After completing the main campaign and the Cruel difficulty Acts 1 through 3, players in Path of Exile 2 reach the Endgame and gain access to the Atlas of Worlds. Within this expansive map, you'll encounter various unique structures, each offering distinct 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. While Lost Towers stand tall above the Fog of War and the Realmgate and Burning Monolith appear near the Atlas start point, Citadels can be harder to spot. However, with the 0.1.1 update, Citadels will become more visible from a distance, marked by a large beacon of light. 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 specialized map nodes that come in three types: Iron, Copper, and Stone. Each Citadel hosts a unique Boss, a revamped version of a boss from the PoE 2 campaign, now enhanced for endgame combat. Defeating these bosses rewards players with a Crisis Fragment.

These fragments serve as keys to unlock the Burning Monolith, the domain of the Atlas pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Successfully completing this encounter is part of the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, which you unlock upon first entering the Burning Monolith map and examining the locked door.

• Iron Citadel: Home to Count Geonor (Act 1 boss), recognizable by its large city with black walls.
• Copper Citadel: Features Jamanra, The Abomination (Act 2 boss), resembling a large encampment around the map node.
• Stone Citadel: Hosts Doryani (Act 3 boss), appearing as a stone pyramid akin to the ziggurats in Act 3.

To access a Citadel, you must use a Waystone of at least Tier 15 to travel to its map node and activate it. Once inside, you have one chance to navigate the map and defeat the boss without dying. These areas are not only crucial for obtaining Crisis Fragments but also offer the potential for exceptional loot. Note that once a Citadel is completed, it cannot be re-run; you'll need to find another through the Atlas.

How To Find More Citadels In PoE 2

With the 0.1.1 update, spotting Citadels on the Atlas map becomes easier thanks to the new beacon of light that pierces the Fog of War, guiding players to their locations.

If no Citadels are visible near your current position on the Atlas map, the best strategy is to move in a straight line in one direction. This approach maximizes the area of Fog of War you reveal, increasing your chances of spotting a Citadel. Additionally, make a detour to any Lost Towers you encounter along the way, as completing these can unveil a significant portion of the surrounding Fog, possibly revealing a nearby Citadel.

Each Citadel type tends to spawn in specific biomes, so if you're targeting a particular Citadel for the Burning Monolith, head towards areas on your 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 often spawn along the coast of any biome.

Once you've located a Citadel, it's unlikely to find another one nearby, as multiple Citadels rarely appear on the same screen of the fully zoomed-out Atlas map. To find more Citadels, take a different route, moving in a straight line away from your previous path.

With the 0.1.1 update, you should be able to see Citadel beacons within a few screens of your explored areas. If no beacons are visible within the Fog of War after the update, continue using these strategies—move in a straight line, and you'll eventually spot a beacon guiding you to your next Citadel.