Path of Exile 2: Burning Monolith Explained

In Path of Exile 2, the Burning Monolith stands out as a unique map on the Atlas of Worlds, akin to the Realmgate, located near the starting point of your mapping adventure. However, accessing this map is far from straightforward.

How to Use the Burning Monolith in Path of Exile 2

The Burning Monolith serves as the battleground for the endgame pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Upon your first visit and attempt to activate the door, you'll embark on the quest, "The Pinnacle of Flame," which branches into three subquests: Ezomyte Infiltration (Iron Citadel), Faridun Foray (Copper Citadel), and Vaal Incursion (Stone Citadel). Successfully completing these Citadels will grant you three distinct Crisis Fragments. These fragments are crucial; you'll need to use them at the altar within the Burning Monolith to unlock the confrontation with the Arbiter of Ash.

Before you challenge the Arbiter of Ash, ensure your character build is robust. This boss is renowned for its formidable attacks and massive health pool, making it the toughest adversary in Path of Exile 2.

How to Find Citadels in Path of Exile 2

In Path of Exile 2, there are three Citadels: Iron, Copper, and Stone, each guarded by a unique map boss. Defeating these bosses is essential to acquiring the Crisis Fragment linked to each Citadel. The primary challenge, however, lies in locating these Citadels on your randomly generated Atlas.

Each Citadel can only be attempted once, adding to the pressure of finding them. Here are some community-suggested strategies for locating Citadels, though remember, these are based on anecdotal evidence and may not guarantee success:

1. Choose a direction on the Atlas and continue advancing until you stumble upon a Citadel. Unlocking Towers can give you a broader view of the map layout.
2. Track down nodes with signs of corruption at the edges of your visible map area. Clear these nodes successfully, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat this process. This method can be combined with the first tip.
3. Citadels tend to appear in clusters. If you locate one, the other two might be nearby.

Searching for Citadels is a lengthy process best suited for the late endgame, when your character build is at its peak and tackling bosses is routine.

Crisis Fragments, the ultimate goal of Citadel hunting, can also be purchased via the trading website or through the Currency Exchange. Due to their rarity, they can be expensive, but this might be a worthwhile investment if you wish to bypass the arduous task of hunting for them yourself.