Path of Exile 2: How to Find More Citadels

After completing the main story campaign and the Cruel difficulty for Acts 1 to 3, players enter the endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map in Path of Exile 2, adventurers will encounter unique structures, each offering distinct gameplay mechanics and challenges. These include the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and, crucially, the Citadels.

Citadels represent some of the most sought-after endgame objectives. While Lost Towers pierce the Fog of War, and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas starting area, Citadels can be more elusive. The 0.1.1 update will improve their visibility from a distance. If you're struggling to locate them on your Atlas map, these strategies will help you find more Citadels in PoE 2.

What Is The Purpose Of Citadels In PoE 2?

In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are a special type of map node that comes in three distinct types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each variant is guarded by a powerful boss—a supercharged version of a campaign boss from PoE 2, redesigned for the endgame. Defeating these formidable foes rewards you with a Crisis Fragment.

These fragments act as keys for the Burning Monolith, the domain of the Atlas' pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Successfully opening the Monolith fulfills the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which becomes available after you first enter its map and inspect the sealed door.

• Iron Citadel: Guarded by Count Geonor (Act 1 boss). Appears as a large city with imposing black walls.
• Copper Citadel: Guarded by Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss). Resembles a large fortified encampment surrounding the map node.
• Stone Citadel: Guarded by Doryani (Act 3 boss). Takes the form of a stone pyramid, similar to the ziggurats found in Act 3.

Upon discovering a Citadel, players must use at least a Tier 15 Waystone to travel to its node and activate it. Like other high-tier maps, you only get one attempt to clear the instance and defeat the boss without dying.

These challenging areas are worth the effort not only for the essential Crisis Fragments but also for the potential of exceptional loot drops from the bosses. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be replayed. Your only recourse is to explore further across the Atlas to locate another one.

Strategies For Finding More Citadels In PoE 2

The 0.1.1 update makes Citadels in Path of Exile 2 much more visible from afar on the Atlas map. Post-patch, each Citadel location will feature a prominent beacon of light visible through the Fog of War, efficiently guiding players toward these objectives.

If no Citadels are visible near your current position on the Atlas, the most effective method to find them is to chart a course in as straight a line as possible in one direction. This approach clears the maximum amount of Fog of War and expands your overall map view the fastest. While exploring, make sure to path toward any Lost Towers you encounter. Completing a Lost Tower reveals a large circular area of Fog around it, potentially uncovering a nearby Citadel.

Each of the three Citadel types has a tendency to spawn in specific biome conditions. If you are targeting a particular Citadel type to access the Burning Monolith, consider heading toward any revealed areas on your map that match its biome.

• Iron Citadels commonly spawn in Grassland or Forest biomes.
• Copper Citadels are often found in Desert biomes.
• Stone Citadels typically appear along the coastline of any biome.

Once you locate a Citadel, you can generally assume there are no others immediately nearby. It is extremely rare for multiple Citadels to spawn within the same screen view when the Atlas is fully zoomed out. After finding your first Citadel, the best strategy to find another is to travel in a straight line in a completely new direction from your previous path.

With the improvements in the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to spot the beacons of any Citadels within a few screens of your explored territory. If you still don't see any beacons glowing in the Fog after the patch, simply follow the core strategy: chart a straight-line course in one direction, and you will eventually spot a guiding light in the mist.