grass or Forest biomes.
- Copper Citadels are often located in Desert biomes.
- Stone Citadels typically appear along the coast of any biome.
Once you've located a Citadel, it's unlikely that another will be nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely appear on the same screen of the Atlas map when fully zoomed out. To find more Citadels after your initial discovery, take a straight path in a new direction, different from the route you took to find the previous one.
With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to spot Citadel beacons within a few screens of your explored areas. If you still can't see any Citadels within the Fog of War after the update, continue following the above tips: move in a straight line in one direction, and you'll eventually see a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.
