Path of Exile 2: How To Find More Citadels

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, players will encounter a variety of unique structures that introduce distinct gameplay mechanics and challenges, such as the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and the elusive Citadels.

Citadels stand out as one of the most sought-after endgame objectives. While Lost Towers emerge above the Fog of War, and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas starting point, Citadels can be trickier to spot. However, with the 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance. If you're struggling to find Citadels in your Atlas map, here are some tips to help you locate them more effectively in Path of Exile 2.

What Are Citadels For In PoE 2?

In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are special map nodes categorized into three types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel hosts a unique Boss, revamped from the PoE 2 campaign with significant power-ups to suit their endgame role. Defeating these bosses rewards players with a Crisis Fragment, crucial for unlocking the Burning Monolith and confronting the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. This also completes the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which players unlock after entering the Burning Monolith map and examining the locked door.

• Iron Citadel: Home to Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), it appears as a large city with black walls.
• Copper Citadel: Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), is found in a large encampment encircling the map node.
• Stone Citadel: Doryani (Act 3 boss) resides in a structure 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 attempt to navigate through and defeat the boss without dying. These areas are highly rewarding, not just for the Crisis Fragments but also for the potential high-quality loot dropped by these bosses. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be re-run, so players must continue exploring the Atlas to find new ones.

How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2

With the 0.1.1 update, Citadels in Path of Exile 2 will feature a prominent beacon of light above their location, making them visible through the Fog of War and easier to locate.

If you're not seeing any Citadels nearby on the Atlas map, the best strategy to uncover more Citadel locations is to travel in a straight line in one direction. This approach reveals the most Fog of War and expands your overall view of the Atlas map. Along the way, make sure to visit any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these will clear a large area of Fog around the tower, potentially revealing nearby Citadels.

Each type of Citadel tends to spawn in specific biomes, so if you're targeting a particular Citadel to access the Burning Monolith, consider navigating towards areas of the map that match the appropriate biome:

• Iron Citadels are commonly found in Grass or Forest biomes.
• Copper Citadels typically appear in Desert biomes.
• Stone Citadels are often located along the coast of any biome.

Once you locate a Citadel, it's unlikely you'll find another one close by, as multiple Citadels rarely spawn on the same screen of the fully zoomed-out Atlas map. To find more Citadels after discovering one, take a new path in a completely different direction from your previous route.

With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to spot Citadel beacons within a few screens of your explored map areas. If no beacons are visible within the Fog of War once the patch is live, continue following these tips: travel in a straight line in one direction, and you'll eventually see a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.