Path of Exile 2: Tips for Locating More Citadels

After completing the main campaign and conquering the Cruel difficulty through Acts 1 to 3, players unlock the Endgame phase of *Path of Exile 2* and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within this expansive map system, you’ll encounter a range of unique structures offering special challenges and mechanics—such as the Realmgate, Lost Towers, the Burning Monolith, and notably, Citadels.

Citadels are among the most elusive and valuable endgame objectives in the Atlas. While Lost Towers stand tall above the Fog of War and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith typically appear near the Atlas starting point, locating Citadels can be more challenging. Fortunately, the 0.1.1 update has improved their visibility from afar. If you're still struggling to find them, here's how to track down more Citadels in *Path of Exile 2*.

What Are Citadels For In Path of Exile 2?

In *Path of Exile 2*, Citadels are specialized map nodes that come in three distinct types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel contains a powerful boss variant based on key bosses from earlier acts, now enhanced for endgame difficulty. Upon defeating these bosses, players receive Crisis Fragments—a crucial component needed to unlock the Burning Monolith and face the ultimate Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash.

This completes the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which becomes available after entering the Burning Monolith map and inspecting its locked entrance.

• 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 military encampment surrounding the node.
• Stone Citadel: Doryani (Act 3 boss), looks like a stone pyramid, similar to ziggurats seen in Act 3.

To activate a Citadel, players must use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel directly to the node. Once inside, it’s a one-life challenge—just like other Maps—where you must defeat the boss without dying.

These encounters are well worth the effort, not only for the Crisis Fragment but also for the chance to earn high-tier loot. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be rerun—you’ll need to explore the Atlas again to locate another one.

How To Find More Citadels In Path of Exile 2

The 0.1.1 update significantly improves Citadel visibility across the Atlas. With this patch, each Citadel now features a prominent beacon of light rising above its location, visible even through the Fog of War. This makes tracking them far more efficient.

If no Citadels are visible near your current position, the best strategy is to move in a straight line in a single direction. This approach reveals the maximum amount of Fog of War and expands your view of the Atlas. Along the way, prioritize clearing nearby Lost Towers, as completing them removes a large area of Fog around their location, potentially revealing hidden Citadels.

Citadel types tend to spawn within specific biomes, so if you're searching for a particular type to progress toward the Burning Monolith, focus your route on areas matching the relevant biome:

• Iron Citadels: Grassland or Forest biomes.
• Copper Citadels: Desert biomes.
• Stone Citadels: Coastal regions of any biome.

Once you've found a Citadel, don’t expect others to be nearby—multiple Citadels rarely appear on the same screen when the Atlas is fully zoomed out. After completing one, head in a completely new direction to maximize your chances of finding another.

With the improvements introduced in 0.1.1, you should now be able to spot Citadel beacons from several screens away within your revealed map areas. If none appear immediately visible, stick to the same exploration method: travel in a straight line and eventually, you’ll catch sight of a distant beacon guiding you to your next objective.