After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3 in Path of Exile 2, players unlock the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within the Atlas map, players will encounter various unique structures, each offering distinct gameplay mechanics or challenges. Notable among these are 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 rise above the Fog of War, and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith are found near the Atlas start point, Citadels are more challenging to locate. With the 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance, but if you're struggling to find them, here are some tips to help you discover more Citadels in PoE 2.

What Are Citadels For In PoE 2?

In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are unique map nodes that come in three varieties: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each type houses a different Boss, which are reimagined versions of bosses from the PoE 2 campaign, enhanced for endgame challenges. Defeating these bosses rewards players with a Crisis Fragment, which serves as a key to unlock the Burning Monolith, the home of the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Completing this challenge fulfills the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, unlocked after entering the Burning Monolith map and inspecting the locked door.

• Iron Citadel: Home to Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), it appears as a large city with black walls.
• Copper Citadel: Features Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), and looks like a large encampment circling the map node.
• Stone Citadel: Houses Doryani (Act 3 boss) and resembles a stone pyramid, similar to the ziggurats in Act 3.

To access a Citadel, players need to use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel to its map node and activate it. Once activated, players have one attempt to navigate the map and defeat the boss without dying. These areas are highly rewarding, not only for the Crisis Fragments but also for the potential of exceptional loot from the bosses. Once completed, a Citadel cannot be re-run, so players must continue exploring the Atlas to find another.

How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2

With the 0.1.1 update, Path of Exile 2 Citadels will become easier to spot from a distance on the Atlas map. A large beacon of light will appear above each Citadel, visible through the Fog of War, guiding players to their locations more efficiently.

If you don't see any Citadels near your current location on the Atlas map, the best strategy to find more is to move in a straight line in one direction. This approach reveals the most Fog of War and expands your view of the overall Atlas map. Along your path, make sure to explore any Lost Towers you encounter, as completing these reveals a large area of Fog around the tower, potentially uncovering nearby Citadels.

Each type of Citadel tends to spawn in specific biomes:

• 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.

If you're targeting a specific Citadel to access the Burning Monolith, direct your path toward areas of the appropriate biome type on your map.

Once you've discovered a Citadel, it's unlikely you'll find another nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely spawn on the same screen of the Atlas map when fully zoomed out. To find more Citadels after your first discovery, continue in a straight line but in a completely different direction from your previous path.

With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to see Citadel beacons within a few screens of your revealed map areas. If you still don't see any Citadels within the Fog of War after the update, continue following these tips: move in a straight line in one direction, and you should eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.